I feel like my meds are not working..

[Lara]

I completed 16 months today but this time around i am honestly considering going off of HRT.
I have been on progynova since day one and i almost came around it. I wasn't very thrilled about its results but i think i was getting there until this September end around 2 months back. I noticed they changed the blue pills to white. I read the pack thoroughly and it is the same thing so its not like i am on the wrong medication yet the effects have been fading away. My breasts have definitely shrunk. i had progressed from a 34A to 34B but now i am back on 34A which even on the tightest hook seems loose. My hips are disappearing and my face is going back to the way it was. I checked with my doc who asked me to get a blood test done and i did. The Estrogen he said was good whereas the testosterone has gone from 39 to 47. Though its not a lot i don't understand why these meds are not working. I then thought i had lost weight but rather i have put on so i dont exactly understand whats happening. Its honestly depressing to watch whatever progress you have made kind of just disappear.

[Lagertha]

16 months is about the right time to evaluate the results that hormones had... and based on that either keep the same regimen or adjust the doses, change to different form of administration, try different anti-androgen, etc... Nor everybody has satisfying results with estrogen in pill form. While some have great results with oral estrogen, some other report instant improvement when switching to injectable form. You should work with your doctor to make the right decision where to go next.

[Lara]

I obviously want to transition but i wanna be happy while i am doing it like when i started.. until last few months i was happy.. Ever Since these drastic changes i have gone back to being bitter, i get angry almost instantly like i used to before hrt.. its frustrating to be honest. You start and things are going fine and this happens.

[suzifrommd]

My suggestion would be to get with the doctor who prescribes the pills and ask them to check your hormone levels. Explain to them the problem and see what they think. There are all sorts of ways HRT can be delivered (pills, patches, injection, etc.) and maybe you need a different method or dosage.

[Lara]

i had a bit of muscles that are somewhere re appearing.. when i flex i get this bulge on my arm.. which had stopped almost instantly when i started hrt.. my veins are prominent.. i don't understand.. :

[archlord]

It could be a bad batch of  medication who knows.. I would try to get medication from another pharmacist

[Mariah]

It's possible that it could be just the batch of estrogen you received this time, could be that your hormones levels are changing and that you may need the levels checked again. it's possible that having them change you to a different delivery mechanism may be what you need, but regardless it is best to check with your doctor. Hugs
Mariah

[Paula1]

As I got older my daily dose of Climaval oestradiol valerate tablets were increased <Not Allowed> but the absorption was becoming poor resulting in my oestrogen levels being too low. Also I had no physical energy or sex drive and there was concern over long term damage to my liver.

Three years ago one of the UK's top endocrinlogists Dr Leighton-Seal, at the Charing Cross and St George's Hospitals in London, who has many years of experience with TG patients, pre-op and post-op (SRS) prescribed me ,<Not Allowed> Sandrena Gel which I rub into the skin each day. Now I have full energy and sex drive back with a reading of 607 pmol/L

16 months is about the right time to evaluate the results that hormones had... and based on that either keep the same regimen or adjust the doses, change to different form of administration, try different anti-androgen, etc... Nor everybody has satisfying results with estrogen in pill form. While some have great results with oral estrogen, some other report instant improvement when switching to injectable form. You should work with your doctor to make the right decision where to go next.

*No Dosages Please*

[V M]

Hi Friends 

Please keep in mind that dosages are not allowed on this site per Site Rules

8. The discussion of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and it's medications are permitted, with the following limitations:
A. You may not advocate for or against a specific medication or combinations of medication for personal gain. This is strictly prohibited.
B. You may not discuss the means to acquire HRT medications without a prescription. The discussion of self medication without a doctor's supervision is prohibited.
C. The posting of recommended, or actual dosages, is strongly discouraged to prevent information obtained on this site from being used to self medicate.

We cannot in good conscience condone the self administering of these medications. Not only may self medication be illegal, but HRT medications can cause serious health problems, and many have the potential for life-threatening side effects that can only be detected and prevented with proper medical supervision.

Thank you

V M

[JoanneB]

It could be a bad batch of  medication who knows.. I would try to get medication from another pharmacist

I'll second this.

Pills changing colors means the pharmacy is using a different supplier. A similat thing happens often with my wife's meds, especially with our 'local', as in non-chain, pharmacy. Every month it is a different pill. Every month they hit her differently.

I saw the same effect with my injectable E between an off-shore source and a USA brand

[stephaniec]

seems to me you need to sit down with your doctor. My therapist got me to a clinic that specializes in trans care and my pills are different and my breasts hurt a lot more

[Lyndsey]

WOW!
It sounds to me like if your Doctor didn't change you scripts than you have a problem with the Pharmacy. A change in brand can be a lot different. Talk to your doctor that is were i would start.

Hugs
Lyndsey

[Lara]

i had my blood work done and the doc found the estrogen to be fine but the testosterone had increased from 39 to 48.. so he asked me to get my blood work done after a few weeks and if it further increases i'll have to see him..
I have always said i haven't been totally happy with hrt cause i have honestly had high hopes but like i said i was coming around it.. i loved my boobs and my hips.. i had good assets i never though of getting a boob job. As a matter of fact when i had visited my doc in September he asked me if i got a boob job done.. like thats how good they developed. But ever since october (white pills) things have just sucked !! I have tried other pharmacy's and everywhere in my city they only have the white progynova.
I'll be getting my blood work done on the 4th of jan.
So lets see.. 

[Laura_7]

Well you might ask for bioidentical estrogen... it could make a difference...
it can additionally be taken sublingually, which is supposed to lessen clotting factors and be less straining on the liver.
Spreading the daily dose in a few small doses then instead of two big ones might help with more steady levels, and with mood...
and you might ask additionally for bioidentical progesterone. It can help with breast development and has some anti androgen effects. Its also present in natal women.
During pregnancy with higher levels breasts also develop further. A higher dose of bioidentical estrogen and progesterone is usually considered safe with implants and injections.

Estrogen should imo be over 180-200pg/ml...
some endos even go higher, which might drive down t so less or no anti androgens are needed. As said its only considered safe with implants and injections.

You might talk with your endo about it.
As said, during pregnancy levels of e and p are naturally much higher in natal females.
Studies showing unfavorable results usually are for non bioidentical estrogen, and oral intake which might raise clotting factors.


hugs

[Lara]

My E is 263pg/ml
My T is 47ng/dl

I take my progynova dosage just once every morning.
Whereas i take the Blockers twice a day.
I have been on this pattern every since i started.
What i don't understand is why are the effects changing now.

[Laura_7]

My E is 263pg/ml
My T is 47ng/dl

I take my progynova dosage just once every morning.
Whereas i take the Blockers twice a day.
I have been on this pattern every since i started.
What i don't understand is why are the effects changing now. Why didn't i get the unsatisfied results from the beginning

T should be good.

Concerning estrogen its also a matter of substances. There are related estrogens like estrone which might have a less favourable influence. And your estrogen is a synthetic form which might have a slightly different effect on receptors.

"I noticed they changed the blue pills to white." Its possible something in the production process was changed making for a less effective outcome.
One possibility might be to ask for original products, no substitution on recipe.

Another one as said to switch to bioidentical micronized estrogen. Those are usually uncoated pills which can be taken sublingually.
Estrace is one example.

And I personally would additionally ask for bioidentical progesterone.


hugs

[Martine A.]

Well you might ask for bioidentical estrogen... it could make a difference...

Twice today I read mention of 'bioidentical' hormones. Got me curious. I skimmed the wiki article.

Seems like an experimental and yet unknown field.

[Laura_7]

Twice today I read mention of 'bioidentical' hormones. Got me curious. I skimmed the wiki article.

Seems like an experimental and yet unknown field.

You are talking about BHRT which is predominantly for CIS people. Its hormone therapy for example at a certain age, or if testo levels dropped. Well  there are practitioners with a lot of experience, and its around for quite some time so it should not be too experimental. Its simply not widely accepted, maybe due to coverage issues.

Imo its preferable for Transgender people to use bioidentical products. They stimulate receptors like its meant to be.
There were years ago predominantly estrogens from non human sources, additionally connected with pain for the animals.
But nowadays bioidentical products are readily available.


hugs

[Martine A.]

Laura, that is what I found by opening the first search result. Per refs, in 2007 it was restricted to the US only. The article also states it is a form of alternative medicine, that risks were not clearly understood, among other things.

Not that I really need to know now, I am so long away from any HRT. I can watch it boil slowly, but certainly references help trusting what is written on forums.

[Lara]

I have been taking my E pills with water since the beginning..
I don't know if the blue pills were micronized cause it wasn't specified whereas with the new white pills its clearly mentioned that its micronized.. i still take it with water though..