Just switched from sublingual to injections. Not sure how I'm supposed to feel

[Autumnleaf]

So I just switched to injections a few days ago since my estrogen levels were low.  (Dr. Wanted to see if injections would increase my levels)  odd thing is, on the day I had the injection, I felt great.  The next day, I pretty much felt nothing.  Like a baseline, kind of how I felt prior to hrt.  It's been that way since.  It might all be in my head but I feel I look a little more masculine as well.

With the sublinguals, I did have some minor ups and downs but generally felt somewhat feminine.  With the injection, I don't feel that at all.  So I'll have to see what my levels are the next time I get a blood test done.  My question is, is this possible sign that the injection isn't working?  Is it a sign that it is working?  Sorry, just didn't expect injections to actually make me feel like my old self.

[Dena]

I was on pills and never found them to make me feel any different. For me the point of treatment was to stop the discomfort which I believe comes as the result of a high T level in your system. You didn't say what your T levels are, but if they are elevated, that might be the issue. 

I did a crash course on modern HRT over the last few day and from what I learned, injections should be more effective over the first few day but they won't produce the hight initial lives that sublingual will. Over just a few hours after sublingual you E levels plunge way down, possibly lower than they are with injections.

[KayXo]

Injections will significantly suppress T levels. I'm quite sure your levels with injections, on average, are higher. Changes take time to see and FEEL...a few days isn't enough.

[Autumnleaf]

I was on pills and never found them to make me feel any different. For me the point of treatment was to stop the discomfort which I believe comes as the result of a high T level in your system. You didn't say what your T levels are, but if they are elevated, that might be the issue. 

I did a crash course on modern HRT over the last few day and from what I learned, injections should be more effective over the first few day but they won't produce the hight initial lives that sublingual will. Over just a few hours after sublingual you E levels plunge way down, possibly lower than they are with injections.

So my T levels when I checked them in Oct. was at 10 ng/dL or so.  I can't imagine that they would have changed much since then.  Yes, I felt the highs and lows with sublingual but I also felt generally more softer and feminine over all.  So losing that feeling is kind of.....I don't know.

Injections will significantly suppress T levels. I'm quite sure your levels with injections, on average, are higher. Changes take time to see and FEEL...a few days isn't enough.

See, that's the weird thing.  I felt more masculine the last few days since I had my first injection.  I actually expected not to feel any different when I switched over.  I've been feeling some of my male aggression along with the general feelings of detachment come on slowly.  Also feel much less emotional and somewhat almost stoic.  It's weird, almost like I'm emotionally reverting back slowly. 

Maybe it's nothing, I'll being seeing my GP next month to do another blood test.  I was just hoping that maybe someone else experienced this or has insight into what this is. 

[Denjin]

I felt much better with injectables, personally.  I'm in the UK now and can't take them so just go with sublingual... I'm sure my levels peak faster and who knows how much is just running down my throat into my stomach, too.

[KayXo]

10 ng/dl is VERY low. I doubt that on injections, levels of T will increase. Are you taking E. Cypionate injections or E. Valerate? I personally don't like Cypionate much.

Also, one needs to be sure the injectable dose is equivalent in the sense that levels approximate the average, between highs and lows on sublingual. Perhaps check levels just before next injection.

On sublingual, there is no point measuring estradiol levels as they fluctuate way too much between maximum and minimum, in as much as 10x less or more in a matter of a few hours.

What may be happening is that with injections, your levels are significantly lower than what they were when at its peak sublingually...so perhaps you should have stayed with sublingual or injection dose should be increased. Also, you could wait it out as levels gradually increase and become steady after a few weeks on injections.

Discuss all this with doctor and see what happens on your next appointment. They will know what to do.

[Autumnleaf]

I felt much better with injectables, personally.  I'm in the UK now and can't take them so just go with sublingual... I'm sure my levels peak faster and who knows how much is just running down my throat into my stomach, too.

Weird....maybe it's just me then.

10 ng/dl is VERY low. I doubt that on injections, levels of T will increase. Are you taking E. Cypionate injections or E. Valerate? I personally don't like Cypionate much.

Also, one needs to be sure the injectable dose is equivalent in the sense that levels approximate the average, between highs and lows on sublingual. Perhaps check levels just before next injection.

On sublingual, there is no point measuring estradiol levels as they fluctuate way too much between maximum and minimum, in as much as 10x less or more in a matter of a few hours.

What may be happening is that with injections, your levels are significantly lower than what they were when at its peak sublingually...so perhaps you should have stayed with sublingual or injection dose should be increased. Also, you could wait it out as levels gradually increase and become steady after a few weeks on injections.

Discuss all this with doctor and see what happens on your next appointment. They will know what to do.

Thank you Kay, always so informative! 

Is 10 ng/dl that low?  I thought it was considered to be a female range, no?  I'm currently taking E. Valerate at transition dosage and since it'll be on around the 9th day when I see my doctor, I'm not sure how my levels will read out.

Oh, do levels actually increase eventually?  I hope that happens, I'll probably give it another few months before deciding on what to do.

[KayXo]

T levels range anywhere from 15-90 in ciswomen. My levels are 8 and yours 10, they fall below the normal range. Best to see where E levels fall when they are the lowest, just before next injection.

[kittenpower]

My MD has prescribed pills and injections for me from the beginning; I'm happy with the combination, but I want to try pellets.

[Autumnleaf]

My MD has prescribed pills and injections for me from the beginning; I'm happy with the combination, but I want to try pellets.

Wow, pills and injections?  Wouldn't it be better to increase either one instead of taking both?

[Rachel]

I was first on pills then switched to injections. A 14 day cycle for IM was too much so my doctor agreed to a 10 day cycle.

12 or so hours after injecting I feel an E spike and it is wonderful. I am so happy. I am level in how I feel day 3-7.

[iKate]

I am on pills now but I want to switch to injections because pills are just a hassle.

[Joi]

Switched from patches to injections today.  Finally received my E Valerate in the mail.
Gave myself an injection in the hip. Didn't hurt a bit.
Nothing feels different. Nor did I expect it to.
Maybe in a few days.

[Autumnleaf]

Wow, I guess I'm the only one feeling this way.  I was a very aggressive and confrontational type of guy but after hrt, that part of me calmed down a lot.  Now I feel that male aggression and masculine mentality returning.  It's actually confusing and now, I almost feel like detransitioning.  This only happened a few days after my first injection shot.  This is so disheartening. 

[Blush]

Wow, I guess I'm the only one feeling this way.  I was a very aggressive and confrontational type of guy but after hrt, that part of me calmed down a lot.  Now I feel that male aggression and masculine mentality returning.  It's actually confusing and now, I almost feel like detransitioning.  This only happened a few days after my first injection shot.  This is so disheartening.

Are you on progesterone or anything else other than estradiol?

[KayXo]

Progesterone is not androgenic nor does it increase testosterone levels. I take a high dose of progesterone orally and my T levels are 8 ng/dl, down from 20 ng/dl when I was taking a LOWER dose of progesterone. Don't confuse progesterone for some other progestins which are androgenic like medroxyprogesterone acetate.

[Blush]

Don't confuse progesterone for some other progestins which are androgenic like medroxyprogesterone acetate.

So most every time I've taken progesterone it's made me tired and/or hungry. Many people get a little aggressive when they're tired and/or hungry. Do we know what's changed? Stayed the same? The more info from someone with new symptoms the better, process of elimination and thinking out loud.

[Autumnleaf]

Are you on progesterone or anything else other than estradiol?

I'm just on EV and spiro.  I've been a bit sick so I'm just tired but the nagging feeling of not feeling feminine is really disheartening and kind of confusing at this point.

[Blush]

I'm just on EV and spiro.  I've been a bit sick so I'm just tired but the nagging feeling of not feeling feminine is really disheartening and kind of confusing at this point.

From the sound of things you're getting them injected at your doctor's office? I'd say it's worth a call to their office to make sure they're injecting it intramuscularly (into muscle), not subcutaneously (into fat), so we can keep checking stuff off to check for you. In the past I was getting injections every two weeks, and by close to the end of the second week I was feeling depleted, so I had to increase that frequency. PM me the dose and instructions written on your bottle/box of your EV.