Starting HRT and Starting a major conference in 2weeks good idea?

[Charla]

I expect that my doctor will give me a prescription for low dose HRT in the next 1-2 weeks. But I am giving the opening speech for a major conference in 2 weeks.  Done this many times before, but not while I was starting HRT. What experience have people had with emotional stability in the first couple of weeks of HRT?  I don't want to go up there and freeze up or start crying with happiness!

[Dena]

Your milage will vary. I had a little dizziness from a pretty low dose but it passed pretty quickly and I haven't had any more issues at a far higher dose.

[Mariah]

As Dena said, milage may very but it shouldn't be an issue. Just make sure your drinking plenty of liquids if on Spiro. Hugs
Mariah

[Rachel]

I have given presentations to large audiences and presented about 10 times at conferences. I am much more calm now then before hrt. The first 3 months were the most difficult for me because I was not use to hormones. I started with a transition dose. I felt no emotional difference for 3 or 4 weeks. Then emotions slowly became alive.

YMMV but I think you will be ok. If you are concerned then you could delay the hormones for 2 weeks.

[Ms Grace]

I have to say I've felt a lot more confident since taking HRT. I suggest that if you feel you may get emotional maybe check your speech for triggers since that is the only thing that is likely to set you off. I did get emotional in one speech, and that was in front of quite a crowd including CEOs and government ministers... but the speech was for my then organsisation's departing CEO and I got a bit teary and choked up at just the right moment. It wasn't intentional, just one sentence in the last part of the speech got me a bit sad, but it certainly had many in the audience a bit teary too! So check for triggers.

[Emjay]

Like everyone else has said: YMMV with this.

My own personal experience was also a start on low dose and to be honest, I don't really remember much in the way of changes until after my endo increased my dose three months later. 

I do remember being much happier and just a sense of peace (and relief?) after starting but I think, for me, it was more just the weight of actually starting being off of my shoulders more than the meds themselves.

The emotional changes really snuck up on me and they were subtle.  Thought patterns, emotions etc. all felt perfectly normal to me once I realized what was going on but they weren't foreign like something brand new should feel.  It was more like they were always there and I had just noticed them more than anything. 

[melissa_h]

Weeks 2 and 3 I saw a bit more fatigue, but i wasn't drinking enough water. I also got tired and slept earlier each night.  Something to keep in mind if you're out and about at a conference in the evening.

Otherwise, the prime effects in that time frame were a better confidence level and clarity of purpose, which should be good things going into a speech.