Dr Tonia Mezzini and first appointment (very scary stuff)

[Sarah leah]

So I have been lurking for a few weeks due to my mental health concerns and work related stress/ I am a mental health social worker by trade, so we all get to a point where we need a few days rest once in a while.

So I was at home a few days ago when I got the call that I can see my endocrinologist to start hrt (cross fingers) and the appointment is in  34 hours and 35 minutes not that I am counting. It will be in Adelaide so a big 6 hour drive non-stop to get there in my little red turbo  although it might be less if I forget to back off in 6th gear.

I will be seeing Dr Tonia Mezzini from Norwood SA, 5067.

Has anyone seen her before? What will happen there? Shall I be made to strip or sing a song while coughing on one leg? It is all very strange and scary, yet exciting with a hint of why why why???

[Cindy]

Tonia is a a very friendly, very professional endo. I cannot think of any issues you would have with her.
Her staff are great and very friendly - in fact she asked me to give a talk to them about etiquette i dealing with new TG clients.

So she is very committed to providing an excellent service to the transgender community.

[Sarah leah]

Thank you Cindy.

UPDATE:
I ended up getting there in spite of a canceled flight to Adelaide at 4am via automated text message from REX airlines due to fog, which I did not see until 7.30am when I woke. I was not impressed as it takes 5 hours to drive there from near Mount Gambier and appointment as at 11.50am. Thankfully I had fuel in my 2015 German sports car. So turbo engaged and theoretical speed limits breached via warp drive I got there.

She seemed nice although she gave me a fright with suggestions of how I might get called a pedophile and other delightful names due to living in a hick/redneck town. I know she was testing the waters and be blunt but I never considered that term might be used by the public against me

We spoke for a while and agreed that I would follow her lead and start on a half dose of Spironolactone a day for two weeks (no dose sharing sorry) then increase. They smell yuck and taste it too lol.

I  am kind of nervous but just had one 10 mins ago.

So what kind of change will I expect in general over the next few weeks as I am not having anything else for now just this.

[Sarah leah]

So two day on spiro and I am thinking I might notice something whether mental or in terms of something in a few weeks. I was hoping to start E but no true reason given so I am hoping to ask over the phone in a few weeks if I can start a low dose once I get the two week blood test back from using spiro. At which point I can double the amount to what I hear is a within normal range that others take.

Will I see anything happen in two weeks as in .... I don't know weeing more, sleeping etc.

Thank you to anyone who reads this and replies.

[Sarah leah]

So been nearly two months on spiro alone with two tablets a day for 30 days. I am not sure if I am seeing any changes yet or not. Should I be?

I think my sex drive is down from 160% most days to every so often I think hmm that person is hot I would roll in the hay with them hehe!!

In 30 days I hope to return to start E but it is one of those I bet I get a patch or something things which I am not really all that excited about as I feel like it is a bit of a weak way of doing things. I am in my 30s sure but I do not drink or smoke and I am fit.

[stephaniec]

I think you need to let things flow. It took at least 6 months for me to notice much. I did feel pain in my beautiful breasts the first 2 weeks on spiro and E. but I really didnt see much change until 6 months and that was somewhat minimal on looking over my daily selfies.The real changes started after about 2 years. I'm at 35 months now and I feel good I  look good with hopefully more to come. I'm from the great US

[becky.rw]

For me, who panicked and stopped more than once, two weeks is what it took for the AA to shut down the overdriven sexuality.   I've come to terms with what before and after feel like now, so no more panicking.     So like, right now, I feel like a perfectly normal human, and thoughts run in my head, "why do I have to take that pill each morning and wear stickers on my butt, I'm normal, right?"   But I know and have accepted now, that I'm normal only so long as I'm compliant.   

I choose to remain a normal human, comfortable in her skin, reassured that the world is ok by the very gradual changes in this male body; even if it will pose its own challenges over time, they are challenges that a normal human can in fact reasonably handle.

[AnonyMs]

I don't think its a good idea starting on spiro as it doesn't do much. I think its better to start on estrogen, and see how you feel. Its the one that's going to make you feel good (or not) and cause changes, and I think that's what you want to know at the start.

You start spiro and estrogen separately just in case something bad happens, so that you know whats causing it. I doubt you need to wait months between them for that though.

[Michelle_P]

My endocrinologist did something similar with me when my pre-treatment blood work wasn't perfect.  I was on spironolactone only until I did my first blood work after starting, and we had a better idea of how I was responding.  She explained that she wanted to change just one thing at a time to better determine how I tolerated the change in medication, which made sense to me. (I'm an engineer.  Testing methodology generally dictates altering only one variable at a time.)

Once we had the test results after about 5 weeks on spiro, I was started on a low dose estradiol patch.  This week (3 months) I'll do another full blood test panel, and we'll make adjustments as dictated by the test results.

Getting started, particularly with a cautious patient and endocrinologist, can take a little time.  The results are worth it, though!  (Just ordered new bras! )

[Sarah leah]

I started on a low does of estrogen patches, with the aim of increasing it in a month or so. It was kind of poetic as Dr. Mezzini placed the first patch on my arm, I kind of freaked repeating thank you. Followed by leaving the building and it clicked in the middle of traffic....

I am on HRT at last.   

[Anne Blake]

Congratulations Sarah, enjoy the journey. But hold on tight, it can be quite the roller coaster ride. From my perspective, it has been one of the best rides that I have ever taken. - Anne