Does initial intake of spiro make you look and feel tired?

[Charlie Nicki]

For the first month I took spiro only, and started estradiol 4 days ago. I've lost a lot of weight and people tell me I look tired, I have dark circles under my eyes etc...I do feel kinda tired and sleepy most of the time. As to my weight, I did diet by quitting sweets and sugar of all type but other than that I'm eating the normal amount yet it seems I'm still losing weight. My question is, is there a chance all of this might be happening because the first month I only took spiro, therefore lowered the T and had the natural low E? So all hormones low.

I'm assuming once the estradiol kicks in and my E levels start to increase I'll look a bit better probably in a couple of weeks; I'm not talking about the feminization since I know that will take months/years, I'm talking about not looking like a starving zombie. I say couple of weeks because I do feel the spiro had a big effect in the first month, so it's very like the estradiol will also act quickly. Thoughts, similar experiences?

[Devlyn]

Are you drinking plenty of clear water? Spiro is going to dry you out.

Hugs, Devlyn

[Charlie Nicki]

Are you drinking plenty of clear water? Spiro is going to dry you out.

Hugs, Devlyn

OMG I'm not.

[Devlyn]

64 oz minimum a day. Coffee, juice, soda, beer, wine, none of that counts. It has to be calorie free or your body uses water to process it. Once you start drinking that much you can come join us in the "I'm peeing myself" thread.   

Hugs, Devlyn

[Elli.P]

I was on spiro by itself for a year and yes it zapped my energy. At the end of day I would be beat. My wife joked that I was definitely becoming a girl because I would fall asleep on the couch in the evening watching tv. Which I never did before. As for appearance I'm not sure. I lost 30 lbs I think mostly muscle mass. My head seemed kinda foggy also. I have been on estrogen combined with the Spiro for a month now. I'm not as tired in the evening and the head fog has started to clear and my boobs are sore as hell. Lol, but that's a good thing.

P.S. I second the water thing. You have to drink plenty of water on spiro.

[AshleyP]

Thoughts, similar experiences?

My experience on spiro only was not at all like what you're describing. At least for me, spiro only did a poor job of suppressing T production. Lab tests indicated only a minor effect on production. It may have done a better job of blocking T from the receptors.

Are you drinking plenty of clear water? Spiro is going to dry you out.

This is very true. You do have to drink more water or you may see some of the effects you describe. Also, muscle cramps are often associated with spiro. They bother me from time to time and can be severe. Spiro can also deplete the body's sodium levels.

All the best,
--AshleyP

[KathyLauren]

I have no experience on S alone, since my doc started me on S and E together.  But, yes, you need to drink a ton of water.  The more you drink, the more you pee, so you'll still end up dehydrated.  But if you don't drink enough, you'll end up with low blood pressure and feeling weak. 

I spent this afternoon cutting up a huge, overgrown juniper bush and stacking the brush in warm, humid weather.  I had to stop every few minutes and put my head down to avoid feeling light-headed.

[Deborah]

If you think you drank enough water then you need more.  If I drink less than 160 oz more than a few days in a row I can really start feeling a difference.  The same goes for salt.  I've found my daily salt threshold to be around 6 grams.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

[KayXo]

Lots of salt and water. Was probably due to dehydration. Cutting down on sugar also results in somewhat of a diuretic effect so double whammy!

[Tammy Jade]

I have been on Spiro only for about the same time as you,

I am looking forward to starting on E because I get so much more tired, by the time I get home from work most days I'm ready for bed. My Endo warned me I may feel a little flat while only on Spiro.. I would say flat was a understatement.. I have found the longer Iv been on it the worse it has gotten. I have also lost quite a bit of weight.


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[Lucy Ross]

For years I've dealt with weak streams, getting up in the middle of the night, etc.  Flowmax and the like did little to alleviate things.  I took my first tablet of Spiro 5 hours ago and was rewarded   shortly thereafter with one colossal whiz, so here's to welcome side effects!

I already drink gallons of h2o daily so shriveling up won't be an issue.  Why everyone doesn't I'll never understand.  My electrolygist has a whole mess of clients who refuse to hydrate (impedes the electrolysis) or drink caffeine before sessions  (makes them more painful).  Ain't rocket science!

[Charlie Nicki]

Lots of salt and water. Was probably due to dehydration. Cutting down on sugar also results in somewhat of a diuretic effect so double whammy!

Hmmm I think you might be right, I started drinking tons of water since yesterday and I already feel better.

[Kendra]

Curious if the doctor who wrote this prescription is a general practitioner or an endocrinologist?  I'm surprised they didn't mention spironolactone is a diuretic.

Very glad to hear you already feel better.  I bet you will also start to look better.

[Charlie Nicki]

Curious if the doctor who wrote this prescription is a general practitioner or an endocrinologist?  I'm surprised they didn't mention spironolactone is a diuretic.

Very glad to hear you already feel better.  I bet you will also start to look better.

Thank you. I initially went to a general doctor, then to an endo but my appointment with that one wasn't good because he told me he didn't know anything about transgender HRT so he sent me to another endocrinologist and I still have to wait for that appointment until August 8th, he didn't even bother to look at my medical exams. So I'm self medicating at the moment (yeah I know I shouldn't be, but I don't want to wait for another month and I will still be monitored, just that I got a head start). I also told both of those doctors that I was taking spiro to lower the T levels and they didn't even flinch.

I did know it was a diuretic but silly me thought it meant I was gonna pee a lot and that's it, didn't actually realize it also meant my body needed more water .

[AnneK]

Curious if the doctor who wrote this prescription is a general practitioner or an endocrinologist?  I'm surprised they didn't mention spironolactone is a diuretic.

When I get prescriptions, they are always accompanied by an information sheet that describes the various issues, side effects etc.  It certainly should be mentioned there.  Also, a pharmacist tends to be better informed about such matters, as that is their profession.  It's also why you should try to get all your prescriptions from the same pharmacy, so they have the total picture of what you're taking.  I also get a card with each prescription, that lists all the things I've been prescribed recently.  If someone asks about other prescriptions, I just show them the card.