HRT observations

[Megan.]

So wonderful you are finding yourself. I sympathize with all the cover up, lies, self doubt and depression.  And now you are on your way to who you have always been.   Here is an article about using castor oil for hair growth. I've been using it on my eyelashes and it works.  https://wellnessmama.com/35706/castor-oil-hair/  Hey what you go to lose? 

Tnx hun, I did castor/coconut/olive oil hair masks early on,  while I was growing my hair out; but I've been too lazy to do it of late [emoji23]

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[Megan.]

Update: To recap on this part of the thread, back in late October I experienced three episodes of haematospermia (blood in my ejaculate).
There followed GP appointments,  blood tests,  consultants, and an initial 'look see' with a camera up my urethra. While this did not find the cause of the blood (this may remain a forever mystery), it did reveal some narrow points along the urethra (strictures), the worst of which was at a position that would impact any possible future GRS surgery.
Last night I booked back into the hospital,  and they put me under GA to 'stretch' these narrow sections. All went well, and I write this waiting to be discharged to go home.
I've been catheterised for 5 days [emoji853], but otherwise am well.

Separately, on the HRT front, my breasts have been a bit more sore the last week, and might be having a bit of a growth spurt; this is around 7 months in on HRT.

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[Kendra]

Wow - best wishes for a full recovery, this sounds serious.  Sounds like you are getting good care. 

[Megan.]

Wow - best wishes for a full recovery, this sounds serious.  Sounds like you are getting good care.

Tnx hun,  I'll be good, spirits are high! X

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[RobynTx]

Having to carry around a cath bag sucks.  Hope everything turns out alright.

[Laurie]

Hi Megan,

  I hope the stretching did it's job as planned and that something similar won't be needed again. I've had a catheter for several days myself and it really was a problem for me because they didn't want me out of bed anyway. I didn't even have to empty the dang thing. I thought it was funny afyer the removed it as that body part went into hiding for a few days and this was long before  I started HRT. I think it got scared.... Little does it know what may still be in store for it.

Hugs hun,
   Laurie

[Jessica]

Best wishes Megan!

[Jayne01]

Hi Megan, I'm only getting short bursts of internet access, so only get a chance to reply to a few people at a time. I have been focusing my attention on a good friend who has been feeling down lately.

I wish you a full and quick recovery from the stretching procedure. Does that hurt? Sounds painful. You want things to be in the best possible shape for any future GRS (GCS? It has so many different names!). I've never had a catheter, it doesn't sound pleasant.

YAY! On the boob growth spurt!

Jayne

[Kendra]

> You want things to be in the best possible shape for any future GRS (GCS? It has so many different names!). I've never had a catheter, it doesn't sound pleasant.

I wrestled with the same terminology... I called it GRS for quite awhile but then noticed the forum/board name here is GCS.  Some have noted a Correction fits nicely with the mindset this aligns someone's body to their brain where a Revision might not.  SRS confuses me because my car's dashboard and steering wheel are labeled SRS (airbag). 

I wore a catheter Jan 18-26 and it wasn't that bad.  I hated the thought of taking a walk outside with a catheter bag, but there wasn't a bag once stepping out of bed - I was shown how to disconnect from the bag and cap the catheter, and remove the cap to use the bathroom.  I should mention my catheter involved post-GCS anatomy.  I imagine a catheter with pre-GCS anatomy might be more difficult or painful. 

[Megan.]

Update: My 5 days with the catheter was terrible, my glans became hypersensitive, and just moving a little was extremely uncomfortable, so I spent 5 days on the sofa with Netflix;  I was very glad to have it removed which happened on Monday. The consultant found no specific cause for the original bleeding, so that'll be a little mystery!

Last night I met with the consultant to review things. He confirmed that I will have to dilate alternate days (only 5 minutes with a catheter) on an ongoing basis to help with the strictures and to prevent them getting any worse. He said that I have significant scaring along my urethra (probably from hypospadia repairs I had as a child) and that reconstructive surgery may well be required at a later date.

I now find myself in a slightly amusing sittutation:
I can dilate then (possibly) have surgery to keep what I don't really want.
Or have GRS then dilate to have what I'd prefer.

Up until this point I'd be very uncertain if I wanted a vaginoplasty, but faced with at least the chance of surgery regardless, I'm now leaning heavily that way.

This all sounds terrible,  but I'm fine, I never had an issue with medical stuff and my body, it's an adventure!

If anyone has any specific questions about any of the above please PM me. X

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[Jayne01]

Update: My 5 days with the catheter was terrible, my glans became hypersensitive, and just moving a little was extremely uncomfortable, so I spent 5 days on the sofa with Netflix;  I was very glad to have it removed which happened on Monday. The consultant found no specific cause for the original bleeding, so that'll be a little mystery!

Last night I met with the consultant to review things. He confirmed that I will have to dilate alternate days (only 5 minutes with a catheter) on an ongoing basis to help with the strictures and to prevent them getting any worse. He said that I have significant scaring along my urethra (probably from hypospadia repairs I had as a child) and that reconstructive surgery may well be required at a later date.

I now find myself in a slightly amusing sittutation:
I can dilate then (possibly) have surgery to keep what I don't really want.
Or have GRS then dilate to have what I'd prefer.

Up until this point I'd be very uncertain if I wanted a vaginoplasty, but faced with at least the chance of surgery regardless, I'm now leaning heavily that way.

This all sounds terrible,  but I'm fine, I never had an issue with medical stuff and my body, it's an adventure!

If anyone has any specific questions about any of the above please PM me. X

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Sorry you had those 5 unpleasant days with the catheter.

I've had dreams of doctors telling me that I need surgery down below. If you need to dilate and have surgery, it may as well be for what you want instead of maintaining what you don't want.

I'm glad you are ok and are keeping a positive attitude whichever way you choose to go.

Jayne

[Roll]

Just had to say I love the new profile picture!!

[Megan.]

... I've had dreams of doctors telling me that I need surgery down below...

Jayne

Yup, I can relate to this, and I suspect many others here. I can promise the reality isn't so glamourus!

I think it would be a healthier choice to make willingly without any duress. I still have many months until any final choice is made, but I'm now 10 months into full-time,  with no desire to detransition (aside the usual external influences).

Megan. X

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[Megan.]

Just had to say I love the new profile picture!!

Tnx hun. I took down my old pic, but it felt odd not having one, so that's just a quick snap. [emoji4]

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[TonyaW]

I wrestled with the same terminology... I called it GRS for quite awhile but then noticed the forum/board name here is GCS.  Some have noted a Correction fits nicely with the mindset this aligns someone's body to their brain where a Revision might not.  SRS confuses me because my car's dashboard and steering wheel are labeled SRS (airbag). 

I saw Marci Bowers say gender affirmation  would be a better term than gender confirmation.  She said it's not used since it shortens to GAS and nobody wants gas. 

Might have been from that Katie Couric special. 

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[Bari Jo]

Thanks for this update Megan.  I bet I have the same issue.  I wasn't sure if I wanted GCS when starting to transition, but the more I'm on hrt, the more i want it.  Plus if I can avoid a catheter then heck yes!  I didn't say before,/after but I like the new pict too.  I know you say it's just a quick snap, but pretty and confident!

Bari Jo

[Megan.]

I've started a new GRS thread to track my experiences on that journey below.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=234607.0

X.

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[Megan.]

It appears (frustratingly) that the one part of me in excellent condition is my liver. After a second increase in my oral E dose,  my levels are still only 252pmol/L; below the preferred level of 300pmol/L by the NHS GICs.
The silver lining is that the slightly elevated liver test (aminotransferase) result from before is now comfortably back in range, so the HRT isn't seemingly doing any harm.

My plan will be to go back to my GP and talk about alternative delivery methods,  patches,  gel, implants etc...

I've tried patches before and been happy, the only question will now be the dose level as Oral and Transdermal do not equate.

Will update here on outcomes... X

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[steph2.0]

It appears (frustratingly) that the one part of me in excellent condition is my liver. After a second increase in my oral E dose,  my levels are still only 252pmol/L; below the preferred level of 300pmol/L by the NHS GICs.
The silver lining is that the slightly elevated liver test (aminotransferase) result from before is now comfortably back in range, so the HRT isn't seemingly doing any harm.

My plan will be to go back to my GP and talk about alternative delivery methods,  patches,  gel, implants etc...

I've tried patches before and been happy, the only question will now be the dose level as Oral and Transdermal do not equate.

Will update here on outcomes... X

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It's great to see you posting again, Megan. I love the new avatar!


- Stephanie

[KayXo]

After a second increase in my oral E dose,  my levels are still only 252pmol/L

Isn't the more important question: are you getting good results on your current dose, as in some breast growth, good feminization overall, feeling good mentally?

Levels fluctuate so could well be over 300, for several hours of the day, your sensitivity may be that you respond well to lower levels and on oral E, your higher levels of estrone sulfate, estrone and SHBG relative to ciswomen end up giving you sufficient estrogenic effects as estrone sulfate, estrone convert to estradiol in your cells and more T is bound and made unavailable by high SHBG.

Food for thought...as always, follow doctor's orders.