Quote from: AnamethatstartswithE on August 30, 2017, 06:01:08 PM
... last Tuesday I started Estradiol, and this past monday I started progesterone and spiro. ...Since last Tuesday I've lost about 2.5 pounds ... Since starting the spiro and progesterone I've been really sluggish, and it makes me feel kind of blah. ... Since starting the "need" to transition is getting less and less, which is making me more nervous about moving forward. How have other people dealt with this?
First the usual disclaimer that, despite whatever info you get informally outside of care providers, sharing your status with your care providers (GP, therapist, etc.) should be a priority. This is for many obvious reasons but generally different practitioners may approach the HRT intake with subtle differences, and they may want/need your feedback along the way to help interact with you regarding the process/dosage and meaning of everything. Some therapists may be able to help you navigate feelings of doubt by helping you stay on course by pointing out typical expected doubts as you adjust, or to help you see warning signs HRT may not be right for you. A robust interaction with good knowledgeable trans care providers can really help you take good steps and/or to chill if there's no worries, that sort of thing.
I started HRT on patches but after several follow-ups with lab work, and attempts to tweak patches, we shifted about 3 months later to Estradiol injections. That's when I truly started HRT because it's when I started to see the desired changes. Throughout, from patches to injections, I've largely had the same spiro pill dosage.
I don't recall significant fatigue or anything with patches. When I moved to injections, there was definitely an adjustment period with some fatigue. I kept in touch with my care providers throughout... My understanding is that this is expected. As you mentioned, people here have mentioned the same thing. Now, about two years into injections, the adjustment onto HRT has been wonderful... and I don't have those post-injection fatigue ups/downs... they were brief anyway but they don't happen anymore. Nowadays if I have fatigue it's because I'm up too late.
My best guess is you are adjusting to the HRT regime... but that's just a guess... you should really touch base with your doctors. I don't know the specifics, but I know there can be some reactions which might indicate HRT is not matched for you... I don't sense that from what you're saying but I can only guess.
I do know it's not uncommon for their to be an ironic but somewhat well-known flip/flopping that can occur in one's apparent need to feminize and the actual acts of doing so. In those situations, it seems that taking steps to feminize can relive the need to do so. I don't believe that precludes taking HRT as a step to feminize, where you then have a sense of not needing it afterwards. But a good therapist and GP is best to help pick apart your specific experience toward understanding what you're going through.
My best guess therefore is that you're going through typical intake ups/downs/moods as your body and mind adjust to the stabilization taking place. Along with that, the dysphoria is being relieved so you're not sensing the same level of strong urge to "get HRT today" because you're, well,
on HRT so that urge has been at least somewhat relieved. I sense that but again again again...this is a guess guess guess. Licensed med pros who know trans health care are best here.
Sorry for the major disclaimers but they aren't a formality... I genuinely mean it's a good idea to check with your care providers. It's safe, wise, healthy to do so—even if the answers seem obvious to you.
