Pace of change

[Megan.]

I'm 1 day shy of three months on HRT,  I've loved all the changes physical and emotional. I'm full-time and out to everyone so the physical stuff is not anything I have to hide.
I'm comfortable with the pace of changes I've already seen,  but I'm due to double my  E dosage (NHS protocol). My transition up till now (3 years) has been incremental, I don't really want or need the pace of change to accelerate (I'm probably the odd one out for saying this). I've got the meds already,  but I can't decide if I really want to increase them right now,  or stay longer on my original dose, so confused!

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[KathyLauren]

Is there any reason not to increase the dose?

[Megan.]

Is there any reason not to increase the dose?

My assumption (rightly or wrongly) is that doing so would accelerate my pace of change,  where I'm quite happy with the current pace...  I'm a slow n' steady kind of gal. Otherwise,  no other reason.

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[Michelle_P]

Megan, I'm not sure stepping up the level at this point will speed the change so much as keep it from plateauing.

My dosage was ramped up after about 8 months. Changes at the old level had largely stopped after about 4 months. My serum E level was quite low, below "transition normal" and the increase pushed it to 112 pg/mL, still on the low side but what my old endo would say was above normal for a 64 year old (post menopause!) woman.

The new endo has actual experience with trans folks, what with running the clinic for us within a major HMO!  [emoji6] 

It's more about maintaining levels that continue to drive your transition than anything else. The broad idea is to follow the natural progression of E serum levels through a natural puberty, as a known biological model.


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[Megan.]

Michelle, thank you, I'd not considered a plateau,  I figured things would get there,  but just slower.
I think some of the comments I've read here about 'hanging on for the ride'  have me a little spooked,  I prefer the cups-and-saucers to a raging-roller-coaster [emoji4].
I have no doubts about transition more broadly. I guess I'll just take my pills like a good girl,  and see how wild things get,  or not. X

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[Bari Jo]

Plateauing has me concerned.  I didn't know that was a possibility either.  I've been on hormones for years before, herbals.  Do you think this would impair results now?

[DawnOday]

Meagan My Doctor changed my dose about three months in. Now at 13 months.  I am now experiencing my butt transitioning to a round beautiful butt and it is hard to stuff it in my old boy jeans. While my waist keeps getting smaller.

[AshleyP]

Changes at the old level had largely stopped after about 4 months.

<sigh> My changes started in month four and stopped during month five. I'm 10 months in now and haven't seen any noticeable change since then. Michelle, your observation makes me wonder if I've gotten all that I'm gonna get.

--AshleyP

[Megan.]

<sigh> My changes started in month four and stopped during month five. I'm 10 months in now and haven't seen any noticeable change since then. Michelle, your observation makes me wonder if I've gotten all that I'm gonna get.

--AshleyP

Ashley,  I'm assuming you've had your blood levels checked and have spoken with your endo about this ?

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[KathyLauren]

My development plateaued at about four months.  At eight months, I finally talked my HRT doc into increasing my dose, but only because my T levels were creeping back up.  I am hoping that the increase in both S and E will bring the T back down to where it belongs and restart things.

[Bari Jo]

My development plateaued at about four months.  At eight months, I finally talked my HRT doc into increasing my dose, but only because my T levels were creeping back up.  I am hoping that the increase in both S and E will bring the T back down to where it belongs and restart things.

I must say, this has added to my stress and anxiety.  I don't need large boobs OR hips, but a more feminine face I need.  I'm a bit worried:(
Sorry Megan for hijacking your thread:(

Bari Jo

[Megan.]

It's fine hon,  the ever clear-headed Michelle knocked some sense into me.
I'd like more than I've currently got,  but I don't want BIG boobs either,  they'll mess with my sports! Why don't you want development in those areas?

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[Deborah]

After maybe a year the changes seemed to plateau.  I don't think they really did though.  I think they continue at a slower rate in ways that are hard to quantify.  I say that because I seem to "pass" a lot more as time goes on without putting in any real effort.


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[Bari Jo]

It's fine hon,  the ever clear-headed Michelle knocked some sense into me.
I'd like more than I've currently got,  but I don't want BIG boobs either,  they'll mess with my sports! Why don't you want development in those areas?

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Oh, I will take boobs and hips, but they aren't super high on my list of feminine attributes.  I would like a feminine face, or at least more than I have right now.  I hate my face as it currently stands:(

[AshleyP]

Ashley,  I'm assuming you've had your blood levels checked and have spoken with your endo about this ?

Yeah, had my last check up in late August. Total serum estradiol was 515 pg/mL. He said they like the 400 - 800 pg/mL range. They don't specify estradiol tests but I did it on my own and it was 103 pg/mL. Total T was 17 ng/dL. Tests were run late in the dosing cycle, > 24 hrs. He said everything was looking good.

--AshleyP

[Megan.]

Yeah, had my last check up in late August. Total serum estradiol was 515 pg/mL. He said they like the 400 - 800 pg/mL range. They don't specify estradiol tests but I did it on my own and it was 103 pg/mL. Total T was 17 ng/dL. Tests were run late in the dosing cycle, > 24 hrs. He said everything was looking good.

--AshleyP

I'm no doctor and it's early days for me,  but I've seen others comment about things stopping and then starting again, keep the faith. X

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[Michelle_P]

How our bodies respond, and how we actually SEE the effects of HRT are interesting.  Going from nothing to a little something is really obvious.  Going from a little something to a little more something is pretty hard to spot.

Hey, I was a 34B (B for Barely) at the beginning of the year.  I'm still a 34B 9 months later, just a little more filled out.  There's been MAYBE an inch change at the waist, and a little on the hips.  Whatever is happening now is pretty subtle.

I'm hoping I see the little spike in changes once I am post-op and there's no T leaking into the works.  I'll be off spiro, which right there will be interesting.  I used to have borderline hypertension controlled by extreme sodium reduction, to 700 mg/day compared to the recommended 2300 mg/day or the typical American diet of 4500 mg/day.  I am hoping losing the T helps keep my BP down.  (Lot of hoping there!)

[Megan.]

How our bodies respond, and how we actually SEE the effects of HRT are interesting.  Going from nothing to a little something is really obvious.  Going from a little something to a little more something is pretty hard to spot.

Hey, I was a 34B (B for Barely) at the beginning of the year.  I'm still a 34B 9 months later, just a little more filled out.  There's been MAYBE an inch change at the waist, and a little on the hips.  Whatever is happening now is pretty subtle.

I'm hoping I see the little spike in changes once I am post-op and there's no T leaking into the works.  I'll be off spiro, which right there will be interesting.  I used to have borderline hypertension controlled by extreme sodium reduction, to 700 mg/day compared to the recommended 2300 mg/day or the typical American diet of 4500 mg/day.  I am hoping losing the T helps keep my BP down.  (Lot of hoping there!)

I'm curious about the difference/rate of change between those on Spiro and those (inc. me) on GNRH blockers. I've not had it measured,  but my T will in theory have been at or below natal female level since the very start of my HRT,  whereas it seems Spiro is ramped up for those on it,  and may? not block T quite as effectively.

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[Bari Jo]

I'm curious about the difference/rate of change between those on Spiro and those (inc. me) on GNRH blockers. I've not had it measured,  but my T will in theory have been at or below natal female level since the very start of my HRT,  whereas it seems Spiro is ramped up for those on it,  and may? not block T quite as effectively.

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I ramped up Spiro on my latest diy hrt, and my Dr kept my dosage the same as she thinks it's optimum.  I get my first t bloodwork in a couple weeks.  I know the Spiro is working for obvious reasons:).  However, I don't think I'm getting the results from e that I want yet.  I was at 185 pg/ml while on pills, now on pellets.  I feel about the same,  maybe it's because I'm dieting too?

Bari Jo

[Megan.]

I ramped up Spiro on my latest diy hrt, and my Dr kept my dosage the same as she thinks it's optimum.  I get my first t bloodwork in a couple weeks.  I know the Spiro is working for obvious reasons:).  However, I don't think I'm getting the results from e that I want yet.  I was at 185 pg/ml while on pills, now on pellets.  I feel about the same,  maybe it's because I'm dieting too?

Bari Jo

I'd assume that weight loss is going to minimise the laying down of female fat deposits. I'd love to lose 30lbs, but my weight is holding steady atm.
I exercise early in the mornings before eating to burn fat when my glycogen and carb stores are lowest, but then eat normally during the day,  hopefully putting some of those calories back in a more preffered location [emoji3]

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