Early HRT questions

[Roll]

Just a few quick questions I'm curious about people's experiences regarding. I know there is a lot of variation person to person, but I'm looking for some general insight anyway.

First... how fast did you notice breasts being itchy? Because mine are itchy as hell and it's only been 16 days. But I don't know if it is coincidence (my skin irritates easy plus psoriasis) or if it actually happens this early.

Second... how long did it take for you to notice muscle/strength loss? Again, only 16 days which seems like it would be way too early to me, but there have been a few things that have happened last few days that confused me strength wise (stuff being way heavier than it should be, not able to tear some packaging I always have before, stuff like that). There's no way there is muscle loss that quickly right? (I was kind of banking on some start time leeway on that to keep losing weight more readily. )

[Allison S]

It's different for everyone! I've watched a lot of youtube videos. My 1 month check up my creatine level went down to 60s though it wasn't too much higher before hrt. That has to do with muscle. So it's possible! My chest never really felt itchy but things were beginning to get tender after about 6 weeks. I'm 3 months now so I still have a long way to go too

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[Jailyn]

I did notice the itchy breasts about 2 weeks in and thought it was too soon too, but after reading a lot up on it, it seems to be about the benchmark of when things start. Now as for the muscle loss I didn't notice it till I was a couple months in that it started to affect me. So I would say 2 weeks is a little soon for that aspect of it, but everyone is different on hrt. So exciting!!!!!

[Bari Jo]

That seems normal to me.  I think mine were itching even before thst.  As for muscle loss, it's gradual and mixes in with weight loss.  I didn't really notice it till I couldn't open a pickle jar, and a neighbor did for me:)

Here is a chart to what you might expect is insets.  It was given to me by my doctor.

Bari Jo

[Roll]

That chart mirrors what my doctors told me, but I'm wondering if it is super conservative on estimates to not raise false hope or higher expectations. Over the past few days I am now 100% sure my hair is already thinning out for instance(chest hair is down noticeably, like 20%, it's ridiculous), and I think we've all said skin happens pretty quickly.

[Bari Jo]

Yes, most likely it's conservative.  If you are getting better results, bully for you:)  mine has been about the same as the chart on most things.

Bari Jo

[Deborah]

You're not going to lose strength from muscle loss in 16 days.  It takes longer than that.  Even if your creatine levels drop that's only going to effect your ability to perform repeated maximum efforts.  To my knowledge, creatine levels are diet related rather than hormone related. 


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[Maddie86]

my breast development took a little longer than most people on here. in the first few months there was a little soreness once in a while but it would go away pretty quick, but then starting in like late october (3 months into HRT) they started to get sensitive and they stay a little sore now.

for the muscle loss, I don't think I've really lost much yet, but I noticed that my energy went down a lot and I think that's because of the spiro. I have a pretty physical job that has a lot of lifting, and I've been off work since early November but I'm going back to work tomorrow for about 2 weeks, so I guess this will be a good test to see how much strength I've lost lol

[Julia1996]

I'm so happy for you that you started hrt. It was about 2 weeks into hrt when my breasts started itching and getting sore. I never had any muscle to lose. I've always been pretty weak strength wise. The first month after I started hrt I had morning sickness. It was nausea mostly but I did yarf a couple of times. It eventually went away. But my sense of smell became stronger and even now some odors make me nauseous. I don't go near my brother's dirty socks without a hazmat suit.  I've never liked the cold but after hrt I'm much more sensitive to it. You might want to dress a little warmer than you normally would because you might get colder than you used to. You will also need to keep your skin and lips moisturized. My skin always gets dry in the winter but hrt seems to have intensified it which I wasn't expecting. My skin became more sensitive to touch which is nice for the most part. I don't know if it happens to everyone but I bruise easier since HRT.  Some effects of hrt can be annoying but it's totally worth it.

[Allison S]

You're not going to lose strength from muscle loss in 16 days.  It takes longer than that.  Even if your creatine levels drop that's only going to effect your ability to perform repeated maximum efforts.  To my knowledge, creatine levels are diet related rather than hormone related. 


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You might be right I had started my vegetarian diet over a month before. And I don't think I was eating enough protein.. not that I didn't want to

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[Roll]

You're not going to lose strength from muscle loss in 16 days.  It takes longer than that.  Even if your creatine levels drop that's only going to effect your ability to perform repeated maximum efforts.  To my knowledge, creatine levels are diet related rather than hormone related. 

That was my feeling that it was way too soon for any muscle loss. I had some dietary shifts during holidays as everyone does, but nothing too dramatic. Really not sure what is going on with this. Even exercising my strength is just not there, like my body is in a constant fatigue state.

[Deborah]

You might be right I had started my vegetarian diet over a month before. And I don't think I was eating enough protein.. not that I didn't want to

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That must be it as meat is the primary source of creatine.


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[Rachel]

I do not know what type of HRT you are on. With Spironolactone make sure you drink plenty of water and eat salt.

I noticed breast buds forming at about 3 weeks. I think soon after I had some aches and pains in the breast area. My skin got soft first and I had an increased sense of smell. There were other things too.

Nutrition is important, make sure you have nutritious meals. You are experiencing a second puberty

[Shadowsister]

Just a few quick questions I'm curious about people's experiences regarding. I know there is a lot of variation person to person, but I'm looking for some general insight anyway.

First... how fast did you notice breasts being itchy? Because mine are itchy as hell and it's only been 16 days. But I don't know if it is coincidence (my skin irritates easy plus psoriasis) or if it actually happens this early.

Second... how long did it take for you to notice muscle/strength loss? Again, only 16 days which seems like it would be way too early to me, but there have been a few things that have happened last few days that confused me strength wise (stuff being way heavier than it should be, not able to tear some packaging I always have before, stuff like that). There's no way there is muscle loss that quickly right? (I was kind of banking on some start time leeway on that to keep losing weight more readily. )

Hey there, Roll.

Itchy breasts? I really don't remember mine becoming itchy unless I was in a bad bra (I have at times hid my boobs and tried compressing them). They got tender and sensitive about six months into HRT and remain so to this very day, about 13 months of HRT.

I started noticing strength loss about six months in. A little bit further than that I started seeing my neck, shoulders and arms getting smaller. They weren't at all big to begin with as I was skinny, but managed to get even smaller. Oh, do know that I consumed less protein specifically for the purpose of getting smaller muscles. I didn't drop protein consumption to a dangerously low amount, but enough to help muscle loss.

[Pisces228]

I had breast buds after 1 month and had to start wearing a sports bra to hide them.  Be careful if you aren't ready to come out and you have to hide them.  No binding or strong compression, just a sports bra so you don't damage the tissue.

I didn't really notice much muscle loss, but I was pretty underweight before with little muscle.  My neck and shoulders and collarbones are much thinner/boney than before despite gaining 40 pounds.  I guess that means muscles shrank there.

My skin changed a lot in the beginning, too.  It was much thinner and dryer after about 1 month.  It has gradually changed more after 16 months.  I noticed a few weeks ago it look more shiny and translucent.

[Roll]

I do not know what type of HRT you are on. With Spironolactone make sure you drink plenty of water and eat salt.

Estradiol and Spiro. I've had to be conscious about water more, though fortunately I'm a finishing salt fanatic, so that isn't a worry.

I started noticing strength loss about six months in. A little bit further than that I started seeing my neck, shoulders and arms getting smaller. They weren't at all big to begin with as I was skinny, but managed to get even smaller. Oh, do know that I consumed less protein specifically for the purpose of getting smaller muscles. I didn't drop protein consumption to a dangerously low amount, but enough to help muscle loss.

How far in did you drop protein consumption?

Really hoping I lose a lot of size on neck/shoulders/arms when I'm done with fat and muscle reduction. 

[Shadowsister]

Estradiol and Spiro. I've had to be conscious about water more, though fortunately I'm a finishing salt fanatic, so that isn't a worry.

How far in did you drop protein consumption?

Really hoping I lose a lot of size on neck/shoulders/arms when I'm done with fat and muscle reduction. 

I never measured precisely how much I reduced my total protein intake by or how much I did intake after I did drop it, but I kinda just eyeballed it all to the point I knew I was getting a lot less protein, but enough to still be/feel healthy. I used to eat a lot, and I mean A LOT, of meat; especially fish, chicken, and beef. I really cut down on that.

When I started HRT I did intend to cut my protein down and to that end looked stuff up on the internet. I read a few articles, but the one linked below really stuck with me to the point I was just able to locate it for you on a whim despite me never having saved it to favorites. It's really worth a read, but be warned I'm no expert on this stuff so verify everything I say multiple times over!


http://www.trans-health.com/2001/lose-muscle-gain-fat-dieting-for-mtfs/

[Roll]

I never measured precisely how much I reduced my total protein intake by or how much I did intake after I did drop it, but I kinda just eyeballed it all to the point I knew I was getting a lot less protein, but enough to still be/feel healthy. I used to eat a lot, and I mean A LOT, of meat; especially fish, chicken, and beef. I really cut down on that.

When I started HRT I did intend to cut my protein down and to that end looked stuff up on the internet. I read a few articles, but the one linked below really stuck with me to the point I was just able to locate it for you on a whim despite me never having saved it to favorites. It's really worth a read, but be warned I'm no expert on this stuff so verify everything I say multiple times over!


http://www.trans-health.com/2001/lose-muscle-gain-fat-dieting-for-mtfs/

I'm going to assume that diet knows what its talking about simply because it sounds pizza and cookie friendly. That I can get behind.

[Shadowsister]

I'm going to assume that diet knows what its talking about simply because it sounds pizza and cookie friendly. That I can get behind.

LOL, not long after I started HRT I had the worst diet. I'd do something like take cookies and crumble them over eggo waffles, top with choco syrup have that with a glass of Sprite and there was my dinner.

[Bari Jo]

LOL, not long after I started HRT I had the worst diet. I'd do something like take cookies and crumble them over eggo waffles, top with choco syrup have that with a glass of Sprite and there was my dinner.

Many many nights I've had only chocolate and milk for dinner.  I'd like to say those days are behind me, but I still do it:)

Bari Jo