How's your HRT progress coming along? (Physical, mental, emotional)

[Allison S]

There's been a lot of good things already happening bodywise. Overall it's been good too and like I told my therapist my happiness baseline seems to have improved with hrt and I'm only 4 months.

Now I don't want to be the negative nancy that I've been lately... but maybe that's part of all this? I really can't be the only one can I? So my issue is trying to cope with with everything socially. Both in my past (regrets, should've started sooner) and now.



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[KayXo]

Provera is a brand name for progesterone.

Provera is not a brand name for progesterone but for medroxyprogesterone acetate. Progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate are both progestogens but have different molecular structures. The former is bio-identical, meaning it is identical to what our bodies produce while the latter is man-made and has shown to be associated with a host of side-effects (increase in the risk of breast cancer, androgenic, mood disturbances, negative effects on cardiovascular/clotting/lipids) not observed with progesterone.

It is important to differentiate between the two. 

No, progesterone is another type of estrogen.

Progesterone and estrogen are entirely different and two different types of sex hormones. Progesterone and most progestogens have no estrogenic effects. They can reduce T output, some more than others, if taken pre-op.

As always, double check with your pharmacist and doctor. Read published studies too and endocrinology books, they might be helpful.

[ajtent]

"You live in Michigan too? I live in southeast area. I cant wait to start HRT, but at the same time I feel very nervous and anxious"

You live on the side of Michigan that is a little more liberal and hopefully that could help you in your transition. Don't tell anyone about how great Michigan is - it is February and as I look out my window there is no snow on the ground and I just got back from my 6 mile walk on the local trail.

Like you, I was apprehensive but found that HRT has been an absolute blessing in confirming who I am.

I self-abused so much that I began to fear for my life and it escalated when my Father died in December 2006. Evidently he was my protection as I had not abused for years and when he died, it all started again. It scared me so I sought counseling to see why I was such a degenerate. I wasn't a degenerate, I had gender dysphoria and didn't have a clue.

For a while I thought I just needed to be a eunuch and made an appointment with Dr. Arnkoff to have it done last December. I then and a couple of high PSA tests and faced the possibility of prostate cancer. The tests were skewed and wrong as a third Mayo test called a PSI proved that my PSA was low-normal.

The cancer scare pushed me to do a lot of research and Dr. Arnkoff was a big help and counsel for me. I thought I had missed my opportunity to have the orchie as that procedure does not play well with prostate cancer in the long run.

I bumped into a Professor from British Columbia University - Dr. Richard Wassersug who was an expert on prostate cancer, eunuchs and castration effects. He advised me to be careful but to consider chemical castration as a 2 to 3 month test.

I thought yes, lets try chemical castration and along with that, begin estrogen therapy and then plan on getting the orchie in September of this year with Dr. Schecter in Chicago. My reasoning was that without testosterone, my bones and mind could suffer. Estrogen would protect me and I always secretly was trying to get rid of my "junk" and be a girl anyway.

HRT has been absolutely amazing for me. I love all of the changes and those changes are all in the beginning stages. F.E.A.R. is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real  - so never let fear stand in the way of what you truly desire.

[NCmuse]

I am pretty sure that before you begin HRT you will need tests, liver enzymes, cholesterol and diabetes tests. My experience is you will take the tests one day then 2 or 3 days later the doctor will send your perscriptions to the local pharmacy.   My healthcare is through the VA and they are not paying for the meds right now, however my estradahl and Spiro cost less than $30 a month.  Planned Parenthood in NC does not accept any insurance.

[EvaT]

Thanks everyone for all the information! I did some research and decided to schedule an appointment at planned parenthood, even without health insurance, until Medicaid gets accepted, or if it doesn't, then I'll just apply for BCBS or Humana.

[SadieBlake]

Eva,

Started at age 59, been two years now. I take estradiol valerate im injection weekly, my necessary dose to hit normal cis levels is quite small, I'll pm you the details. I never needed an AA, estrogen fully suppressed my testosterone levels which haven't been above 22 micrograms/ml since I started HRT -- basically low end of female range. My E level is pretty rock solid at 220-250 pg/ml, hasn't appreciably changed once we got my dosage worked out.

I saw emotional changes within 2 weeks, sore breasts within a month and visible breast growth within. 2 months (which was a little surprising as I'd thought I had at least that long before I would see irreversible changes but I was fine to roll with it. At 2 years my breasts still tend to run a bit sore so I think they're still filling out. I've been on the small side of B cup for more than a year and expect I'll eventually fully fill out most B bras. My A cup bras are no longer comfortable.

Skin is definitely thinner and softer now, people who haven't been around to see the gradual changes sometimes don't recognize me.

My hips are a bit wider, enough that I can feel they hold a rock climbing harness differently **hallelujah!**, It's now less likely to slide down when carrying a lot of gear.
f the credit card payments and MIT payroll informs us that they will have the personal pumpkin checks in the mail by the end of the week.  Thank you for your patience with the process this year.  Next, Peter and I will now be digging in to see if we can do this a better way next year.
I've done my own injections from the very first time (RN who trained me checking that I did it right). I get he script at CVS, used to use my university's pharmacy.

I also take micronized progesterone (generic version of prometrium). That seemed to help with rounding out my boobs which were somewhat conical shaped before. It's also seemed to have a positive effect on my sex drive.