Progress Update

[TranSketch]

Since my last post I have finally started my therapy sessions, I have my second one next month and I think he was going to ask more questions about my support circle and voice therapy and I assume more, there was also mention of sending off to my GP a letter requesting about hormone treatment being made available, speaking to a friend who is partway through therapy herself (waiting on 3rd session) she mentioned she had a blood test and I mentioned how I hadn't had one yet so would I be right in thinking that before they send off to my GP they'll perform a blood test to decide what strength hormones I need?

[Northern Star Girl]

Since my last post I have finally started my therapy sessions, I have my second one next month and I think he was going to ask more questions about my support circle and voice therapy and I assume more, there was also mention of sending off to my GP a letter requesting about hormone treatment being made available, speaking to a friend who is partway through therapy herself (waiting on 3rd session) she mentioned she had a blood test and I mentioned how I hadn't had one yet so would I be right in thinking that before they send off to my GP they'll perform a blood test to decide what strength hormones I need?

@ TranSketch:  Having a blood test and the results made available to you GP BEFORE you go in to see you doctor makes too much sense!!! LOL.   
Some GPs will want to see you first so they can make a determination as to exactly what all the different blood tests will be that they will order for you.   
There can be much more to it than just checking for T and having some other basic blood tests done.  Your GP will know what needs to be done... perhaps they will have blood tests taken before but usually after, at least that has been true in my experience.
Good luck getting started on your HRT journey.
Danielle

[TranSketch]

@ TranSketch:  Having a blood test and the results made available to you GP BEFORE you go in to see you doctor makes too much sense!!! LOL.   
Some GPs will want to see you first so they can make a determination as to exactly what all the different blood tests will be that they will order for you.   
There can be much more to it than just checking for T and having some other basic blood tests done.  Your GP will know what needs to be done... perhaps they will have blood tests taken before but usually after, at least that has been true in my experience.
Good luck getting started on your HRT journey.
Danielle

One would hope that it doesn't add much more delay than the whole process has been so far, to many years wasted as a male as it stands so I don't want any more delays if it can be avoided regarding HRT a lot of the stuff I read is confusing, if I read correctly it seems to be the case that it takes pre-existing fat and shifts it to you hips etc and then one person on a forum said they started losing weight when they started HRT, I'd like to think HRT would magically shift my stomach fat elsewhere technically making me skinnier but it seems to good to be true and I can't quite figure out how HRT magically knows to shift excess fat as opposed to making more, do you have any knowledge regarding this that'll clear it up?

[Northern Star Girl]

One would hope that it doesn't add much more delay than the whole process has been so far, to many years wasted as a male as it stands so I don't want any more delays if it can be avoided regarding HRT a lot of the stuff I read is confusing, if I read correctly it seems to be the case that it takes pre-existing fat and shifts it to you hips etc and then one person on a forum said they started losing weight when they started HRT, I'd like to think HRT would magically shift my stomach fat elsewhere technically making me skinnier but it seems to good to be true and I can't quite figure out how HRT magically knows to shift excess fat as opposed to making more, do you have any knowledge regarding this that'll clear it up?

@ TranSketch:  There is absolutely NO MAGIC and NO STANDARD WAY that HRT works in every body.   Some do report about fat redistribution, others do not agree.... same with weight loss, some report yes, others report just the opposite and they gain weight...  perhaps the weight goes to the curves and maybe not.
. 
HRT can be a slow process and for some it is quicker... the thing to remember is that EVERY BODY reacts differently to HRT and what you read about others can likely not be your results.
 
As is said many times on this site, "Your mileage may vary" Basically you get what HRT and your body give you.  Your changes and time line are specific to you and no one else.

I have posted many times that "Patience is required with HRT, usually nothing happens quickly, or at least not as quickly as we all desire."   I have been on HRT for 3+ years and finally in the 3rd year final and significant changes happened in my boobs and my hips... my face and my body hair reduction.  I was able to go full-time about a year and a half ago...  some transitioners do that more quickly and others a little slower.

Wishing you well with your transition plans and please keep your updates coming.
Danielle

[TranSketch]

@ TranSketch:  There is absolutely NO MAGIC and NO STANDARD WAY that HRT works in every body.   Some do report about fat redistribution, others do not agree.... same with weight loss, some report yes, others report just the opposite and they gain weight...  perhaps the weight goes to the curves and maybe not.
. 
HRT can be a slow process and for some it is quicker... the thing to remember is that EVERY BODY reacts differently to HRT and what you read about others can likely not be your results.
 
As is said many times on this site, "Your mileage may vary" Basically you get what HRT and your body give you.  Your changes and time line are specific to you and no one else.

I have posted many times that "Patience is required with HRT, usually nothing happens quickly, or at least not as quickly as we all desire."   I have been on HRT for 3+ years and finally in the 3rd year final and significant changes happened in my boobs and my hips... my face and my body hair reduction.  I was able to go full-time about a year and a half ago...  some transitioners do that more quickly and others a little slower.

Wishing you well with your transition plans and please keep your updates coming.
Danielle

I figured as such, I can only hope that my body reacts in a way to shift the pounds but sods law dictates it'll make me gain them, I'm never lucky when it comes to stuff like that not sure if it's karma or just my general luck but never get what I want really XD if nothing else it at least clears up some stuff for me, the general rule of thumb seems to be B cups at best for breast growth if you start HRT later than say the teens who get hormone blockers and can kind of alter there puberty easier than someone who has already been through it which means it has to somehow either rectify or reverse the male development, it's a bit late to fix my man shoulders and hands but here's hoping it can fix other aspects, still think I should've started this much sooner but hindsight is a nightmare and I can't travel back through time and change what's happened so guess I'm stuck with some masculine features no matter what.

[Donna]

As Danielle said nothing is written in stone and no two peeps react the same to the meds. There are no set rules and changes can happen in any order. My hands are smaller and more fem now than they were and smaller than my wife's. my weight has dropped contrary to the warnings I got at first. I'm down 7 inches on the chest,5 on the waist and up 3 on the hips. I'm at a C cup already and almost a D. And all this I started at 60 years old. Sure there are things that won't change like bone structure without surgery but others can be hidden or disguised.
Take your time and don't get overly set on timelines and goals as you will have no control over how and what your body will on HRT.
Best wishes for your progress.

[xAmyX]

I see an endocrinologist. Before doing so, I had blood work done via my GP. I figured it wouldn't hurt to have a head start. My endocrinologist wanted some more blood tests done on me. Since you're wanting treatment from your GP, you may need to see him/her first as others have mentioned. You could go through the hassle of ordering specific blood tests and performing them yourself, but I'm not entirely certain whether or not your GP will be comfortable with trusting that.

[TranSketch]

Not so much an update but a general concern, I suffer with depression not all to do with the Gender Dysphoria but my past as a whole, without major details bullied alot when I was younger right into Secondary/High School and a horrible childhood which involved alot of mental abuse from my father and knowing he used to beat my mum before divorcing his sorry butt.
Now the Therapist seemed happy to accept in the first session that my depression pretty much stemmed mostly from my gender issue but I know deep down there's more underlying issues then that as such I'm at a crossroads at whether to tell them more about how deep down I have alot going on and am for lack of better words, damaged goods.
I can be fine and then all of a sudden without reason my mood goes downhill and at that point I'm pretty much depressed, if I tell him this he may see me as a risk to put on hormones at all as they do affect your mood and make you appropriately hormonal so my mood swings may get more frequent or worse on them.
I know I really should say something but in the same breath what if me admitting this sets back my procedure more then it already has been? I'm just so confused what to think right now, say nothing and hope hormones help me or be honest and potentially be told I'm to much of a nut case to be put on them.

[Dena]

I vote for telling your therapist everything. Possible it might delay HRT but so could having a round of depression that the therapist can't explain. Beside that, if your considering surgery and you don't deal with the depression now, it could delay receiving your surgical letter.

In either case, your not a nut case. More likely it's related to PTSD which unfortunately is far to common in our society. You have a problem and it can be worked out if the therapist knows you have it. The function of therapy during transitioning is to clean up the emotional baggage that you have accumulated in your past life so you can enter the new life with a clean slate. The sooner you deal with this, the sooner it will become history.

[TranSketch]

I vote for telling your therapist everything. Possible it might delay HRT but so could having a round of depression that the therapist can't explain. Beside that, if your considering surgery and you don't deal with the depression now, it could delay receiving your surgical letter.

In either case, your not a nut case. More likely it's related to PTSD which unfortunately is far to common in our society. You have a problem and it can be worked out if the therapist knows you have it. The function of therapy during transitioning is to clean up the emotional baggage that you have accumulated in your past life so you can enter the new life with a clean slate. The sooner you deal with this, the sooner it will become history.

I always figured PTSD was something ex-soldiers go through not "civvies" given what I experienced when younger is not a patch on what someone endures in military service/warzones, probably doesnt help that my job is 14 hour shifts in Support Work dealing with people who have mental or physical issues then coming home to my mums partner who acts like he has something like autism to, the time between finishing work and home on top of my general mental struggles are a juggling act I just can't keep on doing, doesn't help her partner said I have a bad attitude even though I explained to give me space as I was not in the mood for him and he even if won't say it again out loud thinks I'm an idiot for transitioning,  I'm only human and I do feel at times I'm coming to the end of my rails so to speak.

[Dena]

PTSD can happen at any age to anybody under extreme stress. For most people PTSD is as far is it goes but sometimes peoples personality can fragment resulting in Multiple Personalities. The good news is therapy can deal with it and you can have a happy life.

[TranSketch]

PTSD can happen at any age to anybody under extreme stress. For most people PTSD is as far is it goes but sometimes peoples personality can fragment resulting in Multiple Personalities. The good news is therapy can deal with it and you can have a happy life.

Honestly I just think between the fact my job is based around mental health and then I have possibly the most unsympathetic person living with us as my mums partner it doesn't help.