Nearly a month on HRT

[TranSketch]

I have been on Estrogen for nearly 3 weeks now, blockers 2 days thus far. I'm not sure if there's any developments of note I have seen, initially my chest was senstive after the 3 day mark but it has not been like that since then after nearly 3 weeks, I'm not sure if I should be concerned by this or if my estrogen is just now failing to do it's job, my right chest seems a little bigger than my left but then I'm not the slimmest of people so it could very well be just moob fat as opposed to female chest development, I never really paid attention to it before so honestly can't tell but given how my chest is no longer sensitive maybe it just fat from my not so healthy diet, if anyone has input or advice that helps give insight to this I'd appreciate it as right now I'm somewhat concerned any development I may have had at the start is just dead in the water, I've seen no facial improvement and my hands are still like shovels etc

[Arianna Valentine]

Honestly from what I have heard and understand it would probably take longer than 3 weeks for the estrogen to show any effect.  I myself haven't started yet I start the 1st of June and I myself much like you.would love for the effect to be instant but from my understanding it could take months even years for the effect to be truly noticeable.  With that being said I do also know that it is much harder for oneself to notice a difference but friends and family may notice the difference sooner than you would.

Sent from my SM-S337TL using Tapatalk

[Northern Star Girl]

I have been on Estrogen for nearly 3 weeks now, blockers 2 days thus far. I'm not sure if there's any developments of note I have seen, initially my chest was senstive after the 3 day mark but it has not been like that since then after nearly 3 weeks, I'm not sure if I should be concerned by this or if my estrogen is just now failing to do it's job, my right chest seems a little bigger than my left but then I'm not the slimmest of people so it could very well be just moob fat as opposed to female chest development, I never really paid attention to it before so honestly can't tell but given how my chest is no longer sensitive maybe it just fat from my not so healthy diet, if anyone has input or advice that helps give insight to this I'd appreciate it as right now I'm somewhat concerned any development I may have had at the start is just dead in the water, I've seen no facial improvement and my hands are still like shovels etc

@TranSketch    No worries ... what you are describing is completely normal in my experience.  It is way too soon to draw any conclusions or even guesses about your Estrogen working as it should.  The only way to know for sure is your next blood tests that your doctor can evaluate... 

Your chest/nipple sensitivity will go up and down over the first 3 or 4 months or more, and one side getting larger than the other is a much reported normal occurrence.    Most of the time after much longer HRT, they will usually even out... it took me about one and a half years for my right boob to catch up with my left boob.

Again, in my opinion based on my own experience it is way too soon to expect a lot of changes in your body, face, hands, etc. 

HRT affects every body differently and at different speeds....  some members postings that you read will tell about quicker and more significant changes compared to other's reports of slower and less significant changes.   Patience is required... usually nothing happens very quickly with HRT...  certainly not as quickly as we all desire...
Human nature dictates... "We want it ALL, and we want it NOW"   
.... again... PATIENCE !!!   Certainly easier said than done.

I will be watching for your updates as you post them.
Thank you for letting us on the Forums know how you are doing and how you are feeling.

HUGS,
Danielle

[Jessica]

@TranSketch    No worries ... what you are describing is completely normal in my experience.  It is way too soon to draw any conclusions or even guesses about your Estrogen working as it should.  The only way to know for sure is your next blood tests that your doctor can evaluate... 

Your chest/nipple sensitivity will go up and down over the first 3 or 4 months or more, and one side getting larger than the other is a much reported normal occurrence.    Most of the time after much longer HRT, they will usually even out... it took me about one and a half years for my right boob to catch up with my left boob.

Again, in my opinion based on my own experience it is way too soon to expect a lot of changes in your body, face, hands, etc. 

HRT affects every body differently and at different speeds....  some members postings that you read will tell about quicker and more significant changes compared to other's reports of slower and less significant changes.   Patience is required... usually nothing happens very quickly with HRT...  certainly not as quickly as we all desire...
Human nature dictates... "We want it ALL, and we want it NOW"   
.... again... PATIENCE !!!   Certainly easier said than done.

I will be watching for your updates as you post them.
Thank you for letting us on the Forums know how you are doing and how you are feeling.

HUGS,
Danielle

@TranSketch , @Alaskan Danielle is so right!  Wait for your first blood tests before making conclusions.  Certainly your doctor will review them and make any changes that they feel are necessary.
Danielle is also on point when describing how you could experience the medication in the beginning.  But there is the "ymmv"...your mileage may vary.  Everyone is unique in mind, body and soul.  Effects can be slight or pronounced, a lot of it depends on your genetics.  Moms got big butt and boobs?  There is a chance that you will inherit that from her.  One thing that happened to me quickly, was my skin softening and my demeanor was not as agitated and calmer.  I personally experienced, what I can describe as getting used to the the estrogen, becoming more emotional in waves.  My emotions sometimes seemed irrational and overblown.  There are those here that can attest to it.

Danielle had her race between lefty and righty.  I'm having the same with my girls Lucy and Rhonda.  Rhonda is in the lead by a nipple.

So relax, it's a slow process.
Hugs and smiles, Jessica

[Nikkimn]

Same thing happened to me I noticed a ton of changes the first week then it slowed down. It takes months for your hormone levels to hit therapeutic levels so be patient. My doctor has adjusted my doses several times in the first three months. Breast development happens in growth spurts too. Mine did a lot the first week then nothing and now they are growing again rapidly at the 100 day mark.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[emma-f]

In my experience it wasnt just the time it takes for the hormones to work, but the months it took to get my dosage right so that I was at the correct levels. First 3 month review my estrogen levels were meh, and my testosterone levels were meh

I read all of these timelines online, "after 1 month this will happen, after 3 months this will happen etc etc" and I didn't hit a single one of them. Some things were earlier than expected, some later, some never really happened (damn you body hair grrrrrr). Part of the journey is not knowing about what will happen when or how. Its one of the reasons why any surgeon of repute wants a decent period of hormones before considering BA. Enjoy the experience and keep us up tom date with your progress!

Emma

[Dani]

Only 3 weeks of HRT? 

The only thing I experienced at 3 weeks is the psychological relief of finally being on Estradiol.    I finally found something that helped my dysphoria. The physical changes did not kick in until after about one year on HRT.

The younger you are, the sooner you will look more feminine. Many of us older transitioners require FFS before we just begin to pass, even after several years of HRT. Be patient. HRT works. It just takes time.

[TranSketch]

Same thing happened to me I noticed a ton of changes the first week then it slowed down. It takes months for your hormone levels to hit therapeutic levels so be patient. My doctor has adjusted my doses several times in the first three months. Breast development happens in growth spurts too. Mine did a lot the first week then nothing and now they are growing again rapidly at the 100 day mark.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here in lies the problem, I do not in anyway condone or say it's the safe way but all my HRT stuff I get online at least until July when I see my therapist again and hopefully this time he signs off my HRT and doesn't refuse it again, the point is devils advocate aside I have no blood tests or reports to compare were I'm up to or even what dosage I need so whilst the whole process is guesswork based on the fact HRT works at different paces I also have no official means to gauge anything on.
Again I do not wish to promote self medicine as I'm playing risk but I wasn't prepared to wait any longer for HRT, I'm impatient and frankly in 3 months I may have more physical developments that I wouldn't have had, touch wood I've had no ill effect with them thus far, I hope at that point I can get them through NHS officially as this method is not the cheapest compared to proper subscriptions so I advise against it because of cost to, just I'm not patient enough to wait around for some guy with a degree to say yes I should have them.

[KathyLauren]

Hopefully, in July, you will get some monitoring of your levels.  Obviously right now, it is all guesswork.  That and the fact that it's only been three weeks means it is way too early to begin worrying.

[TranSketch]

Hopefully, in July, you will get some monitoring of your levels.  Obviously right now, it is all guesswork.  That and the fact that it's only been three weeks means it is way too early to begin worrying.

I'm on <dosage removed> blockers and <dosage removed> of eostrogen a day, honestly it seems not enough when I've probably produced much more testosterone in 28 years than that bit of extra eostrogen can really reverse.

[Dani]

We really are not supposed to post dosages here.

But I did notice that you used the term estrogen. This is a class of medications and not the name of the specific drug you are taking. Without the specific name of which estrogen you are taking the mg strength is not helpful. Same thing for the T blockers. Which one are you taking? Since you got these online, I am thinking non standard supplements or worse, ineffective drugs.

[Donna]

Myself I'm one of those fast reactors. May on herbals( Not a good choice as no
Regulation) October doctor prescribed spiro and dutatriside and a definite change in mood. Estrogen start in January and by March my T was cut by 50%. This is not to say it's going to happen for anyone elselike that. No one knows how transitioning will progress
I was already diagnosed as being in andropause which helped l think.
I noticed changes in touch and skin softness in about 6 weeks but I noticed a change in body odour after only two weeks. I now use deodorant during heavy work and hot weather only. These are some things with me and I appreciate it all. The booby fairy's have been very busy as well which I love but gets expensive buying new bras.
I hoe you have great progress but always remember there are no rules for how progress will go so be patient and enjoy the changes as they come

[Donna]

I'm on <dosage removed> blockers and <dosage removed> of eostrogen a day, honestly it seems not enough when I've probably produced much more testosterone in 28 years than that bit of extra eostrogen can really reverse.

You need to use the blocker to reduce you body from converting the testosterone to usable. estrogen does not really reverse it. Estrogen goes to different receptor that create  other results.
Also if your ordering on line you need to consider without monitoring you can overload your system and cause blockages at the receptors. If you happen to be using none conventional products they can block the actions of natural estrogen in your system. Neat thing with guys and a belly is belly fat actually produces estrogen.
I'm not a doctor and these are my understandings if this. Talk to
Your doctor for sure.

[TranSketch]

We really are not supposed to post dosages here.

But I did notice that you used the term estrogen. This is a class of medications and not the name of the specific drug you are taking. Without the specific name of which estrogen you are taking the mg strength is not helpful. Same thing for the T blockers. Which one are you taking? Since you got these online, I am thinking non standard supplements or worse, ineffective drugs.

Estrofem and Spiractin 25 are the names of the actual products, I've read reviews and some older posts on forums such as here and others that generally at least for Estrofem some who used it did see some results from them and others didn't, it seems a mixed bag as for Spiractin not so sure.

[AnamethatstartswithE]

For me I didn't really see anything noticeable for about 3 months, Both facially and  Chestally. You just need to be patient, I recently posted some photos about this.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,237873.0.html

[TranSketch]

For me I didn't really see anything noticeable for about 3 months, Both facially and  Chestally. You just need to be patient, I recently posted some photos about this.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,237873.0.html

As everyone says I'm aware that yes patience seems to be key, but when you've wasted so long not doing anything and then when you actually make the effort to actually progress IE Therapists and so forth, and still see nothing to show for it get's more than a little frustrating, patience was never my strong suit even before this, I despise the very act of waiting to see a result of anything especially when I've wasted so many years as a male only to be stuck in this constant loop of still waiting what seems an age for this to happen.

I get it's a second puberty, bodies develop differently over different periods of time, some faster and some see results in next to no time but I hate the sheer fact that despite all the trials and problems life has threw at me in the past that has made the anti social pessimist I am today it still doesn't cut me slack for at least transitoning, I swear I feel like at times that my life is like the Sims on Gods PC and he's delibarately controlling my life to go as wrong as it can for his amusement, I just need some slack cutting but life never seems to give me that slack.

The reason I'm in this situation is because my Therapist refused to sign off HRT because I wasn't presenting as female in day to day life which was not practical or safe where I live, he knew this but still wouldn't budge on his final decision and despite my calmness in the room once I left the room I really felt like ending it there, as a pessimist I already generally think the worst of life but when he said what he did he may as well have pointed a gun at my head and killed me, that's how I felt and even with the process I'm going through now it's at my own risk and no real means of seeing how it's progressing as officialy the doctors haven't a clue about this and it's costing me way more than a basic NHS prescription would.

I'm doing this so blind it's not even funny, I want results but I can't physically see any and I don't even have doctors evaluations to see how high and low my testosterone/estrogen levels are. Honestly if anyone wanted the definition of a living joke I feel like I'm it as nothing ever works out my way even if I actively try to change that situation around myself or try to think positive, honestly I feel sometimes someone like me just doesn't get that chance as I don't deserve it, if there is deity in heaven or whatever then I must have seriously annoyed them.

It's nice to see others on here finally get what they want out of life and in some cases super fast to but someone like me doesn't get the happy ending, that's not what my life allows because who else can be the receiving end of lifes cruel sense of humour then if not me, I may be doing this in vain and it feels like it at the best of times as in the end life has threw to many things my way to be patient with it anymore.

[Mendi]

I would take a step back and relax and not to think about the changes too much. They are coming, but I would say, check the mirror next time, when 6 months has passed.

Stressing about the changes early on is a sure way to get depressed or mental breakdown. I nearly went crazy/depressed, because I stressed so much about the changes, early on, when I just should have relaxed and though that they are coming.

Seriously, even my therapist said, that I was very annoying and tiring customer during the first 3 to 4 months 

[Donna]

It's strange that the therapist is using the appearance as a reason for denial of HRT. My understanding is that requirement is for surgical intervention. Have you tried a second opinion or read the WPath guidelines if it is used where you live. Waiting is so much a part of transitioning as well as frustrations. I waited 60 years and other here have done the same, for me to see the next doctor to proceed further has been 4 months waiting for my report and it's still two months away and then 30 months to see the doctor. That is just my situation and everyone has their own processes to follow.
Please try to tough it out and maybe try a different therapist.
Good luck and best wishes

[emma-f]

As you're a UK girl I'm going to go out on a limb and ask was your therapist a Dr B? It's a few years since I went the NHS route but he refused to prescribe me hormones unless living full time either. I gave up and went private for a bit, and now my local GP prescribes me my hormones having been given the private recommendation

Emma x

[TranSketch]

As you're a UK girl I'm going to go out on a limb and ask was your therapist a Dr B? It's a few years since I went the NHS route but he refused to prescribe me hormones unless living full time either. I gave up and went private for a bit, and now my local GP prescribes me my hormones having been given the private recommendation

Emma x

His name is Tim