Did you ever de-transitioned and re-transitioned?

[Shelina]

Did you ever like take hormones for months and suddenly you decided to stop for a few months and later in time start taking it again?

How did you feel when 'stopping' to take Estrogen and the feeling of the Testosterone/Androgen rush back in your body? Is it bearable?

[katherine]

I may be able to answer that rather soon.  I was on Climara until today.  Only two weeks.  I've broken out in a rash on my abdomen from just below my breasts to my waist and my back. Itches like you wouldn't believe. It's only two weeks on HRT and I don't expect I'll really notice anything at all.  I need this to clear up before I can start again with another product. Hopefully it will clear up quickly...

[Syne]

I was doing RLE and had to stop hormones due to having a horrible doctor and not being able to afford the better one. Then I untransitioned completely in the place I had transitioned at. Rebuilt my life and went at it again with a good endoc, GP, and other specialists. Things have been much better.

That was after being on hormones for about a year. I basically went through menopause for three weeks. Not a fun thing but very temporary.

Resuming hormones my body picked up where it had left off.

[Shana]

Early in my transition I had to stop the meds due to unemployment and a move. The rebuilding of the testosterone was excruciating. It wasn't nearly as bad as it was before I started, but I felt weird, had more "Grrr" moments.. and lost a lot of ground as far as secondary characteristics.. fat distribution and muscle mass.

I was off them for almost four years. Eventually I got used to it, but in the back of my mind was always the want to start again. All this while still in the middle of RLE.. 24/7.

I was so happy when I found a good doctor locally and began again.

[lizbeth]

That was after being on hormones for about a year. I basically went through menopause for three weeks. Not a fun thing but very temporary.

Resuming hormones my body picked up where it had left off.

pretty much, this. I was on HRT for a year and then lost my job, place to live and my world came crashing down. having the hot flashes made it that much worse.

it took me like 5 years to get started again (2 months ago actually) and within 6 weeks seemed to be back on track.

[Christine Eryn]

Me 3. I was on HRT for a year, decided none of that was for me, realized feelings that began in early childhood could not just be swept onder the rug. Moved cities, new doctor, new HRT routine, new hope. 

It dosen't feel dramatically different though. Only returned a little over a month ago, but I am positive things will work out this time around.

[Hannah]

I wonder how much estradiol and stuff one could legally get from a pharmacy at one time. I'd like to have like a years worth on hand, just to avoid the slightest possibility of something like this happening. There has to be a way, I remember when I was little my church urged the members to have a two year supply of food and medicine on hand in case of rapture or whatever, and I'm assuming they did it. Are the 90 day refills the most they can dispense at any given time?

[Shana]

All my MD's have been able to prescribe for a full year..
When you lose a doctor and the year ends.. no more..

I only have to do a check-up and blood work once yearly and she writes another prescription then.. I have a CDL and use that time to also have my DOT physical done at the same appointment.

[LordKAT]

I believe Becca is talking about the acutual meds, not the script.

[Stephanie]

Earlier this year I took spiro and oestrogen for two weeks.  During that period I felt depressed, over-tired and tearful.  I dropped spiro and continued with the oestrogen and all the above symptoms disappeared. 
However, I stopped taking 'O' because I read that oestrogen can make you temporarily mentally sluggish - at least in the early stages.  I was writing my undergraduate dissertation and studying and revising like mad for my Finals so I stopped taking O.

What worries me about HRT is that while I have no problems with O, spiro does not agree with me. I would like to just take O, but I think that would slow my hormonal transistion down to a crawl.  So I will just have to put up with spiro. 

BTW I have read that Androcur makes you even more 'spaced out' than spiro so I can't switch to that.

[Shana]

I believe Becca is talking about the acutual meds, not the script.

The most I was ever able to get from the pharmacy was one month ahead of the monthly schedule.. but that may be a regional thing.

[LordKAT]

I believe that certain meds are ok for 3 months but others are more heavily regulated allowing only one month. That seems to be the case here anyway.

[DawnL]

I was on Climara until today.

See if your doctor will prescribe Vivelle dot next time.  I've had much better results with Vivelle over Climara. 
Post Merge: August 23, 2009, 10:49:43 PM

What worries me about HRT is that while I have no problems with O, spiro does not agree with me. I would like to just take O, but I think that would slow my hormonal transistion down to a crawl.  So I will just have to put up with spiro. 

Estrogens without something to suppress T levels won't have much effect.  My guess is that your symptoms would improve after a month as your body adjusts to the change in hormone levels.  Spiro is usually well tolerated.

[katherine]

Thanks Dawn, I have been looking into Vivelle.  I really should have added a bit more to my post.  I started using a new facial cream about ten days or so before using the patch.  About a week into using the patch, my face broke out in a rash on my cheeks, chin, and forehead.  I discontinued using the cream, but perhaps not in time. Within a day or so I broke out into hives.  Since it can take up to about 2wks for an allergic reaction to appear, I can't be certain now if it was due to the patch or the cream.  I will probably be going back on the patch, low dose.  This apparently should determine which product caused me to break out.  I understand now that either product can cause a facial rash.  I am so down over this and can't start again until the hives have completely cleared.  Fortunately, most on my abdomen and back have stopped itching and are clearing up and entirely gone from my face - eeerrrrggggghhhh!