Coming off HRT 4 surgery

[Wendy1974]

Ahhh, your on shots.  Have you ever used oral?  Are shots better?  Will you be doing oral after surgery?  Are you going to Sherbourne Health Centre?

I was on oral to start with but switched to the shot after three months. I don't know if it's more effective or not but its easier on the liver since it's not processed through the body in the same way, thats why I wanted to go on injections. After surgery I'll be continuing with the shot. I like only having to worry about it every two weeks. I don't go to Sherbourne Health Centre. I'm in Ottawa and I see a private gender specialist. Since I am military I thankfully don't have to deal with the gender clinics although if I did I would definitely go to Sherbourne. I have friends who had to, or who currently have to, deal with CAMH and not one of them has a good thing to say about the place. Do you go to Sherbourne HC? If you do do you like it there? I don't know anyone who goes to Sherbourne but from what I hear it's very good, light years better than CAMH.
Post Merge: June 17, 2010, 05:01:32 PM

OK, since posting I've been off HRT for 2 weeks and the worst things are, light headedness and Hot flashes (really intense almost like being on fire). The hot flashes are really bad and particularly after I have eaten. I was talking to my mum today about it and she said when she was going through the menopause her hot flashes were particularly bad after eating as well.

Thankfully there hasn't been any hot flashes for me but I know others that have had them bad. It's interesting because when people go through menopause they have different experiences and I guess this is sort of a mini-menopause. I haven't asked my Mom about her experiences with menopause but I don't remember her ever complaining of hot flashes so maybe this is a genetic thing? Your Mom had them bad and so do you, mine didn't have them and neither do I... I wonder if there has been any studies on that? I have to say that I was never much interested in biology until I turned myself into a science experiment with HRT, lol!

[Kristyn]

I don't go to Sherbourne Health Centre. I'm in Ottawa and I see a private gender specialist. Since I am military I thankfully don't have to deal with the gender clinics although if I did I would definitely go to Sherbourne.

Ahhh, you're in Ottawa.  No wonder you are so nice 

I have friends who had to, or who currently have to, deal with CAMH and not one of them has a good thing to say about the place. Do you go to Sherbourne HC? If you do do you like it there? I don't know anyone who goes to Sherbourne but from what I hear it's very good, light years better than CAMH.

I was approved for surgery by CAMH about five years ago.  I began transitioning around 1998 when I lived in Manitoba.  When I moved to Toronto in 2005, I began seeing a doctor at Sherbourne.  His name was Dr Loukes and he was by far the best dr I ever had--very knowledgeable he wrote books on sexuality and had a guest spot on Sex with Sue.  He was the only dr that ever listened to my concerns and who took them seriously, as well.  Dr Loukes is gone now and the dr that replaced him is so-so.  I never had to go through the CAMH gender program, but my dealings with them were ok

[Wendy1974]

His name was Dr Loukes and he was by far the best dr I ever had--very knowledgeable he wrote books on sexuality and had a guest spot on Sex with Sue.  He was the only dr that ever listened to my concerns and who took them seriously, as well.  Dr Loukes is gone now and the dr that replaced him is so-so. 

It sucks when a good doctor retires that is for sure! My endocrinologist is fantastic but he's getting up there and has begun training his replacement so its only a matter of time until he retires. I think all the trans people and all the women with fertility issues in Ottawa will be shedding a tear when that day comes.

[Kristyn]

It sucks when a good doctor retires that is for sure! My endocrinologist is fantastic but he's getting up there and has begun training his replacement so its only a matter of time until he retires. I think all the trans people and all the women with fertility issues in Ottawa will be shedding a tear when that day comes.

Actually he never retired, he went on to do other things--I'm not to sure what.  He was young only thirty-something--younger than me, anyway.  Gone just the same, I guess.

[lpfix2009]

My hormone updates will be by Dr. Goodhew in Toronto. Goodhew said Post Op ill be on Birth Control with a higher estrogen but very much lesser then what i currently take. He said it will also help to blend the "medicine cabinet" or purse. Although its not like I care if someone knows im taking estrogen since women take HRT anyways and a guy probably won't know what estrace is to begin with.

I actually have an appointment with him on my trip back home, I leave Montreal the 16th. He's kinda really georgous :p. Anyhoo, all i have let in pills is about 14 days worth + 1 30 day refill, so I will be able to refill my pills and I should be out just by the time i need to halt them! Worth case scenario, ill need some back up pills for a couple of days.

When I look at it I take 2 Estrogen pills a day and 1 sprinalctone pill which ='s to approx 720 estrogen pills a year 360 spironalctone pills a year a whooping 1080 pills a year and since Dec 2006 ive taken nearly 3800 pills just related to feminization HRT. that's a whole lot of pills for my liver to process.

Ill be happy to have the spiro knocked off and the estrogen reduced

being that is said, I might of called the offices of brassard today for the stupidest reason but I had to ask.. since all and all they say halt hormones and those pain meds, they mention nothing about spironalctone for the (3 weeks).

So i called and spoke to Suzanne about it, she said to halt that as well lol, I feel silly now.

[katgirl74]

It's interesting how each doctor has different opinions about when and what to stop taking. I was able to stay on spiro up until the day before. It lessened some of the mood stuff from stopping E. Other doctors let patients take everything up until before as well, while others make patients stop everything 3 or 4 week prior. I have really noticed how little standardization there is amongst care providers for transsexual surgery. I wish there were more research and sharing of information, as well as more formalized training and continued training. Instead everyone learns the procedure from whomever they learned it from, and refines it as they see fit. I just think that anyone wishing to perform the procedure should go through some kind of residency program like any other specialized area of medical practice.

[FairyGirl]

I completely agree with you Kat. Every doctor seems to have completely different rules for hormones as well as dilation schedules. I would also like to see some standardization across the board. The way it is now it's almost like a shotgun approach to treatment.

[Sarah B]

Hi Katgirl74

You are right, hormones and dilation schedules are all over the place and standardization across the board would be the way to go.

The only reason for stopping medication is that major surgery is ahead and stopping the medication estrogen in our case is the most prudent course of action.

Because the medical literature shows that estrogen increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and major surgery also increases the risk of getting DVT.

More research into this area is needed.

Kind regards
Sarah B

[Coppélia]

I think it all depends on the patient. Some have faster or slower metabolisms, have been in HRT for different amounts of time, different doses of hormones, some have other meds they take which could interfere. Point is the doctor has to taylor his treatment to each individual patient. Obviously there is also the opinion and experience of each doctor to take into account. That's why there are so many differences. Standardization would the worst possible thing you could do to a procedure as delicate as SRS.

[Bam]

I had a bilateral-orchi long before i had the final surgery so i was off Spiro long before and stayed with the injections every three weeks after as well as the progesterone and had very little trouble!!

[FairyGirl]

I think it all depends on the patient. Some have faster or slower metabolisms, have been in HRT for different amounts of time, different doses of hormones, some have other meds they take which could interfere. Point is the doctor has to taylor his treatment to each individual patient. Obviously there is also the opinion and experience of each doctor to take into account. That's why there are so many differences. Standardization would the worst possible thing you could do to a procedure as delicate as SRS.

We are talking about standardization among doctors, not patients. Obviously each patient is unique and care should be tailored to the individual, but we are referring to how much the baseline treatment plans vary from doctor to doctor, not from patient to patient. 

[MsFierce]

We are talking about standardization among doctors, not patients. Obviously each patient is unique and care should be tailored to the individual, but we are referring to how much the baseline treatment plans vary from doctor to doctor, not from patient to patient. 

**Not to Hijack the thread** lol

Chloe are you nervous about tomorrow?

[Bam]

No FairyGirl  the thread was about coming off HRT,so go back and look and as i am Post-Op i believe i JUST Might have some info,if it is Ok with you!!!!!

[FairyGirl]

Bam dear, it's fine with me and thank you for your info, but I wasn't replying to you (!!!!?) lol  Just our little sidetrack about standard dilation schedules, sorry for the confusion.

Giselle yeah a little nervous but very peaceful about it all

[Nigella]

To get back on thread I have been three weeks off HRT and the hot flashes are the worst. Usually after I have eaten even the smallest of things like a piece of fruit. My mum was the same. I will be glad to be back to normal.

Stardust

[MsFierce]

To get back on thread I have been three weeks off HRT and the hot flashes are the worst. Usually after I have eaten even the smallest of things like a piece of fruit. My mum was the same. I will be glad to be back to normal.

Stardust

It's good to know I'm not the only one lol. I'm kinda going thru 'menopause' right now . I get Hot flashes bad now, I really miss  being on my Shot.

[Debra]

Soooooooooooo not looking fwd to this. My surgeon requires anti-androgens to be stopped for 2 weeks as well =/