I need your help :/

[PoisonParadise]

I know its not a medical board, but I really need your help (especially people from US).
Look, I live in Poland, and drs here dont know much about HRT. They prescribe Diane 35 (i know its banned here, thats why im asking for your help ), Androcur and some Estrogen pills or estradiol plasters. Its before SRS.
I've been killing my liver with Diane 35 for so many years, I need your help.. I'm post op right now and nobody cant help me here, even endocrinologists, they just dont know how to deal with transsexuals :/ What to give us to get any results so they give Diane or other anty-pregnancy pills with synthetic estradiol.

Can you tell me what you take? Im post op and I guess i dont have to take any tst blokers like androcurs? I'm taking progynova , Diane (i know... but im helpless) and estradiol plaster (it's called Estradot)
My doctor (hes a sexologist, thats how it looks like in Poland) said he doesn't know what to prescribe me (thanks god for being honest) and told me to ask ppl around the world. 
I know HRT in Europe sux, thats  why im asking ppl from US, please, help me, I dont want to kill myself because of bad HRT. Can u give me names of medicines? Or how much estradiol/progesterone u take? Ill find their polish counterparts and talk about it with my dr.

I would be soooooooooo grateful.
xo

ps. im sorry for dosages  i cut off the rest of it.

[Nigella]

hiya,

We can't help with dosage but with the different kinds of HRT yes, I'm sure the other ladies will join in. I am on Progynova only post op and seems to be one of the main one used here in the UK. I know its not the USA though so perhaps not as helpful to you.


Stardust

[Melody Maia]

I am in the US and take ethinyl estradiol put in gel caps by a compounding pharmacy. I know a lot of the US girls here take spironolactone as an anti-androgen along with some flavor of estrogen in either pill or injectable form. No, if you are post-op, I don't believe you need an anti-androgen anymore.

[PoisonParadise]

And Progynova works good on you? I mean, I had never dealt with any skin problems, like acne or something, but I've noticed my skin is very dry and not in good condition after SRS so I guess HRT is the reason... I take progynova too, maybe its because of lack of progesterone or smth? (Im 20yo)
Oh and I've heard that estrogen injections are a lot better than pills because body absorbs all of it, and pills goes around your digestive system etc. Is it true?

[marcy319]

@Melody...

I don't mean to question your physicaian's treatment plan, and I hope I am not overstepping any bounds by asking, but why custom compounded ethinyl estradiol as opposed to off the shelf 17b estradiol?

My understanding - and anyone please do correct me if I am wrong - is that while ethinyl is more potent, 17b has a much lower risk of hepatic, thrombotic, or cardiovascular complications, especially when administered non-orally.

Further, I would think that having your prescriptions crafted by a compounding pharmacy would be dramatically more costly.

[marcy319]

@poisonparadise...

I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. I just read a lot.

Diane35 = Androcur + Ethinyl Estradiol. Not good for HRT, not enough estrogen, and possibly not the best type of estrogen, and probably not the best way to take it.

You don't need Androcur anymore if you have had surgery and do not have testicles.

Progynova is a brand name of Estradiol Valerate, which is 17b estradiol. It is the same chemical as naturally produced in the body, which is why some doctors think it is better.

Any estrogen is hard on your liver if you swallow it, and you are correct less is "wasted".

We cannot discuss dosage information here.

[marcy319]

Moderators, if my two postings above are not appropriate for this forum, please accept my apologies. Just trying to be helpful.

[Melody Maia]

@Melody...

I don't mean to question your physicaian's treatment plan, and I hope I am not overstepping any bounds by asking, but why custom compounded ethinyl estradiol as opposed to off the shelf 17b estradiol?

My understanding - and anyone please do correct me if I am wrong - is that while ethinyl is more potent, 17b has a much lower risk of hepatic, thrombotic, or cardiovascular complications, especially when administered non-orally.

Further, I would think that having your prescriptions crafted by a compounding pharmacy would be dramatically more costly.

I don't take an AA and I take a very low dosage of E compared to the dosages the other ladies here are taking. My endo used a technique by which we slowly raised the amount of E in my blood in an effort to have the pituitary shut down T production in the testes. As he explained it, the pituitary can be fooled into detecting E as T. Sort of like, "Ok, sex hormone level is ok, we don't need anymore. Testes, no more testosterone please." I was a little wary at first since no one else on here seemed to be doing it this way, but my endo has been doing this forever and so I decided to give it a try. I started at a baseline T of 269, which is kinda low. First month on low-dose E, my T actually went up, raised the dose a little and T went down to 116. Raised the dose a little more and T was at 9.7. My breasts have gotten bigger and I have had the other secondary sex characteristics develop. I feel great, so I haven't had a reason to try something else. Cost of my latest prescription is $45 for 66 doses. Two months worth.

[Simone Louise]

The U.S. government warns against the extended use of Diane 35, echoing concerns in Canada and the UK of the danger of venous thromboembolism--http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC143555/. Since it seems to be ethinylestradiol and an anti-androgen, which you may no longer need after your surgery, perhaps you can stop using Diane 35.

S

[marcy319]

My endo used a technique by which we slowly raised the amount of E in my blood in an effort to have the pituitary shut down T production in the testes.

OK... Understood. I'd bet dollars to donuts that a lot of people are taking Androcur or spiro who don't really need it anymore, for that exact reason.

I feel great, so I haven't had a reason to try something else. Cost of my latest prescription is $45 for 66 doses. Two months worth.

As you say, this approach is not as widely used, but I see the wisdom of it. I'm still curious as to why Ethinyl over 17b, but I certainly don't mean to push the issue, as it is really none of my business. I am sure there are as many regimens as doctors, and I am pleased to hear you are satisfied with your treatment plan as *that* is what's most important.

Also, I just assumed compounding would be frightfully expensive. Darn near everything else health-care related is, at least for us in the US. Shows you what I know... my book-learned definitely can't hold a candle to your your been-there-done-that!!!

Thanks, and good luck!