Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've enjoyed crossdressing for almost twenty years. I've recently started taking a low dose of Estrofem Is this a good idea, bad idea. I'm interested in how it might make me feel. I love the moments I feel like a women. What should I expect?

Quote from: lovleylisa on January 03, 2012, 03:12:04 AM
Is this a good idea, bad idea.

I don't know, what are you hoping to achieve?

Is it prescribed by a doctor? If not I have a feeling most people will tell you it's a bad idea. Self medicating is always warned against from what I've seen.

We do a lot of things that are "bad" for us.
Self medicating is just one more little thing to add on.

Seems like you're on a reasonable dose anyway.

I can't recommend playing with fire (prescription only meds) without understanding the consequences of their use.
Generally sexuality reduces depending on how the body reacts to the drug.

Sweety don't do any hormones, UNLESS you are prescribed them.  I can't say that enough.  I'll tell you how to get prescribed and all that.  but well it's REALLY dangerous.

You can only get them if you are seeing a shink for gender issues.  The therapist must recommend them.  You then take that letter to a General doctor and ask him or her to refer you to an endocrinologist.

If your thinking you might like the resulsts of E, you might want to talk to a therapist and jsut see what they have to say.  I can recomend you a great guy that will talk to you over skype.  And hes been doing gender issues for a long time.
http://www.bebuddphd.com/ (http://www.bebuddphd.com/)

thank you everyone, I'm going to keep it up for a little while, I'm not sure why it interest me so much, I just know I really want to see how I feel.

If it's too low, you probably wont feel any different. I'd probably not dabble in it. Testosterone tends to seriously counterbalance Estradiol, and DHT REALLY kills the effects. I'm no professional, but I'd have to assume if you don't effectively neutralize your testosterone, estrogen wont make any difference whatsoever in what you "feel".

Not to mention unbalanced hormones can pose some health risks.

I don't think i have that option. I've been on Anti-androgen's for a couple of months(no estrogen) and mine have already grown(and I've lost weight due to exercise so they defiantly are boobs growing). I'm a bit worried because I believe I might end up as busty as a normal girl when I start estrogen sometime this month :o

So you better think about whether you have a buxom body type?

If you do some research into cross-gender hormone administration you will find a spectrum of responses falling somewhere between "feel so much better/calmer/happier" and "anxiety/felling ill at ease/not right." It is these reactions that make estrogen administration "diagnostic" in a sense. Often, the males that respond favorably to estrogen also report decreased libido, decreased desire to cross dress, even decreased interest/imperative in transitioning. If you think that taking estrogen will make your cross dressing more intensely pleasurable, I suspect you may be disappointed.

Quote from: lovleylisa on January 03, 2012, 03:12:04 AM
I've enjoyed crossdressing for almost twenty years. I've recently started taking a low dose of Estrofem Is this a good idea, bad idea. I'm interested in how it might make me feel. I love the moments I feel like a women. What should I expect?

if you're a crossdresser, you should not be playing with estrogen. It isn't perfume or body spray. Estrogen alters your body's physiology and it requires a doctor's prescription and to get that prescription you must see a therapist for the letter and then an endo.

So, in my opinion, it's a VERY bad idea for you. Also, from the dosages you gave, it will not have any physical effects so you are experiencing a placebo effect with the added cause of being harmed for taking medication you should not be taking.

Yeah, as far as I know, a better solution would probably be to go to a doctor known for being open-minded and to be put on dosages of anti-androgens for things like baldness and hyperactive pores and things like that, from what I know it seems to improve quite a few masculine traits and can finally give someone a more androgynous appearance. I'm not sure exactly how long one can stay on that plan though, as a 'testosterone or estrogen' route may be what you have to go through in the end to keep your body healthy.

One thing I'd like to research is simply how one can bring their hormone levels to a balanced place that may cause one to look androgynous without putting someone over the male or female edge either way - there's definately a lot of people who naturally have that sort of hormonal make-up in real life, and there's a lot of people out there, like Androgyne's or Cross Dressers, that would benefit from having a much more androgynous appearance, an appearance that can at least be pliable between gender appearance.

Dear lovleylisa

I'm not a mechanic, but I've just found some formula 1 racing fuel that I am going to mix with some nitrous oxide and put in my Model T Ford. Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea?

Answer: It's a bad idea.  It will blow my Model T to kingdom come.

Sorry if I have wandered off topic slightly, however I thought it necessary to relate your question through a different medium. As you did ask the question"I've recently started taking a low dose of Estrofem Is this a good idea, bad idea"

Having read all the responses, it appears blatantly obvious to me, the cumulative response from all concerned here is that, it is a BAD IDEA. Yet, you have the audacity to belligerently ignore what has been said to you in one way shape or another; No! Please tell me, what part of No, do you not understand?

Self medication of these drugs can KILL you.  No ifs, buts or maybes' They can and they do KILL you.

I must apologise for my outrageous manners at this point in time. However, I'm sick and tired of trawling the streets of Sydney, picking up the shattered remains of people who willfully and blatantly ignore and disregard the advise of professionals regarding self medication, of any description. Then, in a heartbeat turn round and accuse these professionals of criminal negligence, by failing to accept the responsibility for their own actions.

It is clearly evident to me, you are in denial of your own true feelings. If you wish to proceed with this medication, can I insist you see a therapist or psychiatrist who can evaluate your current position, and if necessary refer you to an Endocrinologist who will, after a rigorous set of tests, determine the appropriate medication for you to experience whatever you want to experience; in a safe and fully supervised professional environment. Before you do any harmful, irreparable damage to yourself or others.

Thank you for your time and understanding.
Regards
Catherine

Do what you want, it's your body.

I've been self medicating for a while now and I feel great. Nice low blood pressure and everything. B) Do your research before taking though because it can be dangerous.

In before moral->-bleeped-<-s telling me to stop. I don't exactly have a lot of money for fancy blood tests and things.

Quote from: Heartwood (Alex) on January 11, 2012, 11:34:53 AM
Do what you want, it's your body.

I've been self medicating for a while now and I feel great. Nice low blood pressure and everything. B) Do your research before taking though because it can be dangerous.

In before moral->-bleeped-<-s telling me to stop. I don't exactly have a lot of money for fancy blood tests and things.

Are your doses correct for you? Are your levels too high, too low or OK? And when your liver packs it in, it'll suddenly get a whole lot more expensive..

Quote from: kelly_aus on January 11, 2012, 05:54:27 PM
Are your doses correct for you? Are your levels too high, too low or OK? And when your liver packs it in, it'll suddenly get a whole lot more expensive..

This pretty much.   That's why doing DIY hormones is such a bad idea.

Quote from: Heartwood (Alex) on January 11, 2012, 11:34:53 AM
Do what you want, it's your body.

Not very wise

It may be their body, but if they screw something up by self medicating its other who will pay for the funeral ><.  I'd see a therapist/doctor and see if they think its right for you with your crossdressing.

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 11, 2012, 11:25:04 AM
I'm sick and tired of trawling the streets of Sydney, picking up the shattered remains of people who willfully and blatantly ignore and disregard the advise of professionals regarding self medication, of any description. Then, in a heartbeat turn round and accuse these professionals of criminal negligence, by failing to accept the responsibility for their own actions.

/
I remember reading that crossdressing was a sexual issue, and transsexualism was a gender issue.

Lisa, the hormones will ruin your sexual hormones if you continue. That I can tell you for sure. So maybe just think about it- Am I doing this for kicks?( which is totally healthly) or am I doing this as a way to tell myself something?(ie I'm transsexual)

A question for you:

When your dressed sitting on your sofa- Are you
1.) aroused? Excited? Happy? - If so , maybe a sexual kink?
2.) Calm? Peaceful? Lull? - If so, maybe transsexual?

If one - no hormones
If two - Talk to doctors - No hormones.

Hope this helps sweetie

Jenny

OXOXOXO

I feel relaxed and  calmer, I enjoy it, sometimes it's really enjoyable. I don't just want to try and look like a girl I want to feel like a girl and I can feel a little difference.

Quote from: lovleylisa on January 19, 2012, 01:11:30 PM
I feel relaxed and  calmer, I enjoy it, sometimes it's really enjoyable. I don't just want to try and look like a girl I want to feel like a girl and I can feel a little difference.

its your body and your risks

I have to disagree with the statement that these meds "are a diagnostic tool". People can have allergic and/or bad reactions to them, but that doesn't mean they aren't women. A LOT of GG's can't tolerate estridiol due to head aches etc, what kinda diagnosis is that? I got extremely anxious and developed insomnia when I tried to add progesterone, so do a lot of other women. It's at the top of the list of side effects. I can't tollerate estridiol but estriol is no problem, does that mean I want to get preggers? :P

I would say if someone starts on an AA and when their sex drive drops their desire to be a woman wanes, THAT is a diagnosis that HRT is probably not a good idea for them. IMHO when someone first inquires about HRT, they should immediately start them on something like spiro and then during later therapy the results of that would tell the therapist a lot.  I honestly think most of the feeling calmer is from the AA lowering T levels, not the E. Many people start them together so assume it's the E. To the OP, I'm pretty sure what you are feeling is a placebo effect but I could be wrong. As another poster said, you'd probably be better off with an AA as throwing e into your body alone is probably doing nothing or maybe even have the opposite effect you imagine it would.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts I do appreciate them, I stopped taking them for about two weeks now and I miss the way I felt. It was a big change but I noticed it. I liked it I did notice my skin feeling softer, I felt softer in many different ways not just my skin. The world seemed just a little quitter when I was taking hormones. I think I want to try them again.

Things maybe different in America, but here in GB as far as I understand you need to be three months into your real-life test before they will even consider prescribing hormones.   I am too tall to ever pass so I have to go down the unprescribed oestrogen route.

Quote from: Beverley on January 29, 2012, 03:21:47 PM
OK - I am an expert on low dose oestrogen. Actually I am an expert on on herbal phytoestrogens which, because they are a lot weaker than estradiol etc, act like a low dose oestrogen.

How do  I know about them? Because I took them for SIX MONTHS. Got that? 6 MONTHS. Not years - MONTHS.

What happened?

I grew boobs. That is what happened. I had significant breast development that my GP diagnosed as Tanner stage 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanner_scale). In short I developed permanent breast tissue. That is what low dose oestrogens will do to you.

Beverley

I read recently that Premarin is horse oestrogen and if you take Premarin you get a lot of junk in your body that the body doesn't know what to do with.   With phyto-oestrogen your are getting plant junk.

Quote from: Happy Girl! on January 29, 2012, 05:33:12 PM
Things maybe different in America, but here in GB as far as I understand you need to be three months into your real-life test before they will even consider prescribing hormones.   I am too tall to ever pass so I have to go down the unprescribed oestrogen route.

What a load of crap... None of the Brit girls I've spoken to have had to do any RLE before hormones..

Quote from: kelly_aus on January 29, 2012, 05:59:36 PM
What a load of crap... None of the Brit girls I've spoken to have had to do any RLE before hormones..

There are many places in the UK that still requires you to go through RLE before getting HRT. I know of five girls who had to do RLE first in the UK.

While there are therapists in the UK will let you start HRT before RLE....others still require RLE first.

So, the "load of crap" is kind of harsh under the circumstances.

Quote from: Happy Girl! on January 29, 2012, 05:37:01 PM
I read recently that Premarin is horse oestrogen and if you take Premarin you get a lot of junk in your body that the body doesn't know what to do with.   With phyto-oestrogen your are getting plant junk.

PREgnant MARe uRINe.

Yeah, I wont touch the stuff.

Quote from: Annah on January 29, 2012, 10:57:45 PM
PREgnant MARe uRINe.

Yeah, I wont touch the stuff.

I have a cis friend that had everything removed and she's on premarin, she gets hot flashes all the time :P

has she talked to her doctor about getting something a little bit more natural? There's just so many more effective and safer estrogen out there as medications has improved.

No clue. I should talk to her about it. Maybe give her a few of my pills and see if they make a difference. I did jokingly offer but she just laughed at me.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on January 30, 2012, 01:25:38 AM
Maybe give her a few of my pills and see if they make a difference.

I def advise against that!

One way or another, I think I'm switching to injections in a couple weeks and I'm gonna have about 50 pills left over. She gets everything thru the womens clinic and IDT she can go to the doctor to get a resub due to finances.

Does anyone actually know how many people have died as a result of taking cross sex hormones? Are some people just jumping on the bandwagon when they pipe up "self medding will kill you" Does anyone know for sure that someone has died directly as a result of what could be considered a normal dose, prescription or otherwise.
Is there an element of jealousy from those folks going the legit route, jumping through hoops and getting prescriptions?   
Have any of the people under a doctor died? 
If you genuinely know the answer to these questions then I think you have some of the information that you'd need, to have a valid opinion. If you don't then maybe get down of that wagon.
As someone said it might be a choice between going mad with GD whilst a doctor,(not necessarily an endo or a G specialist) makes a decision about someones suitability or not.
How many people die every year climbing Everest, riding the Isle of man TT, playing rugby, skydiving, scuba, cycling, Fkin roller skating..... Is there anyone telling them they shouldn't do it????
In life Everything we do has risk. I used to risk my life every day just going to work riding a motor cycle through london, it was my choice. I absolutely resent being treated like a small child, incapable of making an informed choice, "GET OFF MY TRAIN!!!!"
Rather than telling people they're going to drop down dead how about being a bit more realistic and identifying the realities of self medding and what "can" happen if it goes wrong. It turns out it's the same things that can happen under a doctors care. Does anyone have actual numbers of deaths or strokes or any other negative effects for both monitored or independent hormone use?
I think Susan's is right not to allow discussion on hormones, dosage, type, etc because there are far too many "experts" ready to throw in their opinions. However I do think that genuine information from qualified experts should be available and it is if you're lucky enough to find it or smart enough to search for it. As with Any drugs taking too much, mixing, the wrong type, etc, or just being really unlucky! Any and all of these can potentially kill you. How many people die each year from over the counter medication, even asprin, look it up. Anyone on Susan's telling people of that reality? It doesn't matter what kills you, you'll always end up equally just as dead....

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
Does anyone actually know how many people have died as a result of taking cross sex hormones? Are some people just jumping on the bandwagon when they pipe up "self medding will kill you" Does anyone know for sure that someone has died directly as a result of what could be considered a normal dose, prescription or otherwise.

I know personally of two girls in Philly and one girl in Washington state. One of the girls in Philly is dead from a Liver damage and the other girl from Washington state is dead from a stroke.

The other girl from Philly survived her stroke but now uses a electric scooter, slurs her speech, and is still mostly paralyzed on her right side.

These were girls I had been in contact with prior. All three of them had these complications as a result of DIY hormones and this was confirmed by their autopsy and/or bloodwork when they were admitted.

The girl who died from Liver damage had been leaking enzymes into her bloodstream as a result of taking a type of estrogen that was not good for her. Visits to an endo could have prevented that.

The other girl who died of a stroke died because her blood had thickened from her DIY HRT regiment.

These were girls I knew personally...and not anyone I found on the internet. These were also girls who had these tragic results one year apart in the two years I had been transitioning so it didn't happen years apart either.

So, no. It's not a bandwagon.

Quote from: lovleylisa on January 29, 2012, 02:45:24 PM
Thanks everyone for your thoughts I do appreciate them, I stopped taking them for about two weeks now and I miss the way I felt. It was a big change but I noticed it. I liked it I did notice my skin feeling softer, I felt softer in many different ways not just my skin. The world seemed just a little quitter when I was taking hormones. I think I want to try them again.

Why did you stop taking them if they made you feel so much better?
I really hope you didn't stop just because someone told you to.

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
Does anyone know for sure that someone has died directly as a result of what could be considered a normal dose, prescription or otherwise.

Yes

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
Is there an element of jealousy from those folks going the legit route, jumping through hoops and getting prescriptions?

No
 

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
Have any of the people under a doctor died?

Yes
 

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
If you genuinely know the answer to these questions then I think you have some of the information that you'd need, to have a valid opinion.

Thank you

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
Rather than telling people they're going to drop down dead how about being a bit more realistic and identifying the realities of self medding and what "can" happen if it goes wrong.

In my experience, I find the majority of self medicators AREN'T interested in, and don't WANT to listen.

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
Does anyone have actual numbers of deaths or strokes or any other negative effects for both monitored or independent hormone use?

I'm personally not into statistics. I'd prefer to stop what I know to be true. Statistics don't help in any way, shape or form, in piecing back together the shattered remains of those left behind. That's the sad reality of self medication. Forget the bandwagons. forget the statistics.

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
However I do think that genuine information from qualified experts should be available and it is if you're lucky enough to find it or smart enough to search for it.

Yes. .....  They are called GP's (General Practitioners) they are called Therapists, they are called Psychiatrists, they are called Endocrinologists. They can be found in your phone book or through a recognised Gender Centre.

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
How many people die each year from over the counter medication, even aspirin. Anyone on Susan's telling people of that reality?

I don't know how many people die from and over dose of aspirin; and Susan's isn't a medical support site for the side effects of aspirin.

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 04:19:30 AM
It doesn't matter what kills you, you'll always end up equally just as dead....

Correct. ...  It's just trying to piece back the shattered remains of those that are left, tends to blunt-en my day and the team I work with. Takes the gloss off it somewhat. Particularly when it could have been avoided. The repair work sometimes takes years. Sometimes it just never happens. The pain and grief is too much for some and just takes them to an early grave.

And this is possibly part of the reason Susan has this policy in place.

Be safe, well and happy
Catherine

Catherine
I don't know the extent of your experience and I'd be surprised to find you'd spoken to more than a small % of self medders, saying the majority aren't interested is a little blinkered and mis-leading. That'd be like assuming that everyone who's transgendered is a member here at Susan's. Some people aren't good at getting a message across, no one likes to be told "dont!" maybe you rubbed them up the wrong way with your approach to enlightening them.
I'm not a fan of statistics either and I'm not aware of any specifically relating to just how many unfortunate people have died as a result of self medding. Without actual numbers and even certain important details regarding exact circumstances of each case I'd say that the "reality of self medication" isn't actually known.
Not everyone can afford GP's, therapists or endos, they might be off the beaten track and simply don't have access to such services. As for gender centres I haven't found these to exactly plentiful either. Not everyone would be considered "suitable" for receiving a prescrition, that's not to say it wouldn't be right for them.

Annah
It's terrible that these girls died as a result of self medding. I wonder though had they had information freely available would they still be alive today. Desperate people have a tendency to do desperate things and take what could be considered silly risks. These risks could be better managed if more genuine information was freely available.

Beverley
I really hope dangerous sports are never banned. They're not everyone's cup of tea but some people need that adrenalin fix to make life worth living. Dangerous sports today, what next, as it is we're going health and safety mad. Before you know it we''ll be so wrapped up in cotton wool that you won't be able to do anything.

Quote from: smooth on January 30, 2012, 03:29:24 PM

Annah
It's terrible that these girls died as a result of self medding. I wonder though had they had information freely available would they still be alive today. Desperate people have a tendency to do desperate things and take what could be considered silly risks. These risks could be better managed if more genuine information was freely available.

Um the information was freely available when they died. These girls died in 2009 and 2011....not 1993.

They had all the information every other DIY has. Trust me, I knew them. They knew all kinds of estrogen, dosages, effectiveness, etc.

You stated that we are against DIY because we jumped on a bandwagon because it was there....and that we were somehow jealous that DIY are doing it DIY and we're not.

On the contrary, I am not jealous at all. I would rather be alive than dead. Also, I am only spending about 4 bucks a month on HRT versus some DIY who spend 40 to 50 a month. Plus, I have bloodwork twice a year to make sure my liver and other organs are functioning properly from the HRT....as well a a mammogram.

Good lord, why would I be jealous of DIY?

Quote from: Annah on January 30, 2012, 03:54:31 PM
Good lord, why would I be jealous of DIY?

Of course not all but many DIY hormone folks are simply afraid to talk to the doctor (or anyone?) about this. I agree, why should I be jealous of someone who is paying 10X what I am for meds, has to order them from questionable sources etc. The prescribing Doc I see charges $85 a visit. That's less than the markup on meds a DIY will pay.

Quote from: Stephe on January 30, 2012, 04:42:02 PM
The prescribing Doc I see charges $85 a visit. That's less than the markup on meds a DIY will pay.

I want to see your doctor. Mine charges $410 before insurance, plus $400+ on lab work. There's not many endos that deal with TS HRT in my town, she just happens to be one of them.

Personally, I DIY'd for 2 months before seeing an endo for a reason. If I had not, the doctor would've started me out on a very low dosage and had me come in every month, costing me thousands of dollars of bs appointments, and who knows how many months in ineffective feminization. Plus had I not been on them, I'm willing to bet she'd want me to go revisit my therapist as I hadn't seen him in a year since I got the letter. I go in every 3 months for a represcribe and bloodwork, and she put me on the dose I had put myself on.

I gambled and it definitely paid off. Spending under 200 dollars a month on HRT probably saved me a ton of money and time dealing with the standard process of getting bloodwork for a baseline, then getting prescribed a low dosage, spending 600 dollars a month (after insurance) to see her and get lab results, then dealing with possibly an overly cautious doctor that will not up my dosage for months on end, and possibly waiting a year before having blood levels that equal a females. Instead, they equalled a females the day I saw her for the first time.

All that said, I'm glad I have blood results. They give me a peace of mind. I'm also glad I have a doctor because I can call and ask the nurse questions about things. Plus if I need things like a doctors excuse to stay out of extreme heat or anything like that, I can get a medical excuse for it.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on January 30, 2012, 05:04:15 PM
probably saved me a ton of money and time dealing with the standard process of getting bloodwork for a baseline, then getting prescribed a low dosage, spending 600 dollars a month (after insurance) to see her and get lab results, then dealing with possibly an overly cautious doctor that will not up my dosage for months on end, and possibly waiting a year before having blood levels that equal a females.

Lots of probably and possibly there..

My doc had no problem putting me on "normal" dose right off (he wanted to taper up over a couple of weeks but prescribed the full dose) and much of the blood work is optional. We can do as little or much as we feel is needed. I know my T levels are through the floor so no point in wasting money on that. I know not all docs are like this but that's why you have to shop around. All docs I know of will do a consult for a reasonable fee to sort through possible ones to use.

I still believe most DIY people DIY because they are in the closet about their trans issues.

Unfortunately I live in the middle of the bible belt and I was met with a bunch of "No"s before I finally found a doctor. I was on an 8 month waiting list to see the only known doctor to my therapist before I finally snapped and looked myself. Nobody else would see me unless I had insurance. Luckily, I eventually got health insurance back in May. But IDK, maybe I'm better off seeing an GP instead of an endo?

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on January 30, 2012, 05:25:23 PM
Unfortunately I live in the middle of the bible belt and I was met with a bunch of "No"s before I finally found a doctor. I was on an 8 month waiting list to see the only known doctor to my therapist before I finally snapped and looked myself. Nobody else would see me unless I had insurance. Luckily, I eventually got health insurance back in May. But IDK, maybe I'm better off seeing an GP instead of an endo?

A GP with some brains can deal with HRT. It's not rocket science. BTW I have no insurance either.

Stephe

^^Yup. I see a GP, not an endo and he is a wonderful Doctor and knows what he is doing. Like Stephe said, any GP with some brains can administer HRT and know how to read levels. Past experience is always a MAJOR plus too, if they have worked with trans. people in the past.

Perhaps I'll look into going that way, then :)

I'll visit my endo 1 last time and let her know, however. She seems very interested in keeping me as she's openly admitted I'm basically the first one she's started with. She's had experience with girls that have been on there way for a while but none that were so early into it.  Maybe she'll make a write off on my bills with her so she can gain experience.

Like I said, bible belt. HRT is pretty much unheard of here. In fact, everybody I've told "I'm transsexual, you know what that means?" has responded with "You have both male and female parts?". I'm afraid I may be on the phone for an entire day just trying to find a GP that will see me.

I hear ya on the bible belt problem.  I'm supposed to get my letter next week, my therapist is supposed to have endo contacts who have dealt with transgender patients.  >>Fingers Crossed <<

I've got no time and a very low opinion of a bible bashing doctor who let's their beliefs get in the way of treating a patient impartially. It smacks of wrong career choice and a demonstration of limited understanding and compassion. "You're Fired!"  >:-)
Blood work and general health checks are available and sensible for anyone on hrt, legit or otherwise. Just because you're diy does not mean you can't keep your doctor in the loop. It's actually sensible to inform your doctor. It might not be seen favourably but it will mean that any medication that your doctor prescribes will take into account that you are already taking hormones and potentially avoid any interactions between anything they might prescribe for other ailments. It may also prompt them towards giving you more specific health checks and information should they have it. Folks should also familiarise themselves with symptoms of blood clots etc to ensure speedy treatment should any issues arise. Staying fit and active should also be up there on your list of priorities as this can go some way in helping keep issues at bay. NO SMOKING!
I doubt anyone would be specifically jealous of the actual diy but they might be of the fact that they've had to jump through hoops and bear their soles and sometimes even tell a few porky pies to get a script shun, but a diy er didn't.
Sorry Stephe but what's different between your doctors approach and that of an informed diy er. "Optional blood work, you know your T is through the floor" How? and is that necessarily a good thing, a little T is required for balance I think I remember.... I dare say some diy ers are in the closet, nothing wrong with that. I'd also say there's one or two who are put off going through the system for other reasons. "Shopping around for a doc" I wonder if that's what Michael Jackson did. Is a doctor who's a push over or an easy touch really someone who's going to separate you from any risks with hrt, come to that is blood work every 6 months adequate. Blood work's a bit like vehicle mot testing here in the uk. The minute you drive out of the garage/test centre it's no longer relevant. There's nothing to say the second the needle is removed from your vein that an issue might start or be building in the background, grapefruit anyone? "A GP with some brains" is that short for an endocrinologist. Small town, doctor nearing retirement, christian, small population.....
Solid information from people like endo's expert in this area should be easily available without necessarily going to see them. It should be accompanied by recommendation that a diy approach is not ideal. Here say and opinion from the general population should be discouraged (like it is at Susan's)
It's a little short sited to think that people wont diy just because they don't have any solid information. I dare say it's been the cause of some deaths that could have been avoided if the situation was a bit less.... starchy and secretive. It might even be useful for that small town christian doc nearing retirement cos he/she still think a transexual has both sets of uglies  ;)

Smooth, the amount of DI-Yourselfers who get independent exams and bloodwork from their General Practitioners and Endocrinologists are VERY small.

The majority of them order the drugs online in secret from friend and family without once walking into a doctor's office to get their blood tested.

Because if people went through all of that and then went to a doctor's office to get everything independently tested, your doctor will encourage you to let him/her monitor your results with a prescription that he or she feels would be more receptive to your body.

Also, if someone absolutely cannot find a doctor in the Bible Belt and they have to resort to hormones in India or Thailand or China, then smuggling hormones will be the least of their worries. Transitioning period will be as equally as difficult.

But I lived in the Bible Belt. Leaved near Memphis Tennessee and in Kansas. Not all doctors are born again fundamentalist christian. I only had one doctor who considered himself a christian (liberal) out of the 15 years I lived there.

You can find an objective doctor in the Bible Belt.  I think risking one's lives on unmonitored HRT is worth the trouble to find that doctor....even if it means driving 3 hours to her or his office twice a year to do it.

Quote from: Annah on January 31, 2012, 06:47:48 AM
Smooth, the amount of DI-Yourselfers who get independent exams and bloodwork from their General Practitioners and Endocrinologists are VERY small.

The majority of them order the drugs online in secret from friend and family without once walking into a doctor's office to get their blood tested.

Because if people went through all of that and then went to a doctor's office to get everything independently tested, your doctor will encourage you to let him/her monitor your results with a prescription that he or she feels would be more receptive to your body.

Also, if someone absolutely cannot find a doctor in the Bible Belt and they have to resort to hormones in India or Thailand or China, then smuggling hormones will be the least of their worries. Transitioning period will be as equally as difficult.

But I lived in the Bible Belt. Leaved near Memphis Tennessee and in Kansas. Not all doctors are born again fundamentalist christian. I only had one doctor who considered himself a christian (liberal) out of the 15 years I lived there.

You can find an objective doctor in the Bible Belt.  I think risking one's lives on unmonitored HRT is worth the trouble to find that doctor....even if it means driving 3 hours to her or his office twice a year to do it.

I'm seeing a doctor, so don't see this as me making excuses.

I personally plan on transitioning in New Orleans. However I have a pretty well crafted lie to help me with the "Why do you look more female?" questions. So far the lie hasn't gotten me into trouble.

Nearly every doctors office I've asked around here has literally laughed at me or given me an outrageous wait period. The best wait period I had was 2 months, which I jumped all over. One even told me up to 3 years.

In my case, driving to Dallas, which is 3 hours away, is out of the question due to school and work. I simply cannot make a 6 hour round trip during the week. School is priority number 1 and I go 5 days a week.

All that said, I haven't gone down a GP route because everybody in the community preaches "GET AN ENDO!" .. especially my therapist. So I figured I could only ask specialists that charge absolutely outrageous fees.

One of my best friends selfmedicated aswell, thanks to an understanding Post op that had meds at home from Pre and Post-transition, so she gave those to the friend and also learned her how to give herself injections. She(My friend) then regularly had contact with Physisians and had regular check-ups.
Later on, she had the Hormones prescribed legally, but she thought the Therapists moved so damn slow that she simply decided to do it all herself including having SRS before she was "admitted" to.
In fact, she literally asked her Therapist to shove it. :laugh:

All came out fine, though and she also got the needed legal documents to change her name. :)

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on January 31, 2012, 07:17:12 AM

In my case, driving to Dallas, which is 3 hours away, is out of the question due to school and work. I simply cannot make a 6 hour round trip during the week. School is priority number 1 and I go 5 days a week.

As a student, you should be able to take advantage of the student health service (assuming you are in college).

Quote from: Jamie D on January 31, 2012, 11:41:05 AM
As a student, you should be able to take advantage of the student health service (assuming you are in college).

sadly there are many colleges that do not offer transgender related health coverages.

I know of a few that do right now. UPenn, Penn State and a couple in California

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 11, 2012, 11:25:04 AMSelf medication of these drugs can KILL you.  No ifs, buts or maybes' They can and they do KILL you.

(Citation needed) Only marginally more dangerous than getting it legitly your "NO DRUGS" Childlike mentality is counterproductive. Because your overstating and misleading certain facts. It's the same bull that teachers spew out about how Smoking weed will make you crazy and kill your friends. Or how steroids turn you into a murderous psychopath.

As to the op if your self medicating if your only taking a low dose of estrogen it probably won't do anything your innate Testosersone will probably absorb it.

I don't know if it would make you feel anymore like a woman. It wasn't how it worked with me as I felt I was female no matter what my hormonal status.

If it dose have an effect you might notice your skin becoming softer or your nipples starting to grow bigger as that would be a symptom.

Bear in mind Breast Development is Irriverisble. and if they start growing you will have them forever as maybe other changes including impaired fertility.

I don't mind pepole self-medding I don't see it as a deadly threat. however if you do it It's damn important to me that you be informed and be willing to bear any and all conciquences for your actions good or bad.

Quote from: Jamie D on January 31, 2012, 11:41:05 AM
As a student, you should be able to take advantage of the student health service (assuming you are in college).

I go to a technical college, and they don't offer that.