Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I started hormones today.  ( Woo ).

I don't want to get into any specifics and get in trouble so I'll just say estrogen and t-blockers.

My insurance didn't cover the doctor visit so that sucked.. gotta file it manually and see if theyll take it.  Although the hormones were cheap with insurance.  I got an injection of estrogen but am switching to pills for after that.  I was going to go injections but he didnt seem sure how often there taken.  Said some patients take it once a week, others 2 weeks, some a month.  Didn't sound very accurate so i chose pills for now.  Lady at walgreens kept asking " YOU KNOW THESE ARE FOR WOMEN RIGHT!?!?!" so that was weird.  Luckily no one was there but this older woman who kept wanting to pet my hair and telling me she loved my haircut.

Anyways thought, I got my prescriptions filled and the t-blockers are friggin huge.  I have to take 2 a day, im kinda wimp i never  swallowed pills in my life since i just dont get sick.  However sacrifices had to be made and I choked them down.

Since i've already had a shot os estrogen how long should i wait before starting the pill form?

Also how long before i feel..anything.  Obviously physical changes take a long time but for rest.

Thanks

My insurance also wouldn't cover my endocrinologist visits. But the code he uses for the prescriptions means that my insurance does cover my hormones.

I'm on estrogen, progesterone, and an anti-androgen.

Any physical effects that are somewhat adverse as you first adjust - e.g. slight dizziness, nausea or hot flushes happen in the first couple of days and soon pass.
The speed of action of the AA depends on what you took........ some are really quick to act, some take a few weeks.  Spontaneous erections stop happening thoughyou can still raise it by choice.  It might take a month before you notice semen becoming less and more watery.
Psychological feelings from estrogen ....... probably begin to be noticeable by the second week and will ramp up over several months. They may peak about 6 months in with you being over-emotional for a while before settling down - there was a period where I couldn't watch a sad film or tell a sad bit of news without tearing up!   It was embarrassing.   But that recedes and you stabilize at a more balanced level, though still emotional and feminine in empathy.

Physically...... your boobs will probably be sore by the end of month one and the hard bumps of breast-buds forming under the nipple.  The smell of your sweat will change too.   The greasiness of skin and hair will also change in the first few weeks.

Of course, this is all personal to the individual and also depends on HRT types and dosages, so YMMV     :)

I'm surprised the lady at the pharmacy said anything. That's quite unprofessional...

Chances are that your temper will be the first thing that changes lol! Probably a week or two...

I'll just second what everyone above has posted.  I felt a bit queasy for a couple of days, but that was the only unpleasant side effect.  After a couple of months i had to stop using my epilator and go back to waxing and shaving as my leg hair was much finer, and weaker.  It kept breaking below the skin surface and itched unbearably as it grew out.  After 9 months the backs of my legs are practically hairless and there is a lot less on the rest.  Other body and arm hair reduced a lot too.

Karen.

I was a little taken aback but i was too wobbly from having blood drawn to get angry.  She said she had to inform me because of some rule or something.  Anyone know how long after injection i should wait to start on pill form?

Also if i switch to injections how often do I do them, my endo was clear about most everything except for that.

Edit-  I've felt sick all day >.>

For me, the emotional changes happened first, prolly about 2 weeks in. It was like puberty all over again, except I would cry over really small things. I got a helpful email from a coworker that made me so happy I started crying.

My breastlings are only slightly sore these days, and I'm 7 months in.

congrats on starting hrt

Your story plays well for a movie scene, esp:

QuoteLuckily no one was there but this older woman who kept wanting to pet my hair and telling me she loved my haircut.

lol

A tip on spiro pills, I take the smaller ones. I take 4 of them twice a day. MUCH easier than trying to swallow one monster pill twice a day and it's actually cheaper this way.

My experience with the pharmacy was slightly different, they asked me if I was or was planning to get pregnant :P

It says take 2 of my spiro a day, is that at once or spread out?  Also how often do you do injections

Quote from: Haven on February 16, 2012, 02:06:21 AM
It says take 2 of my spiro a day, is that at once or spread out?  Also how often do you do injections

What I meant was I buy pills that are 1/4 the mg of a large pill. That way I take 4 small pills rather than 1 large one to get the right dosage. MUCH easier to swallow. I asked and they told me for some reason the small pills are cheaper route as well.

Ah sorry I misunderstood.  Mine weren't really expensive..thankfully since I had to pay so much for my endo appointment ><

Quote from: Haven on February 16, 2012, 02:28:42 AM
Ah sorry I misunderstood.  Mine weren't really expensive..thankfully since I had to pay so much for my endo appointment ><

Was responding to your complaint about how big and hard to swallow they are.. I hate big pills too.

Hi Haven it's Shannon.  I started with  Estrogen.  I would love to stay in touch.  Hugs. Spx_1112@yahoo.com