Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I started on a low dose of blockers approximately five weeks ago and have definitely been seeing a little bit of progress so far. So far I've just been really experiencing some growing pains and these small soft buds starting to form under my nipples. Along with that Ive noticed my body hair has started to grow a bit slower thankfully, although it's still rather thick. My E level are perfectly fine though my T levels are in the lower range of a typical male, so they're still high. I'm starting to think now that my doctor should have raised the dose of my blockers a bit. Other than that everything's going excellent! I'm just really wondering what I should do if I think I'm on too low of a dose and what changes I should start expecting to see over the coming months?

You should demand that he up the dose as its been five weeks and negative effects from meds occur faster then people think. I'd also get on E, if you want to get the most feminization of your body genetically possible. The way I see it is that if someone had a life-threatening illnes (I've had one) it takes about two months to go from diagnosis, biopsy, blood check, one more visit to tell you the course of treatment, chemo, hair loss, total hell, new life, a future. So why wait?

To be more specific I'm on a good E dose but on a low blocker dose. I'm already thinking of giving a call back and talking to the doctor to ask for a higher dose since it is just a starter one

Take your spiro with food. On a regular dose it really doesn't matter but on a low dose it could double its effectiveness. And I do mean double. It's good to start out with a lower AA dose as spiro, if that's what you are taking, is a potassium-sparing diuretic and could really effect you and quite fast. After about a month though with no ill effects, it's time to move up IMO. Time is precious. Ask any prisoner lol

I always take my spiro right after eating breakfast. My blood work all came back fully fine, body is handling HRT really well! So I'm just going to be giving a call to my doctor and talk to him about putting me on a higher dose before I see him again in July.

That seems like a good idea. July is awhile away. I tried to transition last year and was started on a normal does of spiro and it ripped me up. I prob was dehydrated or something but I eased into it this time. I'm on a low dose right now like you. But in three weeks I'll be at a normal dose. My T is natuarally low so I (she) thinks that the annihilation of the T in my system in combo with the E having to build uo in my system made me really bad off emotionally. i was filled with hatred at everything. Though now I wish I stuck it out. But I try not to look back and just move forward. I really hope your doc ups your dose. BTW, your skin does look much different now in then in your pre-HRT photos.

Thanks! I like how I'm starting to see results! Also what does having a high t level do to you if it doesn't drop bellow a normal male range?

Testosterone competes with estradiol over sex-hormone receptors. Therefore, the more you have, the less estrogenic effect on the body HRT will have. Your skin will stay fairly masculine, breast development will be minimal, your body odor will be AWFUL (mix of E and T is just nasty... my roommate is going through that), body hair will continue to grow normally, muscles may or may not atrophy but probably not dramatically, you'll probably gain mass in areas that you will NOT like them(around the middle), while also gaining some in the thighs but at a larger rate than normal because your T is mildly suppressed (T helps with maintaining body weight), you'll probably see an increase in subcutaneous fatbecause E is responsible for that, but since the T is still there the skin will be a bit thicker than it could be, making the skin less translucent and more fatty (pretty bad combo)

High T for women is a bad deal...

Oh... and also, if testosterone induced bone growth in the face hasn't completed, that will continue.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on March 29, 2013, 12:01:57 PM
High T for women is a bad deal...

Everything you said but also even cis women have to take spiro for bad cases of acne induced by, you guessed it, androgen. Every MTF's favorite hormone lol jk

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on March 29, 2013, 12:01:57 PM
your body odor will be AWFUL (mix of E and T is just nasty... my roommate is going through that),

I was wondering if this could be attributed my low dose E. Just started E a couple of weeks ago. Noticed some varying odours on me since, and yes, some days it's just aweful. Good hygiene regime keeps it in check though. 2-3 weeks until I can add blockers.