Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 03:37:42 AM Return to Full Version
Title: What sort of things should I consider before starting HRT?
Post by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 03:37:42 AM
Post by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 03:37:42 AM
I'm overweight (just crossed there from obese! The weight is coming off, but I need to lose another 20 lbs to get out of overweight and back to normal)
I am taking a BP lowering med.
I am taking a sugar med for diabetes (A1C dropped and should continue to)
My doctor said I may be able to come off meds (at least for the sugar). That may take 6-9 months, though.
I don't have a letter, but my doctor implied that I will be able to get one when I need one.
Aside from that letter, what should I do before I start HRT? I'm more than willing to hold off on it to make my body as healthy as possible first. I don't want to go on it just to stagnate or reverse what I've done so far.
I am taking a BP lowering med.
I am taking a sugar med for diabetes (A1C dropped and should continue to)
My doctor said I may be able to come off meds (at least for the sugar). That may take 6-9 months, though.
I don't have a letter, but my doctor implied that I will be able to get one when I need one.
Aside from that letter, what should I do before I start HRT? I'm more than willing to hold off on it to make my body as healthy as possible first. I don't want to go on it just to stagnate or reverse what I've done so far.
Title: Re: What sort of things should I consider before starting HRT?
Post by: Cindy on August 27, 2013, 03:43:48 AM
Post by: Cindy on August 27, 2013, 03:43:48 AM
Losing the weight is the main one. Obesity kills more trans*people than any other factor. So keep working on it.
And congratulations for your success so far!
Get fit and develop a 'healthy' life style that you can sustain. Being a new woman is so much fun that you want to be fit enough to enjoy it!
Losing weight etc pre HRT is a lot easier than after!
Make plans make goals and build you life towards them.
You have a second chance of life, one in which you will be happy - so go for it with enthusiasm and joy!
And congratulations for your success so far!
Get fit and develop a 'healthy' life style that you can sustain. Being a new woman is so much fun that you want to be fit enough to enjoy it!
Losing weight etc pre HRT is a lot easier than after!
Make plans make goals and build you life towards them.
You have a second chance of life, one in which you will be happy - so go for it with enthusiasm and joy!
Title: Re: What sort of things should I consider before starting HRT?
Post by: Ltl89 on August 27, 2013, 04:03:00 AM
Post by: Ltl89 on August 27, 2013, 04:03:00 AM
Quote from: kabit on August 27, 2013, 03:37:42 AM
I'm overweight (just crossed there from obese! The weight is coming off, but I need to lose another 20 lbs to get out of overweight and back to normal)
I am taking a BP lowering med.
I am taking a sugar med for diabetes (A1C dropped and should continue to)
My doctor said I may be able to come off meds (at least for the sugar). That may take 6-9 months, though.
I don't have a letter, but my doctor implied that I will be able to get one when I need one.
Aside from that letter, what should I do before I start HRT? I'm more than willing to hold off on it to make my body as healthy as possible first. I don't want to go on it just to stagnate or reverse what I've done so far.
Good on you for improving your health! I don't know if there are steps to take in order to prepare oneself for hrt, but I would recommend a few things. If you smoke, please stop. That can increase the risk of blood clots. If you drink, please do it in moderation. HRT can be taxing on the liver on it's own. Adding alcohol into the mix can make things harder. Also, I would suggest making sure your vitamin levels are in check. For some reason, my endo was very unhappy with my Vitamin D level and now I have to take a supplement. Other than that, all I can say is eat well, exercise often and keep hydrated.
Title: Re: What sort of things should I consider before starting HRT?
Post by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 04:19:06 AM
Post by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 04:19:06 AM
Thanks!
I have other, social factors (wife, kids) ... so I'm not planning on starting immediately. That gives me time to do all of this.
I don't smoke or use drugs.
I drink no more than 2 drinks at a time now (I probably average 0.5 - 1 a day... before coming out it was closer to a 1-2 average per day).
I take a men's multivitamin... that's important just for any sort of diet.
I do need to exercise more and work on flexibility... and I have all kind of minor pains right now from being confined to the basement office (well... evenings and sleeping - no, there's no bed ::) ).
I have other, social factors (wife, kids) ... so I'm not planning on starting immediately. That gives me time to do all of this.
I don't smoke or use drugs.
I drink no more than 2 drinks at a time now (I probably average 0.5 - 1 a day... before coming out it was closer to a 1-2 average per day).
I take a men's multivitamin... that's important just for any sort of diet.
I do need to exercise more and work on flexibility... and I have all kind of minor pains right now from being confined to the basement office (well... evenings and sleeping - no, there's no bed ::) ).
Title: Re: What sort of things should I consider before starting HRT?
Post by: Cindy on August 27, 2013, 05:32:12 AM
Post by: Cindy on August 27, 2013, 05:32:12 AM
One thing I didn't mention and I think it is important.
Start thinking of how you will live your life.
It is very easy to 'want' to be a woman FT but the practicalities are different.
I use this in therapy sessions I give. They are deliberately sexist and confrontational.
So you want to go go FT?
Every morning you will have to do your make up, otherwise you will look like crap.
If you look like crap that is how you will be treated
Every day you will wear your wig or do your hair, not just forget about it
Every day you will decide what to wear so you look good.
There is no more dirty jeans sloppy T and unshaven face.
Guys will check you out and chat you up. How will you deal with it?
Guys will look at your legs openly and not look away.
Guys will talk to your boobs and try to look down your top,
How will you feel?
You will have NO male privilege, do you know what that means?
Woman will treat you as a woman. Do you know what that means?
You will be unsafe in your everyday environment, how will that affect you?
You will lose your upper body strength. Do you know what that means?
Are you realising you will lock yourself in the car and call for roadside assistance?
The list goes on and please I use the questions to provoke discussion. There is of course a massive spectrum of how we are. But in those sessions I am after the client understanding how life can change and there is no 'guy in a dress' stuff. You are a woman. How will you deal with it when I hormonally reassign you.
Because life does change and we cannot predict how it changes for any individual.
Cindy
Start thinking of how you will live your life.
It is very easy to 'want' to be a woman FT but the practicalities are different.
I use this in therapy sessions I give. They are deliberately sexist and confrontational.
So you want to go go FT?
Every morning you will have to do your make up, otherwise you will look like crap.
If you look like crap that is how you will be treated
Every day you will wear your wig or do your hair, not just forget about it
Every day you will decide what to wear so you look good.
There is no more dirty jeans sloppy T and unshaven face.
Guys will check you out and chat you up. How will you deal with it?
Guys will look at your legs openly and not look away.
Guys will talk to your boobs and try to look down your top,
How will you feel?
You will have NO male privilege, do you know what that means?
Woman will treat you as a woman. Do you know what that means?
You will be unsafe in your everyday environment, how will that affect you?
You will lose your upper body strength. Do you know what that means?
Are you realising you will lock yourself in the car and call for roadside assistance?
The list goes on and please I use the questions to provoke discussion. There is of course a massive spectrum of how we are. But in those sessions I am after the client understanding how life can change and there is no 'guy in a dress' stuff. You are a woman. How will you deal with it when I hormonally reassign you.
Because life does change and we cannot predict how it changes for any individual.
Cindy
Title: Re: What sort of things should I consider before starting HRT?
Post by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 06:14:19 AM
Post by: KabitTarah on August 27, 2013, 06:14:19 AM
I've thought about a lot of those things...
I don't know how to practice them? Is it possible?
I am very new to this, and that's another reason I'm holding off for a bit... but at the same time, I've been practicing all my life. I don't know how to practice for this deliberately...
And I always call for roadside assistance - regardless of where or who I am. ;) (I understand you mean that in a different way).
I don't know how to practice them? Is it possible?
I am very new to this, and that's another reason I'm holding off for a bit... but at the same time, I've been practicing all my life. I don't know how to practice for this deliberately...
And I always call for roadside assistance - regardless of where or who I am. ;) (I understand you mean that in a different way).