Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I have read so many posts about how long it really takes to feel the effects of HRT. I was well braced for the long haul and started the spiro/estradiol combo via pill form about 11 days ago. I did expect to feel the sense of calm others have mentioned. And indeed, I have. I do feel more balanced and already hate the thought of going back. But is it possible to just be more receptive to the therapy than expected? I have already noticed a complete shift in my scent...definitely less acrid and more feminine. And even more surprising has been that my nipples have already started changing. Don't want to put out tmi, but the centers just basically popped out like pencil erasers. And they are more sensitive to brushing fabrics. Then tonight, I noticed the areola crowning out a little. I know the mind is powerful and could see imagining some changes. But the changes to my nipples is something I cannot attribute to anything but the hrt. I even think I see a little roundness forming to my breast area, but that could just be my imagination. I started this process needing to lose some weight and have actually been doing so successfully. So while I had a little fat at my chest, the nipple thing is undeniable change. Has anyone else ever noticed actual physical changes this early into transition?

That pretty much describes the things I noticed around the same point. Now, at three weeks, my nipples and areolae have slightly grown, and feel softer to the touch. When the headlights are not on the slightest brushing against them will wake them up for a short time. If it is cold, there is no stopping them.

The biggest changes at this point are from Spiro. Clearer complexion, shrunken prostate (makes peeing much easier), almost impossible to get an erection without playing with it, even then it is not fully hard, clearer and lesser ejaculate.

E takes its time and works in subtle ways. Spiro came on fast.

Good to read. It is hard to know what to expect, with experiences pretty varied across sisters going through hrt. And yeah...I have the same issue with the "headlights"  ;)

I started noticing the changes you described after a week and I am only on E. YMMV, but my breasts started coming in at about 2 months and I am already a near full A cup at the end of 3 months.  I am 42 yrs old and had a bit of a chest before,  but I have lost 10 lbs since my transition started,  so I think it is E related. 

Quote from: 4Allie on December 10, 2013, 06:25:33 AM
Good to read. It is hard to know what to expect, with experiences pretty varied across sisters going through hrt. And yeah...I have the same issue with the "headlights"  ;)

I thought a red carpet would roll out with a flourish of trumpets. I knew this would take time yet I thought E would be more profound to start.

Thank God for the nipples. Mine are finally starting to hurt, just a bit when I sleep on them and such. Not too much. Not yet at least. But mother E keeps doing her thing.

My first effects also showed up after a week after starting hrt..

All of you girls are making me very anxious.  I have about 2 more GT sessions before starting on HRT.
God...I yearn for that sense of calm and happiness.   ;)

Quote from: JordanBlue on December 10, 2013, 11:15:25 AM
All of you girls are making me very anxious.  I have about 2 more GT sessions before starting on HRT.
God...I yearn for that sense of calm and happiness.   ;)

That sense of calm and happiness everybody talks about is just temporary. I would never use the word calm to describe anything related to taking cross sex hormones. And the happiness comes from within no pill can bring you happiness that can only be discovered within yourself. ;)

Quote from: Heather on December 10, 2013, 11:57:03 AM
That sense of calm and happiness everybody talks about is just temporary. I would never use the word calm to describe anything related to taking cross sex hormones. And the happiness comes from within no pill can bring you happiness that can only be discovered within yourself. ;)

I second this. Also sorry but 11 days is not enough time and I developed quick and have had boobs since I was a teen. ii don't mean fat I mean actual glandular tissue. So I was practically made for this but my boobs didn't so much as itch to week six and now I am almost a D cup.

Quote from: Heather on December 10, 2013, 11:57:03 AM
That sense of calm and happiness everybody talks about is just temporary.

I guess it sort of varies for each individual person.  And I guess it might vary according to how miserable a person is before HRT.

Quote from: JordanBlue on December 10, 2013, 12:44:24 PM
I guess it sort of varies for each individual person.  And I guess it might vary according to how miserable a person is before HRT.

The truth was I really wasn't all that miserable before hrt I wasn't really happy either but I certainly wasn't miserable. My main problem was I really wasn't living and was just going through the motions that I was living before. But truthfully I'm not miserable now but hrt has put me through the ringer on certain days and it's not easy or fun and I know a lot of women who have had it far worse than me. But I do have days where I'm not a fun person to be around. Estrogen is not a miracle drug and antidepressant all rolled up into one and we still have our good and out bad days even on E.

Within 10 days iof HRT I could notice a change on my body odour and a huge difference in my skin - it got less oily and somewhat whiter and softer. My libido went down the hill too, but now it is slowly coming back.

HRT will do wonders for you. You will really start to see great changes within the next months and it is a wonderfull sensation. The calm indeed can go away and you can become a bit moody. I've become a bit bitchy sometimes lol but it is a journey to cherish! Enjoy the trip :)

The calmness can  depend on the delivery method. I find I'm much more calm with an oral dose and sub dermal pellet than I ever was when receiving injections, that was a hideous roller coaster! That could be the HRT or it could be I'm older and feel more in control of my life and emotional well being than previous time...or it could be both. I guess it varies from person to person.

I felt my first effects--nipple tenderness--within the first week. The rest came on rather rapidly within the next few weeks then slowed. I think probably because I've adjusted to the new sensations. I'm still on a low dose. I go back Jan 2 to see if I'm ready to bump up to the next level.

I never really had that sense of calmness except during the first week, and I think that's mostly because I was finally doing something I've dreamt about my whole life.

Jane

My nipples did react nicely pretty quick, maybe within 2 weeks. At first I thought it was just mental however there were real sensations that I had never had before. After 3 months they seem to be growing some. I'm surely a lot more calm & resolved with myself. My facial skin is much smoother. I'm on a medium level HRT & after my next doc visit we may increase. 

There really is no denying that my odor and my nipples have both changed dramatically. I can definitely see where the mood thing could be the calm of acceptance and being on my way. But the pop up turkey timers that are now my nipples are no placebo effect. Funny story...I was on the road today for my job. It was hours on the road and at one point, I read this thread and saw the post about no possible effects at 11 days. So at an empty rest area restroom, I lifted my tshirt for a good look, wondering if I had made the whole thing up. Sure enough, they were completely different than before HRT. But the funny part is the look on the face of the truck driver who came in and caught a glimpse of me shirt up before I could push it down like nothing was up. I shuffled out red cheeked but inwardly laughing at the scene :D

Quote from: Heather on December 10, 2013, 11:57:03 AM
That sense of calm and happiness everybody talks about is just temporary. I would never use the word calm to describe anything related to taking cross sex hormones. And the happiness comes from within no pill can bring you happiness that can only be discovered within yourself. ;)

Ohh yes. I've been a basket of emotions lately, most of them not-so-good. But even so, I still feel more 'normal' and 'alive' than I used to, and I definitely prefer it.

Yep. I thought I was making it up too, until I tried to run down stairs. :)  By day 5, I had noticeable breast "perking" and significant tenderness (and in the end I'd hit C cup at four months). I also think my skin was softer in week 1 and my wife said my scent changed somewhat, but that could be imagination, I guess...

I don't know about any one else , but I start to cry for some reason. Part of it's joy from being on e and I don't where  the other parts coming from.

Quote from: Heather on December 10, 2013, 11:57:03 AM
That sense of calm and happiness everybody talks about is just temporary. I would never use the word calm to describe anything related to taking cross sex hormones. And the happiness comes from within no pill can bring you happiness that can only be discovered within yourself. ;)

^ This. Wait until you get a marathon crying session with tears that emanate from the bottom of your soul.  Hormones are life changing in many ways.

I can definitely sympathize with the crying thing. I was watching a movie that I have always connected with and have seen at least 20 times. I may have been choked up a little here or there before, but watching it the other day I balled throughout the whole thing.

  In my case I started Spiro first and it had a noticeably strong calming effect for a while although this has lessened somewhat over the first 12 weeks.  Once Estrace was added I noticed nothing but an occasional feeling like it was acting as a stimulant and like my heart was racing a bit.  Overall what HRT has done is allowed me to relax more quickly, easily and fully when I get stressed.

  Before HRT I felt nauseous and anxious with a strong nerve buzz upon waking up in the morning - the only way I can describe it is a cross between a mild electric current in my whole body and the physical sensation of sitting at the back of an idling transit bus and feeling all the various frequencies of vibration and rumble.  Although all this would subside a little on its own it would be with me at a significant level all day every day.  That was quite literally driving me insane and causing severe fatigue.  Now that I'm on HRT I feel almost perfect when I wake up in the morning and any bad sensations dissipate much more quickly.  About an hour after my doses I can clearly feel the effect take over.  Throughout the day I feel almost completely normal until some of the effect starts to wear off in the evening.  I used to feel so sick and tired in the morning that I couldn't eat breakfast and needed coffee to function properly.  It was a running joke at work that I didn't actually wake up until two hours after arriving and this wasn't far from the truth.  Now I'm able to eat breakfast every day and don't have to keep drinking coffee through the day to stay awake.  I also used to struggle with severe groggyness when trying to wake up but now when I decide to get out of bed I can quite literally snap awake like a normal person.  While I'm sure that lessening depression played some role in this change, it has been quite clear that HRT has had a dramatic direct effect on my well-being.  Whatever is happening is sticking with me and definitely not temporary.

  Throughout this process my mood has been good and rock-stable.  I am significantly less anxious in situations that would have bothered me greatly before.  Maybe when the Estrace dose gets up to the highest point I'll be prescribed this may trigger mood fluctuations but my experience so far tells me this is unlikely.  It was before HRT that I was having weepy moments a lot, especially right after I would achieve a significant milestone in the process towards where I am now - I've had those 'tears from the bottom of your soul' moments that were purging a storehouse of sadness and frustration.  This has almost completely stopped since.  I wouldn't mind being less stone-faced emotionally now because the new baseline I've established gives me a strong footing.

  I think I am smelling different (not that I really stunk to begin with) and my face is less oily.  The hair on my head also seems to get oily more slowly.  I have not noticed changes in body hair growth yet but I've started full-body laser to accelerate the reduction.  Unfortunately this will prevent me from documenting how the hair is affected by the HRT directly.

  A new thing I've discovered recently - I finally have a proper appetite again and after eating I am calmed further for a while after.  This is a godsend because I've struggled for at least 15 years to force in enough calories in a day and just felt horribly uncomfortable trying.  I've always been under-weight and struggled to gain or even build any muscle.  Now I'm actually gaining weight slightly and feeling good doing it.  Fat doesn't seem to be landing anywhere undesirable (yet).  And speaking of muscle, I have lost a bit of strength over my entire body and feel occasional mild soreness as my muscle mass adjusts.

  Body change caught me be surprise.  My neighbor hadn't seen me in months and just asked if I'd lost weight.  As I mentioned above I'd actually gained a few pounds but it forced me to check out what was going on.  Something I can't quite guage has happened to my face and I think this is what they noticed.  I also decided it was time to re-measure my body.  The changes I found were virtually impossible to see but the measuring tape told the story - I've gained about two inches around my bust and lost about two inches around my waist.  I was really shocked to see this so soon.  I was wearing a compression garment when dressed femme that would cinch my waist down to 30".  My waist is now an actual 30" and I feel confident enough to leave off the compression garment.  This is wonderful because it was hot, uncomfortable and a pain when using the toilet.  Breast growth is a tough one to pin the start time on.  All I know is that on the 12th day of Estrace my nipples started hurting and getting a bit firm, the areolas have been puffy since, and now when I press on my nipples it feels kinda like getting jabbed with a needle inside.  I will await clear evidence of breast shape before making the final call on true breast arrival.

For me, today will end my second week. Only thing I've noticed is that I don't get morning wood anymore and its becoming easier to tuck. I haven't notice any emotional changes or very slight nipple growth. I guess I will see.

Don't underestimate the emotional changes. Cause if and when they hit you, they could hit hard.

Today, I discovered what 'angry-crying' is..

Oh try watching a you tube of a touching X-Factor or American Idol situation, grab the tissues!!!!

Quote from: Ashey on December 13, 2013, 11:40:42 PM
Don't underestimate the emotional changes. Cause if and when they hit you, they could hit hard.

Today, I discovered what 'angry-crying' is..

Ah I love combo emotions my favorite is the laughing crying combo confusing but fun.  :P

Laugh crying has become a regular thing for me...especially since becoming great friends with a neighbor to whom I have come out. She really is my first true girlfriend. We chat incessantly, and have laugh-cried a number of times!

body odor and crying .My odor from  perspiration was bad ,but not any more

Same here on body odor. And since starting this thread, breast growth has definitely increased. No way this is imagined. If it weren't inappropriate, I would share pics. A girlfriend of mine actually was stunned when she came by for a get together...and suggested I go put something on that was less revealing. Possible to be simultaneously completely embarrased AND ecstatic??   ;D

Two words: boob pain. In the first week, none the less! I haven't felt any lumps like they say are supposed to form, but it often feels like my chest is super sore. A few days ago I decided to feel around, and yes, it seems like there is more than just muscle there. Nipples do seem larger, but this could be my imagination.

T is still high (290 or so), so I still stink... boo. But body hair is now so fine, it might as well not be there.

Breast and nipple growth plus softer skin