Susan's Place Transgender Resources

well was wondering whether i should kiss and tell but its whatever. as per experimental reason under watchful eyes, i did in deed it out. athough it was plant estrogen at a very high dose, i found myself almost instantly better. anxiety levels went down, i'm able to think more cleary, i'm a little more sociable but still improving, i can actually shed a tear, my views on life have change thus i'm more positive and receptive and the best one of all, i'm starting to not hate myself so much. just smell like maple syrup. yea i know i was pushing it but i had to know the truth and becuz of my nature, it was the only way to fully confirm

does this mean you're going to a doctor soon?
plant estrogen sounds really dangerous, i wonder how you managed to get that much of it... i should learn what foods to eat only rarely.

"Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens work by weakly binding with estrogen receptors, giving in some cases very mild feminizing effects. However, the doses required to achieve any effects at all are prohibitively large and toxic. (FAQ: Hormone Therapy for M2F Transsexuals) Most sources do not recommend that trans women use black cohosh, dong quai, milk thistle, or any other phytoestrogenic herb as a replacement for hormone therapy, even as a low-dose measure, because of their inefficacy. Because of the way that phytoestrogens compete with estrogen for receptors, using them in addition to hormone therapy may also be counterproductive."

I highly encourage you to do research before self-medicating, it can be very dangerous.

hopefully i can get an appointment tomorrow becuz affects are happening a lot faster than expected and no i am not self medicating. i did my research before i bought the supplement at my local pharmacy. i've said this before, its imposdible for me to self medicate becuz of my historical history and the cosmic affects i suffered due to them. no worries.

were you just testing to see if it really would make you feel better, and thus hrt would be worth pursuing?

now that would be considering playing with my life to confirm something that doesnt have a definitive test thus why i dont self medicate...anymore at least, but in some ways yes. the question now becomes will i now seek to get on the chemical stuff? depends, so who's to say

Just a comment away from the normal self medicating warnings. Many plant/herbal extracts interact badly with prescription medications. St John's wort is particularly well known for its side effects, so please consult with an endocrinologist/ medic who has expertise in the area.

i'm actually surprised i didnt get the grilling this time. i just got my insurance back up today though i need to switch it. was waiting becuz i wasnt sure my doctor took my medicare.

you wanted to be grilled?
not sure who would do that. you're free to choose how to play with your own life, if you feel like it's worth it. i'm sure you've already read the warnings.
i'm glad you decided to stop self medicating, it sounds dangerous and i don't really like if people get sick or die when it could be prevented.

there's no definite answer, but if one thing makes you feel better whereas another makes you feel bad, i think you can at least conclude that choosing what makes you feel better might not be the worst thing you'll ever do.

wow, i must be dreaming. well thnx for understanding. its just the only thing is that the affects i would normally see happen in a few months happened in the first 5 days.

feminization effects? or mental effects?
sounds unsafe to me. but jumping off cliffs, even with parachutes or other things, is also unsafe, so... i won't judge!
just don't ever tell others to try the same. actually, don't even tell what you used unless it's for warning people.

i hope you found enough answers to choose at least a general direction. you seem to be doing a little better than when you decided to take a break from the forums?

imma just keep my mouth shut on what affects. as to me getting better, i still dont think i should get back involved with the community, if ever but its the only resource i have right now so i'll stick around for a little. everything is unsafe. there's a difference however becuz i'm actually seeking medical attention when i dont have to thus proves i'm not self medicating. my whole psy changed to fast for me not to notice something thus why i want test run and medical view. its all to wierd thats its freaky. wow so many typos. thats what i get for using my phone

yeah, phones are real tools for the typos...

right hormone levels will usually make you feel better, just as the wrong ones will make you feel worse.
vitamin d is the hormone that causes most depression it seems. too little of it is really bad for one's mental health, not only bone density.

it's interesting how people will feel great relief when vitamin d supplements make them feel better, but almost panic when cross sex hormones do the same. the only thing it means is that other hormone levels are better for the person's brain.

Just stay safe.

i'm always safe. being to stubborn and not wanting to bother with dying causes me to take the safe route. on the plus side, i wont have to really worry about the nasty side affects than the synthetic since its "all natural" but it really depends on the person. for me, its working to fast so yea. 

i've noticed this since yesterday but i've begun to feel weak and tired. its annoying. sure i felt tired before but i can barely lift my arm without struggling. well at least i can actually sleep at night now.

might be a matter of will. when i get tired of always having to struggle just to have a "successful" life, i also find it hard to move at all. feels like i can't even lift a finger, until something suddenly happens and i have no choice but to jump up from wherever i'm lazing around and go to whoever's aid.

but if it's not sonething psychological, it may be best to get some help somewhere.

Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on October 15, 2014, 12:35:02 PM
i've noticed this since yesterday but i've begun to feel weak and tired.

This can happen when you self medicate sweetie. Herbals and supplements are not regulated so you really do not know what is in them, if there is proper quality control or how they may react to you daily diet or other medications.

but i'm not self medicating. i needed to go on herbal supplements anyways as oppose to chemical medication. i read upon it and so i figured its a win win. i've always been tired though.

Brianna,
I wish you nothing but joy and I truly hope that you find it.  The suggestion to get a doc to review this is a good one.  Too many people blow out their livers and I would like you to survive to be as ancient as me and discover that life is a kaleidoscope waiting to be explored.

Many of us have found that getting our balance becomes the precursor to joy.

I'm glad you're seeking yours,
Julie

speaking of which, i havent been hating the world much of lately. went to bed smiling these last few days. its super weird. well i cant go see my doctor until my insurance kicks in on the first of november unless she takes medicare

i just changed gp. means i can't get an appointment before november.
hopefully this new guy is a good one, or there's really nothing i can do.

other than find one of those ridiculously well hidden trans friendly docs in the south of this country.

keep smiling though, it's a great feeling to be (kind of) happy.

Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on October 15, 2014, 04:07:45 PM
but i'm not self medicating. i needed to go on herbal supplements anyways as oppose to chemical medication. i read upon it and so i figured its a win win. i've always been tired though.

Oh Brianna you don't get it, you ARE self medicating. Herbals can destroy your body just as HRT can. There is no difference at all between over the counter supplements and HRT. They are both medications, period. Herbals are in no single way safer and they are far less effective. If you are continually tired you need to get both your blood sugar and iron levels checked. There are the two biggest causes of fatigue. Please do this the right way and with medical support, ok?  :-\

maybe i'm in the deny phase. i just dont know if my doctor accepts my medicare since my insurance isnt kicking in until the 1st.

Well, stop that herbal stuff so you will be nice and healthy for when HRT is prescribed!  :) Part of transition is becoming a new and healthier person body, mind and soul. You can do it!  :)

than i go back to my old crappy miserable life. i'll see what i can do tomorrow. just started not hating my life and actually considering living life instead of justvwanting to vanish

Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on October 16, 2014, 06:00:33 PM
than i go back to my old crappy miserable life.

Oh Brianna, most of the herbal results are purely psychological. They can't change you this quickly. Please try to grasp that this is a long journey (transition) and if done the right way improves life immeasurably. Stop getting so easily defeated and get on a good solid path to your dreams. Trust me I know how hard it is to wait and anger toward Therapist's who won't give letters soon enough for us manifest's itself. Just know the journey is worth it in the long run.  :)

not expecting anything to happy otherwise i would of been in ny seeing an endo. i just take them for health benefits and i just so happen to get lucky and that thing down there is staying down. its against the rules that i talk about this so imma just be quiet now lol

Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on October 16, 2014, 06:21:15 PM
not expecting anything to happy otherwise i would of been in ny seeing an endo.

Why didn't you see one?  ???

its called an over bearing mother who is scared to death over losing her youngest child who already had a crappy life. plus the slower the better. i still need to do a few things before i take a trip to ny

OK, it is your call in life. Good luck!  :)

taking advantage i see. would it put your mind at ease if i say i will try and see if i can get a doctors visit and a full blood panel done? rather not have guilt plaguing me right now lol.

Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on October 15, 2014, 12:35:02 PM
i've noticed this since yesterday but i've begun to feel weak and tired.

I am going to do my best to answer this without violating any rules.  Mods feel free to delete my post if need be.

I have know people who have used herbals and achieved far more effect than considered possible by that method by the folks here.  But that was also with a doctor watching their blood work.  And usually with the doctor knowing what they were taking.

Anything in any quantity that can produce any estrogenic effects needs to be treated with the same level of caution that pharma-estrogen would be treated with.

What you mention there sounds kind of like estrogen dominance, potentially very dangerous.  (If you don't know what that is you definitely have not done enough research.)

You also say you were using high dose phyto-estrogen, even the "safe/good" ones are dangerous in high doses.  Certainly at least as dangerous as too much pharma-estrogen.  That is to say, potentially lethal bad news.

Many of the herbals are not all that strong and some of them have serious side effects.  Increasing the dosage to get a weak one to have effect greatly increases the chances of bad stuff happening.  Some of them will permanently damage your organs.  Some will permanently screw up your hormones beyond anything even an endocrinologist can fix.  (I have read several cases where this happened to people)  And more than accouple can flat kill you.

Be safe, don't trash your liver, don't have a heart attack, and don't make yourself so sick that on the cusp of figuring out how to be better from your dysphoria you make yourself too sick to achieve your dreams.

Sounds like herbal made you feel better, but the next step is GT/Endo asap, not prolonged self medication.  (This is basically the camp I am in myself.)  Even with the pharma stuff you need liver function tests, hormone level checks, and so on to be safe.  This is at least as true for herbals.


- Jaded Jade

Quote from: Vampire Brianna Terryal Onyx on October 16, 2014, 06:44:52 PM
taking advantage i see. would it put your mind at ease if i say i will try and see if i can get a doctors visit and a full blood panel done? rather not have guilt plaguing me right now lol.

I laid no guilt trip on you. Where is it?  ???

Brianna

JJ has given great advice.  If you are going to take hrt, do it carefully and work with an endo.  You have been in pretty dark places.  Now that you know that there is light, that there is a better life waiting for you, please don't gamble with your health.

Safe travels

Aisla

the vampire did promise to see a doc on the 1st day of november. kind of.
i'm hoping this will be the end of too much worries.

got your grilling didn't you, brianna...?
*turns spit to roast more evenly*

well actually, if the callen-lorde center takes medicare, i can go get checked either tomorrow if its opened or on monday

oh, but that's even better!
i hope they take medicare then.

well from the site, the do accept medicare. i'm just not sure for a fact however

....call them?