Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So, I finally had my first shot last week (finally is anunderstatement with my doctors office). My doctor originally wrote me a prescription for intramuscular shots. I wanted subcutaneous (the only day a week Ican make it to the dr.s is also my only workout day,and Im not willing to sacrifice that to get a muscle shot). After trying tk chase her down onthephone forovera week, she told me that the only difference betweenthe two shots is the type ofneedle and the dose. She said thesubcutaneous shot is half the dose of the intramuscular. When I wne in and gottheshot, I askedthe MA howoften I get it.she looked like she didntknow and just told meit was every two weeks like the intramuscular.

Everyone at my doctors office is completely incompetant and has no idea whattheyre doing. I have to fight themto get information about myowntreatment. I have no idea if theyre properly treating me. Should my shots actually be everyweek or is every other week correct? Is there anyone whos had both shots and knows how they compare?

Imso sorry this looks lkme jibberish. My tablet is the worst thing ever and I dont have a computer.

Here is more info, and at the reference there:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,80762.msg564084.html#msg564084

and here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,199138.msg1770593.html#msg1770593


hugs

Hi Matt,

Are you planning to have the doctor inject you every dose? That is what your post made it sound like. Unless there's a specific reason, I'd strongly encourage you to have them teach you how to administer it to yourself and do it on your own. Not only is it something that you should learn how to do if you're going to be dependent on T for the rest of your life, it is 100x more convenient than scheduling a doctor's appointment every week or every other week. If you're doing it on your own, you could change the day you do it, and still get a good workout in. Plus no trip to the doctor's.

AFAIK, the dosing on subq shots is lower and they are done on the same frequency as IM shots. I do IM and had the option of weekly or biweekly shots.

Thanks. My sister was a heroin addict and I cannot even describe the hell that I lived in for years because of it. She's dead now but self-injecting with needles is a huge trigger for me. I cannot keep needles in my home, and I will not inject myself (I have absolutely no problem with a health professional doing it in a doctor's office; needles were never a problem for me before all that). I wanted Androgel but it was $450 a month and my insurance won't cover anything.

Quote from: Muscle Matt on November 18, 2015, 09:33:13 AM
Thanks. My sister was a heroin addict and I cannot even describe the hell that I lived in for years because of it. She's dead now but self-injecting with needles is a huge trigger for me. I cannot keep needles in my home, and I will not inject myself (I have absolutely no problem with a health professional doing it in a doctor's office; needles were never a problem for me before all that). I wanted Androgel but it was $450 a month and my insurance won't cover anything.

In the reference above there are also implants described...
its enough info for a doc to get started.
You might consider that.
testo implants start to be covered, you might ask.
Otherwise they are available from componding pharmacies or as brand product.


hugs

I'm starting to wonder if I should talk to my doctor about weekly shots or if I should just tough it out until I can get in at a better doctor's office. I thought most people got their hormones checked after a month on T, but my doctor doesn't even want to see me again for 3 months. I ended up in the hospital after a severe reaction to my inhaler she prescribed, and it was like pulling teeth to get an appointment to see her after that. They are the least attentive doctors I have ever met (and I've never liked doctors). Reading what people are saying, I'm REALLY worried about my energy levels dropping off before my next shot. I have a LOT on my life plate right now, and a drop in energy levels could completely destroy me. -_- But my doctor barely had the time to even show up to my appointment with her, hasn't explained a single thing and is just prescribing me what she assumes without asking me anything.

I chose this doctor's office and waited MONTHS for an appointment because they're supposed to specialize in trans care. I feel like I'm getting worse care than any other place could have given.

ANYONE IN THE BALTIMORE AREA, PLEASE DO NOT GO TO CHASE-BREXTON. THEY ARE NOT THERE TO HELP YOU. EVERY EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD WITH THIS PLACE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

You could have a look here for example for alternatives:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,183777.msg1631992.html#msg1631992


hugs

Quote from: Muscle Matt on November 18, 2015, 02:48:30 PM


ANYONE IN THE BALTIMORE AREA, PLEASE DO NOT GO TO CHASE-BREXTON. THEY ARE NOT THERE TO HELP YOU. EVERY EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD WITH THIS PLACE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

This is surprising.  Chase-Brexton has some physicians very involved with WPATH.  I also have only ever heard good things about them.  Maybe you just got a dub (one off poor physician)?

Implants are typically not done until you've been on T for a year, as I understand it. I'm not sure if that's everywhere, but that's what I've been told.

I'm sorry you're having issues with Chase-Brexton. How far from DC are you? I go to Whitman Walker and have never had any issues. It may be a bit of a hike though depending on where you're coming from, especially if you want to get injected weekly. But I really can't recommend them highly enough. They've taken care of my T, all my surgical referrals and aftercare, etc. The pharmacy there is also considerably less expensive than CVS, Walgreens, etc.

You could also look into the price of Testim. It's also a topical form of T and is generally cheaper than Androgel. Looking it up on GoodRx right now, it's about $160 per month, as opposed to the $450 of Androgel. For me, that is still prohibitively expensive. But it may be an option for you, especially if you take the time you would spend driving to the doctor's every week into consideration.

Quote from: FTMax on November 19, 2015, 02:53:13 PM
Implants are typically not done until you've been on T for a year, as I understand it. I'm not sure if that's everywhere, but that's what I've been told.

Well it simply depends on the endo.
There are no fixed rules.
Imo implants are the best way of delivery, because of steady doses and no further hassle.
Some endos might have restraints because its not as easy to extract if doses might be too high.
But its not impossible to extract.
So starting maybe a bit lower and adding pellets a bit later might be a possibility. Usually its a few pellets.

If people talk it through with an endo, maybe a few of their restraints can be alleviated...
some people for example want to avoid needles, so no injections...


hugs

Quote from: Laura_7 on November 19, 2015, 03:15:31 PM

Quote from: FTMax on November 19, 2015, 02:53:13 PM
Implants are typically not done until you've been on T for a year, as I understand it. I'm not sure if that's everywhere, but that's what I've been told.

Well it simply depends on the endo.
There are no fixed rules.
Imo implants are the best way of delivery, because of steady doses and no further hassle.
Some endos might have restraints because its not as easy to extract if doses might be too high.
But its not impossible to extract.
So starting maybe a bit lower and adding pellets a bit later might be a possibility. Usually its a few pellets.

If people talk it through with an endo, maybe a few of their restraints can be alleviated...
some people for example want to avoid needles, so no injections...


hugs

True. The justification I was given was that spending ~1 year on HRT gives your doctor an opportunity to see what dosage and frequency works best for your body and as a result it's easier to know how many pellets would be needed and when you'd need to come back in for more.

This reminded me that I need to ask my doctor about them next month on my 1 year anniversary!

Quote from: FTMax on November 19, 2015, 03:19:25 PM

True. The justification I was given was that spending ~1 year on HRT gives your doctor an opportunity to see what dosage and frequency works best for your body and as a result it's easier to know how many pellets would be needed and when you'd need to come back in for more.

This reminded me that I need to ask my doctor about them next month on my 1 year anniversary!

Good  :)
No more hassle  :)
Hope you are happy with the results  :)


hugs

Quote from: FTMax on November 19, 2015, 03:19:25 PM
Well it simply depends on the endo.
There are no fixed rules.
Imo implants are the best way of delivery, because of steady doses and no further hassle.
Some endos might have restraints because its not as easy to extract if doses might be too high.
But its not impossible to extract.
So starting maybe a bit lower and adding pellets a bit later might be a possibility. Usually its a few pellets.

If people talk it through with an endo, maybe a few of their restraints can be alleviated...
some people for example want to avoid needles, so no injections...


hugs


True. The justification I was given was that spending ~1 year on HRT gives your doctor an opportunity to see what dosage and frequency works best for your body and as a result it's easier to know how many pellets would be needed and when you'd need to come back in for more.

This reminded me that I need to ask my doctor about them next month on my 1 year anniversary!

I think I will be hesitant to go on the pellets for at least two years into transition.  I can see myself wanting to get my levels checked all the time worried they aren't right because I am a freak like that.  Plus, at this point (14 months), I am still enjoying that shot every week!  It gives me something to look forward to and it makes me feel like I am determining my own masculine destiny.  If that makes any sense!

FTMax, I remember seeing a post from a guy in I think the UK (it was definitely not the U.S.), who was getting pellets implanted after 3 months.  I remember thinking that a year would make more sense.

Quote from: Bimmer Guy on November 21, 2015, 01:07:00 PM
I think I will be hesitant to go on the pellets for at least two years into transition.  I can see myself wanting to get my levels checked all the time worried they aren't right because I am a freak like that. 

Well I wouldn't worry too much... there is a lot of leeway...

average levels

Males  270 - 1100 ng/dl

and levels should be steady for a few months... until they slowly recede...


hugs