Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi guys so I've been on hormones for like 7 months I was self medicating at first but I've been seeing an endocrinologist for about 4 or 5 months. My doses are Estrodiol and spiro but every time I go to see him he always wants to change my spiro to half but I usually call or tell him I'm uncomfortable lowering my dose for dysphoria reasons because I'm just comfortable with maintaining the dose I'm getting results with so he usually gives me the current dosage but says it doesn't make a difference.  I think it will be less effective if the blockers lowered but obviously he knows more than me he was explaining to me that your body will agree with it more by a lower dose and he also mentioned I should not take it like once a week every month? I can understand his point maybe that works but I know people that are on less E and more spiro everyday so I don't know why he always wants to lower it to half I had my appointment today and he finally lowered it :( I know it's not that big of a deal but I just feel more comfortable with what I'm on. Does anybody have a doctor that has LOWERED their doses or told them to take a week off hormones? He was explaining to me why I should take off "7 days" a month but I will never listen to that because I would go all week thinking about not being on hormones and I've never heard of anybody else doing this.

Mod edit: NO doses thanks.

I'm sure he has his reasons - Spiro also lowers blood pressure and acts as a diuretic, so if your BP is low or your kidney function isn't great that could be one of many reasons. Maybe speak with another endo for a second opinion.

Also, please don't discuss dosages, it's in the forum rules. Thanks.

Quote from: NataliaDoll on January 06, 2016, 04:28:33 AM
Hi guys so I've been on hormones for like 7 months I was self medicating at first but I've been seeing an endocrinologist for about 4 or 5 months. My doses are Estrodiol and spiro but every time I go to see him he always wants to change my spiro to half but I usually call or tell him I'm uncomfortable lowering my dose for dysphoria reasons because I'm just comfortable with maintaining the dose I'm getting results with so he usually gives me the current dosage but says it doesn't make a difference.  I think it will be less effective if the blockers lowered but obviously he knows more than me he was explaining to me that your body will agree with it more by a lower dose and he also mentioned I should not take it like once a week every month? I can understand his point maybe that works but I know people that are on less E and more spiro everyday so I don't know why he always wants to lower it to half I had my appointment today and he finally lowered it :( I know it's not that big of a deal but I just feel more comfortable with what I'm on. Does anybody have a doctor that has LOWERED their doses or told them to take a week off hormones? He was explaining to me why I should take off "7 days" a month but I will never listen to that because I would go all week thinking about not being on hormones and I've never heard of anybody else doing this.

I suspect the reason he wants you to take a 7 day break is to sort of mimic womens' menstrual cycles which is ridiculous, in my opinion. I've never heard of anyone having their Spiro dose reduced before ...perhaps consult another doctor for a second opinion?

I had to cut my spiro dose in half because I was experiencing very low blood pressure. Spiro is a blood pressure medicine with a side effect of being an anti-androgen. Spiro + my blood pressure medicine was just too much blood pressure medicine for me.

I've never heard of cycling spiro or estrogen, although it is sometimes done for progesterone.

I'd get a second opinion. That all sounds extremely fishy.

Did you notice any changes or anything different after lowering that dose Eva Marie?

Yea I really don't feel comfortable cycling and also he asked if I'm going to go trough with srs I said yes but he was typing in the computer "no" because I'm too young and have to save my sperm when I already told him I don't plan on saving sperm he means well but I think I'm going to go with another doctor it sucks because his office is about 10 minutes away from me :/ thanks for the response

I can't say that I noticed much except for being more awake and alert - low blood pressure = sleepy and lethargic.

I think my T level is pretty low and remained low afterward judigng from my lack of libido. Development of "things" has kept progressing nicely in spite of the lower dose of spiro.

I am on my original dose of spiro for over 2.5.years. I was about 3 months on hormones and I had difficulty getting an erection. Orgasm took very long. So I e-mailed my doctor that I cut my dose in half. I kept thinking about it and 2 days later I went back to my original dose and e-mailed my doctor. Nothing changed in those two days but I kept thinking about it. My spiro dose is not high but my E dose is high. My T is not detectable.

Quote from: Eva Marie on January 06, 2016, 09:52:49 AM
I had to cut my spiro dose in half because I was experiencing very low blood pressure. Spiro is a blood pressure medicine with a side effect of being an anti-androgen. Spiro + my blood pressure medicine was just too much blood pressure medicine for me.

Why not ask your doctor to only prescribe Spiro for blood pressure? That seems to make the most sense, no? Reducing carbs also significantly reduces blood pressure, by the way as can estradiol and progesterone in hypertensive people.

Alittle update he recommended  but he gave me  told me to break the tablets. I'm going to remain on my original dose he always tells me to take  but I never do because I've been on  for quite a while to just drop it. I really like my doctor and his location is perfect so I'm just going to take the  dose it works for me.


MOD EDIT- NO DOSAGES PLEASE

Quote from: NataliaDoll on January 08, 2016, 10:47:39 AM
Alittle update he recommended  but he gave me  told me to break the tablets. I'm going to remain on my original dose he always tells me to take  but I never do because I've been on  for quite a while to just drop it. I really like my doctor and his location is perfect so I'm just going to take the  dose it works for me.


MOD EDIT- NO DOSAGES PLEASE

If you are not going to follow his advice (You know, the advice he's given you based on his qualifications and experience?) then why not just self med - which is effectively what you are doing any way.

When I started on hormone therapy I was told to take a large dose to override the testosterone. The spiro bloated my body and according to mum " I looked like a snake". And after a while I  getting some sort of really bad tummy cramp too so I couldn't eat. I spoke to mum about this (she is a nurse) and she got me to halve my doses and it has been great ever since. I experienced some hot flushes for a while but not anymore.

Quote from: kelly_aus on January 08, 2016, 03:12:03 PM
If you are not going to follow his advice (You know, the advice he's given you based on his qualifications and experience?) then why not just self med - which is effectively what you are doing any way.

I have self medicated I pretty much am but it's much more expensive buying the hormones. I have the hormones covered from Doctor so I pay more than half than I did.