Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I switched to shots. Can't judge how effective they are but I'm hoping they are better than pills. Pills were just becoming a hassle and my estrone levels were just too high for my own comfort.

The good thing is that I didn't feel the needle. I'm hoping I can continue that trend.

Concerning injections you could have a look here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,199138.msg1771209.html#msg1771209

You might talk with your endo about raising the estrogen levels above 200 -300 pg/ml .... this could drive t down without anti androgen.
Its considered safe only with implants and injections. So even less hassle and no side effects from anti androgens.

You might think about adding bioidentical progesterone.

Well many people are happy with the effects of injections ... a cycle of 5, 7 or 10 days might be of advantage ... the shorter the cycle the less of a seesaw effect, which might affect mood ...


hugs

Spiro is still part of my blood pressure medication regimen, so it stays for now. She said she will evaluate and adjust accordingly.

I already take prometrium.

I was instructed to do weekly (7 day cycle) injections.

I've been on injections since I started HRT and it really isn't too bad.  I inject in the upper thigh and alternate sides each time I do an injection.  Hope it works as good for you as it has for me.

They instructed me to inject in the middle of the thigh to the side at a 90 degree angle. I did not feel it at all.

I inject in my butt (dorso to ventrogluteal). Works fine! :)

I like injections better. I'd do it in my arm if I didn't have arthritis, the thigh is the easiest.

It will take 4 or 5 cycles to get the E amount in your system to be stable. You lose 50% per week from injections. So on the 5th injection you have:

100% 5th
50% 4th
25% 3rd
12.5% 4th
6.25 1st

I started on a low dose of spiro and am on the same dose. My T is not detectable.

I inject on my bed just incase I get light headed. When you hit a nerve you have a choice to continue injecting or pulling out and restcking. Good luck, I like the injections but may go to implants in a year.

I wish I knew someone who could get me implants.

Quote from: iKate on January 20, 2016, 06:55:58 PM
I wish I knew someone who could get me implants.

Here is enough info to get an endo started:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,200276.msg1780555.html#msg1780555

Alternatively there are endos who specifically do implants, you might look them up ... a few keywords should do ...


hugs

Quote from: iKate on January 20, 2016, 02:07:58 PM
Spiro is still part of my blood pressure medication regimen, so it stays for now. She said she will evaluate and adjust accordingly.

I already take prometrium.

I was instructed to do weekly (7 day cycle) injections.

ahh welcome to the weekly pms schedule  :laugh: Well I hope you don't feel it as much I do but if you do Prometrium helps a bunch on those off days.

So one thing I found - 20mg/ml estradiol valerate vials are hard to find. The pharmacy can get 40mg/ml but not 20. Any ideas?

Quote from: iKate on January 20, 2016, 10:16:14 PM
So one thing I found - 20mg/ml estradiol valerate vials are hard to find. The pharmacy can get 40mg/ml but not 20. Any ideas?

It's been twenty years since I did injections—things will have changed. But, do you have to pull the entire vial into the syringe? I've long since forgotten the quantities, but I pulled a specific amount of estradoil then the same amount of progesterone into the same syringe, then injected the cocktail. I was injecting once every three weeks.

Quote from: iKate on January 20, 2016, 10:16:14 PM
So one thing I found - 20mg/ml estradiol valerate vials are hard to find. The pharmacy can get 40mg/ml but not 20. Any ideas?

hmm opposite for me, I go through a compounding pharmacy and they were out of stock with the 40mg/ml for awhile. I do like the 20 more though.

Quote from: diane 2606 on January 20, 2016, 10:54:55 PM
It's been twenty years since I did injections—things will have changed. But, do you have to pull the entire vial into the syringe? I've long since forgotten the quantities, but I pulled a specific amount of estradoil then the same amount of progesterone into the same syringe, then injected the cocktail. I was injecting once every three weeks.

They come in different concentrations. You pull from the vial how much ml you need for the required dosage in mg.

Quote from: iKate on January 21, 2016, 10:10:18 AM
They come in different concentrations.

So that's the difference, eh? Thanks for the explanation.

I have used the 20 and 40 mg/ml and like the 20 mg/ml better too.

I use to get 40 mg/ml but can not get it and had to switch to 20 mg/ml.

20mg/ml is scarce everywhere here. I can get delestrogen but it is $200.

I get 10 ml of 20 mg/ml for about $25 at Mazzoni's Walgreens through the federal program.

Quote from: Rachel Lynn on January 20, 2016, 06:37:35 PM
It will take 4 or 5 cycles to get the E amount in your system to be stable. You lose 50% per week from injections. So on the 5th injection you have:

100% 5th
50% 4th
25% 3rd
12.5% 4th
6.25 1st

I started on a low dose of spiro and am on the same dose. My T is not detectable.

I inject on my bed just incase I get light headed. When you hit a nerve you have a choice to continue injecting or pulling out and restcking. Good luck, I like the injections but may go to implants in a year.

Is this accurate?  I ask because if it is, it totally explains why I feel the way I do after starting injections.  I've only had 3 injections so far and I've been feeling the same as my pre-HRT days.     

Quote from: Rachel Lynn on January 22, 2016, 08:13:53 PM
I get 10 ml of 20 mg/ml for about $25 at Mazzoni's Walgreens through the federal program.

I have been calling Callen-Lorde here but they are forever busy. I get a machine that says call back later.

My insurance covers it for $20 co-pay.

So far so good. No more pills (except spiro and my regular meds) and i definitely feel good, things are hurting again and I'm ready for my next shot.

Quote from: iKate on January 25, 2016, 05:58:23 AM
So far so good. No more pills (except spiro and my regular meds) and i definitely feel good, things are hurting again and I'm ready for my next shot.

Do you have a mood high the first few days ?  :)


hugs

Quote from: Rachel Lynn on January 22, 2016, 08:13:53 PM
I get 10 ml of 20 mg/ml for about $25 at Mazzoni's Walgreens through the federal program.

Mazzoni's Wagreens is awesome. It's a different pricing structure than other Walgreen's though, so be careful not to go to a different one. I did and they charged me over $400 for the same meds I was getting for $15 at the other one.