Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all, I was just curious what is common for a "trial run" on HRT.  2 months ago I obtained a prescription for estradiol and spironolactone and have been continuing to take them.  Obviously my doctor started me out on a lower dosage to test how I would take to it, but is it normal to be on the "test" dosage for a long period of time?  My doctor had said to talk to her in 6 months (back in mid July-ish), despite not even giving me a 6 month prescription (something like 4 for one, 5 for the other).  I'm not sure if she didn't want to tax my resources (I didn't have an income at the time), or she really didn't know what she was doing.  I recently moved, so obviously I'm thinking about trying to find a doctor who may be more knowledgeable.

Anyone have any experiences in this regard?  Is this normal?

"Normal" seems to be different for different docs, yukki. What she is giving you is probably what she feels comfortable with.

One of the "downsides" with a lot of docs without a lot or even some experience of TS HRT is that they will "see" an over-large dosage of estrogen a lot of times when they are used to seeing the levels of natal women. Dosages for menopausal HRT for women are much lower than dosages often prescribed for transitioning women.   

Problem with the scripts is that no doctor HAS to give you what you want or change your regimen until they feel comfortable with it. So, maybe some research and some blood levels especially for luteinizing hormone may help convince her to up your dosage, but she is under no obligation to go against what she thinks is best.

:icon_hug:

Nichole

This is exactly what my endo has done, she gave me 4 months of hormones for a six month period..

It has me thinking kinda WTF???

So I have just kinda spread them out a bit to make it work for all six months.

I think that is relativly normal, they want to see if you actually take them, ect....

Quote from: Jordan on August 28, 2008, 05:11:31 AM
This is exactly what my endo has done, she gave me 4 months of hormones for a six month period..

It has me thinking kinda WTF???

So I have just kinda spread them out a bit to make it work for all six months.

I think that is relativly normal, they want to see if you actually take them, ect....

Interesting that you had a similar experience, and interesting theory about why.

Considering that I just moved, I'll be finding a new doctor soon either way.  By moved, I mean I moved across the country (aka nowhere near my old doctor), I'll be needing a new one anyway.  I'll talk to the new one about dosages and see if I can get any bloodtests to make sure everything is looking good, since my previous doctor did nothing of the sort.

Obviously this is all very important to me, so I want to make sure things go optimally.

Lol. Does T even get a trial? The effects are mostly irreversible.  :P

Hope so.  really when do start want to try low doses first, though mainly just to see how I react to it emotionally

I found in the begginning month or so I was really suspectable to sadness, and particulary crying, but now like 5 months after starting I dont really feel that way anymore... Seems it was just a big shock then died down....

Quote from: Aiden on August 28, 2008, 09:39:25 PMHope so.  really when do start want to try low doses first, though mainly just to see how I react to it emotionally

Meh. I don't want trials. It was just a question for informational purposes. I know I won't back down on T. If T makes me a bitch, I'll find a way to counter it.

wanking. Get used to it...

Quote from: deviousxen on August 29, 2008, 07:32:51 PMwanking. Get used to it...

Currently doesn't work out for me. But maybe in the future I'll find coping methods that make it so I don't feel dysphoric when I touch my naughty bits.

Well as is I have to take things slow in even working.  I nearly lost my job because of my temper, only reason haven't is because I work in a place where the workers all have disorders of some kind and it has allowed me some leeway and a chance to be able to work ways to function in a job.  I've learned that mentally my mind has to take things a step at a time.  Otherwise I tend to get overloaded.  As is I tend to try and do more than I can handle anyways lol

The fact is, trying T won't make it any easier for you later. If it's going to make you rage, it's going to make you rage, no matter how long you wait. Maybe there is a way to slowly increase the dose from a low amount, but I never considered that a trial. One guy I know is on 1/3 dose permanently because that's all he needs.

the slow increase is what I mean.  start out low and as it increases work on deal with the emotions.  But I do feel that T will at least iliminate some of the distress I have and probably will not really effect me to much different.

Quote from: Aiden on August 29, 2008, 08:35:14 PMthe slow increase is what I mean.  start out low and as it increases work on deal with the emotions.  But I do feel that T will at least iliminate some of the distress I have and probably will not really effect me to much different.

Oh. You can definitely ask to do that, I think.

Quote from: Aiden on August 29, 2008, 08:35:14 PM
the slow increase is what I mean.  start out low and as it increases work on deal with the emotions.  But I do feel that T will at least iliminate some of the distress I have and probably will not really effect me to much different.

Yup, this is probably a good idea.  I also HIGHLY recommend both learning to self-inject ASAP and going on a weekly shot schedule, if you choose injections.  Weekly means smaller, more frequent doses that keep your levels- and mood- steadier.  'Crashing' from T felt like PMS to me, I was cranky, I knew it was hormonal and immediately went to a weekly schedule.  It has never happened since.  Learning to self-inject will keep you from wasting your life going to/from the doctor's office and sitting in the waiting room every week waiting for your shot.  Plus you can do things like, say, go on vacation and not have your levels drop!

yeh,  btw what's the cheapest form that is fairly steady?  I like to try the androgel or whatever call it, but think it cost lot more lol.  I'm not overly worried about someone coming into contact with it.  figure it would be under my cloths lol

Quote from: Elwood on August 29, 2008, 07:57:25 PM

Quote from: deviousxen on August 29, 2008, 07:32:51 PMwanking. Get used to it...

Currently doesn't work out for me. But maybe in the future I'll find coping methods that make it so I don't feel dysphoric when I touch my naughty bits.

I was talking about when you're on T. T makes you a horny bastard.

LOL maybe I'll actually have a dang sex drive then LOL.   Dono. 

Quote from: Aiden on August 29, 2008, 10:02:30 PM
yeh,  btw what's the cheapest form that is fairly steady?  I like to try the androgel or whatever call it, but think it cost lot more lol.  I'm not overly worried about someone coming into contact with it.  figure it would be under my cloths lol

The injections are cheapest at $35/5 mo.  The gels/creams/patches give you the steadiest dose and range in price from $150-400/mo.  Other forms of T (implants, oral) I don't know the cost of offhand.   There are prescription assistance programs for androgel, but your doctor needs to state on the form that you are male and you must meet certain income requirements.  I believe the cost with the prescription assistance is $50/6 mo, though that could be wrong.

hmm yeh current income would have to do injections lol but hopefully can get more income now not hindered by school lol

Quote from: deviousxen on August 29, 2008, 10:06:53 PM

Quote from: Elwood on August 29, 2008, 07:57:25 PM

Quote from: deviousxen on August 29, 2008, 07:32:51 PMwanking. Get used to it...

Currently doesn't work out for me. But maybe in the future I'll find coping methods that make it so I don't feel dysphoric when I touch my naughty bits.

I was talking about when you're on T. T makes you a horny bastard.

Having a micropenis might help... I'm already a horny bastard but dysphoria is more powerful than lust.

I thought it was a paraphilia for me, and it just made things worse.


Maybe I'm alone in my genital use cause I have a strong imagination for my fantasies, and cause I'm an idiot. Lol.
I'm such a layered mess... I had to tear my psyche to shreds to finally find out what I was, but I had the pervy boy layers, and the effed up weirder ones as well.

Its like they're made from weaker plaster that looks the same. Quality over quantity maybe. *shrugs


I think I prolly sound psycho now...

Pills are very cheap, Wallmart pharmacy sells estrogen by the pound it seems.

Doctor's are way too conservatives in MTF therapies, I don't get how
having way less than pregnancy levels of estrogen in my blood would
be bad if millions of years of women with 10 kids lived through it happily.

They just have got no data and thus they improvise.
There's basically no real decent studies (and with no real money
in this, not likely to be any)
of what we need, its all empirical and even there, the data is
not really well collected.

Quote from: deviousxen on August 30, 2008, 04:32:34 PMI thought it was a paraphilia for me, and it just made things worse.


Maybe I'm alone in my genital use cause I have a strong imagination for my fantasies, and cause I'm an idiot. Lol.
I'm such a layered mess... I had to tear my psyche to shreds to finally find out what I was, but I had the pervy boy layers, and the effed up weirder ones as well.

Its like they're made from weaker plaster that looks the same. Quality over quantity maybe. *shrugs


I think I prolly sound psycho now...

You're not. I know a girl who likes to play with her male genitals. She imagines that the wet sounds are coming from the right place. If only I knew what a guy was supposed to sound like. But that isn't something that a boy is born with; he learns that... I don't have the right equipment to learn such information... And boy's puberty and sex life is much harder to find information about. Male sexuality is covered under a sheet black lace; you can see bits and pieces through the small holes in it, but you never get a full glimpse of it all. Today I was at Borders, looking through hundreds of books on sexuality. I tried the library too a couple weeks ago. Nothing. All the sexuality seemed to be on women and girls. The lesbian section was absolutely astonishingly large, but nothing on pure masculinity. The women's study section was massive, where the men's study was no longer than 8 books, most of them being about "how men think."

Don't worry. We're all a little bit psycho. :)

Lol. I'll tell you about the male puberty if you tell me about the female one. PM me one of these days if you have any questions about the most Efftarded period of any human beings life.. Guaranteed. :)

Trust me... Its a totally horrid time, just like a girls in many ways. I totally understand you wanting to know though...

REALLY? I've never heard that it was hard for guys at all...

You get more zits, unwanted erections during school, your character gauged on how big the erections are, "Crushes" on people that ruin your life cause of testosterone. You basically can't help being retarded if you have enough of it in your system. I used to be a terrible person in some respects. I only realized what was going on when I took that stuff out of me...

Maybe T girls like me have less control over what they aren't meant to even have.


Cause I was a failure. Like I said, the graphic details I can tell you in PM if you're that interested...

LOL. I had no idea. I just thought males acted that way because they were lazy. I never gave a thought that they had hormonal moods, too.