Guys on T: how do you/how are you dealing with the parts of T that you don't really like or that you could do without?
I mean most guys like it but one thing for me is more hair on upper thighs...not my kinda deal yet I definitely don't wanna shave my thigh haha
I dislike only the acne that has come with T. I love my body and facial hair, scent changes, veins, muscle and strength increases, voice, emotional changes. I dunno. I just deal with it by using medication and trying to stay on top of my shot schedule (gets worse as I near my next shot). My hairline slightly bothers me but I still like having a very distinct masculine hairline, however much it recedes. Rather not lose my hair but I figure that would happen anyway if I were AMAB.
so far I like the changes T made, exept for the hair on tights..
I dont got much but its start to show.. and I got same kinds of dont want it dont wanna shave felling.
right now it depends on the amount, I dont mind alittle hair, but if i begins to look like a monkey I guess I would shave. have the do something about it, or do nothing about it way of thinking, so either I leave it or I dont..
I disliked the greasier skin/hair and I was worried about the change in odour. I guess i've just sort of come to peace with it because it comes with the territory, and I've been much happier on T than off. And those who love me aren't going to care about a little extra grease, especially if it's normal for a dude, which I am.
Been on T 3 months now and the only changes that I have not liked has been the odor and the acne/oiliness of my hair / skin. So to counter balance the odor I use a man's body spray and man's deodorant and a soft cologne, none of them to excess, but it keeps me smelling fresh all day. I shower sometimes twice a day, wash my face a lot, use a scrub for my face and stay on schedule with my T shots as yes the acne for me is worse the closer I get to my T day. When I weight out the "cons" of T, they are nothing compared to the positive changes that T has brought about for me.
I dislike how spotty and greasy I've gotten since going on e-blockers, I always had such clear skin before. I also sweat a lot more.
I love the hair I've gotten on my upper thigh ( so far only on the left leg...what's that about? XD) but I'm not exactly crazy about getting a hairy back and crack :P I prefer to keep my downstairs smooth and it's getting harder and harder to do that. I wonder how it'll go eventually when I've been on T a while, I'm getting a happy trail and hairy legs so it's gonna look weird with the middle patch being bald
Quote from: Brayden on July 30, 2012, 09:12:25 AM
Guys on T: how do you/how are you dealing with the parts of T that you don't really like or that you could do without?
I mean most guys like it but one thing for me is more hair on upper thighs...not my kinda deal yet I definitely don't wanna shave my thigh haha
Are you a swimmer?
I don't understand why you would need to shave your thighs otherwise, unless you're referring to your inner thighs.
He just doesn't like having hair there, he never implied he needed to shave his legs.
Like some others have said I haven't been crazy about increased acne and grease, etc. but I just realized I don't deal with this by thinking, "T is causing this, oh well, it's still worth it." I just take everything that's happening to me as it is. I don't blame T for anything. It's just the way I was supposed to be anyway. E is not my baseline.
Quote from: tvc15 on July 30, 2012, 11:50:45 AM
He just doesn't like having hair there, he never implied he needed to shave his legs.
Read his post again.
He actually mentions not wanting to shave his upper thighs at the end.
I interpreted that the same way Natkat did, like: "Don't want hair there, yet don't want to shave it," kind of catch-22
Quote from: tvc15 on July 30, 2012, 11:50:45 AM
Like some others have said I haven't been crazy about increased acne and grease, etc. but I just realized I don't deal with this by thinking, "T is causing this, oh well, it's still worth it." I just take everything that's happening to me as it is. I don't blame T for anything. It's just the way I was supposed to be anyway. E is not my baseline.
I have a similar viewpoint as well. My acne and receding hairline would have happened anyway. I know that it's the T that's causing it. But..that's exactly how it would have occurred naturally. So yeah, for me it's not a blaming as much as an acknowledgement. If that makes sense.
Just accept that you can't have it all and that for the good aspects of T you have to make sacrifices. There are downsides to everything. It's just life.
That's the way I think about the potential hair loss. I don't pay half a mind to it, also because it's normal for every guy.
Quote from: Poptart on July 30, 2012, 01:56:45 PM
Just accept that you can't have it all and that for the good aspects of T you have to make sacrifices. There are downsides to everything. It's just life.
That's the way I think about the potential hair loss. I don't pay half a mind to it, also because it's normal for every guy.
Exactly. And this is actually why I have a slight problem when people make topics like this. Guys don't get to normally choose the changes they get - in my opinion, you shouldn't expect to be able to either. Life really doesn't work that way, but not getting everything you want out of testosterone shouldn't also qualify for a reason to stop it. Bear mind, that means further feminization.
Quote from: Poptart on July 30, 2012, 01:56:45 PM
Just accept that you can't have it all and that for the good aspects of T you have to make sacrifices. There are downsides to everything. It's just life.
That's the way I think about the potential hair loss. I don't pay half a mind to it, also because it's normal for every guy.
This. Also I can't think of any small changes I dislike. I didn't really care for my acne when it happened but it went away fairly quickly, plus I know how to deal because I always have had a few pimples on my face, both pre and post T.
There's really one change that I really dislike but it's kind of a big change. Cholesterol going up. I changed my diet a bit. No idea if it's better or not but I'm trying.
acne is the only bad effect just try to let it be i use various products on and off.
Quote from: Nygeel on July 30, 2012, 02:47:26 PM
There's really one change that I really dislike but it's kind of a big change. Cholesterol going up. I changed my diet a bit. No idea if it's better or not but I'm trying.
You could also be prescribed a cholesterol medication from your doctor.
Quote from: JasonRX on July 30, 2012, 03:45:42 PM
You could also be prescribed a cholesterol medication from your doctor.
I'd rather not rely on meds. I was really hesitant to go on T because of my relationship with medication in the past. I'd rather try to fix the problem myself than fix it with more medication.
Quote from: Nygeel on July 30, 2012, 03:51:34 PM
I'd rather not rely on meds.
Says the person on T.
Quote from: Andy8715 on July 30, 2012, 03:54:20 PM
Says the person on T.
not everyone can take cholesterol lowering meds, or want to. T is totally different.
that said, i don't like the increased appetite, more grease, or that i look too much like my dad now xD
T is a medication that you will forever be reliant on to keep many of the changes you have.
same as all of us on T, what's your point?
Seems to be a slight bit of hostility going on in this thread which I don't understand. I don't think anyone is suggesting they want to pick and choose the changes they get - we're going through puberty like any other guy would; and I can guarantee teenage guys getting acne aren't thrilled about it either, regardless of whether it's normal or not.
Yes, please dial it down a notch. Before bristling, you might ask the other person for clarification and try to understand what he means. This strategy works for me when I use it (I don't always, alas).
Quote from: Andy8715 on July 30, 2012, 03:54:20 PM
Says the person on T.
Andy, I usually agree with your posts, but personally, I would not put testosterone in the same category as cholesterol medication, especially since testosterone is technically a steroidal substance.
Quote from: Jeatyn on July 30, 2012, 04:13:20 PM
Seems to be a slight bit of hostility going on in this thread which I don't understand. I don't think anyone is suggesting they want to pick and choose the changes they get - we're going through puberty like any other guy would; and I can guarantee teenage guys getting acne aren't thrilled about it either, regardless of whether it's normal or not.
Yes. And anyone is allowed to feel any way they wish to about their body, cis or trans. My post was just my own personal opinion. I try not to impose my beliefs about my own transition and my body onto other trans folks'; everyone's lives and experiences vary, and I respect our differences. I don't think it's crazy that someone going through a major endocrine change would dislike or be surprised by some of their new changes. That hasn't been my experience, but it's not weird that others may have these feelings.
That said, I came up with another change I hate... ass crack hair.
I dislike that my skin can go from alright to terrible if I forget to don't wash it as often.
To answer the OP: I never had trouble with my skin, but it is kicking me in butt now. My face has remained clear, which I am pretty happy about, but the rest of my body isn't fairing so well. I'm also getting used to swallowing - I know that sounds weird. I totally don't mind that I am developing something if a tiny Adam's apple, but occasionally it feels like when I swallow, it goes down wrong. It's not a bad change, just a 'huh?' sort of one.
I think its just one of those good with the bad sort of things, you know? That's how I look at it. I'm not exactly thrilled by the crazy amount of fuzz on my back and shoulders now, but I just sort of accept it as something that I most likely would have had if I was born male.
Quote from: JasonRX on July 30, 2012, 05:05:54 PM
Andy, I usually agree with your posts, but personally, I would not put testosterone in the same category as cholesterol medication, especially since testosterone is technically a steroidal substance.
T is just as much a medication as any other drug on the market.
Even if I could take it at this point I wouldn't because I don't want to be a slave to the pharmaceutical industry. That's just my viewpoint on it. Am I saying that everyone that does want to be on it is a slave? Not really. I mean, if that's not how you look at it, you're not. That's just how I look at it for me.
I also don't understand that mindset where if you have some "problem" you just add another pill into the mix. There's already a vast amount of evidence showing what damage all the different pharmaceutical drugs do, how many side effects they cause, etc. When you can't even turn on the TV without either seeing an ad for a drug (with side effects including things like "fatal events", lymphoma, heart failure, etc. etc.) or an ad for a law firm that's representing people who were harmed (or killed) by drugs, it just makes me wonder why people are so hot to still "ask your doctor about blah blah". Boggling.
So while T has relatively few side effects (most of which are the masculine effects FTMs want) it's still a medication. And anyone who happens to be on T and maybe doesn't want to add another drug into the mix shouldn't have to take any slack for it.
Also, how many cis guys don't like being hairy? Or don't like getting acne? Or losing their hair? WTF is so wrong with an FTM guy not wanting things like that? Every time I see a thread like this people jump in and say something like, "man you just have to be cool with all or nothing!" And there's this undertone implying, well you're not a "real" dude unless you're cool with all that stuff. And then we have the T-pride people who jump in and go, "I love it ALL!" Well, super. Can everyone just like and not like whatever they want without some implied nonsense going on?
i've only done my 2nd shot, but my face is extremely oily which i really dislike. it looks like im constantly sweaty or something.
other than that, that's it so far haha.
maybe as time progresses on but so far i'm very content.
I guess I do consider T a medication still. I mean, it's a hormone that I'm taking because my body doesn't make enough of it naturally. But it is still a drug I guess.
I work in a field where medication is so important. Luckily I get to stress lifestyle modification as a primary way to control disease, but sometimes people just need medicine.
The medication thing - I see where you guys are coming from. I too don't really agree with a lot of the meds that are dolled out which could be controlled by a better diet or actual treatment for said problem...such as type two diabetes, high cholesterol, or some pain problems that just get stronger and stronger pain killers thrown at them rather than actually being looked at.
If I can fix it myself - I'd much rather go that route. Pain killers are always on my repeat prescriptions because I have sciatica but I always ask the pharmacist not to fill it, I can manage the pain myself with exercise or just resting when I need to, I'd much rather just adjust my lifestyle than rely on painkillers forever and then get a secondary liver problem or an addiction.
T levels however I simply cannot fix by myself, and my quality of life without it is abysmal. I look at it the same way as my asthma inhalers....sure I could technically "live" without it, but I can't LIVE! without it.
Quote from: insideontheoutside on July 30, 2012, 08:42:06 PM
T is just as much a medication as any other drug on the market.
Even if I could take it at this point I wouldn't because I don't want to be a slave to the pharmaceutical industry. That's just my viewpoint on it. Am I saying that everyone that does want to be on it is a slave? Not really. I mean, if that's not how you look at it, you're not. That's just how I look at it for me.
I also don't understand that mindset where if you have some "problem" you just add another pill into the mix. There's already a vast amount of evidence showing what damage all the different pharmaceutical drugs do, how many side effects they cause, etc. When you can't even turn on the TV without either seeing an ad for a drug (with side effects including things like "fatal events", lymphoma, heart failure, etc. etc.) or an ad for a law firm that's representing people who were harmed (or killed) by drugs, it just makes me wonder why people are so hot to still "ask your doctor about blah blah". Boggling.
So while T has relatively few side effects (most of which are the masculine effects FTMs want) it's still a medication. And anyone who happens to be on T and maybe doesn't want to add another drug into the mix shouldn't have to take any slack for it.
Also, how many cis guys don't like being hairy? Or don't like getting acne? Or losing their hair? WTF is so wrong with an FTM guy not wanting things like that? Every time I see a thread like this people jump in and say something like, "man you just have to be cool with all or nothing!" And there's this undertone implying, well you're not a "real" dude unless you're cool with all that stuff. And then we have the T-pride people who jump in and go, "I love it ALL!" Well, super. Can everyone just like and not like whatever they want without some implied nonsense going on?
This
Quote from: Jeatyn on July 31, 2012, 08:49:23 AM
T levels however I simply cannot fix by myself, and my quality of life without it is abysmal. I look at it the same way as my asthma inhalers....sure I could technically "live" without it, but I can't LIVE! without it.
This is why I can't stand the logic of, "Transition is an elective procedure." I can't imagine where I'd be right now if I never transitioned but I can guarantee it wouldn't be anything good.
I'm just trying to accept the fact that if/when I start T I have a probably 25-50% shot of going bald. Sucks, but I have a feeling if I get to the point of deciding to start hormones, it'll be worth it. If I decide it isn't worth it, I'll just not take them for now.
I felt ridiculous about this until last night when I was talking about it with my dad, and realized he's pretty similar about his hair too. I told him I was scared of going bald if I start T, and he pretty much said "who wouldn't be?" For me, its totally valid to not like everything about being a guy, just like it's valid that there were some things about being read as a girl that didn't suck so bad (getting a free pass to hit on straight guys was alright for my bisexual self). If cis people can like and dislike things about their hormonal profile, so can I. It just comes down to the fact that in the long run, everyone has things they don't like about their body, but they still deserve to find whatever way possible to make their bodies livable.
I accept every change, but I hate going through puberty again imo. Acne is a pain to deal with and I have to monitor it. At least when I was at the end of female puberty, my acne became more bearable. I just don't like going through puberty again, I guess? I also dislike that I'll always be on T because my body cannot naturally produce everything I need. :/
to add to the cholesterol med and T med thing. my view is why rely on more chemicals then you have to.
cholesterol can be controlled by and lifestyle change so before relying on more chemicals lifestyle changes might be a better option.
testosterone can not be significantly raised by any lifestyle and diet changes. so chemical options are our only options.
Quote from: insideontheoutside on July 30, 2012, 08:42:06 PM
T is just as much a medication as any other drug on the market.
Even if I could take it at this point I wouldn't because I don't want to be a slave to the pharmaceutical industry. That's just my viewpoint on it. Am I saying that everyone that does want to be on it is a slave? Not really. I mean, if that's not how you look at it, you're not. That's just how I look at it for me.
I also don't understand that mindset where if you have some "problem" you just add another pill into the mix. There's already a vast amount of evidence showing what damage all the different pharmaceutical drugs do, how many side effects they cause, etc. When you can't even turn on the TV without either seeing an ad for a drug (with side effects including things like "fatal events", lymphoma, heart failure, etc. etc.) or an ad for a law firm that's representing people who were harmed (or killed) by drugs, it just makes me wonder why people are so hot to still "ask your doctor about blah blah". Boggling.
So while T has relatively few side effects (most of which are the masculine effects FTMs want) it's still a medication. And anyone who happens to be on T and maybe doesn't want to add another drug into the mix shouldn't have to take any slack for it.
Also, how many cis guys don't like being hairy? Or don't like getting acne? Or losing their hair? WTF is so wrong with an FTM guy not wanting things like that? Every time I see a thread like this people jump in and say something like, "man you just have to be cool with all or nothing!" And there's this undertone implying, well you're not a "real" dude unless you're cool with all that stuff. And then we have the T-pride people who jump in and go, "I love it ALL!" Well, super. Can everyone just like and not like whatever they want without some implied nonsense going on?
Agreed. I mean seriously, if people are happy with all the changes, then that's great, if you don't like all the changes, that's cool too. Cis males and females pretty much feel the same, I know tons of cis guys who hate the fact they are going bald and I know tons of cis females who hate their hips. Everyone deals with changes differently, so why is it so difficult to talk openly about what you don't like in a community which 'prides' itself on being open-minded, especially when they want people to be open-minded about being transgender. Double standards get people no-where.
I've been on T for 3 weeks now, I take cream, As of right now the only thing i dislike is the oily skin and acne. I want a fair amount of hair, i just hope i dont get to hairy :laugh:
Spots are the most annoying thing, I knew i'd get them though as I had bad acne with my first puberty but in different places on my face ??? with my first puberty I got them on my forehead and nose but now they're on my chin and on my cheeks, mostly infront of my sideburns. I just make sure to wash my face regulary that way I can keep them to a minimum.
I'm not a fan of my upper arm and back hair either, i'm not sure what i'll do with it in the future, if it gets worse on my back I might get it waxed but i'm not sure I can be bothered. If I didn't have scars on my upper arms i'd probably shave them though.
I personally dislike my oily hair --- it looks like a grease ball by the end of the day. I hate it. My hair was already thinning before I started taking T so I fully expect to go bald.
As for taking prescription drug -- I do want to pipe in that not all things can be controlled by diet. I have high cholestrol -- have since I was a youth. It's like in the 600 -- when I first was put on medication -- this was when I was in high school and a varisty letterman in swimming and softball so I was very physically active - I swam year round on a city swim team. I cannot control my cholestrol with diet and exercise if I try. I have to take medication for it.
Well, sorry, but I don't have any changes that I don't want. I'm enjoying the whole experience of my proper puberty that I'll only go through once. As per pharmaceuticals/pharmaceutical companies, great if you want to not support them, but I need T to live so I have no qualms.
Quote from: Nathan. on August 01, 2012, 04:40:04 PM
Spots are the most annoying thing, I knew i'd get them though as I had bad acne with my first puberty but in different places on my face ???
Same here! I had loads of foreheads spots during my first puberty but now they're all over my cheeks...unless I go for a full cousin IT look the ones on the cheeks aren't able to be covered by my hair like the forehead ones were :P it's reeeeaaally hard to not pick them, I'm pretty sure I've already created some craters that are gonna scar
Quote from: Kreuzfidel on August 01, 2012, 08:25:52 PM
Well, sorry, but I don't have any changes that I don't want. I'm enjoying the whole experience of my proper puberty that I'll only go through once. As per pharmaceuticals/pharmaceutical companies, great if you want to not support them, but I need T to live so I have no qualms.
Thank you for this.