Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So today I started  estrogen for the first time.  It's really hard for to describe everything but I feel so euphoric.  I know it can't be the pills already, but I just feel really good!  Yay placebo effect.

However, there was some troubling things that came back on my blood work.  Apparently, I'm seriously deficient in vitamin D and have a high hemoglobin level.  I'm a vegetarian and take other medications, so I'm hoping that has something to do with the hemoglobin, but I have to see a hemotologist to make sure I'm okay.  I'm a little nervous about that and feel a little upset that my levels weren't normal.  I also have really low testosterone.  I'm not sure of the rate, but she told me it's not at the normal male level.  She actually asked me if I was already taking hrt even though I'm not.  I guess that's a positive.

Also, I have a funny story to share about my prescription pick up.  When I came to pick it up, I was told that it's ready but they can't find it.  After 10 minutes of waiting, the pharmacist walks over and asks me why I'm taking my prescription.  I told him it was between my doctor and I, but he made sure to warn me that this was estrogen.   He wasn't judgemental, so I wasn't upset about it.  It seemed like he just wanted to give me the heads up in case I wasn't aware.  Besides, he wished me lots of luck and told me to have a great day.  Overall, I found it more funny than awkward.  I suppose I'm getting used to letting people know I'm trans. 

Overall it's been an interesting day.  Unfortunately, I have no time to relax.  Tomorrow I have another job interview and on Saturday I will let my mom know about the cat living in my bag. 

Yay!

Congrats! And I think the "placebo effect" is just immense relief over finally going in the right direction gender-wise...enjoy the journey! :)

Congratulations yeah that first dose is special. Sounds like your already off to a good start with the low testosterone level. I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress. :)

I have a chromosomal variance that gives me too much of an iron product in my blood, but it has not caused any problems with my having HRT, nor did it affect any of my hormonal transition. So you should be fine if the blood condition is controlled for itself.  My blood problem is treated as separate and distinct from my gender issues, but the medical staff dealing with it have been super nice about my transition.

I hope you have a hard hat and a safety harness buckled on, because the adventure ahead is gonna be a doozy.

Doesn't this young lady get some cookies???

LearningToLive - congratulations!  I read a very interesting passage on an endocrinologist's website last night, that got me thinking.

As sex hormones impact on breast or buttocks, skin or bone, they do so slowly, because the small hormones, unlike the far larger peptide hormones, enter easily into the substance of their target cells and act upon receptors that are intracellular. Once activated these receptors alter the expression of genes located within the nucleus of the target cell, and this process takes quite some time to take effect. As a result for example, a woman cannot suddenly swing from D cups to A cups over a period of seconds, minutes, hours or even days, no matter how erratic her hormone levels may have become. The same is not true however, of the brain. Sex hormones influence the brain not only through the classic receptor mediated effect on the genes of the nucleus, a truly slow, sluggish and lingering effect, they also act directly on the outside surfaces of brain cells, through mechanisms that operate at very high speed, indeed within milliseconds. As a result erratic levels of sex hormones, operating on the brain in a brief and rapid manner can and do translate promptly into major psychological problems including disturbances of emotion and intellect, such as mood swings, depression, anxiety and perhaps suicide. On the other hand stabilizing hormone levels in the transsexual can lead to marked improvements in the emotional and intellectual states of those patients who used to suffer from psychosis and schizoidal conditions.

Your euphoria may very well be from the estradiol.

Good for you. I'm really thrilled for you. As the saying goes......."Today is the first day of the rest of your life".

Also, good luck with your mother on Saturday. I'm going to Boston an a holiday to see our son tomorrow so I may not catch up with your progress until I get back to Ireland in ten days.
I will be thinking of you though.

Love,
Ciara.

Happy birthday!  ;)

Congratulations. :)

Welcome on board and enjoy the ride... ;)

Congratulations!

Also, being vegetarian rather brings an iron deficit, if it's going to bring problems. Pretty much the contrary of what you have, eh? So I wager that's not it.

And vitamin D... Well, that's just because you need to get more milk. Or if you hate and/or digest milk badly (both in my case), soy milk. There's always some vitamin D in there. And maybe a multivitamin. They're a nice safety.

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes!

Quote from: A on June 13, 2013, 05:14:22 PM
Congratulations!

Also, being vegetarian rather brings an iron deficit, if it's going to bring problems. Pretty much the contrary of what you have, eh? So I wager that's not it.

And vitamin D... Well, that's just because you need to get more milk. Or if you hate and/or digest milk badly (both in my case), soy milk. There's always some vitamin D in there. And maybe a multivitamin. They're a nice safety.

That's the thing that concerns me.  Why would my hemoglobin levels be higher than normal.  I'm usually dehydrated and do take other meds, but I'm fearful that it is something else.  My endo is very cautious and wants me to be cleared before we take the next step and increase the dosage.  So, I need to figure this out.

I drink lots of soy milk and take a multivitamin daily (well, I forget sometimes).  Therefore, I'm a bit confused why  I would be deficient. 

Quote from: Ciara on June 13, 2013, 02:15:50 PM
Good for you. I'm really thrilled for you. As the saying goes......."Today is the first day of the rest of your life".

Also, good luck with your mother on Saturday. I'm going to Boston an a holiday to see our son tomorrow so I may not catch up with your progress until I get back to Ireland in ten days.
I will be thinking of you though.

Love,
Ciara.

Have fun in Boston.  It's a lovely city.  And please cherish your time with your son. :)

Quote from: Jamie D on June 13, 2013, 01:39:48 PM
LearningToLive - congratulations!  I read a very interesting passage on an endocrinologist's website last night, that got me thinking.

As sex hormones impact on breast or buttocks, skin or bone, they do so slowly, because the small hormones, unlike the far larger peptide hormones, enter easily into the substance of their target cells and act upon receptors that are intracellular. Once activated these receptors alter the expression of genes located within the nucleus of the target cell, and this process takes quite some time to take effect. As a result for example, a woman cannot suddenly swing from D cups to A cups over a period of seconds, minutes, hours or even days, no matter how erratic her hormone levels may have become. The same is not true however, of the brain. Sex hormones influence the brain not only through the classic receptor mediated effect on the genes of the nucleus, a truly slow, sluggish and lingering effect, they also act directly on the outside surfaces of brain cells, through mechanisms that operate at very high speed, indeed within milliseconds. As a result erratic levels of sex hormones, operating on the brain in a brief and rapid manner can and do translate promptly into major psychological problems including disturbances of emotion and intellect, such as mood swings, depression, anxiety and perhaps suicide. On the other hand stabilizing hormone levels in the transsexual can lead to marked improvements in the emotional and intellectual states of those patients who used to suffer from psychosis and schizoidal conditions.

Your euphoria may very well be from the estradiol.

It's possible, but I think it was more an emotional rush.  Unfortunately, I think I'm starting to experience a little insomnia, so maybe it's already effecting me.  I'm fairly certain that the insomnia I feel tonight is connected to this.

Quote from: Antonia J on June 13, 2013, 01:21:49 PM
Doesn't this young lady get some cookies???

If you saw me, I think you'd agree that I've had too many cookies already,lol. 

Your story about seeing your pharmacist and your commentary afterwards makes me smile from the inside out.

I'm really happy for you, BIG congratulations :) What an exciting time you are experiencing right now!

Congratulations on the start of your new life :)

Quote from: learningtolive on June 14, 2013, 02:33:56 AM


I drink lots of soy milk and take a multivitamin daily (well, I forget sometimes).  Therefore, I'm a bit confused why  I would be deficient. 

That could explain the low T levels. Soy is a natural anti androgen.

PS for those that read this and think" well if soy is a natural anti androgen then I will start taking soy isoflavon pills" THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PILLS OVER A LONG PERIOD CAN BE DEADLY OR AT LEAST CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES. that is why I stopped after I found that out.

Quote from: learningtolive on June 13, 2013, 10:39:18 AM
Overall it's been an interesting day.  Unfortunately, I have no time to relax.  Tomorrow I have another job interview and on Saturday I will let my mom know about the cat living in my bag. 

You have a cat in your bag? Aren't you afraid of it peeing or pooing all over your stuff? Plus that is not a good thing Cats need to be able to roam free :P :)

Congrats on starting on E learningtolive  :)

I also tested low on T but it was attributed to my age, yay!!! No need for spiro for me  :)

I tested low on vitamin D and sodium, I take a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc tab with vitamin D at bed time

Congratulations !!!!

I still remember the place time and date of my first pill!

Vit D deficiency is very common. Surprisingly in Australia it is extremely common even though we have so much sunlight we are taught to keep out of it as much as possible.

I take two Vit D tabs a day to bring it back up. Vit D is important to trans*woman in particular to maintain good bone strength when we go onto E and T disappears.

If you are dehydrated your haemoglobin levels will be high, drink water through out the day. You will also need the water when you are on spiro.

Hugs and happy birthday!

Cindy

Fish oil for the win!

Quote from: Sammy on June 14, 2013, 04:50:47 AM
Fish oil for the win!

Yes, I take fish oil when I get up  :)  But I do that more for heart health

As other supplements I am taking fish oil, Multicomplex B - because of that slight biotine dose it has. I got another supplement which is very good for skin, but I am a bit hesitant with that cause it has got potassium in it too... So I just take 1 pill once or twice per week. Yeah, and magnesium capsules too.

Congratulations and good luck.  Hugs Shannon

Soy is not a natural anti-androgen. It contains phyto-estrogens, which act as estrogen, but very very slightly. But estrogen, whatever its form, isn't exactly what I'd call an anti-androgen.

Congrats and go easy on the soy as it is a phyto-estrogen and may compete for estrogen receptors.

Quote from: Joanna Dark on June 15, 2013, 06:38:27 PM
Congrats and go easy on the soy as it is a phyto-estrogen and may compete for estrogen receptors.

Oh, that doesn't sound good.  As a vegetarian, I pretty much use soy for a lot of different things.  My doctor didn't say anything about that nor did my my friend whose also trans and a vegetarian.  Maybe it won't be a big deal.  Let's hope.

Quote from: learningtolive on June 15, 2013, 07:27:46 PM
Oh, that doesn't sound good.  As a vegetarian, I pretty much use soy for a lot of different things.  My doctor didn't say anything about that nor did my my friend whose also trans and a vegetarian.  Maybe it won't be a big deal.  Let's hope.

I am no scientist or endo so don't trust me. But I have heard that herbal supplements will nullify actual HRT and one of the many ingredients in herbals is soy.

Quote from: Joanna Dark on June 15, 2013, 07:34:40 PM
I am no scientist or endo so don't trust me. But I have heard that herbal supplements will nullify actual HRT and one of the many ingredients in herbals is soy.

Thanks for letting me know because I've never heard this before.  Well, it's research time for this vegetarian,lol.  Either way I'll still remain a non-carnivore.  I just hope I don't have to give up soy.  :'(

Congratulations.

Quote from: learningtolive on June 15, 2013, 07:41:37 PM
Thanks for letting me know because I've never heard this before.  Well, it's research time for this vegetarian,lol.  Either way I'll still remain a non-carnivore.  I just hope I don't have to give up soy.  :'(

Some say phyto-estrogen enhances HRT, others say it inhibits because it competes with receptors... I've done both and I'm still not really sure if the 'experts' know what they're talking about one way or another

If you enjoy your soy I see no reason to give it up, but that's just my opinion

But what would I know about growing boobs? I'm no expert either

Large, large, large doses of phyto-estrogens can do something. Unless you take supplements or have soy milk plugged directly into your veins, you don't have doses large enough. Also, I'm not 100 % sure, but I think products like tofu don't have it anymore in them.

Anyway, you shouldn't worry about it at all. Whatever the effect of soy is, positive or negative, it's not significant enough in any normal case to care about.

I love cheesecake...!  :P

I'd think if a vegetarian diet affected hormones, that cis-women would have a LOT of problems with low hormone levels...haven't heard anything like that, except after menopause (which is a natural part of aging, not the ingestion of phyto-estrogens)

Quote from: V M on June 15, 2013, 08:42:59 PM
Some say phyto-estrogen enhances HRT, others say it inhibits because it competes with receptors... I've done both and I'm still not really sure if the 'experts' know what they're talking about one way or another

If you enjoy your soy I see no reason to give it up, but that's just my opinion

But what would I know about growing boobs? I'm no expert either

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi569.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss131%2FVirginias_Stuff%2FPicture34-1_zpsb9e625a3.jpg&hash=7e8e5c90059a4e55ae7de90b69483b1db0113b6f)
Would anyone like some cheesecake?

Quote from: A on June 15, 2013, 09:31:21 PM
Large, large, large doses of phyto-estrogens can do something. Unless you take supplements or have soy milk plugged directly into your veins, you don't have doses large enough. Also, I'm not 100 % sure, but I think products like tofu don't have it anymore in them.

Anyway, you shouldn't worry about it at all. Whatever the effect of soy is, positive or negative, it's not significant enough in any normal case to care about.

Thanks guys.  That made me feel a little bit better.

Quote from: V M on June 15, 2013, 08:42:59 PM
Some say phyto-estrogen enhances HRT, others say it inhibits because it competes with receptors... I've done both and I'm still not really sure if the 'experts' know what they're talking about one way or another

If you enjoy your soy I see no reason to give it up, but that's just my opinion

But what would I know about growing boobs? I'm no expert either

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi569.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss131%2FVirginias_Stuff%2FPicture34-1_zpsb9e625a3.jpg&hash=7e8e5c90059a4e55ae7de90b69483b1db0113b6f)
Would anyone like some cheesecake?

Is this a picture of a cake or a tart?

Sorry Sis, couldn't resist :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Quote from: Cindy. on June 15, 2013, 10:54:56 PM
Is this a picture of a cake or a tart?

Sorry Sis, couldn't resist :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

That's okay Sis, a bit of self reflection never hurt anyone

Congratulations!

Yes...I remember that euphoric feeling on my first day...and I have to admit now that I kept peeking at my chest to see if there were any changes, even though I knew that was crazy!

It's funny...I really don't feel like my emotions are much different than before.   Maybe because I've always been open to them?  I can tell my decision making has changed sometimes, as I find myself taking a different track than I would have before.  Growing breasts is great, but most of all I am *so* glad I am no longer a slave to the one-eyed monster.  I feel generally more at peace (this took several months) and I feel like I am far less stressed and anxious. 

I know YMMV, but enjoy the ride!  :)