Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Transsexual talk => Testosterone => Topic started by: Wolfy on November 29, 2014, 04:53:46 PM

Title: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: Wolfy on November 29, 2014, 04:53:46 PM
I feel like I'm on a low dose and I was just wondering for what reasons does a doctor raise a dose?

Me and my best friend go to the same dr and his dose was raised nearly 3-4 weeks ago, but I'm about 3-4 shots behind him. I'm not sure if the dr just raises it after a certain period of time or not. Or if he's looking for changes/no changes?
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: Chaot on November 29, 2014, 05:07:07 PM
I think that depends on the doctor, man. Some just want to see a certain hormone level in your blood work results, others base things off of your health and how you feel on whatever dose you're on. Some docs are conservative and start slow, while others are happy to begin at full dose if you want.

Since you two share the same doc, I'd go out on a limb and guess you can expect similar timeline of upping, but the only way to really find out is to ask him. It does not hurt to just flat out ask your doctor these questions, and in fact is very helpful to do early on. They're there to help, so let them.

I asked that to my doc the day I got my first visit with him. Wanted to know everything I could. Best decision I made.

Good luck dude.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: 2fish on November 29, 2014, 06:37:08 PM
All doctors are different. My doctor wont raise my dose unless the levels are too low. Honestly, im at a low dose and only on my 3rd week of.t. i feel great and if my levels.stay good.i.woupdnt want to raise.it since its cheaper that way. So far so good. I get a shot every other week and feel good.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: SWNID on November 29, 2014, 06:38:34 PM
My dr will only raise my dosage if I ask her to do so.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: CursedFireDean on November 29, 2014, 06:53:22 PM
My doctor will raise it if I ask and if I'm healthy enough after 3-6 months of the current dose. For example, I could raise my dose now, except my bloodwork shows I need to get my thyroid checked out by my GP, so she said once I schedule that appointment, THEN I can raise my dose. She bases it mostly off of the changes you experience.
In general, if you're in good health, my doctor starts you off at a half dose, raises it at 3 months to the full, and then if she and you agree you need or would feel better, she will raise it to 3/2 of standard after 3-6 more months.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: zero.cool.crash.override on November 29, 2014, 09:04:31 PM
My endo told me to go in for another blood test seven weeks after my first shot.  He said he would look at my levels at that time and titrate up the dose of T as needed.  I would hope that he bases my dosage on blood test results rather than visible changes.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: Tysilio on November 29, 2014, 10:19:46 PM
QuoteMy endo told me to go in for another blood test seven weeks after my first shot.  He said he would look at my levels at that time and titrate up the dose of T as needed.  I would hope that he bases my dosage on blood test results rather than visible changes.
This. Just raising the dose without paying attention to blood levels seems pretty irresponsible.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: Wolfy on November 29, 2014, 10:56:52 PM
My endo does bloodwork in 3 month increments. I do know that he may raise it depending on what type of effects you're getting as well?
But it's bi weekly, so all in all it is very low and slowly gets raised up. 
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: CursedFireDean on November 29, 2014, 11:27:06 PM
Quote from: zero.cool.crash.override on November 29, 2014, 09:04:31 PM
I would hope that he bases my dosage on blood test results rather than visible changes.
Trust me, I definitely don't plan on seeing her forever. She's the only doctor I can go to for T right now, so that's who I have. She had a reason for not checking levels, but honestly I don't remember what it was, and right now, having T that's working is my priority. As soon as I can change to a new doctor, I will.
If I remember correctly, some of her reasoning did make some sense. She said if periods hadnt stopped by a certain time, she'd raise your dose, which made sense to me because the only guys I know of with periods beyond that had low blood levels. But still it's not a replacement for level tests, as everyone is different.
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: Bimmer Guy on November 30, 2014, 09:42:05 AM
Quote from: CursedFireDean on November 29, 2014, 11:27:06 PM
Trust me, I definitely don't plan on seeing her forever. She's the only doctor I can go to for T right now, so that's who I have. She had a reason for not checking levels, but honestly I don't remember what it was, and right now, having T that's working is my priority. As soon as I can change to a new doctor, I will.
If I remember correctly, some of her reasoning did make some sense. She said if periods hadnt stopped by a certain time, she'd raise your dose, which made sense to me because the only guys I know of with periods beyond that had low blood levels. But still it's not a replacement for level tests, as everyone is different.

Hey, CursedFireDean, since I started on the day after you, I am wondering how your changes are going.  I know that I started at half the dose you did (I believe you started at 1/2 the standard dose, I started at 1/4 what is the usual dose, by choice), and I have only taken the 1/2 dose for 4 shots (now just moved to 3/4 dose yesterday.  My doc is letting me set my own pace).

Are you still at 1/2 dose?  What have your changes been like?  My voice has dropped a bit, only some mustache hair, and no period, but that is all for me so far (not necessarily unexpected).  You also may have seen in another thread that I just got my levels done and I am not yet in male range.  I have wondered though if at least part of this is me losing some T prior to injection.  Have you had your levels checked yet?

Yes, lots of questions!
Title: Re: When does your Dr up your dose?
Post by: CursedFireDean on November 30, 2014, 10:57:32 AM
Quote from: Brett on November 30, 2014, 09:42:05 AM
Hey, CursedFireDean, since I started on the day after you, I am wondering how your changes are going.  I know that I started at half the dose you did (I believe you started at 1/2 the standard dose, I started at 1/4 what is the usual dose, by choice), and I have only taken the 1/2 dose for 4 shots (now just moved to 3/4 dose yesterday.  My doc is letting me set my own pace).

Are you still at 1/2 dose?  What have your changes been like?  My voice has dropped a bit, only some mustache hair, and no period, but that is all for me so far (not necessarily unexpected).  You also may have seen in another thread that I just got my levels done and I am not yet in male range.  I have wondered though if at least part of this is me losing some T prior to injection.  Have you had your levels checked yet?

Yes, lots of questions!
PMing you so we don't derail the thread :)