ladies, I am wondering how many of you had good results transitioning in your 40`s? Please share any advice you may have for others like me starting. I am only 42. Like many others I wish I would have transitioned 20 years ago. I start HRT next month. I am so excited Hugs Danielle
Hi Danielle.
First of all, your attitude is exactly where it should be - and attitude towards transition often dictates how successful a transition you will have (in my humble opinion, at least). Success is as much in the mind as it is in the body.
Quote from: danielle28 on February 15, 2015, 10:38:19 AMI am only 42.
That is so refreshing to read. Many times, older transitioners start with the attitude that they're way past their sell by date already, that their age is a barrier, and that it's pointless even starting. You're absolutely right; you are
only 42. Plenty of time to transition, and plenty of time to enjoy life post-transition (and during.)
There's tons of practical transitioning advice here on this site, and many older girls who have gone through the process with stunning levels of success. My advice? Keep your positive mindset no matter what. It's a long road and the journey can seem very slow at times. We all wish we had started many years earlier - even those who start young wish they could have started even younger - but changes do happen and you'll get to where you need to be if you stick with the program diligently. It takes effort, lots of effort, and it's sometimes easy to lose hope if you're not careful.
Don't worry about anything. You
should be excited about this amazing change you're about to undergo. Your age is in no way obstructing your chances of success unless you want it to.
Browse around, ask questions, and I'm certain you'll find exactly what you're looking for on this site. I don't think there's a nicer corner of the internet to spend a few minutes each day. :)
There are ladies here in there 50's and 60's who have done well with transition. 43 is plenty young enough. I started at 47ish (or 12th anniversary of turning 35ish).
I'm in the same boat. I turned 40 a few months back, and I've only come out recently. I'll be lucky if I start hormones before I'm 41. But you have a great attitude. Good luck and hugs. Remember you are not alone. [emoji1]
I started hormones 16 days after my 44th birthday and have had dramatic results in the five and a half months since.
I have to work to pass for male these days.
Depends on what your definition of results. Results vary person by person, but overall, what I was led to believe would occur, did. No surprises. I had a little bit to my hips, modest B cup after six years.
I didn't gain any weight, in fact I've lost weight being on HRT.
My endo has reduced my estrace by 50% as my levels were way too high. I'm off progesterone and spiro for good following surgery.
I don't know about those who come to expect big results from hormones. I would have transitioned even if I couldn't start hormones. Hormones haven't defined who I am nor aided me in my transition. Just nice to have I guess.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1277.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy488%2Fxchristine100%2Fonline%2520pics%2FIMAG0090_1_zpsc3557c32-1.jpg&hash=107b1f47d94ad81ebea4e2c86a85b741c448423e) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/xchristine100/media/online%20pics/IMAG0090_1_zpsc3557c32-1.jpg.html)
The hard reality you hear is
The younger the better
Its not true
The genes make the differance
I am 41 ans on my second transition and I can
Safely say unless your a super model you can't touch this
So you can't say for certain how you will turn out
40 is the new 20
I started at 43 years, 8 1/2 months. Two years later, I think I turned out pretty awesome.
I started 15 months ago at 49 ( give or take 12 years)
ONLY 42!!!!
I was 52 when I took the trans beast on for real. Been on feminizing levels of HRT for several years now. I first experimented with transitioning back in in my early 20's... TWICE.
Results... Well, taking on the beast, for real, has been THE BEST thing I've ever done in my life. Oh... It's one heck of a roller coaster ride. Plenty of times in a "WTF am I doing???" funk. But the frequency and intensity gets better over time.
As far as HRT goes. I've been On/Off low dose HRT several times over the past 4 decades. Always for that "Emotional" reset. Temporary, but always enough to let me "survive" for a another few years or more. This time, it is for real. Full feminizing dose of E as well as AA's. Better then booze ??? (OK I have a substance abuse prob. P/O of my baggage) The mental/emotional relief has been more then I could have asked for. Physical changes at my "advanced" age have been great. I have a for real B-cup YMMV.
I started at 47 and you can see the results for yourself. I am very happy with myself now. :)
Hi, I am 42 and started in August, only about 5 1/2 months. It was a bit scary the first couple months, but it gets better and better. Just remember it will take longer for us, be patient, and make sure they check your levels periodically. Good Luck!
Did gender therapy in my mid 20s and was diagnosed with GID and depression. Went on antidepressants and could handle the GID......for awhile. Started therapy again at 41. Started Spiro on my 42nd birthday. Started Estrodiol near my 43rd birthday. So far so good but I have a long road but feel as if early 40s is still a great time to blossom! I'm no model but each and everyday I become more feminine physically. The joy that everyday I become just a fraction more feminine physically sustains me like you can't believe. I many never look how I want but I'm already so much happier than I have EVER been so.....
You will never truly know how the water feels until you get in the pool.
Good luck.
Kay
Yeah, same here. It's like a background noise of depression just went away shortly after I started, that alone is worth it.
Started HRT age 47. Been on it almost 19 months now and living fully transitioned for 11 of those. I had a good response to the estrogen.
After the disclaimer of "Your Mileage May Vary":
I started HRT at age 43, some 14 months ago. At 3 1/2 months on HRT, I was getting male fail and passed with ease and that's with me being 6'7". Here is a set of picts on my flickr account (https://www.flickr.com/photos/54438591@N06/sets/72157637313964623/) that has some various pictures during transitioning.
I also love you attitude of "only 42" :) I know I'm 44 now, but I feel like I'm much younger (late 20's, early 30's). A lot of people who transition ask if their age is too old to transition. Your only too old to transition if your dead.
I was 41 and a half-ish when I started HRT, about half of that time was at a low dose and was gradually ramped up to my current level... I'm coming up on a year at the beginning of April! :)
So far I'm super happy with my results, I wish they were more dramatic but who doesn't right? I'm still not fully out but I'm working my way there and just about a week or two ago I got my first ma'am without even trying!
I like the person I see in the mirror more and more with each passing day.
My best advice is to keep in mind that this is a marathon, not a sprint.....
Turned 40 yesterday, so guess I'm here;) i had a condition where my testosterone level was under 50 for at least a few years before transition. I was pretty fit during that time too somehow, taking no hormones or anything illegal. Rather odd, but I had this desire for something that seemed missing. They tried putting me on testosterone, but deep down I didn't want to take it. I actually didn't know this was an option until a couple years ago, just preoccupied with life. But before that, I was already preparing for this life. I didn't think people would understand, but I had this deep depression that I tried so hard to fix myself. It wasn't until I found estradiol could be a replacement for testosterone, which I just despised. I know I'm not supposed to, but I had to try, so I acquired a couple months of pills to see if my blood levels would change. It was more than that, I became happy for one. I didn't have this deep hate I've had for some time. But most of all, I could for once deal with my diseases that cause deep pain and gave me a short life supposedly.
Everyone says I'm soo much nicer to be around. I noticed my clothes changed from blacks to pastels.. I just feel soo much better while still feeling hell!
It wasn't until recently that I've looked back on my past after reading books on signs of early ->-bleeped-<-. All the signs were there since I've been 5 or younger.. I guess it was the timing and being in the middle of Nebraska as a kid, this didn't exist? I'm happily married and feel bad doing this to my wife. She has luckily accepted it so far;)
My thing is getting to the point, my estradiol level is around 800. I take injections every week. I see my endo this week who prescribed me the meds. I got a call from his nurse last week asking about my injection intervals and amount, which I said it was the same except when I was on a 10 day setup.. I did not like the lows I was receiving. I swear I can feel the rise and fall of my levels and don't like my levels any lower than they are.. could this be in my head? My testosterone under 20, I've already had testicles removed for medical reasons. I don't plan srs as of yet, I just want to follow through my transition. The hormones seem more to me than a body changer. The shots are like xanax to me. Are there others like this? Basically I've had my mental health improve while everything else is failing. Is there a valid reason to lower the estradiol. I see too many levels on too many findings.. this stuff is still new, so I thought some of you that have longer times with estradiol than me may know. I've been on hormones 18 months and injections for 6 of them. They just seem soo much more stable for me and my mental state.. anyone else like this? I can't be making this up!
Hon, I am almost 60, and I thought I was way too old for this, but I quickly discovered you can never be too old to be who you really are.
ladies, thanks for all the encouragement. Its so nice to know there are others out there like me at this stage in my life. Natashax you look great. Thanks for sharing parts of your journey with me and all the silent sisters following this thread. Hugs Danielle
Even before I hit my 46th, I knew that I wanted to... But that said, I knew I needed to seek out a therapist. After months thinking about it, I booked my first therapy session last December. I've began electrolysis on my facial hair, and see an endocrinologist later this week. I just feel this is the right time, I could have and considered transitioning in my mid-20s but just wasn't ready for it. At that point I had a lot of self-loathing towards myself and the idea of transgender people in general. At the time I though that anyone who was transgender were delusional, and yet here I was seriously considering it.
For some strange reason, I think I genetically pre-disposed to being female. Maybe it has to do my lack of upper body strength, my sparse and thin facial and body hair, and late development into what I have now. My facial and body hair didn't grow in until my early 30's.
I am 61, started seeing a therapist 2 months ago and I hope I will start low dosage HRT next month! Of course I wish I was 18, I envy the young looks and ability to look beautiful, but it is what it is... According to my master plan, it will take me 5 years to fully transition!
I only realized that I had GD about 6 months ago, before that I knew that I had issues but never acted on the cause of them.
Welcome to the Sorority!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Emily
Quote from: Wynternight on February 15, 2015, 01:46:20 PM
I started hormones 16 days after my 44th birthday and have had dramatic results in the five and a half months since.
I have to work to pass for male these days.
You are HOW old? Good God I swore you were no older than 25.
Quote from: ImagineKate on February 16, 2015, 01:47:51 PM
You are HOW old? Good God I swore you were no older than 25.
I love you! You're my new BFF!!! 44 1/2 as of yesterday.
Lol.
Do whatever you're doing hon. It's working for you.
Seriously, Wynter! I thought the same thing. Late 20's early 30's...maybe!
That is one real benefit of HRT at any age. It makes most of us look younger than we are because of the skin softening and perky breasts. Going through a second puberty does have benefits.
Thank you both but...that was pre-HRT. ;D
Raises Hand...I am also 42 (will be 43 April 2nd 2015) I started 4 months ago. But I am on a medium level dose just now. The big part is the stepping stone that your doctor will probably start you with as far as HRT. I noticed a glow which others say is also there at the 4 month mark. So I am hopeful and I am only 42.
One thing that concerns me is that my skin keeps getting softer and now I notice the skin texture on the back of my hand and on my face, flexes or wrinkles differently, and might lead to wrinkles or looking older. I try to moisturize often.
wow i noticed that too my wrinkle lines are moving and i noticed them especially on my hands. I forgot women's wrinkles show up more than mens usually.
Thank you all for your inspirational sharing. It's so nice to be amongst so many amazing women. Your words of wisdom are appreciated. Hugs
(https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=30807;type=avatar)
your hair is awesome im well jell!
Is great.
Oh sorry. I thought this was a complete the sentence competition. Did I win anything?
Rosie