I had surgery three years ago, ( Orchiechtomy) I felt it as soon I woke up it was what i needed. But here on the island i could not find any Drs that know anything about our HRT treatments and they just give me what i ask for and blood test as i ask for them. I'm not asking what to do because thats not allowed but, just want to know what you keep your E levels at and what you take after surgery? I personally choose to keep my levels just above hot and cold flashes and take nothing else but estrodial. If you take other things or keep higher levels I can bring it to my dr and talk with him about it though..... I also want everyone to know to please do not do HRT without a doctor and blood tests and in no way am I looking for HRT advise but to give my Doctor ideas to look into for me..
Thank you, Anela
Right well while we can't post precise dosage information for al the reasons stated I think I am probably ok to say that you do need postop HRT and in fact post surgery it is a matter of urgency because you will have much lower endogenous production.
Postop doses are typically around 50% or less of a properly calculated preop dose but you do need to get it properly titrated, which any competent doctor can do. Heck I'm only a student and even I know how to do it! I cannot emphasise enough this is not optional. The amount needed may be small but you do need it.
Dear Anela,
Guide your physician to the Standards of Care v7. On page 65 there are guides and references for post operative care. The SOC7 is downloadable from www.wpath.org or on google.
You might think about estrogen levels high enough...
adding some bioidentical progesterone...
it might help with some antiandrogen effects and balance some effects of estro...
and a very low dose of testosterone.
Testosterone might help with overall drive and orgasmic abilities (if that is desired).
You could ask for topical or pellet implants. They are made by compounding pharmacies and can be orderered international by endos.
All three are widely used to help menopausal women, for example.
If taken orally, micronized bioidentical estro can be taken sublingually which is supposed to be less straining on the liver and less causing clotting factors.
And spreading the dose through the day, for example four small doses instead of one or two big ones, might help with steady levels and mood swings.
One advantage of pellets is a steady release.
Now for levels, important should be how they make you feel. Some endos don't put much emphasis on blood levels.
Something I remember is 50 for testo and 200 for estro (low/medium values for women), but check this with a doctor. Depending on the form of application, injections for example, levels can be much higher. And feminization and feeling is individual.
Here were some pointers concerning orgasmic abilities, if that would be a concern:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,185786.msg1653885.html#msg1653885
You might try stress management techniques... relaxation/meditation techniques... and light exercises... walking, swimming, biking, moderately but regularly...
is your nutrition healthy? A healthy variety of vegetables and fruits, possibly organic, and only few carbonated / high sugar drinks...
hugs
Thank you for the replys and i will be reading up on these as well as giving some info for my Dr to look into. I am currently on blood thinners as i am healing from a bad fall so he is very careful about my hormones . i get blood tests weekly and my etrogen levels are tested in with it. The healing i am going through i would think would be hindered if i had nothing. the first two months in the hospital they would not allow me to have any estrodial at all. It was hell with hot and cold flashes but i could not move and it took 4 people to turn me. it hurt on all sides. I have broken femor, pelis, arm, and both feet broken. Now i can move around in bed myself he started me on a low dose... Just today I asked him to recomend an endo to help me with tghis hormone therapy.
I feel your posts where aropriate for the forum and anyone reading please do not take hormones without a dr or at least having your levels checked. Most Dr's. though nopt knowing much will make sure you are not about to kill yourself.... :)