Hey all. I will be starting HRT soon (ESTROGEN). Possibly even tomorrow. So I just ned quick answers.
How does the first dose feel (I am thinking of going for the injections). But either way, how does the first dose feel?
What should I expect within even the first month?
What should I expect, in general?
I am going into this blindly, I cant really get straight answers lol. So I am looking for other peoples experiences with estrogen therapy
The excitement of taking you first dose makes it very confusing what you feel. Some people notices sensitivity within a week of the first dose, others like me were never sensitive. If you have man boobs, development may start fast and if not, development may take a while. You didn't say anything about the blockers but if you are starting them, you should notices a reduction in your discomfort within a week or two. The reason you can get a straight answer is because there isn't any one answer. Just sit back and relax for the first month and by then you may notice what is happening to you.
As Dena said it's pretty hard to predict what real effects you will feel. But I'll bet that one thing you will feel is a huge wave of mental relief that may at times border on euphoria just to finally get started for real.
Sapere Aude
Everyone is different and there is no specific response. The one thing though is that the higher your expectations the more likely you will feel disappointed. HRT is not a magic pill or cure all, it will not work overnight, it takes many, many months for the effects to really be noticeable.
Yes you will probably notice some breast tenderness within the first few weeks but it can take a good year or more before the breasts grow to any substantial size. Remember that teenage genetic girls can take up to three years or more to develop their breasts.
Changes in body fat likewise take many months. The most immediate effects might be less oily and smoother skin, but again that will not be for a few weeks.
Some people notice an immediate emotional change, but that might be a placebo effect. Keep in mind that HRT may make you moody, injections in particular give you an initial high that will dissipate as the dose is used up by the body and become a bit of a low.
So as Dena suggests, just go with the flow. Keep your expectations realistic and take it day by day,
Quote from: Ms Grace on February 07, 2016, 01:47:42 PM
Everyone is different and there is no specific response. The one thing though is that the higher your expectations the more likely you will feel disappointed. HRT is not a magic pill or cure all, it will not work overnight, it takes many, many months for the effects to really be noticeable.
Have you seen your photo lately...
I started with spiro, E and finasteride. My dose was a transition dose.
I had neck and chest pains since I was 17 ( I started HRT at 50). on Day 3 I no longer had neck and chest pains ( I have not had them since). I suspect it was from stress. Then the quiet. It took a while to get use to the quiet in my head. At 1 month I noticed breast buds and constant erect nipples.
As everyone states her- "Everyone is different"
Yeah I TOTALLY understand that. My expectations are not very "high" per say, because I know all of this does take time. Kaiser Permanante is who I am going through... They have been SUPER helpful in all of this, and I actually got a Consent Form, which gives me a broad timeline. Broad as in it shows a table that shows the Effects of the hormones, a suspected ONSET and suspected offset.
But yeah I am looking for personal stories of "Well I experienced this... in this many months/ weeks/ days"
Just so I know more or less what to expect. Because honestly I am scared. With this flurry of excitement there is a subliminal fear indeed. And it is there, I can feel it.
It's not fear that I am doing the wrong thing... not by any means. I just fear because I feel as if I am going at this with blinders on.
Well I experienced this! :-)
No physical effects started for a while. Maybe it was a month or more. But the mental relief was immediate. As Rachael said, the noise stopped and the dysphoria mostly went away. I became very happy and that mood has mainly remained constant for a year now. I got motivated to improve myself, quit smoking, quit drinking, lost weight, got back in shape. I began to look forward to the next day rather than hoping I would die overnight.
Even if no physical changes happened, which they have, the mental effects were worth HRT by themselves.
Sapere Aude
I started a little over 2 weeks ago. So take me with a grain of salt. For me immediately I felt a sense of calm. I have had pretty bad joint and muscle pain since my early teens for the past week and a half no more pain. Like other ladies here have said the quiet. The quiet in my head is very nice. Physical changes no more spontaneous erections. Les oily skin that's about it.
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I just started using the injection. Straight in my ass too >__< painful. Still have the pain (I was assuming it would be in my leg or something). I got the injection what about 2:30 or so. I was laying there for 15 minutes so they can monitor to assure I didnt have some sort of reaction or allergy. But within 5 minutes my body went cold, I went numb and there was a sense of shear happy and joy. I cant explain it...
I AM also going to be on testosterone blockers too. Actually its an antipsychotic with one major side effect... if I was NOT aiming for that effect... Testosterone levels come down.
It was an older lady who helped me out there (she was PRETTY rude), she handed them to me and said "You may want to talk to your doctor about something to increase your testosterone levels while on this. But I provided an information sheet that will tell you about foods and suppluments to increase your testosterone on this."
She said to me... while... I am sitting before her... wearing a dress -__-
I told her that my doctor prescribed it because I am going through HRT. She said "Oh... well... here is the sheet. This will help you increase your testosterone levels. I think you should see a therapist or something"
No thanks... I already have. Haha. Honestly through her rudeness, I found it funny though. It's NOT an uncommon thing for a doctor to prescribe something like this for a trans patient. Because some of the ones that are DESIGNATED to block testosterone, are pretty dangerous O.o