So I'm 1 month into an HRT trial. My GP has me on E patches (lowest Evorel brand), and I was already on a typical Finasteride dose for hair loss. My experience has been positive so far. At 7-10 days I noticed the discomfort from my GD had greatly reduced. After 2-3 weeks I felt more emotionally even, this was subtle but noticeable. I have not seen any physical changes yet, which is good, as I wanted to do this to see how it affected my head not my body. The patches themselves are great, I shower, swim, run and they hold on well. My plan was for a 2-3 month trial, and at this time, I plan to stop after 2 months as I feel my questions have already been answered. I'll update this thread in another month with any updates or other observations.
EDIT: Additional points, I have had some light headaches (which I never get). And also some light stomach upset on some mornings.
I found it very difficult to stop. I tried it a few times before giving up.
Yes, I've seen others say the same, and I'm a little concerned, but if I find it bad, that's another validation for me. I have some surgeries planned for this autumn, so I'd need to stop anyway. If after this I make the call to go full time, it will be next year, due to family situation and my hair being good enough (hopefully).
Thanks for posting. I really look forward to hearing about your progress. This also interests me. I started Finasteride a few weeks ago, but the timing for anything else is not yet right for me.
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You sound pretty close to my start, but we raised my E twice in 4 months. I also just 2 weeks ago started low dose Spiro. I have been feeling pretty good (maybe slightly tired with the spiro addition), but I have started having major action in my left breast. That wasn't really my intent. The balance of enough to feel right, without pushing development too fast is a hard one to achieve. Much like AnonyMs said, I have been thinking about cutting my E back to the beginning dose (after talking with my Dr of course), but not surprisingly I am not really excited to do that, despite my sudden growth spurt. ???
Quick update - week 5. Previous mental changes still persisting. Had a round of bloods done at 1 month. E increased from 124 pmol/l to 149, pushing me just over the top of the normal male range. T also increased from 16.4 nmol/l to 18.9, still in normal male range, but I'm not taking any T blockers. Some possible mild softening of skin on face, feels slightly 'waxy'. Still plan to stop at 2 months and see if mental changes revert. Headaches and stomach upsets have cleared.
I hope it works out for you. I started low dose E last week, but I have been on low dose spiro for almost a year. Not really sure yet how to read things with my body. There definitely seems to be something going on.
Paige :)
Stopping is definitely difficult. Each time I did low dose over the decades for that "Brain Reset" I stayed on it longer and longer after it was achieved. Only the Prime Directive of being a "Normal" guy got me to stop. Nothing says not normal better then taking a hit below the belt.
This last time when I went on low dose, "Normal" wasn't a factor. Low eventually morphed into higher and then into typical feminizing. There were a few, no lots, of WTF am I doing ??? meltdowns in the months to years following. Still I knew should not, cannot, stop. The benefits were just too great.
HRT is like Pringles. Once you pop, you can't stop! :laugh:
Good luck with it all and I hope you get your answers.
Luna's words are so true! I also started with a long term (5 years) plan to be on low dosage and right now after a year and a half am on full spiro and Estradiol dosage!
Maybe part of it is that since I am older, my body changes are slower!
Good Luck
Emily
Mmm I do love Pringles, but I've got just just over 2 more weeks then I'm stopping, hope it's not bad jumping off the moving bus!
Quick update - This morning I stuck on my last patch, it will run me for the next 4 days, then I'll be at the end of my 2 month trial. The emotional 'steadiness', and significant reduction in my dysphoria have been real positives in my experiment, the odd minor headache, and some mild early stomach upsets were not big problems. I'll plan to post further updates here on any changes or regressions I observe after I finish.
I'm wishing you the best with this. It would be interesting, and educational, if you posted periodic updates on what changes and what does not change as you hormones go back to what they were.
In my experience, you should see signs of your hormones coming back within a few weeks.
I was on low dose for a number of years and it got harder and harder to stop. Weird things would happen when I did stop which I figured was my brain's way of complaining.
You only have to look at my avatar picture to see what eventually happened with the low dose - it became a full transitioning dose and as an acquaintance once said "I took a high speed bobsled ride" into transition.
I do hope that you continue to find relief with the low dose and that once you stop no weirdness like I experienced happens.
Quick update - TMI WARNING! Last night I had a very small leaking (2 small drops) of clear fluid from one nipple, something I also had briefly during puberty. I have a another blood test for tomorrow, after that, I'll finish my trial, as physical changes are not something I want at this time. I'll post the results of the bloods when I get them.
When I started with Estrofem. I sometimes experienced headaches and morning sickness. Hugs Shannon
Hi ;
Like Eva Marie I was on a low dose of Oestrogen only for about 3 years, but over time my dysphoria bouts (moodiness, depression, irritability, fatigue, hard skin, pimples, etc kept on recurring more quickly and more often). My doctor basically explained that as my body had got used to the Oestrogen dominance, because I still had Testicles my T levels would still interfere and cause breakouts. The last dysphoric breakout last November was one of the worst I had had. In the end I just didn't want to do anything, except mooch around in pyjamas/a nightie or lie in bed I felt so dreadful. I fought it for a few weeks thinking it would go away, then made an appointment to see my Doctor. Basically the diagnosis (which I knew was coming) was that I needed to increase my dosage. (I have always been on an Oestrogen only regime) The problem then was that I was already on the cusp of a transitioning dose rather than a maintenance low dose. My doctor gave me a prescription for double the dose I was taking. and told me to take it for 2 weeks and then come back and tell her how I felt. Well I hesitated but as I was feeling pretty dreadful on just my low dose I did it. Well after just 36 hours everything lifted again. I became my bubbly self again. All the fog lifted. Yes I was back to my female emotions, but of course after just 4 days, my breasts started to tingle again and I had another growth spurt. I know I am now on a transitioning dosage, but I cannot live in a T fuelled dominant space. I went back to my doctor and told her how I felt and she said well I know this would be the case, and you are looking great again , with that feminine serenity and glow about you. She then told me that basically I now had to accept that my body was telling me that it needed a Oestrogen dominance. Luckily my latest blood tests show my T levels now down to just 0.5. Hopefully I will not have to boost my Oestrogen again.
Judith Lynn
I would just like to echo everything that has been said here. I was on low dose for 5 months, for dysphoria. I was very happy with that as apart from the nipples, physical changes were easy to cover and the dysphoria mostly disappeared. This didn't last!...and now I am on a full transition dose, and any thoughts of stopping scare the heck out of me.
Girls it's very hard to stop once we start. I've started and stopped only once. My body and mind wants/needs HRT. I want the changes. Hugs Shannon.
I took my final patch off this morning. I'm trying to keep my mind open and see how the next few weeks go.
Quote from: meganjames2 on July 29, 2016, 07:45:18 AM
I took my final patch off this morning. I'm trying to keep my mind open and see how the next few weeks go.
I've just been on this stuff a little while, but I can't see stopping. (Yeah. Sanity is addictive. :) ) I hope this goes well for you. I understand why, completely, but I'm not brave enough to try something like this on myself.
Let us know how this goes for you. This whole HRT thing is such an interesting experience.
- Michelle
My body simply responded to the estrogen like oxygen
Update - As per last message, my final patch came off on Friday morning after my next set of bloods were taken. A few possible effects so far, slight increase in GD in the last few days, nothing bad, but not feeling so emotionally level. Also a big libido spike on the Sunday after (1-2 days post), which has thankfully gone away now, felt like a teenager again lol.
Results at end of month two were T 15.3 nmol/l and E 115pmol/L, both within normal male range.
All through my trial I tried to keep any expectations of effects of starting and stopping out of my thoughts, and using patches, I generally forgot about them most of the time.
The physical effects that HRT can have are undeniable, but I wanted to understand for myself any mental effects it might have for me. Despite the low dose, I do feel it had a small but positive impact on my mental wellbeing, which seems to be receding now I have stopped.
Another piece in the puzzle!
MeganJames. Thanks for the update. Keep us posted. Hugs Shannon
So this will be my final update on this thread. Following on from my last post, the perceived benefits of the HRT have completely gone, giving way for a return of dysphoria and the depression I had previously. I found myself once again planning my own end and actively talking to overseas agencies who can provide such services.
The purpose of my trial was a final piece of understanding on what HRT (and a defacto transition) could do for me. I have therefore decided that I will push ahead with a transition. It has taken me almost 2 years from initially coming out to a therapist to reaching this point, but I feel it has been an important and valuable journey for me, that wasn't worth rushing. I am a person who likes to deal with certainties, and while this decision is still a leap into the unknown, it is as informed as I can make it.
greeeting megan and thanks for sharing!