After going to 2 therapists and them both agreeing I am transsexual, I was able to make a doctor appointment. I went to that appointment today, got a prescription, and got a month's supply of hormones/anti-androgens. I'm waiting until tomorrow to start taking them since they recommend taking them in the morning.
One thing my doctor recommended with taking hormones is to take baby aspirin daily. This counteracts the thickening (and possible clotting) of the blood that results from estrogen. Well, I have a followup appointment in a few weeks to see how it's working out for me.
Melissa
Thats great Melissa, Yep asprin is the key, I take aspro clear. I would think they have started you off on a low dose as there can be some side effects (hot flashes / depression) when taking antiandrogens and estrogen. Not always and it depends on the person but it happened to me.
I am really excited for you and I hope everything turns out the way you want it to, in mind body and spirit.
Sara.
Hang on to your scarf Melissa... now is when it gets interesting. (=
I do not mean to be nosy but how is Shari doing and taking this?
That's great news Melissa,
My doctor also has me on low dose asprin. It's a fairly common practice to help alleviate the possibility of clots, but it doesn't remove the danger. Just make sure you heed the warning signs of clots hun.
Congrats again.
Steph
Melissa:
Congratulations on achieving another milestone! I'm very happy for you. I will be interested in reading about the progress and changes you experience over the next year.
Molly
Congratulations Melissa! And give Shari a big hug from all of us for being such a great partner.
Dennis
Melissa,
This is wonderful news. Remembering or SO"s chat the first of the month, I'm sure you both are taking a sigh of relief for the next is now step underway and meeting the needs you journey requires and the #1 priority.
Haven't heard back how your son's doing and Sharie's Classes are going but I understand that there can bee a lot of pulls in all directions for her and you with all you have on your plates with the children as well. How's the job search going? I look forword to hearing back from you both. I think of you all often.
Smiles,
Peggiann
Congratulations Mellisa.
Sarah L.
Thank you all. I took my first dose this morning.
Sara, I was started out on a low dosage. I think at my followup appointment, my doctor might bump that up. The doctor I am seeing has treated 335 transsexuals and is one herself.
Kimberly, Shari has been very supportive and has no problems with me taking hormones. I know it is a big issue for some people and it sort of was in the beginning, but even SRS isn't an issue anymore.
Steph, I will.
Molly, I'm interested in actually experiencing the changes and progress. :D
Dennis, thanks, I will.
Peggiann, Shari has been very busy with school and all and I'm not sure she'll be able to make it to the chat. I'll have to fill you in on the other details when I have some more time. Right now I'm not searching for a new job because things are starting to look more promising where I am now.
Sarah Louise, thanks.
Congratulations, Melissa,
and good luck!
x
Alex
Congratulations Melissa. I know you are excited. I take Enteric Aspirin. Its a low dose aspirin (81 mg per. tablet) They are buffered and cheaper than children's aspirin. You might ask your doc as to the right dosage for you.
Cassie
Thanks Alex and Cassie. My wife was already taking baby aspirin, so we had some. She had seen something on TV about it being healthy, so I just am taking what was recommended there. I swear I am feeling a little bit weird this morning and it's mostly in my head (not mind) I feel it, like I'm just a tiny bit dizzy. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I don't think so.
Melissa
As you just started taking your hormones it probably has nothing to do with it but be sure to tell your doctor about it especially if it persists and/or gets worse. Could be signs of a bad, maybe allergic reaction. I wouldn't worry for now though could be nothing more than a little early morning low blood sugar. Still, better safe than sorry.
Cassie
Well, it's mostly gone away now. I'll update you if anything else changes.
Melissa
Doh! I just remembered that the side of the Spiro bottle says "May cause dizziness". Silly me. :)
Melissa
Have fun and be safe melissa.
Love Sheila
Dont be alarmed Melissa if the Spiro gives you tingly pins and needles, it can do this too as your body adjusts. The light headedness you feel is also common and as your T gets lower you will feel a little hot but after a while you will feel very calm and your Doctor has probably filled you in with the details and as I said it is an individual thing. One thing I found out after being on hormones for five years, dont ever stop cold turkey even if you think it may be the tablets causing some kind of problem cause that can have a bad effect on your state of mind (T caused me so much depression) I hope you will have a safe and happy journey.
Sara.
Hi Melissa,
Spiro is a diuretic that can cause minor dehydration which will cause dizzyness. My doctor directed me to make sure to drink plenty of water. Ask your doctor if that would be true in your case. I'm glad to hear the news.
beth
Thanks Sheila.
Thanks Sara. I'll be sure to look for feeling tingly or lightheaded or hot. I knew about the calm feeling and look forward to that. As for stopping cold turkey, I definitely don't intend to do that, nor to stop at all. This is something I have thought through meticulously and have also done a lot of reading on the subject. I had the "Wow, I'm doing something to myself permantly that will be with me forever" thought and although a little scary at first, it makes me happy. It's kind of like moving to a new house. You don't know what lays ahead of you for certain, but you know you need to move on.
Thanks Beth. The doctor did tell me about it being a diuretic, but I didn't know that the dehydration would be the cause of it. Maybe it's a stronger diuretic than caffeine though. Anyhow, I'll just drink lots of water anyway.
Melissa
I'm looking for the green with envy icon and all I found was this! :icon_mrgreen:
Congrats on your milestone, Melissa. I'm hoping I won't be far behind.
Take care of yourself,
helen
Thanks Helen. Been there, done that with the envy thing.
Melissa
Congrats Melissa!!
I started last month!! I've made it a point not to stand in front of the mirror, because you know, a watched pot never boils. :)
I've heard about people taking low dose asprin, but my doc didn't say anything about it. I think I'll call her. I just had some blood work done and the lady ask me if I was on any thinners because I bled so good. ??? Hopefuly when my results come back my meds will be increased.
anyway congrats and enjoy!!
Amber
Just to bring what should already be known to the top of the table...
One of the worries of HRT is becoming a bleeder, as in your clotting ability is reduced or eliminated.
I've wondered just a bit if my clotting was up to snuff on more than one occasion, so I've been a bit worried of this.
Regardless, I had my initial blood test before getting anywhere close to HRT, so when my Dr. prescribed what he did (no aspirin in sight) I feel he knows what he is doing. (Actually I had to have two initial blood tests because the first was ordered by a local endoc and lets just say it did not have the important tests in it, but never mind that.)
Anyway, if your Dr. knows what they are doing and they did/didn't prescribe the daily aspirin dose then odds are strong that there is a reason for it.
If you Dr. is who I think it is I am suprised that a prior blood test was not taken for baseline purposes.
Yes, my doctor is who you think it is and a bloodtest was taken at my appointment.
Melissa
Quote from: Kimberly on February 03, 2006, 09:56:34 AM
Anyway, if your Dr. knows what they are doing and they did/didn't prescribe the daily aspirin dose then odds are strong that there is a reason for it.
Yes my Doc/Endoc knows exactly what she's doing. As far as the aspirin issue, if I have a question about by health, the I WILL rightfully ask it regardless of the reputation of who holds my medical records.
Amber
Exactly right (=
Hey Melissa,
I'm really excited for you! I know that you've been waiting for a long time for this, and now your day has come. :)
Hopefully within the next month after I have the ultrasound done on my kidney, I'll be talking with my doctor about starting me on hormones and I'll just be a month behind.
Gina
Congrats!
Another aspirin user here too. I picked up the small bottle of Bayer somewhere in my travels and I try to pop one in each evening.
What is odd is right before I was told to take them an old man sitting in the passenger seat of a van, at the vet office, got my attention and told me that he had just had some issues and the docs mentioned that if he had taken a daily dose of aspirin that he may never have gone through it. He decided to let as many know as possible after that.
Congrats Melissa.
I can't wait to join you in HRT club.
Thanks Gina, LIT, and Lillith.
Well, I've now been on hormones for a week and today is day #8. As expected, I have not noticed any major changes, but I am recording anything I *think* might be a change so I can look back later and see if I was right or not. I have had no problems yet with forgetting my medication. I take them first thing when I wake up every morning and just in case I do forget one morning, I store them in my purse, which I always bring with me.
The biggest change I have noticed, is I am able to actually function better at work and I think this is mainly due to knowing that I am at least on the right track, rather than the actual effects themselves. Also, I noticed right from the beginning that I seem to have more energy during the day. This is quite different than I have felt for years before beginning HRT, as I have always felt very tired.
There was one day during the week (Monday, I think) where I was feeling so good I couldn't stop smiling. I hope that comes back. It felt really good.
I have been trying to drink plenty of water as well, so I haven't felt dizzy at all since that one time when I first started.
Well, I have a doctor's appointment in a little less than 2 weeks, so I'll see what additional changes (if any) occur by then. I am really curious what my T level was before starting. I'll need to remember to ask my doctor about that.
Melissa
So glad to hear things are going so smoothly.
It was that way for Leah too. Only good changes she says and I have to agree.
Have a great evening and tell Sharie Hi.
Smiles,
Peggiann
Hello Melissa,
I noticed in another topic you mentioned that you were taking your estrogen sublingually. You didn't mention if the estrogen was designed to be taken that way. If it wasn't (there is this type of estrogen out there) then read the following:
QuoteAlmost any form of substance is appropriate for sublingual administration, so long as in that form the substance can readily enter into solution with the saliva in the mouth. Chemicals prepared as powders, solutions, or even aerosol sprays may all make use of this method. However, a number of factors, such as pH, molecular weight, and lipid solubility (to name just a few) of a substance may determine whether the route is practical or not. Based on these properties, it is entirely possible that a drug, which will readily become a solution with saliva, simply diffuses too slowly (or not at all) in the buccal mucosa to be effective.
and check with your doctor for that type :)
Just my 2 cents
Steph
Hi Stephanie, that's how my doctor told me to take it. It even says on the side of the bottle. So, I pretty sure I'm doing it correctly. Anyhow, I'm already noticing some physical changes such as pigmentation changes, so I know it's working.
Melissa
That's great Melissa. I hope all continues to go well for you.
Steph
Thanks Stephanie. It's made a big difference so far.
Melissa
Posted at: February 14, 2006, 09:51:15 AM
My newest hormonal change is that I now have tingley nipples. I've pretty much had it all day and they are still that way. Before hormones, my nipples had pretty much no sensation whatsoever. I'm really happy with the changes so far.
Melissa