Is it normal for your endo to give you a prescription for hrt before your blood work is in, mine gave me a prescription on my first visit. He put me on t blockers progesterone and estrogen.
To each their own, I guess. Unusual but can happen...
It's weird, to say the least, mine made me go through 4 different blood tests for 4 months to be sure I could take HRT
should i put off taking them then until i hear back? Just to be safe?
Quote from: Tiffanyofhyrule on April 24, 2017, 04:48:40 PM
should i put off taking them then until i hear back? Just to be safe?
If you don't trust your endo look for another
Often people are started on a lower dosage which is relatively safe if there aren't any indications of other health conditions. When the endo starts ramping up the dosage, the blood test results will become more critical. I received my first prescription before the test results where in however when I restarted HRT I was a good deal older and I had to wait for the test results.
The other argument is a weeks worth of HRT while you wait for the test results isn't likely to cause much if any additional harm. If the doctor says to stop, then you should. For now, I think there is little danger.
Thank you all for taking the time to read and post, your responses have made me feel better about his decision. He probably thought it would be fine because of my age I just recently turned 30.
my doctor did the same thing. Estradiol progesterone Suprafact
Its good to get the test before starting HRT so you have a baseline. If there's anything wrong with your blood test results you'll know it wasn't caused by the HRT.
I'd guess the chance of anything turning up that would stop you taking HRT would be low. Seems like it would be slightly safer to wait though.
Mine did the same - got androcour, patches and gel at the first visit...
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Although I had transitioned one before (some 30 years previously) living full time for over 2 years when I went to see my Doctor again (whilst I had my previous letters indicating I was a transsexual), my doctor wisely insisted on the blood tests first.
This indicated my T was well under normal male levels. Since then having been on HRT for over 4 years now and although I was started on a very lower dosage which was relatively safe as there were not any indications of other health conditions. However over the four years my GP has ramped up the dosage,so the quarterly blood test results are more critical. Mind you they also allowed me to watch the progress to where I am today of T under 0.95 and Oestrogen in the band of 240 to 260. Effectively hormonally female
Judith
Mine took my blood work at the visit and sent me out the door with prescriptions for estradiol and spiro and a refill on Finasteride after taking blood work, but they definitely wouldn't have had time to run the tests and go over them first. I'm also 26, active, basically no family history to indicate concern, 150lbs at 5'9", all in all, very low risk. I would imagine that had something to do with it them starting me off at a standard dose.
I got 7 prescriptions! The 3 you always hear about, estrogen progesterone and spiro. Then theres finasteride, ic vit d2, and levothyroxine. Is all this really nessesary?
Quote from: Tiffanyofhyrule on April 25, 2017, 09:20:07 AM
I got 7 prescriptions! The 3 you always hear about, estrogen progesterone and spiro. Then theres finasteride, ic vit d2, and levothyroxine. Is all this really nessesary?
Levothyroxine is not hrt. Do you have some other medical problem?
My endo gives me vitamin D3 injections because I tend to get deficiencies due to lack of sun. When I was using tablets he told me to make sure I got D3, not D2. I can't recall why.
Quote from: Tiffanyofhyrule on April 25, 2017, 09:20:07 AM
I got 7 prescriptions! The 3 you always hear about, estrogen progesterone and spiro. Then theres finasteride, ic vit d2, and levothyroxine. Is all this really necessary?
I take about 10 meds but only 2 are HRT Spiro and estradiol. The rest are either vitamin supplements or heart related meds. I take D3 for a vitamin D deficiency due to lakt of sun. It is common up here in the PNW. D3 is more efficient and lasts longer than D2 due to it's binding properties (I think) but D2 can be gotten in a lot higher does than D3 and that could be why it was prescribed. These days I thing D3 is more common.
Levothyroxine is used to treat low thyroid activity and to treat or suppress different types of goiters.
I have no idea what "ic" or "vit" stand for.
Hugs,
Jeanette
Quote from: Tiffanyofhyrule on April 25, 2017, 09:20:07 AM
I got 7 prescriptions! The 3 you always hear about, estrogen progesterone and spiro. Then theres finasteride, ic vit d2, and levothyroxine. Is all this really nessesary?
maybe you're low on something, sometimes they mix spiro with finasteride, so that's not weird.
For example, here in mexico pure estrogen is very rare to come by, so my endo sent me this prescription:
Finasteride
Ethynilestradiol
Drospirenone
no spiro because I'm so thin He worries about my blood pressure going to the floor.
I know, It's not standard but that's how stuff is done here :/ (also, my endo is super weird but He has a very good reputation with the transgender community in my city, no reason to doubt him)
The biggest issue an endocrinologist is looking for negative effects associated with changes to the levels of potassium caused by spirolactalone. Although I haven't seen an endo prescribe before blood results, if you're healthy and have no other issues then perhaps they are going to verify based on the changes you will go through.
I don't have any health problems that I know of other than severe anxiety. When my endo came in to talk to me he asked if I had ever taken hormones before because I look very feminine already, when I told him that I never did he wanted to test me for klinefelters.
Quote from: Alanna1990 on April 25, 2017, 04:21:54 PM
maybe you're low on something, sometimes they mix spiro with finasteride, so that's not weird.
For example, here in mexico pure estrogen is very rare to come by, so my endo sent me this prescription:
Finasteride
Ethynilestradiol
Drospirenone
no spiro because I'm so thin He worries about my blood pressure going to the floor.
I know, It's not standard but that's how stuff is done here :/ (also, my endo is super weird but He has a very good reputation with the transgender community in my city, no reason to doubt him)
I find it a bit surprising that estrogens have that problem. In the US, Estrace is the brand name but the generic would be about $40 for a 6 month supply of estradiol. It would be interesting to know why this is because often people from the US go to Mexico to fill prescriptions as the costs are lower on the other side of the border.
wow $40 dollars for 6 months is cheap up here in Canada I pay $54.56 for 1 month
Quote from: natalie.ashlyne on April 25, 2017, 06:08:12 PM
wow $40 dollars for 6 months is cheap up here in Canada I pay $54.56 for 1 month
That's outrageously priced. In the US, generic estradiol is on the Walmart (as well as other pharmacies that have a similar program) $4/$10 list for the 2mg pill . Spiro is kinda funny, though. Four 25mg pills are cheaper than one 100mg pill.
All the best,
--AshleyP
Quote from: natalie.ashlyne on April 25, 2017, 06:08:12 PM
wow $40 dollars for 6 months is cheap up here in Canada I pay $54.56 for 1 month
That's our price from Walmart, cash without insurance. Prices at other drug stores are higher. As I am on a half transition dosage and I don't require blockers, $20 american will take care of me for 6 months. It's not worth using my insurance.
Quote from: Dena on April 25, 2017, 06:03:00 PM
I find it a bit surprising that estrogens have that problem. In the US, Estrace is the brand name but the generic would be about $40 for a 6 month supply of estradiol. It would be interesting to know why this is because often people from the US go to Mexico to fill prescriptions as the costs are lower on the other side of the border.
Estradiol was extremely easy to find up until 3 months ago, when the local pharmaceuticals just retired it, now you can't find it anywhere, you could maybe get some on request on very expensive specialized drug stores, but it would be something like $50 for only 15 days since there's no generic brand anymore (the generic brand was only $5), and of course, the pills I take are more expensive, I would spend $80 for a 6 month supply, and let me tell you. Here in Mexico everything is super cheap, so $80 is actually a hard hit to the wallet, I could actually pay almost 4 months of phone and internet service with that.
Since you win money in dollars it's normal for you people to come here and buy pills, it will be exponentially cheaper for you, but for us who win money in pesos it's a pain.
Quote from: Dena on April 25, 2017, 06:23:07 PM
That's our price from Walmart, cash without insurance. Prices at other drug stores are higher. As I am on a half transition dosage and I don't require blockers, $20 american will take care of me for 6 months. It's not worth using my insurance.
$54.56 is from walmart in canada for on month suppy in total I pay out of pocket $248.78 per month for Lupin-estradiol Teva-progesterone and Suprefact
Quote from: Alanna1990 on April 25, 2017, 04:21:54 PM
maybe you're low on something, sometimes they mix spiro with finasteride, so that's not weird.
For example, here in mexico pure estrogen is very rare to come by, so my endo sent me this prescription:
Finasteride
Ethynilestradiol
Drospirenone
In Mexico, I believe estradiol valerate is available, as well as estradiol benzoate, estradiol enanthate (they all break down to pure estrogen or estradiol) and even 17-beta estradiol in pills. I see no reason to prescribe ethinyl estradiol instead of the much safer and equally effective bio-identical estradiol. I would encourage you to seek a second and third opinion. Talk to other transsexual women in your area as I've come across several women from your country taking bio-identical estradiol/estradiol valerate. Something doesn't make sense to me.
Quoteno spiro because I'm so thin He worries about my blood pressure going to the floor.
Drospirenone, the progestogen you take, is a derivative of spirolactone and more potent than spironolactone. It is also a diuretic and can reduce blood pressure but probably to a lesser extent than spironolactone as doses of drospirenone are quite low in birth control pills.
Quoteno reason to doubt him
Do your own research, ask around, talk to other doctors/experts and draw your own conclusions. A little skepticism is always healthy. I think. I'm not a doctor myself but have researched this matter quite extensively over the years.
Quote from: Alanna1990 on April 25, 2017, 04:21:54 PM
no reason to doubt him
I always start from the opposite position. There's no reason to trust doctors, or anyone else for that matter. It needs to be earned, and that's not easy.
A good reason to be wary in this case is prescribing ethinyl estradiol.
Quote from: AnonyMs on April 25, 2017, 11:56:12 PM
A good reason to be wary in this case is prescribing ethinyl estradiol.
I'll even say it more plainly. Reputable doctors in the US don't prescribe ethinyl estradiol for transgender HT any longer. I think it's been proven unsafe. Just my opinion. I'm not a doctor.
All the best,
--AshleyP
Quote from: KayXo on April 25, 2017, 11:15:20 PM
In Mexico, I believe estradiol valerate is available, as well as estradiol benzoate, estradiol enanthate (they all break down to pure estrogen or estradiol) and even 17-beta estradiol in pills. I see no reason to prescribe ethinyl estradiol instead of the much safer and equally effective bio-identical estradiol. I would encourage you to seek a second and third opinion. Talk to other transsexual women in your area as I've come across several women from your country taking bio-identical estradiol/estradiol valerate. Something doesn't make sense to me.
Drospirenone, the progestogen you take, is a derivative of spirolactone and more potent than spironolactone. It is also a diuretic and can reduce blood pressure but probably to a lesser extent than spironolactone as doses of drospirenone are quite low in birth control pills.
Do your own research, ask around, talk to other doctors/experts and draw your own conclusions. A little skepticism is always healthy. I think. I'm not a doctor myself but have researched this matter quite extensively over the years.
Estradiol Valerate was the only available drug at the required doses for transition, and it's not available anymore, not with a brand or generic, that's the one that was retired, the other forms you mention are only on birth control pills, and not anywhere near the doses needed for transition, I basically live in a smaaaaaaall city forgotten by god and my doctor is the only one who is willing to follow through this kind of request.
He's done transitions before, He's basically the only one that will treat me, estradiol valerate is not available anymore (at least where I live) and I called and / or went to every single drug store in the city, other Estradiol forms are not an option, what I'm trying to say is, while I know you have other options that I would obviously like to have, the reality of this issue is that I don't :-\ , this is what I have to work with, since I have low resources (I haven't been able to get a job since I began transitioning), It's not that I will be naive and trust him, I don't have an option in the matter, and being in my situation I might as well just trust him anyways.
In any case, I'm noticing the changes everybody else has at their proper times and feel more or less healthy (the flu just won't go away) :)
Can't you order hormones online with your doctor's prescription and get a safer form of estrogen?
Quote from: KayXo on April 29, 2017, 10:22:34 AM
Can't you order hormones online with your doctor's prescription and get a safer form of estrogen?
that'd would be so easy and convenient right? Well, you can't buy pills online here, almost all local drug stores don't even let you go online and see their catalog, you have to call and ask for what you need, some delivery services don't let you send pills, that's one of those restricted items, if you buy online from another country they will get stuck in customs and never come out, it's just the stuff that happens here, there are some drug stores that technically sell online, but most have their websites butchered, you try searching for something, it will never appear, if you find anything it's going to cost a lot, it's seriously not worth it.
FWIW, I certainly felt more comfortable with my Dr having my blood work in front of us during the first appointment. It verified that there wasn't anything unexpected to be concerned about and that it provided a proper baseline for future adjustments.