After 4 months on HRT I'm definitely feeling weaker in my arms, where I never had much strength in the first place. Off and on I even feel like it's an effort to just lift them up! Is this something others have experienced? It was noticeable for a while a few weeks ago, then I seemed to build up some strength again, now it's back. After some electro this afternoon I went home and just crashed, too, I was exhausted. Feel great now. I'm hydrating like crazy, am on a really healthy diet, don't indulge in vices much any more except the odd cookie or ice cream bar. I've read how an E deficiency can cause weakness too, but I've been on the same dosage for a month now and nothing adverse is going on.
For a few days my nipples have been persistently sore, too - that happened to me a few times before but it seems to be here for good. Could the fatigue happen in conjunction with that? I get to move around a lot at my job too, and get in that requisite exercise everyone should have, too.
I know that after 2 years of hrt, no way I could not hike with 50 pounds on my back anymore, maybe 20 pounds, and even then, huffing and puffing with constant rests in between. Definitely not using your muscles will atrophy them. I know I lost a boatload of muscle from my upper and lower body, but gained the weight in fat.
Watch your diet.
Strength loss is a personal choice from not using the muscles and it happens faster when testosterone is low.
However, you can maintain your strength levels simply by using them, even with HRT.
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Quote from: Deborah on November 14, 2017, 07:53:01 AM
Strength loss is a personal choice from not using the muscles and it happens faster when testosterone is low.
However, you can maintain your strength levels simply by using them, even with HRT.
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This is SO spot on. It does take effort, but theres no need to fall "victim" to hormonal muscle loss. A used muscle doesn't atrophy.
I have a pretty active job and on top of that I jog and walk in the park almost every day. I've been on HRT for almost 4 months now and so far I don't think I've lost any muscle strength, but I feel like I've definitely lost energy, and I'm guessing it's the spiro. I just can't move as fast anymore and at times I feel drained.
With lower T, a person's red blood cell count drops. This lowers aerobic capacity and may account for a feeling of less energy.
I'm working to see if I can get mine back up through focused exercise. I think it's working but won't know for sure until my next blood test in four months.
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Quote from: Deborah on November 14, 2017, 04:22:22 PMWith lower T, a person's red blood cell count drops. This lowers aerobic capacity and may account for a feeling of less energy.
I just added some T. Did the job! :)
I've been on HRT for about the same amount of time. I had already lost a lot of strength due to an injury earlier in the year so decided to take up yoga. Most of my strength is back now (even from the pre-accident days) so I have definitely avoided any loss in strength and without gaining visible muscle
One thing I have noticed is that where I was a competitive cyclist before, I no longer have the drive to perform at my optimum. Having read about MTF pro-level cyclists, this does seem to be a common side effect from the lack of T