I was just posting this out of concern. Many transsexuals from both sides look at hormones as miracle pills and injections. The fact is that it just is not so.
While they can change your appearance, they also put your liver in overdrive. They can be responsibly for the development of breast, prostate, and many other types of cancer. Also hormone therapy puts an incredible strain on your heart.
I'm just posting this out of care, all of you please be careful. Don't rush into something. Don't ever, EVER self-medicate.
Extra:
Herbal hormones are not even comparable to actual medication in how effective they are or well, ineffective. Herbal hormones do carry the same amount of risk, and to be effective at all requires taking toxic amounts. It's been reported many places transsexuals who have attempte this path to end up in hospitals or worse.
Always ensure that if you DO get on hormones, that the endocrynologist you're seeing knows what he is doing and treats you fairly. I can't stress how important it is to check for signs of anything during HRT. Paranoia? YES! And for a good reason too! Every two weeks AT LEAST!
Proper diet while on hormones is essential. Why's this?
Your body is already under tremendous amounts of strain. You shuold do your best to keep in top health. A proper diet and even just 15 minutes of cardio could be the tip you need between being able to stay on hormones, or being ordered off due to a medical complication you've developed. Avoid artificial sweeteners. If you can't have sugar, don't put more strain on your liver and kidneys and heart, and even EYES, by using products such as Splenda(sucralose), Aspertame, Sweet'n'Low, or ANY artificial sweetener, I assure you they are all very detrimental to your health.
Avoid sodas, due to the acids, avoid all preservatives. Stick to a NATURAL menu which is REGULAR and ensure your body gets a proper amount of carbohydrates. Starving yourself might make you think you can get rid of muscle and fat faster, but it will also take the very essence of life out of your body. One bowl of pasta daily, atleast. Also fidn an activity to focus on daily that pumps your heart. Running, biking, tai chi, anything cardio. Don't give me that bogus of, "I'm going to bulk up, oh no!" thing. Even if you hit the gym and start pumping weights like the rest of the men, on hormones and with testosterone inhibitors, YOU WON'T BULK UP.
ALWAYS keep up the proper amount of water and salt levels.
And lastly:
Don't do any drugs. From personal experience, I noticed a surprising chemical complication when doing excessive valium and premarin together, it was as if the premarin enhanced it the euphoria. It could well have enhanced the toxic effects, and just to be safe KEEP AS FEW CHEMICALS GOING INTO YOU AS POSSIBLE. Don't smoke. Don't drink alcohol. Treat yourself like you're carrying the baby of a God, because that's what you're doing. You're nurturing your true self to come forth and exfoliating your old self out.
Do it right.
Do it safe.
Never on your own,
Always see see a professional.
Very sound advice.
Steph
:)
Melissa
Great advice and post. :)
beth
Good post Annwyn,
Never hurts to take a step back and look at the effects we can have on our bodies.
Our lifestyles and what we eat have a big effect on our health.
Rebecca
Furthermore, I'd like to add that eating the highest variety of vegatables as possible is probably the best thing you could do. I eat a bag a day of those frozen assorted veggies. It gives you all the microorgasnisms you need. I promise that does more for your skin than all the lotions and powders in the world ever will.
And other than that, I have to leave you to the college-grads, as they know more than me probably after this point!
AND!!!
(hehehe, I just can't shutup now can I?^_^)
COUNSELING!
PEERS!
Develop a close group of peers to lean on, NOT a lover.
And, find a therapist you like, even if you hvae to go through 20 of them and drive 50 miles.
Nice... Very sound advice... specialy on the good support group. If it were not for my friends I wouldnt be here to post this *Hugs* Yeah... and drinking while on hrt.... your not one of the guys anymore... dont even try to keep up with them.... you'll regret it for a week atleast.... and much much longer if you actualy do something embarasing........
Quote from: LynnER on August 29, 2006, 12:52:31 PM
Nice... Very sound advice... specialy on the good support group. If it were not for my friends I wouldnt be here to post this *Hugs* Yeah... and drinking while on hrt.... your not one of the guys anymore... dont even try to keep up with them.... you'll regret it for a week atleast.... and much much longer if you actualy do something embarasing........
Lol.
I got drunk for my first time while living full time girl and on HRT.
WOAH.
Somehow I ended up doing things involving my mouth and 7 guys, who then discovered I was a guy and I literally scrammed for my LIFE.
Funny thing though...
I didn't get a hangover.
I've gotten pretty tipsy a bunch of times since then(I hate being drunk) and havn't had any hangovers... LUCKY!!!
BUT YEAH!!!
DRINKING IS BAD!
TOO MUCH STRAIN ON YOUR HEART AND CNC AND LIVER AND KIDNEYS(piss the next morning) AND YOUR BRAIN IS ALREADY UNDER PERMANENT PMS CUZ OF THE HORMONES SO DON'T SEND IT ANOTHER EXCUSE TO START GETTING B****Y!
Wow, I just LOVE it when someone tries to pass of what they HEARD or READ (without even a link to the source) something bad about herbals. I do believe that I read some bad things about herbals from the past, but I have found NOTHING .... hear that? ... NOTHING ... bad about Evanesce or Feminol. I have searched high and low on google and came up with nothing that would support either of the OP's claims that Evanesce or Feminol (since they are herbals) are:
* ineffective
* carry the same amount of risk
Please, if you DO bother to prove that Evanesce or Feminol are garbage, then not give me a link where someone else says what you are stating. Show me a link with SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that supports your claims.
Disclaimer: I am not all trying to bash the OP, I just do not think it is right to go around bashing herbals because they are not subscribed by doctors.
Hugs,,
Samantha
on: August 28, 2006, 06:27:53 AM
Ummmm, is this really THAT old?
:P
Quote from: shanetastic on March 22, 2008, 10:30:46 PM
on: August 28, 2006, 06:27:53 AM
Ummmm, is this really THAT old?
:P
Yes, I am afraid it is! :P
tink :icon_chick:
I hope poor Annwyn found some help for that hypochondria. It's gotta be tough living with that much anxiety. Take a Lexapro and calm down girl!
Quote from: samanthawhalen on March 22, 2008, 08:53:32 PM
Wow, I just LOVE it when someone tries to pass of what they HEARD or READ (without even a link to the source) something bad about herbals. I do believe that I read some bad things about herbals from the past, but I have found NOTHING .... hear that? ... NOTHING ... bad about Evanesce or Feminol. I have searched high and low on google and came up with nothing that would support either of the OP's claims that Evanesce or Feminol (since they are herbals) are:
* ineffective
* carry the same amount of risk
Please, if you DO bother to prove that Evanesce or Feminol are garbage, then not give me a link where someone else says what you are stating. Show me a link with SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that supports your claims.
Disclaimer: I am not all trying to bash the OP, I just do not think it is right to go around bashing herbals because they are not subscribed by doctors.
Hugs,,
Samantha
http://opensourcegender.blogspot.com/2008/02/dangers-of-herbal-use-for-transgender.html
Thanks for the linkie, honey! NOW we are getting somewhere (as far as I am concerned). I am going to look into black cohosh and how much if it is in Evanesce or Feminol (if any). I DO NOT WANT a stroke. My health is incredibly important to me, yet I don't want to wait months for approval to get prescription-based hormones, either. Stinks to be in this situation.
Hugs,
Samantha
Posted on: March 23, 2008, 06:50:00 PM
Okay, some things have occured to me just now. One, that article does not define "large doses". While Evanesce and Feminol were designed for genetic women it says right on the bottle that for maximum results you can take up to 6 capsules per day (broken up into 3 sections...but that shouldn't matter too much). If it were unsafe to do that, the company would not still be putting those directions on the bottle. Now, if by "large doses" the author of that article means something like 8-10 capsules per day, that's different. I've not run into one person that uses E & F that is doing differently. In fact, "Diana" over at the myevanesce forum is quick to strike at anyone that is using more than the maximum recommended dosages.
Two, that author is over-generalising when she says that you must take "handfuls" to notice any slight breast growth. Over what period of time? And how much? It certainly appears that article is nothing but an alteration of something she copied off another site. I wonder if she even knew that testosterone levels MUST be lowered before there can be any noticeable (if significant) effects of estrogen.
I do appreciate you taking the time to post that, and I will continue looking for answers beyond fabricated personal stories. I highly doubt that "36 had strokes", let alone any of them having heart attacks because of using Evanesce or Feminol (or maybe any herbal product that a MTF would want to use for HRT purposes).
Never mind.
I think this is a different Annwyn.
This one's a guest.
Same name, different avatar and post record perhaps.
My mistake.
Sorry Ann.
Sara
Quote from: lisagurl on March 23, 2008, 12:51:55 PM
Quote from: samanthawhalen on March 22, 2008, 08:53:32 PM
Wow, I just LOVE it when someone tries to pass of what they HEARD or READ (without even a link to the source) something bad about herbals. I do believe that I read some bad things about herbals from the past, but I have found NOTHING .... hear that? ... NOTHING ... bad about Evanesce or Feminol. I have searched high and low on google and came up with nothing that would support either of the OP's claims that Evanesce or Feminol (since they are herbals) are:
* ineffective
* carry the same amount of risk
Please, if you DO bother to prove that Evanesce or Feminol are garbage, then not give me a link where someone else says what you are stating. Show me a link with SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that supports your claims.
Disclaimer: I am not all trying to bash the OP, I just do not think it is right to go around bashing herbals because they are not subscribed by doctors.
Hugs,,
Samantha
http://opensourcegender.blogspot.com/2008/02/dangers-of-herbal-use-for-transgender.html
Re: Linked article
Black Cohosh may have problems but I doubt it's stroke or heart attack caused by it's blood thinning properties. Blood thinners (Coumadin, aspirin) are used to PREVENT strokes. The major risk in using them is that blood doesn't clot at a normal speed (extended prothrombin time) and a person can bleed to death.
Since very few herbals have undergone rigerous clinical trials it's difficult to say just what their effects may be. If you really want to go with herbals you should strongly consider seeing a good homeopath for advice.
I don't have any problem with people self-meding regular hrt but the information I've gathered suggests herbals are dangerous.
Not because they are unregulated, but because there are many documented cases of people getting heart attacks and strokes from using herbals for hrt.
There is an article in the community alerts section that says more and a section for the wiki is being prepared.
I agree, the "they are dangerous because they are herbals" argument is competely bogus.
However they do cause very serious side effects.
That is why they are dangerous.
Known side effects.
Not just FUD.
I would check it out before you just dismiss it as FUD.
I felt the same way as you.
I heard the same arguments and thought they were baseless.
They were.
But further research revealed that they were indeed dangerous in the current forms.
At leas one person may have even died as a result of herbal usage due to heavy metal poisoning of a rare toxic metal found in the herbal formula she was taking.
There are some brands that are much worse than others.
For the article, go here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,27366.0.html
Best of luck,
Sara
Quote from: sarahI got a mesage from someone who can confirm that not only her, but others she knows of have experienced Heart Attacks and Strokes related to the use of Herbal HRT.
My guess is that most likely it stems from the presence of Black Cohosh, a blood thinner, that is present in most brands.
Perhaps I should be more specific.
The statements about the blood thinning being responsible for heart attacks and strokes is BULL->-bleeped-<-! When you present at the ER with a myocardial infarction the first med you'll be given is aspirin. Why? Because it's a blood thinner! There are millions of older people that take an aspirin daily to thin their blood and reduce the risk of heart attack. The negative articles you're reading are purely anecdotal. No one has ever done the studies to say with any certainty what the risks of herbals are.
BTW I've never used herbals. Prescribed meds with an MDs supervision is my method.