Hi Shawn,
What you really have to consider in this equation is what psychological changes will occur to you, due to HRT?
Certainly AA's may change your current physical and emotional sensations, but HRT can have some dramatic feminising effects you never considered before. These psychological changes can radically alter your current perspective on many things, to the extent, you may not recognise your previous self.
And yes, both pre-op and from what I've heard from post-ops, you do have sexual thoughts AND feelings during these stages. Hormones will not stop sexual emotions, however they may radically change them.
Be safe, well and happy.
Lotsa huggs
Catherine