Quote from: omdorastrix on February 05, 2013, 10:56:09 AM
I've been considering it, but only really started researching it - and I've still got to find a doctor and psych to start down the path...
One of my biggest frustrations has been my very-much male presentation, specifically in the face~
~From what I read some kind of low-dose E should provide a good bit of feminization for my face and body.
I feel like I can pass now fairly easily (visually) with a wig and make-up, mannerisms and voice (if I chose to present as female) will come with practice. So a little nudge in the right direction is what I'm looking for - I don't think I need to go as far as surgery.
Although YMMV, Low Dose E probably won't do much for the feminization that you sound like you're looking for.
You can use a higher dose, possibly full transition doses. I think depending on what you are specifically looking for, you may be able to make some changes and then back down to a 'maintenance dose'. You will need to drop your T if it is in the normal male range, which isn't always the case. Have it checked, lower it into a female range for the E to be more effective.
Some T blockers will give you some feminizing effects over time by themselves. What you read is guidelines that may or may not apply to you. The only way to find out is to find a knowledgeable doctor, and start out low and move up if you want. You can always back down if you are finding them to be uncomfortable. On the other hand, you may find that it is what you really want and higher doses could be right. There isn't any way of knowing until you start. Over the course of over two years with blockers, I've changed my dose several times. 8 Months of E has seen a couple changes in dosage.
Even though there is a fair amount of information out there on low dose HRT, not that many Dr's are that familiar with it. And there really isn't enough information to speculate what is going to be the right doses. There isn't an effective range to go by. And just winging it on your own is really out of the question. Although it isn't as dangerous in most cases as what has happened in the past when people tried to go it alone with full transition doses, it is still dangerous. A knowledgeable Dr is a must. As it turns out, just lowering the doses doesn't always give you the results you're looking for. You have to stay on top of it. And so does your Dr. There are still complications that can come up that are dangerous. Regular blood work, full comp panels w/ available and free T are needed, along with the usual indications of other problems that can come up. Your Dr of choice should be well aware of all of this, otherwise you should get one who understands what is current. Very current.
If they need information, I use a center that is very current. They are constantly upgrading their information and Dr's can get that information from them. They are pretty much the people that started low dose with a base line of information that is needed to make informed diagnoses.
Done properly, Low Dose can be safer than most meds that are handed out these days.
But lack of knowledge can make them dangerous to use. Unfortunately, there are Dr's out there that are not current and are just guessing based on old information. It really pays to have a talk with them and find out their extent of knowledge about HRT, both full transition doses and Low Dose HRT. It is not just a matter of using lower does. There's more to it.
There are to many different combinations of things to really know how any one person is going to react to them.
Really what you are going to be doing is using side effects from different drugs to achieve something they weren't designed for. But the good news is that they have been documented for full transition levels for a long time. The information coming in about Low Dose is gaining, but it is still not as close to a complete picture as higher doses are.
A constant theme you will hear is that a therapist is a very good idea to help sort out things with you, a Dr that is current on Low Dose is essential. If you need to educate them and have to push them to find current information, so be it. You'll be doing yourself a favor and it will be helping those following in your steps towards using Low Dose HRT.
Ativan
*Hey Sevan!

*