My heart is too weak for T, how could I go about getting a beard? I searched through the site and couldn't find any boards about this, surprisingly.

Do any of you guys have something you know of that could be done in place of T?


I've been shaving my face regularly for almost a year, hoping the hair would thicken a bit, but it's not even notably different. Should I keep at it? Or give up and try something else?

Hormones are really the only way to get significant visible facial hair (for sure).

Edit to add: you could create a pretty good looking fake beard but that's about all I can think of that's definitive.

I wonder if exercising more would help my heart. The issue was started by caffeine overuse. I'm sure exercise would certainly strengthen the muscles.

I really want to go on T, but aside from my heart, I'm scared of the other risks that come with it.

Short of hormones there's no way to get a beard, but exercise will help your cardiovascular health.

Honestly, talk to your doctor about your heart. Your doctor would be able to guide you better and give you a better idea on what will be helpful or harmful to you.

Did a doctor tell you you couldn't take T? I think the only heart concern would be if your bad and/or cholesterol was sky high. There is some blood disorder problems that they look for as well (very high red blood count).

Shaving your face will not get you a beard, it's a myth. Mom used to say this, now I am shaving my peach fuzz rather than plucking as it feels more male, but mom lied.

My doctor asked me if I had taken herbal t-boosters. She told me that they can cause liver damage.

Talk to a doctor re: risks. Not to say that caution isn't a good thing on this, but it can also be overdone. There are risks to everything, including not transitioning if you want to.


--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on February 23, 2013, 12:37:42 AM
Did a doctor tell you you couldn't take T? I think the only heart concern would be if your bad and/or cholesterol was sky high. There is some blood disorder problems that they look for as well (very high red blood count).

Shaving your face will not get you a beard, it's a myth. Mom used to say this, now I am shaving my peach fuzz rather than plucking as it feels more male, but mom lied.

My doctor asked me if I had taken herbal t-boosters. She told me that they can cause liver damage.

Talk to a doctor re: risks. Not to say that caution isn't a good thing on this, but it can also be overdone. There are risks to everything, including not transitioning if you want to.


--Jay

My mom said the beard thing too lol Although at this point, it helps me feel somewhat normal.

But she also told me that if I'm having so many heart palpitations, that hormones are a bad idea.

Not only that, but my girlfriend is completely against T. She read up on how it can cause cancer, an enlarged heart, violence, immature actions (as you're practically going through puberty all over again.) And I don't know what to say to her to change her mind about T. I really want to give it a shot, there are so many benefits! I want to be more aligned to myself, as close as possible. And without T, what can I really do to correct my body and feel okay?

Quote from: Nygeel on February 22, 2013, 11:05:56 PM
Honestly, talk to your doctor about your heart. Your doctor would be able to guide you better and give you a better idea on what will be helpful or harmful to you.

I would agree to this, but due to having military healthcare, I just ahve to shut my trap on that. She's very suspicious of me, and refuses to talk about my gender issues. It feels like an interrogation more than a checkup. Most of the time, even when I'm having problems, I wait until I need to go to the E.R. rather than deal with her.

Quote from: Mosaic dude on February 22, 2013, 11:00:58 PM
Short of hormones there's no way to get a beard, but exercise will help your cardiovascular health.

Yeah, understandable.

Hormons is not the only way to have a beard, Nygeel!
It exist a medicine who call minoxidil to have more hair and hairs.

Quote from: Burento on February 23, 2013, 02:41:42 AM

My mom said the beard thing too lol Although at this point, it helps me feel somewhat normal.

But she also told me that if I'm having so many heart palpitations, that hormones are a bad idea.

Not only that, but my girlfriend is completely against T. She read up on how it can cause cancer, an enlarged heart, violence, immature actions (as you're practically going through puberty all over again.) And I don't know what to say to her to change her mind about T. I really want to give it a shot, there are so many benefits! I want to be more aligned to myself, as close as possible. And without T, what can I really do to correct my body and feel okay?

I would agree to this, but due to having military healthcare, I just ahve to shut my trap on that. She's very suspicious of me, and refuses to talk about my gender issues. It feels like an interrogation more than a checkup. Most of the time, even when I'm having problems, I wait until I need to go to the E.R. rather than deal with her.

Yeah, understandable.

nah, but if youre jerk before you T you will just be a jerk with a beard after T. NO reason to blame testosterone. sounds to me like you have personal reservations about taking hormones. Better to be cautious then make a mistake, but it seems to me that you have more research to do.

Testosterone treatment:
- the changes we all know about
- lowers HDL (good) cholesterol, increases LDL (bad) cholesterol
- increases triglycerides in blood lipid profile
- has an unfavourable effect on the lipid profile
- redistributes fat towards abdomen which is associated with CVS risks
- can cause weight gain
- most significant risk factor is smoking

Risk factors for ALL men (AMAB and AFAB):
- higher cholesterol and associated blood vessel disease
- higher risk of stroke or heart attack
- decreased elastin in blood vessels leading to inflexibility of blood vessel walls
- increased chance of developing tumours, blood clots, heart disease or other serious illnesses
- it is possible that testosterone shortens a man's life expectancy by about 5 years compared to women

Your risk is no worse than any other male of similar age and health status. I haven't noticed any changes in BP or heart function. My cholesterol is higher if I don't eat right, but in saying that it was pre transition as well. Only thing is I get angry - just as quick as before but where I used to just cry ( I hate admitting that) now I just get more and more frustrated and want to punch things. I don't because I'm an almost 30 year old man but the feeling is there! Also about being immature - all blokes are at times - it's somewhat part of being a bloke!! Not to say I can't be serious - I have a very serious job with a lot of responsibility.. It's an individual thing - T will do different things to me, you and every other man on the planet.

As for the doctor, I can appreciate being in military care (I served in the Navy here in Australia) but if I really wanted to I could just eat it up and pay for a consult at some random doctor in town - can you not do that to even just get some advice or information??

As for convincing people taking T is ok - that's a toughie... All I can say mate is that you can't do something, be someone or go somewhere on the basis of "because someone else wanted you to". It's your life - live it

As for transitioning without T - there is a book out there about natural transitioning. But be careful - it involves lots of supplements - which in it's own way can be not great for your liver and kidneys....

What Aussie Jay said.

Only a doctor can tell you if you can or cannot take T for health reasons.  Your mother and your girlfriend will tell you all kinds of BS because THEY don't want you to take T.  My family was very supportive when I came out, with the caveat: But you're not going to DO anything, are you?  Of course they were freaked out when I said YES, I am going to be ME, and that is male.

Find a trans friendly therapist.  It will help a lot.


Jay

I agree with my fellow Jays (good and wise men all).
Aussie Jay described a more complete list of health concerns than I did. But there are benefits as well--like improved ability to produce muscle and, from everything I read, lower rates of dementia. (I forgot about that one!).

It can increase the risk of liver cancer, but I don't think this is a huge concern. You watch liver function (well your doctor does) and regulates the dose accordingly.
Diet and exercise are hugely important.

This is not like taking anabolic steriods which are taken in huge doses. There is no "roid rage". These are myths. Some guys are calmer. I have heard that some guys are moodier or have some "you don't understand, leave me alone" type feelings. But others don't. It certainly isn't anything someone understanding couldn't deal with.

A doctor would clear this up but I agree you can't go to a military doc, I'm afraid. Your mother doesn't want you to take it (understandable) and is smarter and more cunning than a lot of moms (sorry to say) and your girlfriend probably does not want to lose you as a "girl friend". You are not her "girl friend" anyway. I understand this but this is your life. 

--Jay

Quote from: Burento on February 23, 2013, 02:41:42 AM

I would agree to this, but due to having military healthcare, I just ahve to shut my trap on that. She's very suspicious of me, and refuses to talk about my gender issues. It feels like an interrogation more than a checkup. Most of the time, even when I'm having problems, I wait until I need to go to the E.R. rather than deal with her.

I was thinking more so in terms of what you can do to make your heart healthier/work better. I know my family has a bunch of various heart problems. For some, exercising helps and with others it harms. See what you can do to get your health better while exploring other options for hormones.