I've been on premarin and spiro for about a year now. I am pretty healthy and have good cholesterol... for a cisgendered person.

A few months ago my doctor told me that my cholesterol is good, but not good enough to stay on HRT because my family has such a wretched medical history (liver failure, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, multiple kinds of cancer, etc)

He said that since I'm still a teenager if I just start exercising more each week it should be enough. And I have. I've been eating less, I've been eating healthier, I've been exercising, and I've been losing weight.

Tomorrow I'm having my blood drawn and I'm just nervous about if its not good enough and he won't prescribe more hormones. What happens in that situation. I know they say its an irreversible process, so will I just stay as I am now and just not improve anymore or will some things start to become undone?

I'm really nervous.

Quote from: NicholeD on April 18, 2013, 11:49:48 AM
I've been on premarin and spiro for about a year now. I am pretty healthy and have good cholesterol... for a cisgendered person.

A few months ago my doctor told me that my cholesterol is good, but not good enough to stay on HRT because my family has such a wretched medical history (liver failure, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, multiple kinds of cancer, etc)

He said that since I'm still a teenager if I just start exercising more each week it should be enough. And I have. I've been eating less, I've been eating healthier, I've been exercising, and I've been losing weight.

Tomorrow I'm having my blood drawn and I'm just nervous about if its not good enough and he won't prescribe more hormones. What happens in that situation. I know they say its an irreversible process, so will I just stay as I am now and just not improve anymore or will some things start to become undone?

I'm really nervous.

Were this me, I'd consider getting a second opinion. I wonder whether a doctor who refuses to continue hrt despite the fact that the patient's cholesterol is good, truly understands why treatment for GID is necessary.

There are a lot of doctors who really understand why transgender patients need their hormones. Make sure the doctor who takes care of you is one of them.

You might have a point. Last year when I was trying to find a doctor, this one was the only one I could find in that would be willing to treat me. I live in a relatively conservative part of Florida so there weren't many places who dabble in this kind of stuff, but most of them wouldn't treat me because I'm so young.

If this falls through I will have to try and find someone else or deal with this doctor. I can't really blame him because it is a health risk considering my family history but still...

I'm just curious as to what would happen to me if things fell through... I'm kind of a nervous wreck today >.<

Just a note on Premarin. Look, this is a hazy memory, so it might be false. But I think I remember reading that Premarin is one of the forms of estradiol that are the least potent and have the most side effect risks. You might want to look it up, and if I'm right, get information about another medication, like Estrace, for example.

And I have to second this: if your doctor thinks that good but not excellent cholesterol is an obstacle to HRT, there's probably a problem. You might want to try to convince them of the importance of HRT, or find someone else.

Me, I just solved my endo problem by calling a gynecology clinic. They prescribe hormones to menopaused women, after all. I called, asked about my case, and they said it was all right, that I could bring my referral. And it solved TWO problems actually, because the closest endo, which I was seeing, is 2.5 hours away, and the second closest who sees trans people is 5 hours away. The gynecology clinic is half an hour away and has, like, 10 doctors.

Quote from: A on April 18, 2013, 07:43:54 PM
Just a note on Premarin. Look, this is a hazy memory, so it might be false. But I think I remember reading that Premarin is one of the forms of estradiol that are the least potent and have the most side effect risks. You might want to look it up, and if I'm right, get information about another medication, like Estrace, for example.

And I have to second this: if your doctor thinks that good but not excellent cholesterol is an obstacle to HRT, there's probably a problem. You might want to try to convince them of the importance of HRT, or find someone else.

Me, I just solved my endo problem by calling a gynecology clinic. They prescribe hormones to menopaused women, after all. I called, asked about my case, and they said it was all right, that I could bring my referral. And it solved TWO problems actually, because the closest endo, which I was seeing, is 2.5 hours away, and the second closest who sees trans people is 5 hours away. The gynecology clinic is half an hour away and has, like, 10 doctors.

Sounds like good advice, also Premarin isn't a good plan, an estradiol patch or estrogen creme as a topical application would be better if there are health risks. Discuss this with the doctor.

Quote from: A on April 18, 2013, 07:43:54 PM
Just a note on Premarin. Look, this is a hazy memory, so it might be false. But I think I remember reading that Premarin is one of the forms of estradiol that are the least potent and have the most side effect risks. You might want to look it up, and if I'm right, get information about another medication, like Estrace, for example.

A, you are right. Premarin is probably the last thing that should be prescribed - for all manner of reasons..

Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on April 18, 2013, 08:11:00 PM
A, you are right. Premarin is probably the last thing that should be prescribed - for all manner of reasons..

So much premarin hate on these boards and I have yet to have issues. Still itching to ask my endo his reasoning for choosing it but he has so much experience both in his field and with trans patients, I wasn't going to question it.

Quote from: MaidofOrleans on April 18, 2013, 09:08:29 PM
So much premarin hate on these boards and I have yet to have issues. Still itching to ask my endo his reasoning for choosing it but he has so much experience both in his field and with trans patients, I wasn't going to question it.

Long term use can cause increased risks of health issues, higher then other forms of estrogen. Some forms of cancer for one, a long term study of it was cancelled early due to the increased risk of this. It also has various other compounds in it that no one really knows what effects they will have on a human.

Yeah, I tried going to a gynecologist clinic but was denied by all the ones in the area.


I will ask my doctor about premarin and why he chose that over others. o.o I knew it had risks but I thought all of the forms of estrogen had equal or greater risks...

...Maybe if he denies me, it will ultimately be for the best if I can later find someone else who will give me better stuff...


But that leaves the question at hand: What happens if I go off of hormone replacement therapy for a while?

Quote from: NicholeD on April 18, 2013, 09:39:20 PM
Yeah, I tried going to a gynecologist clinic but was denied by all the ones in the area.


I will ask my doctor about premarin and why he chose that over others. o.o I knew it had risks but I thought all of the forms of estrogen had equal or greater risks...

...Maybe if he denies me, it will ultimately be for the best if I can later find someone else who will give me better stuff...


But that leaves the question at hand: What happens if I go off of hormone replacement therapy for a while?

Did it for two years, it all came back in spades when I got back on. You will just miss the laid back feelings from HRT.

Well that's good. I would miss the feeling of HRT, but if it will be all good in the end, then I think I can deal <.<

Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on April 18, 2013, 09:19:44 PM
Long term use can cause increased risks of health issues, higher then other forms of estrogen. Some forms of cancer for one, a long term study of it was cancelled early due to the increased risk of this. It also has various other compounds in it that no one really knows what effects they will have on a human.

So does the food we eat and the air we breath. Until I see proof I'm going to go by what the professional advises. Like I said, I'm itching to hear his take.

NicholeD, how about you widen your search scope? My endo was 2.5 hours away, and I'm a little isolated from big cities. Sounds very unlucky that you wouldn't have someone in that range or closer.

The doctor I'm going to is already quite a way from here. It's been a year since then though and I'm a bit more... of sound mind so to say, so it probably would be best to start the hunt again.

I do feel a bit more at peace though. Thanks everyone <.<;'

I really hope things work out for you Nichole. If I had to stop transition I don't know what I'd do. This is the first time in my life that I don't feel condemned or damned. It scares me even thinking about it. And I worry all the time that my liver is messed up or I have Hepatitis or something or anything that would stop it.

I was worried about putting it on hold, but its not like my boobs or changed body would just disappear overnight and I've grown in more ways than just physically since I started it, so...

I think I'll be ok. I won't be happy with it, in all honesty I think I'll be a bit pissed off, but I think I'll be okay. I think I'm starting to grow some sense of comfort with myself.

...That being said I think I'm too anxious to sleep tonight xD That and the whole fasting and drinking tons of water thing makes it difficult to fall asleep x.x

I turned into a monster when I stopped for my GRS, a grizzly bear with PMT that had been kicked in the ass with a size 11 Army boot would have been better company!The slightest thing would have me exploding with rage.

Quote from: big kim on April 19, 2013, 02:36:42 AM
I turned into a monster when I stopped for my GRS, a grizzly bear with PMT that had been kicked in the ass with a size 11 Army boot would have been better company!The slightest thing would have me exploding with rage.

Yes I do recall how the former me came back in spades during my own withdrawal, kind of a nasty passive/aggressive type of individual. Although it put my physical changes on hold for awhile once I was back on HRT the laid back new me came back and the physical feminizing picked up from where I had left off.