I'm hoping this thread won't get locked, like what usually happens when anyone starts something about natural methods of changing your body. While some have asked mods to create a child board or even make a natural thread sticky, no one seems to want to go there. I have a problem with that. There are guys out there for whatever reason can not medically transition the typical way. Many people who are going the typical, medical transition route are quick to downplay any natural methods and mention how "dangerous" it can be. Which, frankly, is why I think there should be a sticky topic about it. Those of us who do have experience (or access to medical professionals who are experienced with more natural methods) should be disseminating information about it. It shouldn't be some "us vs. them" thing where people against, but with no real knowledge of it, are berating or discouraging people who genuinely want to know more information about it. Even if someone ends up medically transitioning, they might not be able to for some time, and therefore alternative methods could be something they could do in the meantime. Some people may be seriously questioning their gender or transitioning at all, and alternative methods might be a more low-key way to test the waters. And of course there's there people who, for whatever reason, can not medically transition.
I AM one of the people and I've spent the last 15 years working with experienced professionals and in so doing, learned a lot about alternative methods to achieve changes in my body without compromising my health. The only "dangerous" thing I ever made the mistake of doing was having actual T injections. With my particular body, that didn't work out for me. It's great that it works for so many guys, but for me it didn't. My blood pressure shot through the roof, I had heart palpitations, I lost my appetite, I lost my energy yet I was in a constant state of agitation bordering on rage. After a little more than a month, I decided it was clearly not the appropriate path for me and quit. Some of you might say that wasn't a very long time, that some of these effects can be "normal". They're not normal to me. I'm not willing to compromise my heath just to get people to stop calling me "ma'am" in public. My results with synthetic T are not typical from what I've observed and I'm not posting this as a scare tactic to others. It seems most people have relatively little problem with taking T. I'm not most people and T isn't the only thing that everyone seems to be able to handle that I can't. I can't even have the regular numbing stuff at the dentist, so clearly I'm unique.
Also, if you're at the point where you would rather die than not take T, that's a completely different situation. Believe it or not, I've been there in my life. In my teens I never even knew something like transition or getting T injections even existed. I nearly killed myself with drugs and alcohol because I so desperately wanted out of my body. I'm twice the age of a lot of people who post here and I've been around the block. I've already experienced many things people younger than me are going through and I never went through medical transition, yet here I still am, alive and in much better health than I was when I was 20. The thing is, I'm not just discouraged but offended by some of the comments I've seen and been the recipient of the past 2 years on these boards. I'm still trans, I still have dysphoria, but I've come up with my own unique way of dealing with it all and living a relatively happy life, regardless.
I'm sorry to come out of the gate on this post on the defensive, but I truly believe there should be an alternate source of information here, away from everyone who advocates that synthetic T is really the only way to get any changes.
I'm not posting this to start a debate or an argument (or get this thread locked). I don't want to hear your opinion of you're against what I'm talking about. I know this is one of the top sites for ftm trans community and I feel strongly that there needs to be a place to talk about alternatives to synthetic T and surgery without getting pounced on about it. These natural methods aren't going to change you rapidly and if you feel you can not follow medical advice, safe supplement dosages, or exercise regularly, then you should probably just get into therapy, get a T letter, and go get the synthetic stuff.
I want to hear real experiences from other guys who have tried to naturally change their bodies, what methods they used, what supplements they took. There may only be a handful of us, but anyone who lands on this site that's in a position where they can't get on T (or can't for a long time) could see that there are other options.
And I'll ask again if a thread dedicated to information about natural methods of changing your body can be sticky or added as a child board with the caveat that:
1. It should not include a debate about natural vs. traditional methods
2. Information posted should be personal experience (and stated as such), from a professional source, or otherwise backed up
3. Anyone considering natural methods should be urged to consult with professionals (nutritionists, doctors, personal trainers, etc.)
