Quote from: mandonlym on April 13, 2014, 07:38:03 AM
I think I pass better post-HRT, but my face particularly was prettier in pictures before. My facial structure before was more angular and striking. Now it's more oval and there's more fat on my cheeks.

Having an angular face though a small feminine oval one is one of my big problems now. I'm hoping mine fills out more over time. A little fat on my cheeks is what I'm hoping for.

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 11:46:52 AM
I wonder how much more impact it would have to wait until a year into hormones to look at oneself in a mirror again for the first time since starting transition. Would it be a more noticeable difference, or would you still be used to the way you look from before? Is that something you can just simply forget over time?

Perhaps this could be something practiced by people who are afraid of not seeing any difference after a while on hormones.

OMG, that would be akin to cruel and unusual punishment if that happened to me. No mirrors!!! Oh no. Can I has camera at least? Srsly though, it is a great idea if one could accomplish it but given the obsessive nature of transition, I'm doubting less than one of one percent would be able to do it. I have a mirror right nest to where I am right now...I am very, very vain.

I know I answered this question but here's something I have never said, or maybe I have, idk: if I didn't know before taking hormones that i would pass 100 percent and that I would be somewhat or something close to pretty, I would not have transitioned. Period. I knew that I would pass and eventually become pretty with just hormoes alone and that's what makes me so mad is that I should have done this in 2007 when I was 24. But, no I had to waste five years  trying to get my ex back and convince her that I'm a man. The thing is in 2007 I had the money to do everything and start over somewhere else and wouldn't need my nose fixed or laser resurfacing from the T I took to be a man. Hell, I didn't even have facial hair then. arghhhhh

And the really ironic part: I neither like nor am I attracted to women sexually...WTF! This isn't the hormones I have known this forever.

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 11:46:52 AM
I wonder how much more impact it would have to wait until a year into hormones to look at oneself in a mirror again for the first time since starting transition. Would it be a more noticeable difference, or would you still be used to the way you look from before? Is that something you can just simply forget over time?

Perhaps this could be something practiced by people who are afraid of not seeing any difference after a while on hormones.

I sorta actually did this, I obsessed over it a lot in my early transition because I was tired of never noticing a dif in how i looked. Even in side to side pics. But once I gave up on hormones ever doing anything for me, like a year on them later, my dose got increased again and within a couple months they were finally doing something. For some reason at that point i stopped caring at all, stopped taking many pics and just let it happen, especially once I got on wellbutrin and sort of became a lump, and 6+ months flew by and suddenly I looked different.

The weird thing was, yeah, i didn't feel prettier. I just sort of felt ugly all the time since then. Even though afaik I just look like a cis girl now. Maybe I feel plain, idk.

Quote from: mandonlym on April 13, 2014, 07:38:03 AM
I think I pass better post-HRT, but my face particularly was prettier in pictures before. My facial structure before was more angular and striking. Now it's more oval and there's more fat on my cheeks.

I could have sworn you where Valentijn de Hingh. You sure look alike.

Quote from: sad panda on April 13, 2014, 05:10:11 PM
I sorta actually did this, I obsessed over it a lot in my early transition because I was tired of never noticing a dif in how i looked. Even in side to side pics. But once I gave up on hormones ever doing anything for me, like a year on them later, my dose got increased again and within a couple months they were finally doing something. For some reason at that point i stopped caring at all, stopped taking many pics and just let it happen, especially once I got on wellbutrin and sort of became a lump, and 6+ months flew by and suddenly I looked different.

The weird thing was, yeah, i didn't feel prettier. I just sort of felt ugly all the time since then. Even though afaik I just look like a cis girl now. Maybe I feel plain, idk.

How can you ensure the hormones work? I don't want to have a year go by and then suddenly I'm like, "derp nothing's happening, better go get the dosage increased". I want the first whole year to be effective.

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 05:45:59 PM
How can you ensure the hormones work? I don't want to have a year go by and then suddenly I'm like, "derp nothing's happening, better go get the dosage increased". I want the first whole year to be effective.

So many people think that the first year is supposed to be some sort of amazing, massive transformation. Well, it may or may not happen. It all takes a LOT of time and a lot of it depends on your genetics.

You can't decide on the timetable. You have no say in that. That is just the way it is.

Don't be foolish and start screwing around with the doses just because things aren't going the way that you would like. Doing something like that is a bad idea UNLESS your endo thinks it should be done. Otherwise, don't mess with it.

Quote from: Laura Squirrel on April 13, 2014, 05:51:00 PM
So many people think that the first year is supposed to be some sort of amazing, massive transformation. Well, it may or may not happen. It all takes a LOT of time and a lot of it depends on your genetics.

You can't decide on the timetable. You have no say in that. That is just the way it is.

Don't be foolish and start screwing around with the doses just because things aren't going the way that you would like. Doing something like that is a bad idea UNLESS your endo thinks it should be done. Otherwise, don't mess with it.

it's very counter productive to think you know better than a trained doctor

Both important for others and myself. I love making an effort to look nice, and it makes me feel good

Quote from: stephaniec on April 13, 2014, 06:24:22 PM
it's very counter productive to think you know better than a trained doctor

Did I imply that I did?

No.

Don't put words in my mouth.

Hi friends 

Stay on topic and let's not be starting arguments

Thank you

V M

Quote from: Laura Squirrel on April 13, 2014, 06:31:03 PM
Did I imply that I did?

No.

Don't put words in my mouth.

You misinterpreted my reference I was referring to the fact that you were telling the poster not to mess with dosages to speed the effects of estrogen I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on the point. I/m also sorry if I'm completely misunderstand the posts. I try my best not to offend any one and I'm truly sorry if it was taken wrong.

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 05:45:59 PM
How can you ensure the hormones work? I don't want to have a year go by and then suddenly I'm like, "derp nothing's happening, better go get the dosage increased". I want the first whole year to be effective.

HRT effects everyone differently and everyone will have their own results

Follow your doctor's advise

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 05:45:59 PM
How can you ensure the hormones work? I don't want to have a year go by and then suddenly I'm like, "derp nothing's happening, better go get the dosage increased". I want the first whole year to be effective.

You have to be patient and remember, cis girls take around 10 years to mature WITHOUT fighting "T". Transition is not a sprint, but a marathon. You have to protect your liver by going slowly. HRT is really rough on the internal systems. Just relax and enjoy what does happen, when it happens.

Quote from: stephaniec on April 13, 2014, 06:40:12 PM
You misinterpreted my reference I was referring to the fact that you were telling the poster not to mess with dosages to speed the effects of estrogen I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on the point. I/m also sorry if I'm completely misunderstand the posts. I try my best not to offend any one and I'm truly sorry if it was taken wrong.

I said what I said so this person wouldn't make the same mistake that I did a few years ago. I basically dictated the doses to my moronic doctor and the fool went ahead and did what I asked with no bloodwork whatsoever. It REALLY screwed me up. I said what I did in the hopes that this person wouldn't make the same mistake that I did.

Quote from: Laura Squirrel on April 13, 2014, 05:51:00 PM
So many people think that the first year is supposed to be some sort of amazing, massive transformation. Well, it may or may not happen. It all takes a LOT of time and a lot of it depends on your genetics.

You can't decide on the timetable. You have no say in that. That is just the way it is.

Don't be foolish and start screwing around with the doses just because things aren't going the way that you would like. Doing something like that is a bad idea UNLESS your endo thinks it should be done. Otherwise, don't mess with it.

I would never mess with the dosages myself. The thing is, most of the transition timelines I've seen show major or at least noticeable progress within the first year. I've seen ones with upped dosages halfway through, but even before then they were showing differences.

Quote from: Evelyn K on April 13, 2014, 05:20:18 PM
I could have sworn you where Valentijn de Hingh. You sure look alike.

She's cute! Totally flattered.

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 07:02:44 PM
I would never mess with the dosages myself. The thing is, most of the transition timelines I've seen show major or at least noticeable progress within the first year. I've seen ones with upped dosages halfway through, but even before then they were showing differences.

Yeah, but at the end of the day, those timelines don't mean squat. Everyone is different. Don't let that stuff influence you. Just go with the flow and don't worry about it.

Yeah, Chic, I agree with Sad Pana. You fit feminitybso much and will be justt beautiful!

Quote from: Abbyxo on April 13, 2014, 07:32:12 PM
Yeah, Chic, I agree with Sad Pana. You fit feminitybso much and will be justt beautiful!

By the way Abby I forgot to mention that I only like you for your appearance. :p When are you coming to New York???

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 11:46:52 AM
I wonder how much more impact it would have to wait until a year into hormones to look at oneself in a mirror again for the first time since starting transition. Would it be a more noticeable difference, or would you still be used to the way you look from before? Is that something you can just simply forget over time?

Perhaps this could be something practiced by people who are afraid of not seeing any difference after a while on hormones.

Sure, if you can avoid looking in the mirror for a year, you will see big changes.  However, that's really not practical, unless you want to leave the house looking a total mess.  Believe me, that method has a lot more problems than benefits.

Quote from: Chic on April 13, 2014, 05:45:59 PM
How can you ensure the hormones work? I don't want to have a year go by and then suddenly I'm like, "derp nothing's happening, better go get the dosage increased". I want the first whole year to be effective.

Hormones work gradually, but you will be able to notice they are working.  Unfortunately, it takes time to build up the dosage and find what works for you.  I feel like my first 4 or 5 months on it was a learning game for both my endo and I.  Now, I know what works for me, but again it takes a lot of time and it's frustrating.  Don't be swayed by someone elses time line.  It's a unique thing and you will only get disapointed if you expect similar results as another person.  It really doesn't work like that.  Another thing I should note, is that those transition videos show how the person progresses in all aspects besides hrt as well.  They may look amazing from one photo to the next and it may be something like hair styling and make up rather than hormones which provoked that big change.  Keep that in mind.