I am not sure as I am just a patient, but depending on the dosage it may take shorter/longer to kind of kick in with pellets. Over time things even out even more as the remnants of one pellet can take a long time to dissolve, spreading across to another dose. Also I think you need a higher dose if you want to see fast changes, at least until t factories have been removed. It does get expensive quickly if you desire to see the fast changes pre-op/non-op.

9 months long enough?

E levels were never more than about 7-10% different to my level on pills..

Has anyone heard from a doctor that pills are more effective and put less strain on the liver? This is what my new doctor told me, and I mentioned to her that it was counter to everything I've ever heard. She dismissed what I've read because it was from "the internet."

I wish we had some academic papers that we could present to doctors who might be uninformed or using outdated methods. 

Quote from: jojoglowe on July 02, 2014, 05:15:06 AM
Has anyone heard from a doctor that pills are more effective and put less strain on the liver? This is what my new doctor told me

Please find a new doctor, this one is nuts! Everyone knows injections and pellets are the best possible for effectiveness and easier on the liver. Oral carries quite a few risk's and have to do a first pass through the liver. Patients over 40 are strongly advised not to take oral Estradiol. This doctor is dangerous in my professional opinion as a 28 year career Paramedic. 

Quote from: jojoglowe on July 02, 2014, 05:15:06 AM
Has anyone heard from a doctor that pills are more effective and put less strain on the liver? This is what my new doctor told me, and I mentioned to her that it was counter to everything I've ever heard. She dismissed what I've read because it was from "the internet."

I wish we had some academic papers that we could present to doctors who might be uninformed or using outdated methods. 

Just goes to show how doctors are sometimes overglorified memorization drones who just orders labs, references a standards of care treatment sheet against the results, then shoo's you on your way with a smug self righteous important feeling on their face. As if it took so much brain power to medicate you.

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 02, 2014, 09:56:43 AM
Just goes to show how doctors are sometimes overglorified memorization drones who just orders labs, references a standards of care treatment sheet against the results, then shoo's you on your way with a smug self righteous important feeling on their face. As if it took so much brain power to medicate you.

This... so totally this !!!

Well girls, tomorrow is the day!. I see my Endo at 2:30 pm and will probably be put on injections for my E. I'm going to insist on the weekly ones though because I've heard too many complaints about the up's and downs with the bi-weekly. I'm in full transition, 49 years old and though I have great liver function I'd like to keep it that way. My bloodwork shows that with the exception of my chronic pain issues from my 91 accident I'm in excellent health. Needles also don't bother me because of the afore mentioned accident (I've seen more than my share -just a cakewalk) so that won't be an issue. My Endo though, or pharmacist will have to show me how to properly administer the injection as I've never injected myself before. First time for everything right?

I do plan to ask about the pellets. However I don't know (and am pretty sure they won't) if my insurance will cover them.

Ally

Congrats Allyda! Sounds like you'll soon be coming back here with some gender euphoria of your own to report!

Quote from: Jennygirl on July 02, 2014, 11:06:19 PM
Congrats Allyda! Sounds like you'll soon be coming back here with some gender euphoria of your own to report!

I hope so Jenny! I'm real excited about tomorrow!

Ally

So day 5 on injections, about 3.7 months after oral.

W0ts different? Oh, maybe my stalled tanner staging jumped from II to just a little under III. Things-are-movin - now!

I still feel emotions especially happiness and joy so much more intensely.

Injections gave me -much- better results and feminization compared to pills. I was on an ordinary regular dose of oral estradiol, but once I started the injections, I got so much breast pain, and so much development. It's crazy. I feel way better, too, and it's so much easier to inject once a week or every two weeks, than to take all those pills (or pill halves) sublingually every day.

My advice - do it. Try it out. Get your doc to switch you over. It's so much better, at least in my opinion. Plus there's less risk of liver damage and all that.

Edit: I'm going to add, I was Tanner I, pre-injections, at like 1.5 months HRT. Now I'm at Tanner IV, at just over 4.25 months HRT. Your milage may vary, of course. Genes and other things play a factor. My family has big boobs for sure - my cousin even got breast reduction surgery.

I had no idea what this Tanner thing was  , thanks google.  Oh, the wonders of internet, learn something new every day. I guess that puts me at about a III. 

Well, yesterday my Endo switched me from orals to injections once per week. However I haven't started them yet as I have to fill them and got in late yesterday during a rainstorm after my Endo appt. They are the once per week kind which I insisted on, and my Endo agreed, to avoid highs and lows I've read about with the bi-weekly injections.

However, my injection prescription isn't for the same type of Estradiol my orals were, Estradiol Valerate. It's for Estradiol Cyp. Oil. If this isn't the correct form of Estradiol please chime in and let me know. (I dunno what the Cyp. stands for).

Ally

Note to moderators: I hope I haven't violated any site policy. If I did it wasn't my intention. I'm just trying to make sure my Endo gave me the right medicine. Thanks.

I have been on HRT for over a year now I have been on the Injections form the start I take my injections every 2 weeks an then I'm done with them for another 2 weeks , I'm glad I don't take those pills everyday the the Injections are better an safer than the oral route ..

Happy to say I'm about to start injections after being on pills for 2 years yipee!!

Quote from: Allyda on July 04, 2014, 06:07:11 AM
Well, yesterday my Endo switched me from orals to injections once per week. However I haven't started them yet as I have to fill them and got in late yesterday during a rainstorm after my Endo appt. They are the once per week kind which I insisted on, and my Endo agreed, to avoid highs and lows I've read about with the bi-weekly injections.

However, my injection prescription isn't for the same type of Estradiol my orals were, Estradiol Valerate. It's for Estradiol Cyp. Oil. If this isn't the correct form of Estradiol please chime in and let me know. (I dunno what the Cyp. stands for).

Ally

Note to moderators: I hope I haven't violated any site policy. If I did it wasn't my intention. I'm just trying to make sure my Endo gave me the right medicine. Thanks.

It's a slower absorbing estradiol. Where valerate absorbs in 7-8 days cypionate absorbs in about 11 days. Not sure how this translates in therapeutic dosage terms. For instance I could have a lower valerate dose than a higher cypionate dose yet the daily average would be roughly equal to each other. I guess the upside to cypionate is its slightly lowered frequency of injections.

I actually don't understand why estradiol valerate would be prescribed bi-weekly if its absorption rate really is 7-8 days.

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 04, 2014, 10:44:17 PM
It's a slower absorbing estradiol. Where valerate absorbs in 7-8 days cypionate absorbs in about 11 days. Not sure how this translates in therapeutic dosage terms. For instance I could have a lower valerate dose than a higher cypionate dose yet the daily average would be roughly equal to each other. I guess the upside to cypionate is its slightly lowered frequency of injections.

I actually don't understand why estradiol valerate would be prescribed bi-weekly if its absorption rate really is 7-8 days.

One thing that's confusing me is my injection dosage is, like, 20 times smaller than my oral dosage per week. I hope there wasn't anything lost in translation between my Endo and the girls in the front office who actually wrote the script for him to sign. Is cipionate that much stronger than valerate? Or, do you think somethings wrong with my script.?

Ally

I know mine is roughly less than half what I was taking in oral form. Just ring your Dr. and ask him, or your pharmacists if it sounds typical. Either way followup labs will need to be redone. Also realizing that therapeutic dosages for transexuals is a lot higher than cis hormone levels. This all fast track stuff for us.

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 04, 2014, 11:14:29 PM
I know mine is roughly less than half what I was taking in oral form. Just ring your Dr. and ask him, or your pharmacists if it sounds typical. Either way followup labs will need to be redone. Also realizing that therapeutic dosages for transexuals is a lot higher than cis hormone levels. This all fast track stuff for us.

If you say yours is about half of your oral dosage, than mine's definately off. Comparing the two more closely, my injection dose is really only about 10% of what I am taking orally (I haven't started the injections yet). My injections are weekly though, not bi-weekly. But I am comparing a weekly injection dose against my weekly oral dose.

Ally

PM incoming