I want my endo to up my dose from ultra-low to something more proactive towards actual physical transition.  For those who started low, were there any significant mental or physical changes when upping the dose?  Faster changes?  Bigger changes?  More emotional?

Did you feel that more was definitely better in terms of the upped dose amplifying the positive effects of HRT?

Yes!

I was on low dose for a number of years prior to stepping up to a transitioning dose. The big dose flipped a switch in my brain that the low dose never did. That switch was the happy switch. Also, my body began rapidly changing - my boobs took off as did my butt and face. The low dose did make a few physical changes and it did wipe out my dysphoria for a number of years but it eventually quit working and the dysphoria returned, driving me into therapy.

More was definitely better.

Keep a box of tissue handy - you'll need it 

Eva Marie, after reading that, I can't wait until my next endo appointment.  I'll be asking her to turn it up to eleven.

I didn't start having any physical changes at all until my doctor put me on spiro and maxed my E dose. Within 3 weeks I had breasts, softer skin, and some facial changes. Emotional changes took a lot longer - nearly a year later I began to notice them.

I don't even know what a low dose and regular dose is. I just take my doctor's word that what I'm taking is the norm. I started out with such and such dose of estradiol valerate injectable and took that same amount for all the years I took it. Then switched over to estradiol tablets, certain dose certain amount per day, doc told me that it was a good solid dose to keep me where I'm at. But really, how does anyone know for sure? Obviously this can't be answered here in detail. But I'd seriously like to know what the difference is (low, regular) since this kind of thing gets brought up a lot.

I started with AA and E. My E was increased 50% at the 6 month mark. P was added at 1 year.

Increased E has an effect of more breast tenderness. Adding P also increased my breast tenderness. ( I looked at my reflection in a store front glass today and said You have boobs)

The added E increased my skin softness and decreased hand dryness. Also, my dysphonia decreased a bit. My libido is very low now but my sexuality is clearer, perhaps due to therapy. I am non-binary (lol.  ).

Added P increased the calming effect. Perhaps I can think a bit clearer and remember things a bit better.

Thanks, Cynthia Michelle.  Sounds like the effects of upping the dose are noticeably more obvious.  Another check mark in the "raise the dose" column!

Low dose had my E levels around 250 or so, T levels around 8
On pellet, I'm closer to a therapeutic transition dose - E around 490, T around 0.6

More emotional these days, particularly when it comes to my kids.

I was only on "low dose" for about three months.  At my next appointment my doc suggested doubling my E, which we did, and kept my AA at the same levels.  He described this as a good medium dose.

For me, low dose really helped with the big D and gave me slightly softer skin but that was about it.  Since my new dose things have been happening quite a bit faster.  Skin is much better, breast growth is really REALLY starting to happen, chest and stomach hair is lessening and starting to go clear (which I LOVE), facial features are beginning to soften (fuller lips, etc)....

I don't know if I had stayed at low dose of all of those things would have happened or not since my time on it was pretty short but yeah, it's been a good experience so far with the higher dose.

Hope this helps!

Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on August 10, 2014, 07:06:44 PM
The added E increased my skin softness and decreased hand dryness. Also, my dysphonia decreased a bit. My libido is very low now but my sexuality is clearer, perhaps due to therapy. I am non-binary (lol.  ).

Added P increased the calming effect. Perhaps I can think a bit clearer and remember things a bit better.

I can vouch for the same. When I switched to E taken by injections vs. oral, my skin became softer. When I increased my P, I felt MUCH calmer and I started having flashbacks from the past, I remembered stuff I hadn't remembered for years!

Well, not knowing exact doses and what exactly a starting dose is supposed to be, I have been on a 'starting doses', I guess for the last 4 months, today was my next endo appointment,  and he doubled my estrogen,  and kept the spiro the same.
during bloodwork, estrogen was not measured this time, but testosterone was on the lower male side...I have got nipple sensitivity during tbe first 2 weeks of starting hrt, and some breast growth ( fill a bcup bra). they are still painfull...
Breast growth is not that obvious with a loose fitting tshirt.
Skin changes noticed, breast growth, slowing of hair growth, sweat does not stink like before, and the biggest change was the mental ones ( calm and happy).
I took a selection of face pix and put them in a row in a timeline of about a year, the funny and obvious thing I noticed was the 'happiness' shows obviously from after I startef hrt.
I am curious to see what the doubling in E does to the progress, and how much it will get my T down....

I don't think it's a certain dose of estradoil is considered low, medium, high ect because a certain dosage could effect someone more or less than another like they could absorb it better or worse meaning could get someone to 100 of whatever estradoil is measured in while someone else could get to 200 so its best to trust your endo.




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