Hello ladies,

How is everyone tonight?

Well it's been a moment since I posted....I am now a month and a half into doctor monitored HRT. and I just turned 23 years old.

I started noticing some sensation in the nipple area in the past couple of weeks and I have had a more "at ease, relaxed" feeling, emotionally.  I have also been sleeping a little more lately.

I was just curious if this was normal and what the next things I should be noticing coming 2 to 3 months into hormones? Please share your stories.....

ALSO...I am on Avodart, as a t-blockers, and I was curious if any of you noticed on your HRT hair changes??? My hair started thinning in the front/temples about 2 years ago some and I was on Propecia for less than a year before I began HRT....I was just curious if any of you experienced any re-growth or thickening?   I am hoping that since I'm 23 and still have alot of hair that I will be able to regain some of it because right now I think that my hairline will definitely affect my "passability" and I am afraid I may have to have a scalp advancement    and I'd rather not - any ideas, stories, remedies?

Please let me know girls!!!!

Have a GREAT evening!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning,

Ahhhhh, tender nipples that are rigid, hard, sometimes raw or sore, are a sign of two things:  the beginnings of breast development, or, a pleasant remembrance of the night before!  LOL!!!

I've heard of Avodart.  Colloquially I've heard it called "chemical castration."  You keep on chargin' ahead, Girl!

I was 51 when I started HRT and the hair on my head was not affected.  It has receded on the sides but just style it so the bare spots don't show as much. 

Look around you and you will see women of all ages with varying hairlines or thickness of hair.  I've been on HRT since 2002 and nothing I have tried will undo the hair loss, however, after HRT, who knows?

Starting on HRT not only gave me a peaceful, relaxed, secure feeling, I was happy.  I was finally at rest with myself.

Please don't get hung-up on the idea of being passably perfect.  You can do just fine being perfectly passable.

Just curious:  are you in Canada?  I ask because Avodart isn't available everywhere.

Be well and be happy.  Find who you are then be the best her that you can!

Wing Walker
Welcome to the Skies

I did not have hair issues thankfully.

However, what you are experiencing seems normal enough. What comes next? more of the same. You will get a bit more femme in appearance, depending on the genetics, and probably be a bit more at ease due to finally doing something about your life. With that ease you will find it easier to show emotions. You may or may not come to a point where, no matter what you do, you have a hard time passing as your birth gender. For me it was about six months in on hormones and I transitioned on month number 7.

Best bet is to keep a log of what you notice and let your doctors know on your next trip back.

Good luck and congrats.

Quote from: mclova84 on October 08, 2007, 11:55:36 PM
I started noticing some sensation in the nipple area in the past couple of weeks...

Normal They often itch or hurt, which means things are developing.

Quotewhat the next things I should be noticing coming 2 to 3 months into hormones?

Breasts development, starting with "breast buds" forming behind the nipples (hard little disc-like things that HURT). You might also notice your rear and upper thighs fattening. And maybe the barest beginning of facial changes.

QuoteALSO...I am on Avodart, as a t-blockers, and I was curious if any of you noticed on your HRT hair changes???

I was on Propecia for like five years *before* HRT, and I grew back some hair. Considering I was losing it fast prior to that, reversing the direction was a miracle for me. Avodart is even more effective.

In theory, neither Propecia or Avodart is particularly feminizing though. Some people argue that, but the side effects are generally only rare instances of breast swelling. Both only block DHT production, and NOT T itself.

Since combining HRT and Avodart, I've grown back even more hair, including in the temples. I wasn't bald by any means though, just recessed a bit in the temples and thinning on top. The more you've lost, the harder it is to get any back unfortunately.

~Kate~

FOR "WING WALKER": ....No I am not in Canada - I am in NC, USA.

FOR KATE: Thank you for your help honey.  I like how you broke it down.  Yes I have had thinning mostly at the temples and on top.  I am taking estrogen and avodart as a DHT blocker, I am also on another medicine to block Testosterone, which I won't mention because I don't want to violate the rules on the board.  But I am glad to hear you had some regrowth because I still notice some hair coming out in the shower....of course I have only been on Avodart less than 2 months and I know it says it takes several months to work but I was on Propecia prior for a year solid and switched right onto my HRT.  When did you notice regrowth on HRT/Avodart??? How many weeks, months, etc. in?

ANYONE ELSE: when did you girls start noticing body hair changes and NOTICABLE skin changes, espcecially on the facial area? and what changes specifically did you notice? (skin, cheeks, coloring, jawline, etc)? Give me some time frames if possible. 

Thank you ALL for all of the posts and love!

It means ALOT!!!!!!

Well for me the face became thinner and now after 17 months I will havew to get my driver's photo changed. As far as the skin ,you should start to see a change in texture after about 3-4 mos., the hair on my arms is almost nonexistant, this seemed to begin about 6 mos. or so. Remember that we are changing on the cellular level. Your skin will become thinner and you will bruise and bleed at the slightest scrape( I have the scars for proof!). My boobs didn't stop hurting until the 15 month, which means I believe I am going into Tanner 3? Welcome to HRT Jolene

QuoteANYONE ELSE: when did you girls start noticing body hair changes and NOTICABLE skin changes, espcecially on the facial area? and what changes specifically did you notice? (skin, cheeks, coloring, jawline, etc)? Give me some time frames if possible.

I starter HRT when I was 51.  My nipples began to get hard and sore at about 6 to 8 weeks.

My face softened after about 5 or 6 months.  I don't remember exactly but one morning a woman at my workplace visited me in my office.  She closed the door and asked me what I did to improve my skin tone, luminosity, elasticity, and general healthy appearance.  I told her that it was the Mary Kay Skin Care System.  She was flabbergasted.  "Just that?" she asked me?  I told her that I was taking estradiol every day and she broke into a wonderful, sunny smile and hugged me and celebrated with me!

The fat will redistribute itself on your body but that will take some time.  I imagine that it is pretty individualized but if you already have sore nipples so soon you should see your breasts begin to develop, first on the chest, then along the ribs toward your back.  Your face will soften and fat will move to the back of your arms.  The blood vessels on your arms and the veins on the back of your hands will become less prominent because of fat moved there.

Fat may also move to your tummy, often right below the navel, like mine did.  Your thighs will gather fat as will your hips and butt.  The hips don't get wider but the padding gives that illusion.

This isn't my medical opinion as I don't have one.  This is what happened when teenage changes took place on a much older "platform."

Hope this helps.

Wing Walker

Quote from: mclova84 on October 10, 2007, 01:05:07 AM
ANYONE ELSE: when did you girls start noticing body hair changes and NOTICABLE skin changes, espcecially on the facial area? and what changes specifically did you notice? (skin, cheeks, coloring, jawline, etc)? Give me some time frames if possible.

Facial changes were what I wanted the most, and cruelly, the changes that took the longest time. I started noticing changes by around month four, but they were very subtle. I came out at work by around month six, and two of the employees told me they already knew I was transitioning because they noticed my facial features softening (they'd both seen someone transition before and recognized the signs with me).

I always joke that E turned me into a Pufferfish, lol. Put both hands along your jawline(s), fingers against your ears, thumb dangling onto your neck. Now PUSH it all forward and upwards towards your mouth and eyes, hollowing out beneath your cheekbones, but padding your cheeks and mouth area into a pout. That's what it did to me.

~Kate~

I have been on Hrt about 3Months now, my skin had noticibly changed in 1.5-2 months, I am starting to put on weight in certain areas especially my ass and hip areas. One thing I noticed is if you clear any facial hair it will make you look 100% better. I had to stop laser due to lack on money It bothered me so much I just tweezed the noticeable facial areas, I think It looks much better. I had nice translucent skin on my upper face then..."Oh. god the hairy area" it looked wired, I felt like a freak show. And another thing with facial hair is that in my case the hair has shredding my skin, I had flakes of dry skin all over my facial hair area. My skin is very delicate after HRT, and it just cant handle the thick hairs coming up. But after tweezing as much of the hair off, the flaking dryness has gone away (and yes I do use moisturizer). My hair had the typical male pattern of bieng higher up with light recesses on the sides. And to my surprise with HRT I have baby hairs all over my front hairline and sides, I am very excited to see how much my hairline will change as it's always bothered me.  Hope This Helps

Oh my gosh girls!!!! All of these posts are getting me so excited!!!! I know that the tender nipples and breast pains were normal in the first month or so but I thought the skin, fat, and body hair changes weren't until 6 or 8 months in but it's cool to see and hear that some of you experienced this a little earlier - I will be on the lookout!  I can't wait!!!!!

Love ya much and keep more stories coming!!!! I love to hear about the changes!!!!

http://www.afraidtoask.com/breast/breastdevelopement.html

Hope this helps.

Wing Walker

Quote from: Wing Walker on October 11, 2007, 02:18:59 AM
http://www.afraidtoask.com/breast/breastdevelopement.html

Hope this helps.

Wing Walker

It did for me!

Shucks though, only at stage II, hehe.

I've bee no hrt for, urm, I can't do math, but since the middle of Aug. 2006. So, over a year anyway. Lots and lots of changes. My body still changes.

Interesting...any more stories?

I was always told that once you lost the hair from your scalp, it wouldn't re-grow so I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of it will come back.
As for body hair, mine has gotten so thin that I haven't had to shave my legs in the last 4 years. My daughter is jealous because the hair on my arms is finer than hers.
On the other hand, I wasn't one of those who are lucky enough to have some fat redistribution. I don't have any more fat on my hips and thighs than I did before HRT.
I am thankful for what changes I have had.

Karen Lyn