Quote from: Blush on March 29, 2015, 02:12:04 PM
We're not pregnant though, and cis women don't experience these level 99% of the time. I'm confused as to what you get from levels in the thousands, when literally everyone besides you seems have levels in the low hundreds?
The point was that if pregnant women don't die left and right (the risk of thrombosis has been evaluated at
0.05-0.2%) with levels reaching up to 75,000 pg/ml (and some women experience multiple pregnancies during their lifetime), levels
far lower than these like in my case, around 4,000, shouldn't pose a risk. It's just common sense. What I get from higher levels which I didn't get at lower levels (i.e. 1,000 and less) is improved breast growth, feeling better, having more energy, skin is softer, increased fat redistribution and overall better feminization, looking *much* younger, strong nails, shinier hair, good libido, etc.
I've personally known women who suffered from blood clots on low levels of estradiol while on ethinyl estradiol because doctors didn't realize that estradiol was only part of the picture, that ethinyl estradiol also affected estrogen receptors and later switched to injectable estradiol with quite high levels similar to mine and had no recurrence of health complications. They also welcomed, much to their surprise, the increased breast growth and overall better feminization.
I'm not saying that everyone needs high levels like me, it depends on each person's sensitivity and circumstances but to impose one standard level on everyone is ignoring the simple and undeniable fact that individuals vary in their sensitivity and that higher levels, necessary for some, don't appear to pose significant risks, otherwise there would be much less women living on our planet and much less babies which is NOT the case.
Take male prostate cancer patients, for instance, genetic men, who were given injectable estradiol, with levels ranging 400-700 pg/ml. Hundreds were observed and tested. Researchers concluded this treatment did not increase cardiovascular risk nor thrombosis; in fact, their conclusion was that it might protect against the latter. Why? Because, similar to ciswomen, the form of estradiol was bio-identical and it was given non-orally.
When you understand how estradiol (bio-identical vs. not) is metabolized in the body, its half-life, the mechanism whereby it increases clotting (i.e. portal vein from intestines to liver and estrogen receptors) and when you take into account the facts that I pointed out above, the conclusion, at least to me and my doctors, is quite clear.
Our goal, contrary to ciswomen, when taking hormones, isn't relief of menopausal symptoms but development of secondary sexual female characteristics and suppression of male ones, at a time when contrary to ciswomen, our growth hormone levels aren't as high as theirs were during their puberty. So the levels that are imposed on them, although effective for relief of menopause *might* not be for attaining our goals.
I personally think and it is my opinion only, that it is unfortunate that a maximum level be imposed because some transwomen needing higher levels for better results suffer because of this rule, a rule that is not based on any sound scientific facts. Just ask your doctors the reasons why and use your common sense. Make your own conclusion. 100-200 might be fine for some but might not be for others.
I think it is important to work with a doctor at all times but also to work
proactively with them, ask questions, etc. so that the best, most effective and sound treatment be given. Blindly trusting doctors can potentially harm patients because doctors are simply human and do make mistakes too occasionally, are sometimes not aware of all the facts so bringing to light their reasons for doing something, arguing with them, questioning them should be welcomed by a doctor who is humble enough to accept that they don't know everything and that they can perhaps learn something from their patients. In doing so, they only become better at what they do and in the end, the patients benefit.
My only intention here is to make everyone think more, become more involved in their treatment without EVER self-medicating so that they can gain from it, all the benefits all the while minimizing their risks. That is all I gain from my posts, nothing else.
My heart is in the right place. I offer my opinions, I am not a doctor and do what you will with what you read. Bring it up with your doctor next time you talk, share their feedback with us, get details, etc. The more informed we are, the better it is for all of us. I remain open to constructive criticism, to disagreement as it is the only means of furthering knowledge and sharpening our minds.
P.S.: there is also no guarantee that higher levels may bring the results you want. Sometimes, there is only so much breast growth we can get, imposed by our genes, and perhaps other circumstances.
