Hey all, I was just wondering.. I feel some effects, but wondered if my feelings are normal. Basically my sex drive is low as stated and I feel more calmer. But then I get this nagging feeling like in don't need to go further and I should stay male.... For a little bit of time, then I remember that I hate being male in general and if I even stopped t blockers I would be depressed even worse. Any one else got a similar experience?

Congrats Chloe. I really didn't feel any different adding spiro, except that it has done wonders for my high blood pressure.

It takes a couple months to be fully effective so it will probably sneak up on you.

First Endo visit in 6 days....I can't sleep....

Good luck Jessika Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Jessika on May 07, 2015, 12:36:20 PM
First Endo visit in 6 days....I can't sleep....

Good luck Jessika!! And yea Kate, I know it has only been 3 days but I have noticed I'm not as horny... And that I am a bit more mellow. No complaints on this but is this normal? And to anyone who has gone on E what should I expect (as I will soonish) on the first week and first month *hugs* Chloe!

Quote from: chloeD33 on May 06, 2015, 06:46:19 AM
Hey all, I was just wondering.. I feel some effects, but wondered if my feelings are normal. Basically my sex drive is low as stated and I feel more calmer. But then I get this nagging feeling like in don't need to go further and I should stay male.... For a little bit of time, then I remember that I hate being male in general and if I even stopped t blockers I would be depressed even worse. Any one else got a similar experience?

OMG Chloe, this is exactly how I felt!  I even told my therapist that after taking Spiro for about a week, my disphoria wasn't as bad and I felt fine presenting as male at work.  Prior to that, I would have panic attacks out of nowhere, now, none of that's occurred.  But of course, the disphoria would still come back, just not as bad.  Maybe it could be a placebo effect.

Anyway, as for what I experienced from spiro:  Getting sleeply every time I take it, extremely dry skin, constant thirst, the need to constantly use the bathroom, somewhat calmer, and although my libido doesn't seemed to have lessened all that much, it is much tougher to keep it...well, you know, up and about. 

Omg autumn that is too funny xD! I feel all those things too. My libido is still present but more where it was when I was like 13 or so, in other words only when I truly have a desire to use it can i. Soon it will be (hopefully) no existent. I hate the male form of sex and such. I also have been getting headaches recently.. *hugs* Chloe

Quote from: Jessika on May 07, 2015, 12:36:20 PM
First Endo visit in 6 days....I can't sleep....

Good luck! I was on pins and needles myself.

Hi all,
Just got back from my Endo. I went in Male mode and all went great. I wasn't even nervous.
We talked a little bit as it was my first time there.

He actually prescribed me Estradiol and Spiro but I will not receive them until next week in the mail.
They(VA) mail prescriptions to me without cost. I like that.

I thought I was going to have to take the paper slip to a pharmacy...Nope. hehe

I asked him about Finasteride and he said he wanted to see what the initial outcome is first and go from there, very understandable. Very nice man and sincere.

He actually prescribed me the Hormones before I even got my Bloodwork done. When I asked him he told me that since I never took female hormones before, he was sure that my T was much higher than my E...Common Sense huh?

I agreed.

They took 5, yes FIVE vials of blood for my tests...Wow, really? That many? I wonder why? Can anyone add to that question?

Anyway, I am very happy and will be camping out at my mailbox next week...well..Not really but it's positive thinking haha.

I will add my Ticker once I start and keep all up to date.

*hugs*

Jessika

Quote from: chloeD33 on May 04, 2015, 02:27:14 PM
Hey everyone! So today was my first day one spiro! Needless to say a very good day. My doctor has put me on it for now and in a few months will be allowed estrogen! My question to all of you guys is while on Spiro what did you notice and when for: low sex drive, erection loss, facail hair growing slower and well anything else that you had gone through. Thanks xox

Congrats girl it's an amazing feeling huh?

I started on Spiro like 3 months after e and I've been on Spiro for 2. My sex drive definitely has changed and it changed quick. It seems like my libido overall is lower but it comes and goes in cycles. Like when it's high it's ridiculously high (think of a cat in heat), but then its gone. Erections still are there when I'm in sexually situations, and not there when I'm not. The last parts a plus! could u imagine seeing a girl in public fully torqued. That would be embarrassing.

Quote from: Jessika on May 13, 2015, 10:36:16 AM

They took 5, yes FIVE vials of blood for my tests...Wow, really? That many? I wonder why? Can anyone add to that question?

They likely did a full workup on you, including CMP, CBC, HGB A1C, Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides), Thyroid,  etc and all that plus your sex hormone levels.

In addition to your sex hormones they want to make sure nothing else is wrong with you. E can increase your triglycerides and may affect glucose metabolism. Oral meds also can affect your liver so they want to make sure your liver is healthy.

To be honest a lot of it seems like defensive medicine but it's good to have an initial baseline of where you are. You may discover some other things that may need attention.

I'm 17 days in (E & Spiro). I haven't felt much different. A couple little things (nipples are itchy, pee a lot, less disphoria). Nothing major. Libido is the same as it has been for quite a while, which isn't super high, but not super low either. I'm 39, so I'm not that young. So, I expect small and not as quick of changes as some others.

If anything, it's more psychological that I am actually taking them and moving forward. It's like "It's Official!" and I feel more like a woman that I ever have. I don't mind being in guy mode, but I feel more like a woman (which makes going out in girl mode a lot easier! I just do it and it feels normal). I started a little late, but I started a timeline from today and I'm doing weekly pictures to make a video. Probably do 6 month updates.

Quote from: PC509 on May 14, 2015, 02:30:28 PM
I'm 17 days in (E & Spiro). I haven't felt much different. A couple little things (nipples are itchy, pee a lot, less disphoria). Nothing major. Libido is the same as it has been for quite a while, which isn't super high, but not super low either. I'm 39, so I'm not that young. So, I expect small and not as quick of changes as some others.

If anything, it's more psychological that I am actually taking them and moving forward. It's like "It's Official!" and I feel more like a woman that I ever have. I don't mind being in guy mode, but I feel more like a woman (which makes going out in girl mode a lot easier! I just do it and it feels normal). I started a little late, but I started a timeline from today and I'm doing weekly pictures to make a video. Probably do 6 month updates.

25 days here.  (Not that far off from you.  Started 4/20)

Funny you mentioned the itchy nipples.  I had that too.  Now the nipples hurt when I touch them.  (Yeah I know...don't touch them and they won't hurt)   

The peeing a lot is crazy.  Long drives make to be an adventure. 

At 39 and 43 changes will take their time.   I don't go out much in girl mode (only have twice).  I'm happy to ride this out and see where it takes me.  As changes occur, I think I'll be braver to venture out. 

Everyone's experience is going to be different. I felt a huge since of relief to finally be starting. That quickly went away though. I started feeling nauseous within a week for the first month. It was actually starting to get better after the first two weeks, but then my dose was upped. The positive mental effects I hear about within the first week took 3 months to happen to me and I'm convinced at almost 6 months in that I'm only about halfway to unlocking my full emotional range. My skin is only just now starting to get softer.

Oh and I was almost 33 when I started.

I'm 36 and I'm off to a fast, start. Already at 34B after 5 months. Don't think that you have to be young to get good results but it should help. 30s is not all that old.

I got itchy, sore  nipples as well and continuous pain.

Dysphoria is more or less gone now but I have other things to contend with.

I don't pee a lot which is odd given that I take two diuretics (spiro and HCTZ) for blood pressure regulation. I do get leg cramps from time to time.

My E arrived in the mail today but my Spiro is a day behind. I do not want to start the E alone so it's sitting on the counter just staring at me. LOL
Hopefully tomorrow will mark a day in history for me.

I need to get my Ticker ready. yay

Quote from: Jessika on May 18, 2015, 01:37:29 PM
My E arrived in the mail today but my Spiro is a day behind. I do not want to start the E alone so it's sitting on the counter just staring at me. LOL
Hopefully tomorrow will mark a day in history for me.

I need to get my Ticker ready. yay

My dr wanted me to start E and wait a couple days before starting the Spiro.  Why? I have no clue.

My first three months I didn't even notice anything on E and spiro (other than having to pee a lot). After my dosage upped and I started finasteride I noticed A LOT of differences though. Never knew it was possible to cry and laugh at the same time until I was about 5 months in.
oh it's possible. lol. pretty fun I mist say. first your laughing than you start crying out of no where. xD

Wow!  So many more joining us in the E class of 2015!  I don't take Spiro so I can't give any advice/thoughts on that.  I'm on Avadart and Finasteride along with E via IM.  I already had a very low T reading so I'm getting really good results with that combo.

I think I will start a new thread so that we can keep track of all of us who have just started out on this magical journey.

Ladies of the E class of 2015 let's sit back and enjoy the ride!!

 

chloeD33,

Congratulations on your first step in becoming who you want to be. I have just started my third week on both spironolactone and estradiol and I feel wonderful. Just in the last few days my nipples are sore and the little bit of breasts I do have are firming up. One thing that is really noticeable is that I feel so mellow. Also, no erections unless I make it happen.

And to Jessika..................

I too am being treated by the VA and they have been super supportive. I was so nervous seeing the endocrinologist that I thought I was going to faint. But he was most reassuring and acted like nothing was out of the ordinary. I get weekly counseling and my mental health doctors are really cool. I never expected this from the VA but now that it is a reality. My blood tests were only 3 vials and I have a follow up on July 6th. They have ordered blood tests and a bone density test. I arrive two hours early for blood work so he has the results when I see him.