Heya all,

Basically due to moving town i've changed GPs (Im in the UK) and this has coincided with running out of hormone patches. I have an appointment and should get more at the end of next week, but unfortunately I won't have any until then. I'm pretty sure this isn't dangerous to my health, as people come off hormones for various reasons, but I was wondering if there will be any effects over the week?

Welcome to Susan's Place. Possible effects are hot flashes and mood changes but not everybody has those feelings. I have been off hormone twice with the last period 10 year long as of now.

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I'm on patches and they can be cycled 3 on and 1 off

In the last two years, I've been on and off hormones. I wish I could say I've been more consistent with HRT but I haven't. HRT really hasn't done any drastic changes to my body anyway, besides maybe clearing my face and reducing facial hair growth. But I can honestly say mood swings for sure. You probably won't be off hormones as long as I was, but just putting it out there I would go through really bad stages of depression. I have been on hormones consistently for a period of time now, and my state of mind has become better and more stable.

It took 2 years if I'm honest, before hrt really started changing my body, sure I had grown breasts and what not, but I wasn't until the stuff had really sat in my body that I started to see the difference.  Me andy wife will be trying to get pregnant in the coming months which means no hormones for a while, from everything I have read, everything returns to prevent hrt pretty quickly, as far as levels, but would take months to reverse long term body changes, so a few days or weeks off not a big deal.

I had to go off of E, and, even worse yet, take several T injections.   Just the thought of that happening was sufficient for a huge meltdown.   But, the actual time of being on T instead of E wasn't that terrible.   Probably the most notable thing was the return of male odor, along with a couple of erections in the morning.  I didn't have hot flashes, and, surprisingly, didn't have any notable mental effects.   It was a stressful time in my life due to other circumstances - perhaps I just didn't have time to dwell on the hormonal effects that were occurring.

Quote from: Kathleenmarie on October 30, 2015, 08:25:00 PM
Me andy wife will be trying to get pregnant in the coming months which means no hormones for a while, from everything I have read, everything returns to prevent hrt pretty quickly, as far as levels, but would take months to reverse long term body changes, so a few days or weeks off not a big deal.

I thought long term body changes on HRT were irreversible. If they're not then I'd definitely be more optimistic about possibly going on HRT.

Quote from: heholetsgo on October 29, 2015, 09:15:13 PM
Heya all,

Basically due to moving town i've changed GPs (Im in the UK) and this has coincided with running out of hormone patches. I have an appointment and should get more at the end of next week, but unfortunately I won't have any until then. I'm pretty sure this isn't dangerous to my health, as people come off hormones for various reasons, but I was wondering if there will be any effects over the week?

Over a week, really nothing. You're on patches which are slow release with a good half life. Nothing to worry about.

For me I feel terrible without some estrogen. I had to stop once for some surgery. It was so nice to return to a normal level of hormones. I should have never received any other bad hormones to be honest, yuck.

Thanks everyone Im sure it'l be ok, I was just worried about any negatives!

I stopped 2 weeks before I had VFS with Yeson.

Felt like crap for a week. Hot flashes and feeling down.

But I knew it was for something far greater so that kept me going.

I've been off estrogen for 2 weeks now leading up to my GRS surgery tomorrow, actually.  It's been a rough go.  Much of the mental discomfort, anxiety, stress that I used to experience before transitioning has come roaring back.  I can feel the smothering effect of rising T in my body.  I've had headaches that I've never had before.  My spouse has noted the change in my temperament.  I will not be allowed to resume HRT until day 6 post-op, so I've got one more week to tough it out.  I'm expecting a difficult week ahead, despite having my GRS dream come true.

I've been on estrogen since early teens. Now in my 50's. I've had situations where I could not get my refill, new doctor, etc. For me, when I stop estrogen, at about two to three days afterwards I develop a 'glow', as if my body is trying to flood itself with whatever estrogen reserves there are (my theory).  At about 2 weeks without, I will develop nauseating painful migraines, and then the hot flashes ensue. All of these awful things subside quickly (in about a day or so) once I resume with my normal daily e.   I've learned to keep about six months reserve just for these situations. These symptoms occurred with pill form.  When I was on delestrogen injections, it never happened so markedly. 

My first FFS procedure forced me to be off HRT for 2 weeks. Other than being more angrier than usual I didn't feel much of a change. I am now preparing for my 2nd phase of FFS soon and am again beginning to step down my doses gradually so it won't be as much of a shock to my system, rather than quit abruptly. I've also done that when I stupidly missed going to my doctor to have him write me another prescription and my doses were running low.

I had SRS 3 month ago and stopped hormones for 3 weeks therefore. I had absolutely no sideeffects from pausing.

Quote from: T90 on October 31, 2015, 09:21:03 AM
I thought long term body changes on HRT were irreversible. If they're not then I'd definitely be more optimistic about possibly going on HRT.

Some are reversible over time (to a point), and others will be permanent. Requiring either being surgically corrected or just permanent. There's a section on HRT effects with sub sections on reversible and irreversible changes. I'd suggest really doing some research.

I would take the word "reversible" with a grain of salt... Having never tried to detransition (nor would I want to), I can't speak to it from experience. However, common sense dictates that while hormones have altered the composition of your body, chances are that you will maintain some evidence of that change, just as the sun has an accumulative effect on your skin over a lifetime. Just because you stay indoors for 3 months doesn't mean that your skin hasn't been sun damaged.

Looking at the timelines of Transition of say 3 years, I have no doubt in my mind it would be at least another 4 to 5 years to somewhat detransition (with age, slowing of metabolism etc..). Not to mention the widthdrawl symptoms, it would definitely not be a on/off switch or a pleasant time.