Hello, I'm new here or on any trans board. My 1st post.
I may give more background in another post but for now, I'd like to share this:
I'm on my 9th day of spironolactone alone
And I see and feel changes similar to those described in this thread
Not much breast development yet, but some yes, very little but it's there.
My lips started changing too, my face is already a little rounder, the hair I hate grow much less and weaker, my head hair feels and look better... what else. My flesh is softer and more sensible, my mood and mind, the way I react to things... but mostly, it was not even 12 hours I had started on spiro that I felt my testes and scrotum shrink. Thre days after, it was verrrry obvious.

I just find strange that I seem to get results from spiro similar to those of girls taking E.
I've been reading and searching different forums and it seems we all get different degrees of reactions to either E or AA, but I was surprised of such fast result with only spiro.

I have to wait till Dec. 11 for my next appointment to start the E (can't wait).

I guess my estrogen levels were high already? I know my T level was low, but still normal for my age. I'm 53... but this is rejuvenating and my genitals feel like when I was 13... when I wasn't sure if I was attracted by boys or girls, or if I could ever really become a man.

I feel fantastic and maybe for the 1st time see things and the future without a sigh of depression.

Mod Edit- No dosages please. TOS 8

It's best to check with your doctor and not self medicate. I look forward to seeing you around the forums. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

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Archlord, enjoy this time in your second adolescence!  It is precious and sets you apart from the vast population in general.

This is my second time around, first time in 1996 for 7 months.  Started at a higher dosage, guided by my Endo understanding I know already what I am in for.

First time around 20 years, a week in had the result of emotions growing out of control along with libido...not unbearable, but certainly strong.  At month three, emotions settled and libido chilled, but never truly went away.  My approach to sex changed drastically though, no desire to 'take the lead'.  Was on oral with progesterone and spironolactone.

Started again on the 20th of this month with transdermal and oral spiro.  I can say that my emotions have certainly responded well enough and are welcome.  Finding it a lot easier to connect with people I interact with throughout the day, though that is a norm for me anyway.  A kind of a peace has squelched the internal conflict of T dominance.  This has been the primary change so far, though some physical stuff is starting to manifest.

Nipples have been hard since day 4 and hot flashes started yesterday.  Last pree-HRT blood work showed E at 52 with T at 296, so Endo felt it appropriate to kick start things.  This was happening anyway, perfect time to start building!  Felt the first inklings of pain in aureola area this morning.  Was 'warned' that things would move faster this time; time will tell.

Last time around I made it into an A cup by month 6 and about half of that stuck around for the past 20 years...no complaint at all.  Will be interesting to see where they get too...

Again, congrats on following your heart along, what I pray will be, a most beautiful path for you!

thanks, I modified my post, sorry

Was wondering though if anyone else saw changes on spironolactone alone

...and also if I can expect to feel weaker with less T
sorry also if I intrude on someone else's thread, sorry Archlord, guess maybe I should start my own thread
:-)

Soli, the short answer to the first question is yes.  Remember that each of us is different and the effects I experience may not be the same for you.  Spironolactone will cause changes on its own, the primary reported is thinning of body hair over time.  This is actually a huge thing, even if it does not seem so in the greater scheme.

In my case, a drop in T prior to beginning HRT was having an effect on upper body strength and I felt a general fatigue most of the time.  Since starting HRT, the fatigue has become a little more pronounced by the end of the day but muscle strength seems to have stabilized.  This is relative and not universal.  Several sisters of mine have reported that they have not experienced any loss of strength, so YMMV.

Archlord, what has been your experience so far in this area?

How the heck have you experienced all these changes so quick? I experienced very little changes from HRT. All I really use HRT for these days is slowing facial hair growth and keeping my face clear/smooth.

No breast development apart from nipple sensitivity which quickly went away after a few months, no fat redistribution, butt/hip changes, etc.

Seems like you might be one of the lucky ones if things are happening this quickly for you!

@kaitylynn , i havent experienced any strenght loss from HRT. I allready had dropped my muscle mass before HRT so if really i am losing strenght i dont notice it anymore.  I was lifting 405 lbs squat and 315 lbs bench 1 year ago.  I barely do my  series of squat with 135lbs now.
-Also instead of losing energy i actually gained energy. I require less sleeping. It was difficult for me to wake up early (before 10 am)  now after 8:00 AM i have hard time staying in bed.

@Roni, i dont know i am suprised either. I thought that i would have terrible result due to the fact that i used Testosterone for 1 year and a half on early 20s.  My breast is still sore and nipples are sensible as hell but it stopped to expand after 3 day, waiting for next wave.  As for butt, i allready had big butt for a men i think i mentionned this and last month i did eat wayyyyy to much and took 9 lbs back.  Most of it went directly to abdomen but i guess some went on butt .

It also appears like my bottom eyelashes grew longer too.  it looks like i am wearing permanent mascara this is weird. ( could be side-effect from Nutricap too)

picture of eyelashes natural :


I am not on spiro by the way i am on androcur. 

I keep thinking that due to my hormonal imbalance prior HRT, my mind allready knew how to react to estrogen. ( i am not doctor)

@Soli, you are in a forum where you are more then welcome. No worry

Update: Breast buds have started to form. There is hard mass that is about 3/4 inch size under nipples. They are less errect and sensible but god.... these buds are even more painful so the pain just changed spot.

Now i cant do threadmill at the gym without having them bouncing.. what a discomfort lol.

excited 

Update 9 day later.

Last weekend i had a terrible depression, i almost killed myself and wanted to detransition. Last friday i took ( not prescribed) nolvedex, clomid and hcg to restart my natural testosterone system. I wont explain the whole story about what happened(went to hospital 2 days) but 2 days after i decided to keep going with transition. nolvedex is a strong estrogen receptor blocker just like spiro or androcur does for T and it has an halflife of 4 days and HCG is pure natural T booster.. imagine the mess combined with estrogen and anti-androgen.

Anyway i am back on my foots and the E is starting to have effects again.

Talking about progress :
-Breast buds are fully formed, nipples looks surelevated
-Areola started to expand irregulary(looks like a spike of 1 cm lighter color leaving the areola circle on both nipples).
-Areola skin changed it is more dry and a little darker.
-Some fat started to collect creating a  circular look around breast. (probably begining of tanner stage 3)
-Body hair growth seems to have  slowed down.
-New lip skin that i mentionned earlier is getting darker(it was light orange) at least for bottom , new top lip is still light orange.
- i feel like some fat is adding to my cheeks, unsure about this one but i think something changed in this area.

I am hyped

I'm glad you are in a better place mentally now. Transitioning is a hard path for anybody. You'll have to keep your head in the game but it will all be worth it.

You are really pretty by the way. You remind me of Katy Perry. Nice makeup application, and I also love your new hair; it suits you a lot better than your previous and you pass more because of it. You'll do great with transition, and you haven't even gotten FFS yet. I know FFS was something you said you wanted to do. You'll be a knockout.

When I started to transition in the 90's (damn, I really think OLD every time I say it) I found out that a majority of the initial changes were on the 'inside' and not the outside.  For the first few months, it did not seem like a lot was happening with the body...but holy moly, the 'insides' came alive!  I knew that there would be a shift towards emotional energy as I had sisters that were ahead of me.  What I was not prepared for is what that actually meant.  If you can, seek out the support of sisters (and brothers) that are transitioning.  They are really the only ones that will truly understand what you are going through.  IRL meetings, bonding and friendship are awesome and invaluable.

Just a few thoughts on early transition 'control', begin a regimen of meditation to help with the myriad of thoughts that will be starting to roll through.  This is something I had established as a teen, much to simply survive what being a trans teen with ZERO support was doing to me inside.  It helps hugely to be able to center and evaluate what is happening with feelings and the energy that they represent.

It is ok to question what your are doing.  Self evaluation is a tool to help us recognize the path that works for us and each of us is different.  If you feel that strongly that there is a question, would it possibly be a good idea to examine that feeling?  Be sure of what you want (as sure as one can be) and reach out when thoughts hit.  We are here to hear you, support and love you.

Again, I am certainly no expert and can only relay what has and is working/ed for me.  I know first hand how tough this can be...but also know how fulfilling it is as well.  Take what I say with a grain.  I hope it comes across as I intend it, as simple sisterly love.

Thank you.. i live in a small city even if i am from Quebec and i dont have any trans friend. I went back to my city of birth to be with my family but by doing so, i left Ottawa where i could have met a lot of people living same thing.

This is hard for me as i am out only to 2-3 friend and i only see one of them occasionally.  My others friends, i havent seen them for 5 years so i am alone with this. When not at work, i am at home, no social life really. 
The only support i get is once a week by a psychologist.

IC.  At the very least, you have the community here.  Are there support groups through LGBT centers in your area?  I know it sounds odd, but I am from a small town in Southern California where there are limited resources.  I have large communities to the south and north, but my area is still small.  I was able to locate a support group in a nearby town that has helped me immensely, if only to reiterate that I am not truly alone.

I was house bound raising kids in the 90's with only work as a break.  Was hard to find people, but as I started to reach out sisters started to reveal and visit.  Seemed a slow process, but eventually I realized that there is a vast number of us out in the world and we support one another as best we can.

Main thing, keep your chin up, chest out proud

I am jealous of your quick results. That must mean your body is designed to run more efficiently on estrogen

I am starting a new diet today.
I will be eating 1500 kcal per day  high protein based diet.( 189 gr protein , 82 gr carbs and 52 gr fat.)

You may think that 1500 kcal is nothing but DAMN you have no idea how big it is when it is only  horse/chicken/almonds  and vegetables.  I feel like i eat as much as i did when i was doing bodybuilding.

My point on doing this is i want to trim the waistline and i dont want to do it to drasticly and regain everything after. I also want to keep a decent muscle tone.  I find fitness woman look attractive and this is what i am aiming for.

You may think that due to high protein input i will bulk up but nope... the calorie and carbs deficit is to important for that.  Also being on estrogen and anti-androgen is making it even harder to gain muscle(if any).  I believe that my muscle tone will appear more feminine over time.   I am trying to concentrate efforts on my lower body ( flexibility, butt, legs, thighs, abdominals) then im burning the extra fat  appearing on my arms  due to muscle loss.


So i took new measurements , i gained a lot of weight last month ( gained 10 lbs ,i ate like a pig).

Today measurements 159 lbs(12 nov 2015):
35 chest -- this measurement might be uncorrect due to my back muscularity still around.
31 underbust
28.5 waist
37.5 inch hips
13.75 bicep ( flex)
11.5 bicep (rest)
13.5 inch neck
13.75 inch calve
10.5 inch forearm
21.5 thigh

Last month measurements 149lbs(8 oct 2015 ):
34 chest -- this measurement might be uncorrect due to my back muscularity still around.
31 underbust
28 waist
36.5 inch hips
14 bicep ( flex)
11.5 bicep (rest)
14 inch neck
14 inch calve
11 inch forearm
21 thigh

I am happy, from those number i can clearly see boobs growth difference and that i am getting curves on hips and thigh however i gained a lot on abdominals.  I suppose time will fix this for redistribution pattern.

These are the kind of results I wish I had. 7 months and nothing. Internally or externally.

Congratulations on your success.

I havent posted update for 10 days. here it is :

-My lips have continued to increase in size ( more the bottom one)
-My butt has started to collect fat and fill on sides.  i am so happy!!!    
- I am not getting siginficant changes in breast size.. something is happening here for sure they hurt ( getting close to A cup ,  maybe 2/3 of it)
-Bodyhair takes longer to regrowth.
-Something is up with my face ( probably fat redistribution) i just cant get what changed.. it could be the skin getting softer and softer too.

I decided to not do the Diet i talked about.  I will just eat less and avoid protein i feel to muscular.

here is a new album of me dated of today : 

http://imgur.com/a/pIuem

Update as last day of november:

Body changes:

- Breast growth seems to have stopped after  huge breast buds that it gave me ( they are 2 inch diameter).
- Fat keeps collecting around the butt/upper hips (sadly nothing on lower hips and thigh yet)  but at the same time i am gaining a lot to abdominal wich suck..
- I thought my waist was slimming( still at 28 inch) but in fact it was illusion, it is fat on upper hips that makes it appear smaller.
- My butt still keep filling on sides --->Hips are now at 38 1/4 inch size.
- My bodyfat is now at 20.8% at 158 lbs.    Last year i was at  5.6% at 176 lbs !!. This is around 32lbs of muscle mass loss.
- I cant find my penis, if you see it somewhere please let me know .  Seriously it lost so much size i am worried.
- Libido is still gone, i didnt feel any need for a month.
- nose blackheads are gone, my nose is now soft to the touch.

Social/Psychological changes:

- I am now full-time at home ( it was kind of bull->-bleeped-<- with my parents when i decided i wanted to be in girl mode at home. It is better but they still dont want me to access certain zone in the house.. yet)  and i will go socialy full time on january 1st 2016
- I told my personal trainer about what i was doing. He was fine with it and actually hyped about having this new challenge ( he is a reputed personal trainer that lead bodybuilder/fitness woman and mens into competition but never have dealed with trans.). He will help me acchieve my goal.
- I am getting questionned everyday about my condition.. i guess it is good sign.

How tall are you? Those measurements with your weight sound odd to me. I only weigh ten pounds more, but I look way bigger.

My measurements are

13 in arms
30 waist
35 chest
36 hips
38 butt
46 shoulders
14 calves
19 thighs
11 forearms

I have no idea about lifting ability, I've never stepped foot in a gym, I just do yoga everyday, but to me, I look way bigger than you. Maybe it's the shoulders. What size are your shoulders?

I also do think that you have a pretty good feminine shape, particularly for not being on HRT for very long.

Quote from: Elsa Delyth on November 30, 2015, 07:36:29 PM
How tall are you? Those measurements with your weight sound odd to me. I only weigh ten pounds more, but I look way bigger.

My measurements are

13 in arms
30 waist
35 chest
36 hips
38 butt
46 shoulders
14 calves
19 thighs
11 forearms

I have no idea about lifting ability, I've never stepped foot in a gym, I just do yoga everyday, but to me, I look way better than you. Maybe it's the shoulders. What size are your shoulders?

I also do think that you have a pretty good feminine shape, particularly for not being on HRT for very long.

i am currently 5.7ft , my shoulder are 15 inch shoulder to shoulder and 45 inch circumference.

I had 17.5 inch biceps last year, they are tiny 13.5 inch flexed now just so you understand lol.
I was lifting 315 lbs bench,  405 lbs squat, 495 lbs deadlift