I've been on HRT for going on 8 months. Six months ago my E was at 334pg/ml and T at 12ng/dl. Everything was looking good.

Now I just got results back from  my latest blood work and E is down to 34 and T is up to 196. My doctor is doubling my dose of Estradiol and Spiro.

I have not changed anything in lifestyle, eating habits, exercise  or anything else. I take my doses same time everyday and I never miss doses.

Is it common for E levels to drop this much and have to be adjusted? Any ideas what can cause it to drop?

My doctor is not overly concerned and I'm just curious if others have seen this.

Thanks girls.

More importantly, how do you FEEL? How is feminization (breast growth, fat distribution, hair growth, facial changes) going? What's more important to you? Numbers on a paper or well-being/feminization?

It is, nonetheless, strange that there is such a fluctuation. Have you changed to generics? What are you taking (don't indicate doses)?

I feel ok in general. Emotional changes that I had started feeling a couple of months ago have subsided. I was only having to shave legs and arms every 2 weeks now it back to weekly. Fat re-distribution had never really started.

I was really starting to enjoy the emotional changes (first time I ever cried because I was happy) so I do think the dosage increase is needed.

Just taking Estradiol and Spiro. They have been generics from the beginning.
I'm not so concerned about the numbers but I would like to get back to the effects I was seeing a couple of months ago.

Hi Charley,

Did you Doc do a full blood panel? I would certainly be ordering another test, in case the lab had a bad lab day. It does happen. Results can be influenced by the gender flag on your samples. If a tech see M on a lab request and they get weird F levels, that can influence how the procedure is done.

Otherwise a full panel wouldn't go astray. I'd be interested how your thyroid was coping with those readings. Have another chat with your Doc and express your concerns. Remember, your body, your responsibility. You're the one that has to live with any stuff ups, not them.

Speak to you as soon as I write Santa my wish list.

Huggs
Catherine

Ya, it was a full workup. Everything else was in normal range and about the same as the previous test.
Test and my doctor are at Howard Brown in Chicago. They deal with the transgendered extensively so I tend to trust the results. But, as you say anyone can have a bad day. Follow up test is scheduled for 6 weeks from now.

Certain foods, medications, supplements can affect how well medications, hormones are absorbed. Sublingual estradiol fluctuates significantly such that levels may be several fold higher or lower in a matter of hours, also affecting T levels greatly as higher E leads to lower T and vice-versa.

Quote from: Charley on December 17, 2015, 11:15:10 AM
Ya, it was a full workup. Everything else was in normal range and about the same as the previous test.
Test and my doctor are at Howard Brown in Chicago. They deal with the transgendered extensively so I tend to trust the results. But, as you say anyone can have a bad day. Follow up test is scheduled for 6 weeks from now.

I actually just went there wensday. I went to the one in rodgers park. I hope my labs don't come back abnormal. They did start me that day on spiro and estridol. They want me back in there for more tests in 4-6weeks. How are they there? They all seemed nice.... have you had anything bad happen with them?

I've been very happy with HB. I've been in there 4 times so far and had a good experience each time. I really like my doctor, he spends as much time with me as I need. I live out in the far north west burbs, I wish they had something out here!

Quote from: Charley on December 18, 2015, 03:58:11 PM
I've been very happy with HB. I've been in there 4 times so far and had a good experience each time. I really like my doctor, he spends as much time with me as I need. I live out in the far north west burbs, I wish they had something out here!

Yea I live in the south burbs. I hear ya on that one. When I first called them a week and a half ago they were not taking appointments til middle of January. I was so upset..... Then I started making my appointment and the girl told me that rodgers park was open the following week if I wanted. But to know it was under construction. Anyway I am happy to hear you have had good experiences with them.

That's a pretty extreme difference. All I can think of is maybe your body is still settling, and maybe the levels are bouncing back for the moment. The previous blood test has your levels close to their extremes. I believe the high end for E in cis women is in the 400's during the high point of the cycle, otherwise maybe around the 100's or 200's depending on where you are in the cycle. And then to drop to 34 is a really big difference. Your T level was also in a rather extreme range, because mine was 16 a while back (32 now) and at 16 my doctor was asking if I had had my balls removed... So yeah, I'm guessing anything in the teens is pretty low, and so maybe your body is trying to readjust... 196 is still in the low end for a male, but obviously high for a female. I'd talk to your doctor more about this but also maybe have some patience and get tested more often if you can. Such a big difference would be the most concerning part of all this if your meds have been unchanged. I don't know, maybe you just need a dose increase.

Quote from: Ashey on December 18, 2015, 07:28:15 PM
I believe the high end for E in cis women is in the 400's during the high point of the cycle

I have a lab range that indicates 640 as the high end during mid-cycle. Labs vary. Women vary.