For those that have been on HRT for a while, I have a series of questions for you. I'm close to starting HRT. I have been thinking about it for some time.

1- I have naturally low-T now and my energy levels are not anything like they were 10 years ago (I'm 55). Did you notice an improvement after being on HRT. I get that it cannot be anything like the effects of T but did your energy levels improve or stay the same?

2- Did your cognitive abilities and mental focus improve, degrade or stay the same?

3- If you are a creative type of person, did your creativity level stay the same, improve or degrade? Note I've always attributed some of my talents at least in part to being trans...

Thanks for any information you can share. This is a scary step and although necessary, I worry that I'll lose myself.

Lauren

Imo there are a few mental changes.
People might get more emotional, intuitive, willing to make conversation and even get more creative.

Well many endos strive for testo values of below 60 ng/dl. There is a fine tuning possible, so values do not drop to zero.
Testo levels being not too low might have an influence on activity.

Well if estrogen levels are well in the female range, many endos strive for values of above 200 pg/ml, it might be possible you feel well .. and energized...
levels in the menopausal range might be quite low ... trans women are not menopausal women ...

concerning senses many people report a heightened sense of smell, and some a change in sight ... being able to see some colours better ...

many people regardless of age said they lost some height , maybe one inch, and their feet became smaller one or two shoe sizes ... there are threads on it, you can look it up.
There is more to height than just bones ... there is cartiladge in between, and there are muscles responsible for gait ...

well if you are unsure you might want to start out with a low dose.
I'd say talk with your endo about all of this.

Many people report a feeling of relief, it might be the same for you. Its like their brain expected this.


*hugs*

I'm 56 and my T started out pretty high, 826 ng/dl and I did have good energy levels when I wasn't drinking and smoking too much.  Now after 15 months my T level is 19 ng/dl and my energy levels are just as good, if not better.  The one difference is that I don't recover from hard workouts quite as fast so I have to approach physical fitness with a bit more thought and finesse.

My cognitive abilities improved.  I don't think I got any smarter but my mind is no longer constantly fogged with dysphoria so my thought processes are clearer.  Plus I quit drinking and smoking entirely so that helped too.

I believe my writing improved a bit.  This is most likely linked to what I wrote above about cognitive abilities.

I didn't lose myself at all.  While it is a big step I think I have found myself, very similar in so many ways as before except happy now and motivated.

I was on T up to age 30, E to age 54, nothing for the last 10 years and back on E for two weeks.

1. Taking into account age, my energy level are about the same but I am weaker because of the lack of T in my system. I can still do everything I need to do so I haven't noticed a difference in my life.

2. I no longer have my discomfort breaking into my thoughts so I find it easer concentrating on problems. When working on software problems I tend to hit my limit around 8 hour though I may take short breaks to think about different approaches.

3. I used distractions to help control the TG thoughts so I have many interests. These other interest are just as strong as they were before my transition and I may have picked up a few more along the way.

I go to a trainer and over the last 1.5 years I continue to increase my physical stamina and abilities. I am 53 and have been on E for 2 years 9 months. I am so much calmer now on E than on T. If I did not push myself I think I would be content to be inactive. Now the physical activity is fantastic and feels so good when the endorphins are released.

Thank you all so much for the encouraging information. My intuition tells me that I will take to E very well. I'm just one of those people that can't be impulsive and so have to check out everything to the n'th.

I'm almost more concerned with the mental effects than the physical. The "calm" that everyone talks about looks like an oasis in the distance to me. I can't wait.