Quote from: Rachel Lynn on July 01, 2016, 08:10:29 PM
Do what you think is right for you. Keep up the great healthy life style

I knew 3 weeks into HRT I would never go off HRT. I started at a higher level and only went up from there. In time I had to socially transition. What was once impossible became possible. What changed over time was my self confidence.

Thank you, I know I love how I feel on it...and yes its been a confidence booster for sure

I can second the roller coaster LOL... It hit me pretty hard when I started changing drastically during my 3-5 months on HRT. I had some roommates that always started fights with me even though I was paying like 90% of the bills at the time. It was pretty crazy and I ended up making many poor branded choices. Probably the most notable was choosing to move out into a place where I thought my new roommate was a good friend. I was wrong turned out he was an alcoholic, which I couldn't really tell about this guy until I moved in. When he realized I was growing breasts he would grope me whenever his mind went adrift being under the influence. As well as 'further' terrible things. I had massive downs vs. ups and to be honest as it got worse and worse I was called terrible names on a daily basis towards the time we were moving out of the place. He went his separate ways and I went my own. It may not hit you right away, but this is only a battle you can fight yourself and overcome. If you can manage therapy I'd say you'll be better prepared for it. And when you do you'll find a much stronger grasp on your will if you succeed. Staying upbeat and positive is key to winning, although it may be harder at other times. If it gets too dark look at the brighter sides in your life and make them even stronger. I deal with stress very well so I was able to overcome it - it may be from my former service experience that allowed me to overcome the obstacle. But I can't determine that was the main contributing factor, but what I do know I gained a backbone and a solid will from my ridiculous upbringing is for sure.

At 6 months. I don't know if I'd say I'm more emotionally unstable.
I do know that I'll cry even easier at certain television shows,but it doesn't seem out of hand. I cried at these shows before,but now it's easier and feels good

Oh , I'm speaking of Doctor who. Loosing rose was emotional, but seeing river die after having seen the episode with the current doctor. OMG. that was heartbreaking

It sounds like you're on a one way trip and and a decision to play it safe going to result in you asking again and again until you take the next step. And then the next, and next...

I'm really stubborn and stopped on a low dose for about 5 years until stress made me ill. I'm now on a high transitioning level of HRT and its slowly getting more difficult to deal with not transitioning further.

All this fighting it has been really hard and I don't recommend it. Rightly or wrongly I've reasons for doing this, and I'd suggest that you'd want really good ones because fighting who you are is a painful loosing battle. Best just get though it and on with life if you can. I've no idea what Ill be doing in 5 or 10 years, or even two.

Quote from: Raye on July 02, 2016, 03:33:13 AM
I can second the roller coaster LOL... It hit me pretty hard when I started changing drastically during my 3-5 months on HRT. I had some roommates that always started fights with me even though I was paying like 90% of the bills at the time. It was pretty crazy and I ended up making many poor branded choices. Probably the most notable was choosing to move out into a place where I thought my new roommate was a good friend. I was wrong turned out he was an alcoholic, which I couldn't really tell about this guy until I moved in. When he realized I was growing breasts he would grope me whenever his mind went adrift being under the influence. As well as 'further' terrible things. I had massive downs vs. ups and to be honest as it got worse and worse I was called terrible names on a daily basis towards the time we were moving out of the place. He went his separate ways and I went my own. It may not hit you right away, but this is only a battle you can fight yourself and overcome. If you can manage therapy I'd say you'll be better prepared for it. And when you do you'll find a much stronger grasp on your will if you succeed. Staying upbeat and positive is key to winning, although it may be harder at other times. If it gets too dark look at the brighter sides in your life and make them even stronger. I deal with stress very well so I was able to overcome it - it may be from my former service experience that allowed me to overcome the obstacle. But I can't determine that was the main contributing factor, but what I do know I gained a backbone and a solid will from my ridiculous upbringing is for sure.

Thanks
I do need to toughen up and Im working on that, Ive been lucky so far that I havent encounter much negativity, but I am learning to cope with it slowly, so its all in the prep I think. Im actually considering telling or at least educating someone today and your post makes me think a lil harder about it.

Quote from: StevieC9 on July 02, 2016, 04:00:38 AM
At 6 months. I don't know if I'd say I'm more emotionally unstable.
I do know that I'll cry even easier at certain television shows,but it doesn't seem out of hand. I cried at these shows before,but now it's easier and feels good

Thank you

Quote from: AnonyMs on July 02, 2016, 04:07:23 AM
It sounds like you're on a one way trip and and a decision to play it safe going to result in you asking again and again until you take the next step. And then the next, and next...

I'm really stubborn and stopped on a low dose for about 5 years until stress made me ill. I'm now on a high transitioning level of HRT and its slowly getting more difficult to deal with not transitioning further.

All this fighting it has been really hard and I don't recommend it. Rightly or wrongly I've reasons for doing this, and I'd suggest that you'd want really good ones because fighting who you are is a painful loosing battle. Best just get though it and on with life if you can. I've no idea what Ill be doing in 5 or 10 years, or even two.

Thanks, Great info and Im wading here as it all I can do at the moment (or feel I can) but its getting better and something to think about

Thanks to all of you

I'm a big fan of "If it works, don't mess with it". If you're feeling good to great most days with the dose of E you're on and are not actively or needing to transition ASAP, why change things? Being on a low dose of E is an acceptable. There is no rule that says otherwise.

I've been on low dose E several times over the decades to help 'Reset' me emotionally. I tried transitioning in my early 20's, twice. Both times utter fails. Low dose E was a godsend. Seven years ago things need to change in my life starting with how I was NOT handling being trans. I started low dose again and again it did it's magic. I also actually started to take the trans-beast on for real. That also was like magic. For quite a number of years I've been on typical feminizing dose of E. I have a nice B cup. I live and present primarily as male. I'm not alone in this way. You just need to dress to minimize them. Being a former fatty snug fitting clothes and I never got along (in male mode). It was and is baggier clothes for me. No prob with the girls, even with a bra, which is often needed/appreciated to be wearing

Quote from: JoanneB on July 02, 2016, 08:27:30 AM
I'm a big fan of "If it works, don't mess with it". If you're feeling good to great most days with the dose of E you're on and are not actively or needing to transition ASAP, why change things?

The risk with this approach is what we're missing out on. I don't know what that is, but I can't help wonder if I'll look back and regret doing it this way one day.

Congrats on your healthy checkup. I believe that my low dose regiment has aided in lowering my blood pressure. Did you have the same effect? i wish i could lower my triglycerides.

Quote from: JoanneB on July 02, 2016, 08:27:30 AM
I'm a big fan of "If it works, don't mess with it". If you're feeling good to great most days with the dose of E you're on and are not actively or needing to transition ASAP, why change things? Being on a low dose of E is an acceptable. There is no rule that says otherwise.

I've been on low dose E several times over the decades to help 'Reset' me emotionally. I tried transitioning in my early 20's, twice. Both times utter fails. Low dose E was a godsend. Seven years ago things need to change in my life starting with how I was NOT handling being trans. I started low dose again and again it did it's magic. I also actually started to take the trans-beast on for real. That also was like magic. For quite a number of years I've been on typical feminizing dose of E. I have a nice B cup. I live and present primarily as male. I'm not alone in this way. You just need to dress to minimize them. Being a former fatty snug fitting clothes and I never got along (in male mode). It was and is baggier clothes for me. No prob with the girls, even with a bra, which is often needed/appreciated to be wearing

Quote from: AnonyMs on July 02, 2016, 08:43:08 AM
The risk with this approach is what we're missing out on. I don't know what that is, but I can't help wonder if I'll look back and regret doing it this way one day.

I get both sides of this, thanks to you both

I do want to move forward a bit, just the double was freaking me out so I decided to just do a 50 percent increase for now and see how I feel. I just have tell me doc.... lol

Quote from: ChasingAlice on July 02, 2016, 11:18:36 AM
Congrats on your healthy checkup. I believe that my low dose regiment has aided in lowering my blood pressure. Did you have the same effect? i wish i could lower my triglycerides.

Thanks! Yes, it did lower my BP, but my routine has changed as well... I know my cholesterol was off, and its not now...so what part changed, I dont know.. I just take the drs word and dont look into the numbers.

Quote from: RitaChans on July 02, 2016, 07:36:48 AM
Thanks
I do need to toughen up and Im working on that, Ive been lucky so far that I havent encounter much negativity, but I am learning to cope with it slowly, so its all in the prep I think. Im actually considering telling or at least educating someone today and your post makes me think a lil harder about it.

I would probably think harder on that one. It really takes some guts to come out publicly especially at work the way I did and dress in public with who I am. And with people I personally dealt with on a daily basis not at work. Sure I might get some looks, but that's all part of it. I wouldn't rush things at all if your not completely on board with it. It took me a lot of courage to start being who I am. As I started making more and more gaming videos with the people I played with I started to come out to them more and more as each day passed. I gained some life long friends and family from the internet as well at work. Much more support than I ever gotten from my actual family. The odd part is my Step Mother and my Father were the one's that took to it firstly and the quickest. They were very understanding after they realized why I moved out at 19 to distant myself from my family. They felt pretty bad about what I had to go through, but they loved me regardless. Just don't rush it or anything with your treatments and how you dress publicly. It's all a staging process in my honest opinion.

Quote from: Raye on July 02, 2016, 03:40:15 PM
I would probably think harder on that one. It really takes some guts to come out publicly especially at work the way I did and dress in public with who I am. And with people I personally dealt with on a daily basis not at work. Sure I might get some looks, but that's all part of it. I wouldn't rush things at all if your not completely on board with it. It took me a lot of courage to start being who I am. As I started making more and more gaming videos with the people I played with I started to come out to them more and more as each day passed. I gained some life long friends and family from the internet as well at work. Much more support than I ever gotten from my actual family. The odd part is my Step Mother and my Father were the one's that took to it firstly and the quickest. They were very understanding after they realized why I moved out at 19 to distant myself from my family. They felt pretty bad about what I had to go through, but they loved me regardless. Just don't rush it or anything with your treatments and how you dress publicly. It's all a staging process in my honest opinion.

Ive been working at this for a year now... slowly adding in a dash of this and a dash of that in public... I hit a roadblock when a friend of a facebook friend tossed some hate in my general direction, but that toughened me a little and made me want it a lil more. Ive told some family and dressed to a few functions and was accepted, I used to go shopping at nearby town with my wife, but that stopped... mainly because I wanted to take a good look at myself and how I presented... I wasnt really likeing the way I was doing it. So now, I am revising and trying to be more true to my personality rather than what I feel I "should" look like... I mean I used to cake foundation on and now I never wear any, the style of clothes have changed, maybe its a coping mechanism but Im finding its better for me. So although Im new to HRT, Ive been on this road for a while, and HRT is changing my confidnece level and making changes to my appearance, so Im gonna have to do it one day, but Im kinda hoping the gradualness will ease most people including myself into things. Im not a jumper and dont feel the need to.

Quote from: RitaChans on July 02, 2016, 04:15:25 PM
Ive been working at this for a year now... slowly adding in a dash of this and a dash of that in public... I hit a roadblock when a friend of a facebook friend tossed some hate in my general direction, but that toughened me a little and made me want it a lil more. Ive told some family and dressed to a few functions and was accepted, I used to go shopping at nearby town with my wife, but that stopped... mainly because I wanted to take a good look at myself and how I presented... I wasnt really likeing the way I was doing it. So now, I am revising and trying to be more true to my personality rather than what I feel I "should" look like... I mean I used to cake foundation on and now I never wear any, the style of clothes have changed, maybe its a coping mechanism but Im finding its better for me. So although Im new to HRT, Ive been on this road for a while, and HRT is changing my confidnece level and making changes to my appearance, so Im gonna have to do it one day, but Im kinda hoping the gradualness will ease most people including myself into things. Im not a jumper and dont feel the need to.

I'm sure doing it gradually will make you much more comfortable in your own skin. It took me a long time to feel comfortable in short shorts. I really love them because now I have have the hips and legs for them, but the issue that prevents me from wearing them in public is my broad shoulders and not enough UMPF on the top to make it seem much more natural and passable overall. I have a ton of scars on my legs where I use to self-harm or from combat in my younger years. It's easier to hide scars on the legs wearing pants than on your arms. >_<

I know by my one year mark in comparison to my 6 months I'll have a lot more breast growth than I do now though. ^^ so I'm quite sure things will change as time moves forward.

Based on your initial post I would keep it where it is. It seems like you're getting the results you like on the dose you're on now. That's a great place to be

 

Quote from: karmatic1110 on July 02, 2016, 04:58:14 PM
Based on your initial post I would keep it where it is. It seems like you're getting the results you like on the dose you're on now. That's a great place to be