I live in the UK <Not allowed>.

I've been on Progynova and Siterone for about 6 months (now exchanged Siterone for Procur). All seems to be going well (too slowly of course but in the right direction).  However, I have recently been experiencing pins and needles (paraesthesia) particularly while sleeping.

I drink too much alcohol which I understand has negative implications on both development and general health.

Does anyone have any advice as to whether the pins and needles are related to the medication or transitioning at all? Is there any advice as to how to transition safely?

Thanks.

Moderator Edit

I don't know about the effect of those substances, but I did experience pins and needles during sleep (especially in the arms) frequently in 2014-15 during a period of hypothyroid-induced weight gain. The phenomenon has disappeared now that I have lost this weight again. Whether it was blood circulation being cut off due to increased fat in the arms, or some pre-diabetic syndrome I don't know but I do think it was related to my weight and not my sleeping posture which had not changed in years. Have you gained weight recently or around the same time as taking these things?

Stop drinking.  Eliminate that as at least a contributing factor.

Scampster please be safe [emoji4]. When I started HRT I had a blood test after 4 weeks, and one thing being checked is liver enzymes. Maybe you can get a blood test on the NHS to check on your liver?

Given the rules of this site, self-medding is not something that can be discussed, however one thing I can say is: Get to a doctor, with haste. What you are doing is a form of self-destructive idiocy, especially when you live somewhere that proper medical monitoring is available..

Welcome to Susan's Place. What you describe could be anything from dry skin to deadly blood clots. This is why site policy with HRT is to be under medical care. You might be able to get monitoring from your personal doctor or bridging HRT could be a solution for you. Pins and needles isn't a normal side effect from HRT and my best advice would be for you to discontinue HRT until you are able to talk with a doctor.

Scampster,

Welcome to our site. You describe some scary stuff. I am with the others suggesting you should consult a doctor soon.

As a newly posting member I also want to share some links with you. They are mostly welcome information and the rules that govern the site. If you have not had a chance to look through them, please take a moment to read through the first 4 stickie notes.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,492.0.html



Once again, welcome to Susan's. Look around, ask questions and join in.

With warmth,

Joanna

  Pins and needles, where? Consult a doctor now! Mine were in both feet and it is known as a rare form of peripheral neuropathy which took decades to find a cause. Mine wasn't hormone related and predated my HRT regimen, but that has a host of over 100 causes. Self medicating may cause this with your alcohol consumption! The drugs you may be getting on the sly may not be as labeled!

Joelene

You live in the UK.  My dear, you have access to the absolute finest mtf protocol in existence, anywhere in the world, period.   The hoops are not horrible, the pacing will seem slow at times, but also, horribly fast at times.   Which is again.... perfect.   Get queued up, and run the track as designed.

nb.. alcohol + self med, seriously, playing on the train tracks, in downtown London, while listening to metal on headphones, and wearing dark sunglasses... would be safer.    Seriously, stop that.

Do the NHS track, you'll have a shot of goserelin in your butt before you know it, and all that boy stuff will just go away.

Ah, the UK. I can understand why you might not want to deal with the NHS, I really, really do. I even know someone who died thanks to the NHS prescribing the wrong pills, so I'm not going to pretend that they're paragons of virtue or even vaguely competent.

I would sooner run naked through the streets than deal with the horrible nightmare that is the NHS. How many times have their 'psychologists' diagnosed me as insane?

Then again, who really knows what's inside pills acquired from an illicit source? I would assume it's an illicit source, if you're self-medicating as it's illegal for pharmacies to sell prescription drugs without a prescription.

For all you know, there might be all sorts of dangerous addictive chemicals in those very pills, it's not like you have a government standing behind the manufacturer to guarantee that it's safe for human consumption.