On pills, would love to switch to injections and tried getting my doctor to switch me to them but due to the national shortage and no reliable way to get it he wouldn't switch. Hopefully when I see him again mid January for my next appointment the shortage is resolved as it's only been 5 months for me but I'm already sick of taking pills sublingually due to the hassle.

Quote from: Harley Quinn on October 23, 2016, 08:25:36 AM
Less breast growth on injections? That's the first time I heard that scenario. Quite a few have noted increased breast growth from injections.

One thing to note is I was on a high dose of pills and that the majority who have better results on injections were on a low dose relative. BUT, my injection dose is also quite high so really, I'm dumbfounded. I don't know why this would occur. I inject every 5 days as opposed to the usual 7 or 10 days so perhaps too frequent injections may have desensitized receptors to estrogen but in just two days, my levels drop quite drastically, from around 2,500 pg/ml to 1,300 pg/ml.

Needles, needles, and needles I prefer injection because they work like 3 times better in my experience. I don't have to take as many pills. Only problem is i forget and miss my shot days by a day or two. But they have me taking the average dosage a lot more than traditionally used by shorting the time between injection. Sorry for being vague but the site rules lol.

Hmmm. I started off on weekly injections for several months, then my endo bumped them down to every 5 days, and for the past month and half or so they've had me doing it every 4 days. I don't mind, though, even if I still hate needles I've gotten used to the routine. Used to take me 30 minutes just to work up the courage to push the needle through, but now the whole thing takes only a few minutes to do.

Quote from: KayXo on October 23, 2016, 11:40:56 AM
One thing to note is I was on a high dose of pills and that the majority who have better results on injections were on a low dose relative. BUT, my injection dose is also quite high so really, I'm dumbfounded. I don't know why this would occur. I inject every 5 days as opposed to the usual 7 or 10 days so perhaps too frequent injections may have desensitized receptors to estrogen but in just two days, my levels drop quite drastically, from around 2,500 pg/ml to 1,300 pg/ml.

This is something I don't think you would miss but are those number Total Estrogen or Estradiol? I have to request my Estradiol numbers be checked each time I get a blood draw because my prescriber only runs Total Estrogen. My Total Estrogen is currently running 600-700 where as my Estradiol is 40-50. Yes, I know it's the pills but a total Estrogen even at the numbers your reaching may not leave you with much Estradiol.

Pills.  MD wanted to start me on shots but they are on backorder until November.  I am allergic to bandaid and adhesive tape so I said no to patches.

Patches, love them, and the results.

Quote from: KayXo on October 23, 2016, 11:40:56 AM
One thing to note is I was on a high dose of pills and that the majority who have better results on injections were on a low dose relative. BUT, my injection dose is also quite high so really, I'm dumbfounded. I don't know why this would occur. I inject every 5 days as opposed to the usual 7 or 10 days so perhaps too frequent injections may have desensitized receptors to estrogen but in just two days, my levels drop quite drastically, from around 2,500 pg/ml to 1,300 pg/ml.

That is quite interesting.  You'd think that it would be more like; "You have X number of estrogen receptors and just fill them to capacity and excess is just a waste." Hmmm...

Started with weekly injections for Estrodiol. Daily pills for spiro and progesterone. My doctor is moving me to pellets as soon as I run out of the injectible Estrodiol. She just wanted to make sure this is what I wanted/needed before locking me into 6 months. Love my Doctor. She rocks! If you are in SoCal. Pm me and I'll give her info.

Pills for Spiro

Patches for estrodiol

Warmly,

Joanna

Quote from: Norma Lynne on October 25, 2016, 01:52:05 PM
Started with weekly injections for Estrodiol. Daily pills for spiro and progesterone. My doctor is moving me to pellets as soon as I run out of the injectible Estrodiol. She just wanted to make sure this is what I wanted/needed before locking me into 6 months. Love my Doctor. She rocks! If you are in SoCal. Pm me and I'll give her info.

How exactly do the pellets work?  I haven't heard much about them.

I started on injections, and I loved them. But I'm on patches since the shortage. And I've been moody, had rashes and they don't stick very well.

I began with pills then switched to patches.  The pills seem to work better than the patches for me, but some brands of patches seemed to work a little better than others.

Quote from: Dena on October 23, 2016, 08:50:38 PM
This is something I don't think you would miss but are those number Total Estrogen or Estradiol? I have to request my Estradiol numbers be checked each time I get a blood draw because my prescriber only runs Total Estrogen. My Total Estrogen is currently running 600-700 where as my Estradiol is 40-50. Yes, I know it's the pills but a total Estrogen even at the numbers your reaching may not leave you with much Estradiol.

It is Estradiol, between 1,300 pg/ml to 2,500 pg/ml. Estrone is typically less when taken parenterally, in a ratio of 1:2 to estradiol so I have twice as less estrone.

Quote from: Harley Quinn on October 25, 2016, 11:16:26 AM
That is quite interesting.  You'd think that it would be more like; "You have X number of estrogen receptors and just fill them to capacity and excess is just a waste." Hmmm...

The number of receptors is not a constant and varies from hour to hour, depending on hormonal environment. Higher estrogen reduces the number of estrogen receptors while less T, if I recall correctly, augments it. Progesterone also reduces estrogen receptor concentration.

Quote from: Danni98 on October 25, 2016, 04:03:25 PM
I started on injections, and I loved them. But I'm on patches since the shortage. And I've been moody, had rashes and they don't stick very well.

Yeah, I wasn't happy with the patches.  Like you, I was on injectibles previously -- estradiol valerate.  Wretched shortage.

Happily, I've just started estradiol cypionate injections today!  Woo hoo!  Like estradiol valerate, it's a 17β ester, but it's more slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in lower peaks of serum levels, but longer lasting as well.  Which hopefully means more gentle valleys. 

I was able to find a compounding pharmacy that could compound it at twice the concentration, so it'll last twice as long in a typical commercial vial, and it actually turned out to be cheaper, too -- I'm paying only $75 for ten doses, rather than $95 for five doses.  There was even a pharmacy that could make the concentration 8x, but I think that'd be trickier to administer. 

My endoc was kind of happy to prescribe a less aggressive regimen. 

Quote from: Harley Quinn on October 23, 2016, 08:25:36 AM
Less breast growth on injections? That's the first time I heard that scenario. Quite a few have noted increased breast growth from injections.

Ya I kind of agree with the injections having good breast growth. I had noticeable growth one month in. Switched to pellets after 2 months. And it seems to be better. A couple of B cup padded bras that I bought before I started HRT actually fit and look good to me. And there is this one A cup with no padding that I also bought before I started HRT is so so so close to fitting. I use that one to kind of judge my growth. Funny how th B cups fit better than the A cup.

My doctor told me that the order of best results were pills, then creams and etc, then injections and then pellets. She used injections to find the dosage because the dosage could be adjusted  rather easy and then after she had me where I should be she started me on pellets.

One thing to remember is that insurance covers each different. My insurance only covers pills. Not injections, or pellets. So you may have to take pills if you can't afford the others.

Started w/ injections. Pills during drought. Back on injections.

I definitely notice better breast growth (judging by soreness) with injections.  Soreness totally went away when I was taking pills.

Has anyone had injections and pellets (implants) before (at different times of course)? If so, which did you prefer and why?

I have an E implant and have to get another in February. It was harrowing but I think I'll get used to it.

Was on E tables for since I started and then switched to two implanted pellets that last 6 months two weeks ago..
After all the years on tables I switched because sometimes I would forget to take than, along with the varied E level on the blood test, and cutting the crap down going though my liver,,,,
The worst part of the pellets was being sore for about one week after it was inserted but at least my E levels should be stable now and I only have to take 3 tablets now at night........

Cheers Tracy

estradiol and progesterone oral pills and suprefact nasal spray