I'm about 5 months on T, and I feel just...puffy and bloated all over. I still fit into all my clothes and everything, but I was hoping that, as an athletic person, testosterone would help me lose some body fat and look more athletic. However, that hasn't yet happened, and I'm wondering if this is just a phase as my body gets used to the hormones. I haven't changed my eating habits much -- I'm certailny hungrier, and have been eating a little more, but not that much more that I'd just be getting fatter. And I'm pretty athletic and work out a ton.

This happening/happen to anyone else? When did it start and how long until it went away?

Yes, everyone seems to go through some period of water retention and bloatedness. It was hard for me to tell initially because I was a bit overweight when I started T and my face was already round and a bit puffy. For most people I'd say it starts sometime in the first quarter on T and goes away around the year mark. But there are always exceptions of course.

I'm curious why exactly it does this.

I know it's the conversion of extra T to E that does it, but confused why there's a point in year 1 most people have that problem and what exactly happens in the body that stops it.

Quote from: FTMax on February 01, 2017, 08:52:41 PM
Yes, everyone seems to go through some period of water retention and bloatedness. It was hard for me to tell initially because I was a bit overweight when I started T and my face was already round and a bit puffy. For most people I'd say it starts sometime in the first quarter on T and goes away around the year mark. But there are always exceptions of course.

Hmm, I've heard of bloating and water-retention but I haven't heard it stated as a very common thing. Actually the amount that I have heard it discussed makes it seem like it's not very common but Max you're making it sound like its almost unavoidable. I'll have to read up on this more to see what causes it and if it can be sidestepped.
I do remember my friend who was always on the larger side seeming to become more round in the waist and face and all of a sudden around 1 year they are strong chinned and a lot stalkier looking. However, its not something we've ever talked about.

I too was looking for a much more athletic lean build once on T. I've never been "over weight" per say but defiantly on the heavier side for my height.

^ I've seen it mentioned so often by Drs and within the ftm community I assume it's "highly likely" to happen. It happened to me when I upped my dose just a small amount. It was bloody awful so I reduced the dose immediately.

Ah another thing to look forward to
I'm already chubby and bloated so what more could do?!? [emoji23][emoji23]


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Quote from: kings joker on February 02, 2017, 12:13:06 PM

Quote from: FTMax on February 01, 2017, 08:52:41 PM
Yes, everyone seems to go through some period of water retention and bloatedness. It was hard for me to tell initially because I was a bit overweight when I started T and my face was already round and a bit puffy. For most people I'd say it starts sometime in the first quarter on T and goes away around the year mark. But there are always exceptions of course.

Hmm, I've heard of bloating and water-retention but I haven't heard it stated as a very common thing. Actually the amount that I have heard it discussed makes it seem like it's not very common but Max you're making it sound like its almost unavoidable. I'll have to read up on this more to see what causes it and if it can be sidestepped.
I do remember my friend who was always on the larger side seeming to become more round in the waist and face and all of a sudden around 1 year they are strong chinned and a lot stalkier looking. However, its not something we've ever talked about.

I too was looking for a much more athletic lean build once on T. I've never been "over weight" per say but defiantly on the heavier side for my height.

You could make a poll and ask folks. I see it mentioned so frequently here that I assume it's extremely common.

I got bloated and puffy around 5-6 months on T. Before T I was extremely skinny and only weighed about 115lbs. When I went on T and hit that 5 month mark I was 165lbs. I have slimmed out a lot and now weigh about 139lbs. My Dr. had reduced my dosage. It got reduced again on like my 2 year mark.

I don't think those anti-water retention pills from the pharmacy work very well either.

I'm hoping continued loss of body fat will help, because body fat also produces estrogen by itself which maybe exacerbates the effect.

Lost 7 lbs since Xmas just by changing lifestyle, aiming to lose a few more before surgery and to keep down excess estrogen.

I've been bloated and over weight since before starting T. T started to help rather than make it worse but because I'm so heavy and my estrogen was sky high having the E in excess is causing a lot of the retention problems. I too am looking into changing diet and starting to use all this new found energy to hopefully get rid of all the blah.

I gained water weight when my dose was too high. Now I've just got a lil gut that I never had pre T because my appetite is huge (8 years on) lol