For me ..
Calcium/Vit D3 - for osteopenia / osteoporosis (which I've had last 10 years or so).
Biton - hair growth (my mother swears by it, and she had very thing hair before taking it... its much better now)
Magnesium - per docs recommendation for my daily headaches.
Fish Oil - Helps boobs (theoretically lol).
E - to help wound healing ... at least for the next couple months.

Other than that, regular meds
Progesterone
Depo-Estradiol.
Fosamax (bone loss)

I should be on iron, because of chronically low hemoglobin/hematocrit but I can't stand the constipation from it.. so until it drops too low, I'll hang off & try eating more beats or something.

I have so many problems generally attributed to only women of my age it isn't funny anymore.

Doreen,

Are you sure you are taking enough E as osteoporosis should be prevented with E? E also seems to help stave off headaches, helps boobs, improves wound healing, accelerates and prolongs hair growth, etc. Just curious... Are you on a special diet? Do you eat any meat? Are you restricting calories? Stressed out?

Not a doctor, just inquiring...if you don't mind. Headaches can also be a symptom of a prolactinoma.

If you are eating a balanced diet, most people do NOT need additional vitamins.

Having said this, I take Centrum, but any once a day multivit is just fine. The only reason to take a single vitamin supplement is if your physician specifically prescribes it for you.

Just an aside, I'd think with the constant barrage of blood tests we take while were transitioning, I'd be inclined to take nothing if a normal healthy diet was finding me in the reference range for the battery of tests were forced to take. I'm having surgery in a couple of weeks and was made to take complete blood and urine tests for pre surgery precautions. All my tests were in the reference range. I take no supplementation of any sort. I'm trying to imagine why I would want to given those results. My point being, wouldn't it just  be best till you have you blood tests that are periodically required, to leave well enough alone. If after the tests, you find an issue, address it then. So many people self medicate with over the counter supplementation and create issues for themselves. Plus, it's relatively expensive for what may be of no resultant use.

I'm taking:

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Fish Oil
Metformin


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As for vitamins, I take fish oil for cholesterol, iron due to anemia (which I have always had), and a multivitamin.

Quote from: jentay1367 on May 10, 2017, 08:15:38 PM
Just an aside, I'd think with the constant barrage of blood tests we take while were transitioning, I'd be inclined to take nothing if a normal healthy diet was finding me in the reference range for the battery of tests were forced to take. I'm having surgery in a couple of weeks and was made to take complete blood and urine tests for pre surgery precautions. All my tests were in the reference range. I take no supplementation of any sort. I'm trying to imagine why I would want to given those results. My point being, wouldn't it just  be best till you have you blood tests that are periodically required, to leave well enough alone. If after the tests, you find an issue, address it then. So many people self medicate with over the counter supplementation and create issues for themselves. Plus, it's relatively expensive for what may be of no resultant use.

Hi Jen,

  Long time no chat. Missed ya.

  I would tend to agree with you. I take several supplements and my doctors are all well aware of what I take. With the exception of a multivitamin and fish oil all were prescribed by my doctors. I do not add to my list without them knowing about it as a rule. Okay okay Yes, I did start HRT w/o telling them but I did tell at the first doctor visit after I started.

   I have lobbied my doctor to increase my estradiol and adding progesterone twice. I have some on hand here and could do so if I wanted to bypass his instructions, But I have not done so,  I have been a good girl. Very tempted, but I doing as I am told.

Hugs,
   Laurie

I take a women's multivitamin and biotin.

I do calcium with vitamin D daily, occasionally a pro-biotic capsule, that is it. Everything else has to come from diet.

Ya I'm on injectable E as well as progesterone.. my estrogen is nice & high.  I'm neither stressed out nor on any particular diet.. though I do watch my weight as I'm in my 40's, so I restrict bad foods like sodas (bad for bones btw), processed food, etc. and focus on organic stuff.   I'm not perfect at this, but it keeps my weight within a good range.  Keep in mind many in my family are overweight, so I'd like to avoid this.

I keep fairly fit by practicing weight-bearing exercises and martial arts.. so its not being sedentary causing it.   Honestly I suspect I always HAD thin bones, my teeth would break easy when I was young & my mother admitted she didn't have enough calcium when I was born.  Just something I'm watching out for now for sure.

Quote from: KayXo on May 08, 2017, 09:40:58 PM
Doreen,

Are you sure you are taking enough E as osteoporosis should be prevented with E? E also seems to help stave off headaches, helps boobs, improves wound healing, accelerates and prolongs hair growth, etc. Just curious... Are you on a special diet? Do you eat any meat? Are you restricting calories? Stressed out?

Not a doctor, just inquiring...if you don't mind. Headaches can also be a symptom of a prolactinoma.

I just take iron but I was told I should take vitinin D as well
Before I started hrt my iron was fine and then about 2 years ago it started dropping to the pint where I was close to needing a IV infusing to bringing it up to the exceptable leve.........

Cheers Tracy

Off the top off my head, I came across a journal article that showed that about 65-70% of Americans were chronically  Vitamin D deficient.

Definitely one vitamin to take, given the nasty consequences of osteoporosis.   The only other one that may be necessary is B12 if you are vegan.

Any other supplements would be on a case by case personal health issue basis.

Eat nutritional yeast for B12 and liver for D.  Eggs are also a good source for both vitamins.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

Quote from: Deborah on May 12, 2017, 09:20:00 AM
Eat nutritional yeast for B12 and liver for D.  Eggs are also a good source for both vitamins.

I eat eggs almost daily and liver every few weeks, also rich in Vitamin A. Eggs with bacon, so yummy. Liver with red caramelized onions, yummy too!

Quote from: luna nyan on May 12, 2017, 08:29:04 AM
Off the top off my head, I came across a journal article that showed that about 65-70% of Americans were chronically  Vitamin D deficient.

Definitely one vitamin to take, given the nasty consequences of osteoporosis.   The only other one that may be necessary is B12 if you are vegan.

Any other supplements would be on a case by case personal health issue basis.

It's very possible because many people are spending more time indoors and have minimal sun exposure. Combine that with people replacing milk with soft drinks and you  have a real problem. I have read were college age kids were having bone issues because of the lack of calcium and vitamin D.

I don't take any vitamins. I just eat healthy. Most of the vitamins you take in a multi-vitamin are not needed if you eat well, and you just pee them out.


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Quote from: RavenMoon on May 12, 2017, 05:06:13 PM
I don't take any vitamins. I just eat healthy. Most of the vitamins you take in a multi-vitamin are not needed if you eat well, and you just pee them out.


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Yes, this is true for most vitamins, the water soluble ones anyway.

For the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K, it is possible to build up excessive levels, especially Vit A and Vit D.

Funny thing.. I drink milk like no tomorrow, get plenty of sunlight (I regularly garden).  I STILL managed to come down with osteopenia/porosis bordering.  Only reason I take calcium/vit d is frankly I don't want to break anymore bones. Before folks get too judgmental about those on supplements, understand there are various reasons for being on them.  There are some I don't take (like iron) because of the complications the vitamins create... ultimately its a personal medical choice.

Quote from: Doreen on May 12, 2017, 11:27:24 PM
Funny thing.. I drink milk like no tomorrow, get plenty of sunlight (I regularly garden).  I STILL managed to come down with osteopenia/porosis bordering.  Only reason I take calcium/vit d is frankly I don't want to break anymore bones. Before folks get too judgmental about those on supplements, understand there are various reasons for being on them.  There are some I don't take (like iron) because of the complications the vitamins create... ultimately its a personal medical choice.

I actually think it's smart and proactive to take vitamins that blood tests reflect that you are or may be lacking in. But to just use a multi-vitamin shotgun approach? It seems like hubris that may come back to bite you. You can literally overdose on anything. Folks need to understand that. Some people think since it's O.T.C., it's innocuous. In a world where you can kill yourself simply by drinking too much water, it's a good idea to be cautious about anything you ingest. 

Thanks for the concern Last time I checked my labs (in particular concern for me were vit d/calcium)  they were well within normal limits.. really most vitamins (unless you take a huge amount) your body excretes anyways.. so the actual effectiveness of them in the first place is often in question. Nonetheless, yes, always be in contact with medical professionals and don't just DIY.  Kidney and liver function is also important.. don't want to damage those either.