Hello to you all!

Just thought I'd finally get the ball rolling.  I started HRT 17 days ago and figured I'd start my very own thread to write about my experiences as I go along.  I am taking estradot patches and androcur.

I am 46 years young (people tell me I look 35 a lot of the time), am 5' 11" and weigh 207 lbs (yuck).

I had a pretty low T score on my initial blood tests, almost at the bottom of the male normal scale when I started HRT as well as a very low estrogen level for male range.  So I was low on hormones period.  Don't know if that's good or bad but it is what it is lol.

I have to add that I may have shot myself in the foot because I stopped taking an antidepressant called Celexa around the same time as I started HRT (weaned myself off slowly over a period of almost a year, with doc's approval).  The jury's out on this topic, and many people say that there are some pretty nasty withdrawal symptoms when stopping these SSRI's.  For me, this makes it difficult to tell if my symptoms are from the ssri withdrawals or from the gradual balancing of my hormones from m to f...  To make a long story short, instead of feeling the calm peace of mind many mtf ladies report feeling on hrt, I am very very impatient and irritable almost all of the time and its not very pleasant.  Although, I started taking vitamin B6 and magnesium which is supposed to help with serotonin production as well as being taken by some cis females to lessen PMS symptoms (which could he what I'm experiencing).  My endo knows that I've started taking these and isn't against it.  He says that if it gets too bad, I could try taking the Celexa again to see if it goes away, or if not then its just that my hormones are in a state of adjustment and that its normal for me.  I'm planning on sticking it out.  Today I fell less irritable and even having some calm peaceful moments, so hoping that its taking a turn for the better.  Also had my first crying episode last night which may have helped lol.

As far as physical changes so far (only 17 days isn't a lot of time):  definitely softer, clearer facial skin.  Been eating like a pig (urgggh), cravings through the roof.  A few people that don't know about my transition say I look like i've lost weight...?  Probably the water retention going away because that was a side effect of Celexa, so GOOD thing!  Complete loss of spontaneous erections.  Libido not gone but different...feels like once I get "in the mood" its a lot more intense and more of a female sexual response than male, whatever it is I'm liking it!  I've had a few short breast pain incidents,  and a bit of itchy nipples, but few and short episodes.  That's about it thus far.  It's a start, but must be patient, it's supposedly a fairly long process...

Started taking biotin gummies for hair and nail strengthening, only been a few days on that so I'll let you know if I feel any difference at a later date.

Sorry this has been long, but it was overdue and I had a lot to say.  Thanks for reading!  Have an awesome day!

Jenna xx


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I'm only a few days ahead of you.  While I never took any medications prior to the HRT I can say that my mind feels more at peace.  It's quieter is the best way to describe.  I haven't had any nipple or breast pain but there is an increase of sensation.  Skin is better and I do think my butt is getting bigger.  I've maybe lost a pound or two.  I tend to stick between 175 and 180 any day of the week. 

Congrats on starting your journey.  Just remember it's a marathon and not a race or sprint.

Hi Jenna 🙋🏼 I'm so happy for you and all the other girls here that have decided on hrt.  Yesterday was my 1 month anniversary on hrt.  I definitely feel more at ease in my thoughts.  Still no obvious changes, except to me.  Softer skin and a tension in my chest muscles. 
Hugs, Jessica 💁
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Quote from: JennaFae on August 17, 2017, 08:57:48 AM
I am taking estradot patches and androcur.

I stopped taking an antidepressant called Celexa around the same time as I started HRT (weaned myself off slowly over a period of almost a year, with doc's approval).  The jury's out on this topic, and many people say that there are some pretty nasty withdrawal symptoms when stopping these SSRI's.  For me, this makes it difficult to tell if my symptoms are from the ssri withdrawals or from the gradual balancing of my hormones from m to f...  To make a long story short, instead of feeling the calm peace of mind many mtf ladies report feeling on hrt, I am very very impatient and irritable almost all of the time and its not very pleasant.

Androcur is known (many studies reporting this in transsexual women) to trigger depression/anxiety (irritability) in some, especially if already predisposed and this is why it's usually best to avoid it in people with such issues prior to HRT. I'm surprised you were prescribed this anti-androgen. Your symptoms may be a combination of withdrawal + the use of this anti-androgen. I would ask your doctor if you could be switched to another anti-androgen. This anti-androgen, also being a progestogen, is anti-estrogenic so makes your estrogen less effective. Progestogens used in birth control pills can sometimes dampen mood and exacerbate things resulting in PMS. Androcur can also reduce B12 levels, as confirmed by at least one study.

Thanks Robyn!  Appreciate the encouragement!  Even though I wegh 206 lbs i am fairly proportionate due to my height.  A bigger butt sounds delicious, lucky you Have an awesome day!

Jenna xx

Jessica!  Thanks for the reply and for your welcome.  Looks like were both starting our journey!  I wish you all the best as well and look forward to hearing about your progress.  Have a great day!

Jenna xx

Kay, thanks for the information.  Seems that since I added B6 and magnesium (and with time as well) my irritable moods seem to have gotten a lot less frequent.  Still happen, but not every day, thank the heavens.  I will be having a discussion with my endo at my 3 month visit with regards to my anti-androgen.  Enough time will have passed by then to have a goodidea how its working for me.  I am on a very very low dose of Androcur, so hopefully its not the reason for my irritability.  Like I said, gradually getting better, yay!  Blood tests and time will tell.  Thanks again for the info!  Have a great day!

Jenna xx

Kay, I've done some dosage adjusting tests, like taking the androcur at it's half life (+/- 38-40 hours) instead of every day, sometimes even 2 days, but towards the tail end, I feel better, and as soon as I take the next dose (without fail, EVERY time), I descend into the depths, feeling down, without a purpose in life, and extremely negative/want to tear people's heads off for no reason, judgemental to the extreme (basically a total bitch from hell).  I am 95% sure that it is the androcur.  I have decided to stop taking it completely and am now on my 4th day without it, each day better and better.  This morning I feel positive and energetic and in a peaceful state of mind for the first time in a long time.  I left a message for my endo at his office (he's on vacation til the 18th) that I have stopped taking the androcur (but still taking my E patch) and that we need to find a suitable antiandrogen for my metabolism. Maybe spiro, maybe something else but NO cyproterone acetate for me.  His secretary assured me that he would call me as soon as he gets back).
Hehe, sorry this was so long but I wanted to share my experience to others.  Let me know what you think. Love you all, have a great day!!!!

Jenna xx

Quick update:  Day 5 with no Androcur.  Still feeling good and most of the depression/aggression gone.  Wow, such a relief.

Jenna xx

Quote from: JennaFae on September 09, 2017, 08:02:53 AM
Quick update:  Day 5 with no Androcur.  Still feeling good and most of the depression/aggression gone.  Wow, such a relief.

Jenna xx

Hi Jenna,

  I'm glad the changes are helping you. Let us hope that what ever your doc comes up with to replace the Androcur does not have a similar effect on you.There's enough problems that come up for us to deal with already.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Thanks Laurie, I hope so too

Jenna xx

Great to hear Jenna.  Thanks for the update.

Warning: a bit long...

Hi all, its update time.  I spoke with my endo and he started me off on spironolactone.  Made me pee a lot, have dizzyness/nausea/weakness for the first few days but those things seem to have tapered off a lot, which seems to be normal from what I've read.

The depression that I had while on Androcur is gone and my moods are much better, happy even . It's been only 6 days since I started spiro so I have to be patient for it to work its wonders I suppose.  My last blood test said that I had only 7.8 nmol/l of testosterone, so that has already lowered since my last at the end of July (9.8 I think) and that is at the low end for my age (46).  Having had the break of all AA's for like a month prolly didn't help, as I was basically just on E non stop since July 31 and a low dose of androcur for a month only, then no AA for a month, now spiro for 6 days. So I figure I really started my HRT 6 days ago lol.

Breast development. Hmm, hard to tell.  There seems to be something going on, maybe more fullness, more fat deposit in the area.  The areolas are definitely bigger diameter and nipples always erect.  A few pains in the breast area and a bit of itchiness at times.  I am sure that some Glandular/ductal development has happened as I can feel the little lumps/bumps nodules as I touch them, maybe the fuller feeling comes from that development?  No actual budding as of yet

Libido is now present (when on CA, was totally gone), but I have decided that that's what I want.  I like my libido and if I can keep it, then perfect.  Everyone is different...

I have been feeling a lot more like a woman since starting spiro and more calm probably because of my body getting used to the E.  While on CA, i was so down and out, I almost felt like I forgot I was transitioning, just blah/zombie mode.  I think that my libido, however small, plays a part in all this, it's interesting...No libido, I feel blah.  With a bit of libido I feel alive again and my desire to transition comes back (and I know that's what I want). Strange but that's how it is for me.  Important side note, my endo is willing to put me on bicalutamide (after he read up more on it) if for some reason my libido goes away entirely again on spiro.  I have to give it time though first.  Good to know I have a third option if needed.

Erections basically gone, but I can deal with that, no biggie.

While looking in the mirror I can see that fat redistribution is happening on my butt, and yay! On my upper thighs, giving me a better hip appearance, I like it.  Waist has gone down a few inches as well.

Skin is better, softer and thinner feeling, love it.  Hair is already seeming to grow back slower on my body after I epilate.

Anyhow, that's all I can think of for now.  It was pretty long as it is, maybe that's another effect of the E, I can't stop talking/writing/blabbing lmao!

More later.  Have a great day everyone!

Jenna xx

All very great news! Happy to hear. I also feel better when i have some libido, makes me feel more alive! Since adding in a little testosterone post-op, things are better. Also glad to hear about the bicalutamide and your doctor's willingness to use it IF spiro fails. 

Kay, yeah, that's how I feel with some libido, more alive.  Too much libido is icky, but a little is good for me I believe.  I'll post more on my trials and tribulations later.  Thanks,

Jenna xx

Hi all, small update time.  3 months on HRT (starting dosage) on Oct.31st.

On October 10th woke up to find, to my delight, that my left breast was budding.  Hopefully the right will follow shortly...?  There has been a definite growth spurt to my boobs.  Much more fat in the area, the nodules underneath are really definite, and there is a fullness towards the inner part that wasn't there before.  More of an overall roundness to them almost like a small apple cut in half.  My nipples are definitely female now and going bare chested in public is a thing of the past.  The areolae are bigger and the actual nipple in bigger in diameter and length, even with an unpadded bra they poke through.  My right breast is starting to feel like its about to bud as well, yay!

Fat redistribution is happening.  When looking at a side/rear view in the mirror I can see a definite filling in around the hips, giving me a more female curve.  Butt is bigger and thighs are curvier towards the top too.  Strange because I have lost 17 lbs since I started, putting me at an even 200lbs atm.

Skin is a lot drier on my face.  Body hair isn't seeming to want to grow back noticeably on my body, and I haven't epilated in a month, still smooth.  Maybe its just not as coarse...who knows but I like it.

Since switching from Androcur to spiro, my libido is back.  It's not the crazy, intense itch that can't be scratched that it was pre-HRT, but now a much more deep, sensuous whole body feeling, which I like very much, maybe its turning into a more female type libido. I can go days without satisfying myself (not like before), but just go with the aroused feeling, feels heavenly.  Things down there are still working when needed but no more spontaneous erections and morning wood.  Maybe TMI but I've been very wet down there throughout the day, don't know what's going on there either, like its constantly seeping clear fluid (like precum?).  Undies are soaked...

Spiro seems to agree with me so far.  The occasional nausea and head ache, faintness etc...but they say thats normal.  The crazy peeing at all hours of the day has stopped, might he getting  used to it at this dosage.

That's all I can think of for now.  I am overall pleased with my progress.  Mind you, the things I wrote about are the positive ones.  I still have body/facial disphoria, but the improvements are making it less...

Have a great day all!

Jenna xx

Quote from: JennaFae on October 26, 2017, 08:23:18 AMSpiro seems to agree with me so far.  The occasional nausea and head ache, faintness etc...but they say thats normal.

Taking Spiro with food can help with nausea. Drinking enough plain water and EATING ENOUGH SALT is KEY! Also, stay away from high potassium foods/drinks like fruit juices, cereals, bananas, potatoes, etc. Minimize intake of diuretics, also alcohol. That will make things worse.

Happy to hear about the amazing POSITIVE changes. YAY! 

Congrats on the welcomed changes.  Three months here for me as well.  Sadly my body hair is still acting normal.  I really can't wait for it to slow down.  But boobs are fun.

Quote from: KayXo on October 26, 2017, 09:03:22 AM
Taking Spiro with food can help with nausea. Drinking enough plain water and EATING ENOUGH SALT is KEY! Also, stay away from high potassium foods/drinks like fruit juices, cereals, bananas, potatoes, etc. Minimize intake of diuretics, also alcohol. That will make things worse.

Happy to hear about the amazing POSITIVE changes. YAY! 

Thanks for the info Kay!  My dietary habits are terrible.  I don't eat breakfast usually and often not even lunch.  Hurray for intermittant fasting I guess because the only constant meal I have is dinner.  Will try to at least eat something in the morning to go with the spiro.  I don't drink alcohol ever so that's a good thing at least.  I can increase the salt and drink more water too.  I just had my first blood test to check my potassium levels, will get my results tomorrow (plus the T and the E results as well).  I see my endo on Tuesday morning, hopefully my dosages will increase, we shall see.

Thanks for the positive encouragement and info Kay, it's much appreciated!

Jenna xx

Quote from: RobynTx on October 26, 2017, 10:08:43 AM
Congrats on the welcomed changes.  Three months here for me as well.  Sadly my body hair is still acting normal.  I really can't wait for it to slow down.  But boobs are fun.

Robyn, thanks for the words of encouragement!  For the body hair, I may just be lucky, times for that vary greatly between individuals and it will happen for you too.  And I agree, boobs (even itty bitty tittes like mine so far) are starting to be fun!

Jenna xx