Quote from: Bari Jo on September 30, 2017, 04:58:49 PM
I'm probably moving at the quickest I can.  Once the beard is clear, I may start presenting as Bari Jo.  I can't wait for that!  So it'll take a while to clear it, but hopefully hrt will make my face look more feminine by then.

BTW, throughout hrt and losing weight, I've gone from a size 10 men's show to a size 9 ladies.  I'm not complaining there, happy girl here indeed.

Bari Jo

I've heard that happens. But my feet got bigger on hrt! I went from 5 1/2 to 6. Not fair.

I would have guessed that size 6 would have been easier to find in stores.

Quote from: Bari Jo on September 30, 2017, 04:58:49 PM

BTW, throughout hrt and losing weight, I've gone from a size 10 men's show to a size 9 ladies.  I'm not complaining there, happy girl here indeed.

Bari Jo

Ohhh, does HRT reduce foot size more? Does it rearrange fat even from the feet or something?

I noticed the other day that my shoes were really loose, and think I dropped a full size from when I started losing weight. It completely caught me off guard, I didn't know it was even possible. (My step-mother said a lot of it is that with more weight, your feet swell because of it and so when you drop it you aren't actually getting smaller feet, they are just returning to their real size.)

On that topic, has anyone ever noticed narrowing of hands? My hand length is actually notably smaller than male normal, but hand width is not. If I hold my hands the right way they look feminine because of the smaller length, but the width when noticed is a little off. If they narrow even a tiny bit that would be amazing. (I'm thinking of the fat padding on the side mostly.)

I think it's probably just from weight loss, but not complaining:)

Quote from: Roll on September 30, 2017, 09:12:20 PM
Ohhh, does HRT reduce foot size more? Does it rearrange fat even from the feet or something?

I noticed the other day that my shoes were really loose, and think I dropped a full size from when I started losing weight. It completely caught me off guard, I didn't know it was even possible. (My step-mother said a lot of it is that with more weight, your feet swell because of it and so when you drop it you aren't actually getting smaller feet, they are just returning to their real size.)

On that topic, has anyone ever noticed narrowing of hands? My hand length is actually notably smaller than male normal, but hand width is not. If I hold my hands the right way they look feminine because of the smaller length, but the width when noticed is a little off. If they narrow even a tiny bit that would be amazing. (I'm thinking of the fat padding on the side mostly.)

I haven't noticed any change in my hands. The size is the same.  But I've always had small hands anyway.

My hands and feet stayed the same size.  My body got a lot smaller although it hasn't gotten much weaker.  My back and legs have even gotten stronger.


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On spiro, the loss of water/sodium may lead to shrinkage of extremities.

Quote from: KayXo on October 01, 2017, 05:08:07 PM
On spiro, the loss of water/sodium may lead to shrinkage of extremities.

1/2 to a whole size lost on cypro..

Quote from: KayXo on October 01, 2017, 05:08:07 PM
On spiro, the loss of water/sodium may lead to shrinkage of extremities.

Temporarily.  The diuretic effect diminishes with length of use.  The water will be back.

Quote from: rmaddy on October 01, 2017, 05:36:55 PM
Temporarily.  The diuretic effect diminishes with length of use.  The water will be back.

If that was the case, then clearly it wouldn't be prescribed as blood pressure would be back up again and anti-androgenic effect should also diminish with time, applying the same principle. Also, upon stopping spiro, it's quite common to feel swollen again. I think, as long as spiro is taken, the decrease in water retention will persist and might be responsible for the smaller extremities.

Using your logic, which isn't based on a shred of actual evidence, feet would also shrink on lasix, hydrochlorothiazide, bumetonide, etc.  They don't, unless there was edema prior to prescription.  Edema sufficient to raise a foot size in the typical young, otherwise healthy trans female is quite unlikely.

In general, MTF's do not experience reduction in foot size.  Exceptions to this rule generally occur in those cases where there is significant weight loss.  The underlying skeleton is unaffected, and most of the muscle which moves the foot actually resides in the lower leg.

Quote from: rmaddy on October 02, 2017, 04:44:20 PM
In general, MTF's do not experience reduction in foot size.  Exceptions to this rule generally occur in those cases where there is significant weight loss.  The underlying skeleton is unaffected, and most of the muscle which moves the foot actually resides in the lower leg.

Ah well, HRT seems so magical to me right now I was being unrealistic.

I'd suggest asking your doctor for a Free Testosterone, Direct blood test.  I had normal T levels like at 24 for a while.  I thought everything was okay.  But then I started growing hairs here and there (very sparse but annoying.. a few on face even).  We did a Free Testosterone, Direct test and normal range is 0.8 to 4.2 and well I was 5.6.  Upped the spiro and estradiol by 33% and latest Free Testosterone was 0.4 -- but this was 4 hours after a spiro pill.  My last fasting Free Testosterone test was 3.6.  From now on I'll be doing fasting tests.. i.e. before I take spiro in the morning.

I'm not sure if this was for me or not,  I will be getting a test in about 3 weeks now, can't wait, but I will:)

QuoteI will be getting a test in about 3 weeks now

Don't forget to study!   

Quote from: AnneK on October 04, 2017, 09:20:20 AM
Don't forget to study!   

Hee hee, I remember doing everything I could diet wise to flush out toxins and lower cholesterol.  Then getting a physical and the blood test showed higher cholesterol.  So the next year I had a bacon ultimate cheeseburger for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two weeks prior to the test.  This time cholesterol was lower, go figure!

Still though, I can't wait for the test.  I feel like I've his a wall, the levels are low and nothing is happening.  Of course this might be just what pellets feels like, no yo yo ing in blood concentrations that pills so.

Bari Jo

Quote from: Bari Jo on October 03, 2017, 03:25:58 PM
I'm not sure if this was for me or not,  I will be getting a test in about 3 weeks now, can't wait, but I will:)

Yeah it was for you sorry.  Are you getting both Total Testosterone and "Free Testosterone, Direct" blood tests?  Many docs don't do the Free Testosterone.  It's really one of the most important tests to be honest, even my electrologist told me this.  It matters what is biologically available.  Best time to do the test is in the AM as that is when testosterone is at its highest level.  I did the test before taking spiro, to see how high it got overnight -- I don't know what your doc told you to do with respect to taking the anti-androgen drug near the blood test.. fasting or not?

Once I get all my hormone drugs sorted out I am going to do another AM fasting Free Testosterone test to see how high my T actually gets.  Then follow it up the same day, with another Free Testosterone test like 4 hours (or so) after I take my spironolactone to see how much the spiro tablet improved the levels.

I just checked the paperwork.  It's for Total.  Honestly.  I think it's near zero anyway.  I'll do that take the test before taking Spiro though in the morning.  My thingie hasn't worked in months, and I like it:)

Quote from: JennJenn on October 06, 2017, 05:25:26 PM
Once I get all my hormone drugs sorted out I am going to do another AM fasting Free Testosterone test to see how high my T actually gets.  Then follow it up the same day, with another Free Testosterone test like 4 hours (or so) after I take my spironolactone to see how much the spiro tablet improved the levels.

My own personal experience is that spiro doesn't suppress testosterone production as much as it inhibits absorption. I still had high levels of testosterone on a relatively high dosage of spiro. Nevertheless, I still experienced the anti-androgenic effects.

All the best,
--AshleyP

If your total is out of range low, your free will be low enough not to worry about.  Your endocrinologist will tell you the same, although maybe not your electrologist.