Okay so I've been on hrt for almost ten months now, and for most of this time I've been feeling pretty good, but as of late I've been feeling a bit depressed, cause almost ten months in, and other then a slight bit of filling out my face still looks exactly the same as it did the day I started.

And my face has always been something about myself that I've hated, so that should give you a hint at how bad this is making me feel.

It may be stupid to be so upset about this, but.

Quote from: Reyes on February 13, 2018, 01:02:04 PM
ten months in, and other then a slight bit of filling out my face still looks exactly the same as it did the day I started.

First, are you sure about that?
Second, 10 months isn't that long? Those girls you see looking remarkably different after ten months tend to be young.
Third, your dosage might be low. Have you mentioned this to your doctor?

Quote from: KarynMcD on February 13, 2018, 02:08:57 PM
First, are you sure about that?
Second, 10 months isn't that long? Those girls you see looking remarkably different after ten months tend to be young.
Third, your dosage might be low. Have you mentioned this to your doctor?

Um, first, I'm not one hundred percent sure, but looking between me now and old photos I don't notice any real difference. I still look like a guy.
Second, on the transistion timelines over on ->-bleeped-<-, I always make sure to only look at timelines of people around my own age. So 28 to 32. And always when they're only like 6 months to a year in.
And Third, at my last endo appointment three months ago, my T levels were still to high, but my E levels are up at like 100 which is supposedly really high.

Quote from: Reyes on February 13, 2018, 05:48:19 PM
Um, first, I'm not one hundred percent sure, but looking between me now and old photos I don't notice any real difference. I still look like a guy.
Second, on the transistion timelines over on ->-bleeped-<-, I always make sure to only look at timelines of people around my own age. So 28 to 32. And always when they're only like 6 months to a year in.
And Third, at my last endo appointment three months ago, my T levels were still to high, but my E levels are up at like 100 which is supposedly really high.

A 100 what for E? That could be high or not really. Also T being high doesn't help either sadly [emoji17] are you on progesterone too? Just wondering I started it a few days ago but I have to switch to micronized progesterone because I heard it has less side effects.

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Quote from: Reyes on February 13, 2018, 05:48:19 PM
Um, first, I'm not one hundred percent sure, but looking between me now and old photos I don't notice any real difference. I still look like a guy.
Second, on the transistion timelines over on ->-bleeped-<-, I always make sure to only look at timelines of people around my own age. So 28 to 32. And always when they're only like 6 months to a year in.
And Third, at my last endo appointment three months ago, my T levels were still to high, but my E levels are up at like 100 which is supposedly really high.

Is your doctor happy with the blood test results?  As mentioned by KarynMc definitely go back to your doctor and ask specifically about what you feel is not changing fast enough and are the blood test results OK or can they be tweaked?
If you feel comfortable about posting a before HRT picture and a current picture the girls here will give you honest feedback.

Quote from: Allison S on February 13, 2018, 05:54:29 PM

A 100 what for E? That could be high or not really. Also T being high doesn't help either sadly [emoji17] are you on progesterone too? Just wondering I started it a few days ago but I have to switch to micronized progesterone because I heard it has less side effects.

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I am on Estradiol and Spironolactone.

What's progesterone for?

Also as for the 100, she said that apparently the normal amount is like 80, and that some people don't even make it up to 60, so the 100 is apparently a good thing from what she said. Dunno what the 100 was though.

QuoteIs your doctor happy with the blood test results?  As mentioned by KarynMc definitely go back to your doctor and ask specifically about what you feel is not changing fast enough and are the blood test results OK or can they be tweaked?
If you feel comfortable about posting a before HRT picture and a current picture the girls here will give you honest feedback.

As for my doctor, other then my T results, which three months ago she said lets wait till your next appointment to see if it changes any, she says everything else is okay. And as for what I don't feel is changing fast enough, I actually told her how I felt last time I was there and she said that no one really changed and it was all make up.
Which I know is wrong as I've been trying make up and it has no major effects like she claimed.
Really I'd personally prefer going to someone else, mainly because it takes almost an hour to get to her, so other then the appointment every three months I can't really go and see her. But there is not a single endocrinologist in my area that takes my insurance, and I can't afford it otherwise. So pretty much the closest one is her, and then the rest are like 5 hours away.
As for my picture, I've actually posted some before when I felt more confident about my appearance months ago. So I can, sure.

This is me a month into taking hormones. I don't actually have anything from sooner.

And this is me last week. Only make up I'm wearing here is eye liner, which I am not to good at putting on so it's always very thick. And foundation to cover my five o'clock shadow.

snipped: 

Quote from: Reyes on February 13, 2018, 07:47:34 PM
As for my doctor, other then my T results, which three months ago she said lets wait till your next appointment to see if it changes any, she says everything else is okay. And as for what I don't feel is changing fast enough, I actually told her how I felt last time I was there and she said that no one really changed and it was all make up.
Which I know is wrong as I've been trying make up and it has no major effects like she claimed.
Really I'd personally prefer going to someone else, mainly because it takes almost an hour to get to her, so other then the appointment every three months I can't really go and see her. But there is not a single endocrinologist in my area that takes my insurance, and I can't afford it otherwise. So pretty much the closest one is her, and then the rest are like 5 hours away.
As for my picture, I've actually posted some before when I felt more confident about my appearance months ago. So I can, sure.

This is me a month into taking hormones. I don't actually have anything from sooner.

And this is me last week. Only make up I'm wearing here is eye liner, which I am not to good at putting on so it's always very thick. And foundation to cover my five o'clock shadow.

@ Reyes:  I think there is a definite difference in your face... smoother, more filled out, cheeks are rounder,  etc.  I think you look great and see progress.

100 is likely pg/ml.  100 is ok.  My Dr. aims to keep it between 100 to 200.  Also, if you're taking it orally the time since your last dose when you take the blood test makes a big difference in its results.  Right after you take a dose your blood levels rise quite a bit.  But they begin to fall fairly quickly.  So a test taken one hour after a dose will give different results than one taken 12 hours after a dose.

So, if this last test was very soon after a dose then your blood levels are likely way below 100 most of the time.  If on the other hand the test was 12 hours after the last dose then your blood levels are above 100 most of the time.


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Quote from: Reyes on February 13, 2018, 01:02:04 PM
Okay so I've been on hrt for almost ten months now, and for most of this time I've been feeling pretty good, but as of late I've been feeling a bit depressed, cause almost ten months in, and other then a slight bit of filling out my face still looks exactly the same as it did the day I started.

And my face has always been something about myself that I've hated, so that should give you a hint at how bad this is making me feel.

It may be stupid to be so upset about this, but.

I deleted my last comment because I'm not very good at these forms yet, and I replied to the wrong post by mistake......

At times we can be our worst critic, and I'm sure your face looks fine.

Me I have a very dominant face with large cheekbones. Those are my genetics, and there's not much any medication can do for that. But you never know. 



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Your face is filling out below your eyes. This is taking the gaunt look out of your face that is visible in the first picture and it's giving your face a feminine heart shape. If you want to verify what I am saying, feel the thickness of the skin on your face. I resumed HRT about 2 years ago and I can feel the increase of fat in my face as well as seeing the difference.

Quote from: Reyes on February 13, 2018, 07:47:34 PMWhat's progesterone for?

For pregnant women, to help keep the fetus/embryo alive, nourish it, prepare the breasts for lactation, prolong pregnancy, etc.

In transwomen, it can help breast growth, give a more curvy body but also make one gain too much weight, help counter water retention as it is a diuretic, counter dryness of hair/skin and brittle nails, may increase libido, improve mood, help you sleep better. Some like it, some don't. I took it, I prefer without for now.

QuoteAlso as for the 100, she said that apparently the normal amount is like 80, and that some people don't even make it up to 60, so the 100 is apparently a good thing from what she said. Dunno what the 100 was though.

Probably in pg/ml, as Deb stated above, since you state you live in the US. In ciswomen, levels range quite a lot, from as little as 20 to up to 1,000 during the menstrual cycle. Average levels in women also vary as I recently came across a study that found average levels in young ciswomen, across 3 menstrual cycles, to be 340 pg/ml (230 – 556 pg/ml).

At 100-200 pg/ml, I don't get much in the way of breast growth and feminization. I probably need around 300-500. Every individual is unique and responds differently just like the same amount of alcohol in the blood won't affect everyone the same. Do consider that levels fluctuate, sometimes quite a lot, so that levels may be significantly higher or lower later or before you got your blood drawn.

QuoteAs for my doctor, other then my T results

Spironolactone seems, according to studies, to mostly block T and not necessarily reduce it, even at very high doses so that measuring them doesn't appear to tell the whole story. They may be high but they may not even make it to the receptors.

Quoteshe said that no one really changed and it was all make up.

I've seen significant changes over time in my face and so have other women. It's known that estrogen stimulates deposition of subcutaneous fat in the face and in other areas of the body like thighs/butt so that over time, your silhouette/body softens, looks more feminine and that can make a big difference in how others perceive you. There's only so much make-up can do as before hormones, even with makeup, I didn't pass most of the time.

More rounded face, fuller lips, better coloring. Even your hair looks better!

I see definite progress. Just hang in there, 10 months is no time, particularly compared to how long your body has been on T. Takes a minute to reshape things, ya know?

Have you started laser yet? That will wipe that shadow out in 15m (of excruciating torture).