Yay, I'm glad for an Ellie fix.  The hrt updates all sound like you are on the way.  I can't believe you haven't had a hit the door moment wth your boobies.  It hasn't gotten old for me:)

I'm with you on the loneliness front.  I'm really hoping I can be inviting for the right guy eventually.  I have no doubt you will find the right one for you.  Your personality is so magnetic, Ellie will have no hope but be drawn to that so all can see her

Bari Jo

      Hi Ellie  Finasterid does tale a long time to work it's magic I have been on it for 18 months and it is still getting better I was a norwood 3 almost a 4 now i have small thin spot at the crown that is slowly filling in I have been using minoxidil as well they work in different ways that are supposedly complimentary I am very happy with the results also since starting HRT my psoriasis has cleared up subtsantialy it is almost gone I did not expect this but am loving it congrats on your progress

     bobbisue

Ellie glad to see an update.  I've missed hearing how things are going for you.  The changes generally sound promising.  I personally love the smoother skin part of it.  I had fairly soft and nice skin even as a guy (except for my hands, too much rough work).  Honestly, I use my skin as a litmus test of my E levels since I can tell slight differences in feel.

Good work on losing weight.  I've been plateaud for 2 months at 220.  I haven't been trying though.  Now that the weather is getting nicer and my mood more regular I need to focus back on that.  Amazingly, I find I lose weight easier on E than when I have a bunch of T flooding my system.  I think for me T increases my appetite and just makes me hold weight in my belly.  Since my T has been up a good bit over the last 2 months or so I think the mood and the weight are sort of related.

I know it can be difficult to discuss sexual matters.  We are very repressed as a society with regard to dealing with that subject matter.  It's perfectly okay.  We are all here to help each other and that is certainly an area of change, both in desire and function.  Yes your ejaculate will get cleared and watery.  It will likely diminish in quantity or possible completely disappear.  I found this aspect to be much more linked to finasteride than to just low (or non-existent) T.  I dropped Finasteride and found that my ejaculate went from a few drop back to about 50-60% pre hrt quantity.  I personally like that change.  Yes it's messy, but sex is messy in general. 

The desire part is perfectly normal and a nice positive.  To go from an almost mandatory activity to an it would be nice if I want to, but I have other things to do atm, is great.  I truly wish cis men could experience it so they had a better understanding of how women differ in drive.  I talked at length with my brother-in-law about it once.  He couldn't even fathom what that would be like.  To be fair, I barely could conceive it before either.

I wish I could help with the loneliness.  I find that I really enjoy the romantic aspect of my relationship now much more than before.  I was romantically minded before (when not in a pissy mood), but now it is much more the focus.  I also absolutely love to cuddle now, particularly at night.  This is a shame because most nights my wife is in the kids room or downstairs on the recliner (helps her apnea).  I think I need to buy a teddy bear or something.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Quote from: bobbisue on February 17, 2018, 10:31:25 AM
      Hi Ellie  Finasterid does tale a long time to work it's magic I have been on it for 18 months and it is still getting better I was a norwood 3 almost a 4 now i have small thin spot at the crown that is slowly filling in I have been using minoxidil as well they work in different ways that are supposedly complimentary I am very happy with the results also since starting HRT my psoriasis has cleared up subtsantialy it is almost gone I did not expect this but am loving it congrats on your progress

     bobbisue

Oh yeah! I didn't mention the psoriasis! So I had 95% coverage before starting humira, I have/had severe psoriasis. After humira, down to like 5-10% coverage, with the inverse psoriasis being stubborn along with a few spots that were almost like psoriasis scars. Since starting HRT, its almost all gone. I am now probably at less than 1% coverage, and what is left is fading (the "scar" spots). Dermatitis on my face is also generally better, but I think that is probably moisturizing more than anything.

I'm going full bore on my hair. Finast, Minox (usually using 1.5x the daily dose just to ensure full coverage on all of scalp), and now castor oil a few times a week, plus stray HRT effects. It really has made a huge difference since starting. I wasn't measurable on norwood since I have diffuse patterned alopecia rather than standard balding, but it went from probably 10% coverage on the horseshoe to a gradient of front to back roughly 90%, 50%, 25% coverage. Without the contrast to thick sides it's not even really noticeable in front and middle, though crown is lagging behind a lot(the hairs are staying micronized longer on it, but they are there, if they were to grow to full strength I'd probably jump upt to 70%+ coverage everywhere). After my midterms and hrt followup this week I'm going to schedule a local consult at a transplant place here that supposedly is really good, to see if with what I have it can be done for a reasonable price (I'm thinking under 7k). I really, really want to get hair growing in full, I've said many times now it's my #1 source of dysphoria. Jumping that up a good 6 months would be a huge coup for my self esteem.

Quote from: Roll on February 17, 2018, 01:15:30 PM
Oh yeah! I didn't mention the psoriasis! So I had 95% coverage before starting humira, I have/had severe psoriasis. After humira, down to like 5-10% coverage, with the inverse psoriasis being stubborn along with a few spots that were almost like psoriasis scars. Since starting HRT, its almost all gone. I am now probably at less than 1% coverage, and what is left is fading (the "scar" spots). Dermatitis on my face is also generally better, but I think that is probably moisturizing more than anything.

I'm going full bore on my hair. Finast, Minox (usually using 1.5x the daily dose just to ensure full coverage on all of scalp), and now castor oil a few times a week, plus stray HRT effects. It really has made a huge difference since starting. I wasn't measurable on norwood since I have diffuse patterned alopecia rather than standard balding, but it went from probably 10% coverage on the horseshoe to a gradient of front to back roughly 90%, 50%, 25% coverage. Without the contrast to thick sides it's not even really noticeable in front and middle, though crown is lagging behind a lot(the hairs are staying micronized longer on it, but they are there, if they were to grow to full strength I'd probably jump upt to 70%+ coverage everywhere). After my midterms and hrt followup this week I'm going to schedule a local consult at a transplant place here that supposedly is really good, to see if with what I have it can be done for a reasonable price (I'm thinking under 7k). I really, really want to get hair growing in full, I've said many times now it's my #1 source of dysphoria. Jumping that up a good 6 months would be a huge coup for my self esteem.

Okay, Ellie and BobbySue have an assignment for ya's.  Get more specific on the hair treatment(s) info for dumbin's like me.

I happen to be at the store and happen to see the Monox but they had some for men and women with the women's seeming to be less expensive.  Thoughts and feelings pleeze

Women's is a 2%, Mens is a 5% probably the price difference. For whatever reason, many women are very sensitive to it and causes weird side effects so get a smaller dose (no clue how it affects trans women after a while on HRT, but the goal is no longer need it at some point anyway), though many women handle the 5% fine anyway if careful with it. Don't buy Rogaine, get the Costco brand from store or amazon (Kirkland) it is waaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper and same stuff. There's liquid and foam, liquid is cheaper and some people prefer it, but by and large the foam is considered better/less messy (liquid creates a matted greasy look in hair if you have to go into work or something).

Here is my entire daily hair routine:
- 1/4th Proscar tablet (higher dose finasteride than Propecia, but infinitely cheaper, like literally 10% the cost for equal dose, so its often prescribed then quartered)
- Biotin pill. (Biotin supposedly will not help most people, but I apparently had a genetic deficiency and saw immediate effects taking the supplement, but its cheap and can't hurt so give it a try)
- When first get up, minox. (I use about 1.5x dose as said just for complete coverage, the dose is accurate for just crown but I cover up to hair line and corners trying to spur some growth in female pattern)
- Around 6pm, more minox. (Gives time for it to dry and soak in for next step)
- Before going to sleep, castor oil about 3 times a week, or just whenever really. (3:1 ratio castor:coconut, heat in pan and blend, warm slightly before applying, massage it into scalp and hair very well. Can get giant bottles from amazon for about 12 bucks)
- Twice a week I use Ketoclonazole shampoo. (I had some prescription strength 2% from psoriasis treatment which is best, but before I realized what it was I also bought a 1%, Nizoral brand, so I alternate between them. Helps to remove DHT from scalp and sooth irritation from minox.)

The oil and shampoo help a lot in conjuction with the minox, since it can REALLY dry your scalp out.

Thank you Ellie!

     Ellie is doing more than I am so just follow her advice and good luck I am hoping to have a full head of hair soon but the thin spots cover up even now

     bobbisue

Thanks Bobbi and good luck hairiering

I was mentioning to my mom that my hair growth seems to have slowed down. She asked how much protein I was getting, which admittedly was not a lot lately. Apparently that's also why my nails are so brittle! She said for my height / weight (6-1, 160lbs), 55g should be my daily target, with actual animal protein - plant proteins aren't as effective. So I'm adding more meat & cheese to my diet.

Quote from: Sarah_P on February 18, 2018, 09:46:48 PM
I was mentioning to my mom that my hair growth seems to have slowed down. She asked how much protein I was getting, which admittedly was not a lot lately. Apparently that's also why my nails are so brittle! She said for my height / weight (6-1, 160lbs), 55g should be my daily target, with actual animal protein - plant proteins aren't as effective. So I'm adding more meat & cheese to my diet.

Anti-Vegan huh?

Quote from: Cassi on February 18, 2018, 09:51:27 PM
Anti-Vegan huh?

I've always considered myself a carnivore. BBQ's my favorite food! 

Quote from: Sarah_P on February 18, 2018, 10:24:26 PM
I've always considered myself a carnivore. BBQ's my favorite food! 

*narrows eyes* Mustard based sauce, tomato based sauce, soy based sauce, or dry rub?

Quote from: Roll on February 18, 2018, 10:31:47 PM
*narrows eyes* Mustard based sauce, tomato based sauce, soy based sauce, or dry rub?

North Carolina vs Virginia??  Cole slaw on top of the BBQ?  Or on side?
How about Mississippi style??
And you best not say you like that abomination coming from Louisiana.
LOL  The south does take its BBQ serious.  Not as serious as Alabama state football though.

Sorry, I'm a Kansas City-born, and thus KC Style BBQ is the ONLY true BBQ. 
Actually I do like Memphis style as well. I've had BBQ all across the country, and my love of KC style has never waned. Gotta say, Virginia BBQ was my least favorite- the sauce is so thin & watery. California has no clue how to BBQ. Texas puts way too much spices in & kills any flavor from the meat. I admit I haven't been to Mississippi or Alabama (well, we did drive through once, but didn't stop for BBQ). Despite going to Atlanta several times, I don't think we stopped for BBQ, or I'm just forgetting it. 

Personally, I'm all about the Carolina BBQ (Georgia does not know BBQ, for the SE it's South Carolina or bust). I generally go for mustard over tomato base, Carolina style. I agree on VA, don't like watery(usually a vinegar base I think) sauces at all. Though special shout out to SE Asian variations, those are amazing just different thing really. Cajun BBQ is my 2nd favorite, but I love Cajun anything.

Hi Ellie

I spent the better part of last night and this morning reading these 26 pages of fun. Very good read. Lots of funny things you included that I really enjoyed. I still have 8 more days to my appointment and the suspense is killing me.
I think time slowed down to a crawl lol.

Hugs

Chelsea

Quote from: Chelsea1807 on February 19, 2018, 10:44:50 AM
Hi Ellie

I spent the better part of last night and this morning reading these 26 pages of fun. Very good read. Lots of funny things you included that I really enjoyed. I still have 8 more days to my appointment and the suspense is killing me.
I think time slowed down to a crawl lol.

Hugs

Chelsea

I've got my followup on thursday, and even though it is just the follow-up the same is happening to me! I WANT MY INCREASED DOSES!

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the insanity. I need to get out of my recent semi-funk and bring back the non depressing stuff.

Quote from: Roll on February 19, 2018, 01:41:56 PM
I've got my followup on thursday, and even though it is just the follow-up the same is happening to me! I WANT MY INCREASED DOSES!

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the insanity. I need to get out of my recent semi-funk and bring back the non depressing stuff.

I will start my own thread of  after the appointment is over to document my journey . I'm getting nervous the closer the time comes. I have never told anyone other then my girlfriend in person so its gonna be odd for me.

Anyway... looking forward for your next update.

Chelsea

Quote from: Roll on February 19, 2018, 10:12:48 AM
Personally, I'm all about the Carolina BBQ (Georgia does not know BBQ, for the SE it's South Carolina or bust). I generally go for mustard over tomato base, Carolina style. I agree on VA, don't like watery(usually a vinegar base I think) sauces at all. Though special shout out to SE Asian variations, those are amazing just different thing really. Cajun BBQ is my 2nd favorite, but I love Cajun anything.

Oh, definitely tomato-based for me. Not a fan of mustard, I'm afraid. My favorite store-bought sauce is Sweet Baby Ray's, but It's becoming more and more popular so I'm afraid they're going to change the recipe & ruin it like what happened to KC Masterpiece (not even made in KC anymore!!!).

....We're turning this into a rather saucy thread.