This subject has been discussed before so I thought I would add some hard data from my new blood tests. 

I have been on HRT since Jan 2015 and on the highest spiro dose since the latter part of the first year.  It took over a year but my T eventually dropped from 826 ng/dl to < 3 ng/dl and then stayed there up through my last doctor's appointment six months ago.  Throughout that time my E dose has been standard. I talked my doctor into raising it to max on my last visit and with her approval began lowering my spiro.  For three months I lowered it by 25 percent and then at the beginning of January by another 25 percent.  So now my spiro dose is half of what it was and is back to its initial dose at the first visit in 2015.

The results:  T is still < 3 ng/dl.  Free T remains at a very low level of .4 pg/ml.  E is at its highest point ever; a little more than four hours after my last dose (sublingual) it was measured at 329 pg/ml.  All my other blood markers remain very good.

After this next appointment I am going to try halfing my spiro dose again with the hopes of eventually eliminating it.

As for how I feel, I feel great.  As I've posted before, body changes are coming along nicely and with no testosterone I am stronger at 58 years old than I have ever been in my life.  This is despite being smaller and was quite unexpected.  (I do not accept that being female equals being weak and helpless)

My aerobic capacity, and running ability though has decreased some, likely due to decreased red blood cell count. Weight loss and gain is still very easy for me and my weight is still in a good place, 179 lbs at 5'11".  While I have gained a little in the past six months I attribute that primarily to me relaxing my diet for a while and gorging on candy bars and cookies (lots of them).  It's on the way back down now though with a bit more attention to what goes in my mouth.

For anyone just starting out, the changes in T and E are cumulative and in my case took a long time, over a year before they got to my goal ranges.  Nothing here seems to happen very fast. 


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There is some Testosterone suppression in the Estradiol alone. It is always a good idea to take the lowest dose that will get you the desired results.

I am happy to see that you are working with your doctor to find the proper dose for you. Your report is very strong evidence against self medication.

A couple friends of mine have eliminated spiro from their regimen after convincing their docs to do some experimentation like this.

I really want to as well, I'm sick of peeing all the stinking time and having lightheaded spells when my BP crashes after taking it.  But my T levels are still in the ~30 ng/mL range so I'll likely have to ride it out a bit. 

Quote from: Deborah on February 28, 2018, 04:12:57 AM
This subject has been discussed before so I thought I would add some hard data from my new blood tests. 

I have been on HRT since Jan 2015 and on the highest spiro dose since the latter part of the first year.  It took over a year but my T eventually dropped from 826 ng/dl to < 3 ng/dl and then stayed there up through my last doctor's appointment six months ago.  Throughout that time my E dose has been standard. I talked my doctor into raising it to max on my last visit and with her approval began lowering my spiro.  For three months I lowered it by 25 percent and then at the beginning of January by another 25 percent.  So now my spiro dose is half of what it was and is back to its initial dose at the first visit in 2015.

The results:  T is still < 3 ng/dl.  Free T remains at a very low level of .4 pg/ml.  E is at its highest point ever; a little more than four hours after my last dose (sublingual) it was measured at 329 pg/ml.  All my other blood markers remain very good.

After this next appointment I am going to try halfing my spiro dose again with the hopes of eventually eliminating it.

As for how I feel, I feel great.  As I've posted before, body changes are coming along nicely and with no testosterone I am stronger at 58 years old than I have ever been in my life.  This is despite being smaller and was quite unexpected.  (I do not accept that being female equals being weak and helpless)

My aerobic capacity, and running ability though has decreased some, likely due to decreased red blood cell count. Weight loss and gain is still very easy for me and my weight is still in a good place, 179 lbs at 5'11".  While I have gained a little in the past six months I attribute that primarily to me relaxing my diet for a while and gorging on candy bars and cookies (lots of them).  It's on the way back down now though with a bit more attention to what goes in my mouth.

For anyone just starting out, the changes in T and E are cumulative and in my case took a long time, over a year before they got to my goal ranges.  Nothing here seems to happen very fast. 


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Thanks for the info. I'm interested in trying it also.


  Looks like you started to lower the Spiro at about 18 months, is that right?  My last T level was 3 at my one year appt.   Did or do you take any progesterone?  I started that and have tolerated the Spiro just fine so didn't think it was time to ask about lowering yet.

 

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I've been on HRT for a long time, and a year a half ago I eliminated the spiro, and decreased my estrogen dose; I had labs done last November and my estrogen level is within the normal female range, and my testosterone level is <3

Quote from: TonyaW on February 28, 2018, 08:42:34 AM
Thanks for the info. I'm interested in trying it also.


  Looks like you started to lower the Spiro at about 18 months, is that right?  My last T level was 3 at my one year appt.   Did or do you take any progesterone?  I started that and have tolerated the Spiro just fine so didn't think it was time to ask about lowering yet.

 

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I started lowering spiro at about the 30 month mark but I may have been able to start that much sooner.  I was taking progesterone without any problems but stopped that about five months ago when my prescription got messed up.  I haven't noticed any adverse effects but changes that had stalled seem to have restarted. That may be due to other factors though including my raised E dose, lower spiro, or a little weight gain.  I had been holding my bodyfat pretty low which probably wasn't helping any.


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Thank you Deborah for this information.  This is something I will discuss with my endo.

By the way I love your new avatar!

Jessica

Quote from: Deborah on February 28, 2018, 04:12:57 AM
This subject has been discussed before so I thought I would add some hard data from my new blood tests. 

Quote from: kitchentablepotpourri on February 28, 2018, 08:43:05 AMI've been on HRT for a long time, and a year a half ago I eliminated the spiro, and decreased my estrogen dose; I had labs done last November and my estrogen level is within the normal female range, and my testosterone level is <3

I am wondering if either of you have your testicles?  I have been taking spironalactone and estrogen for 8+ years. My doctor is religious about monitoring my potasium levels, but after the first year or so never saw a need to continue to check my hormone levels or adjust my prescriptions. I'm not sure there are even gonads in my scrotum anymore, and have often wondered if I actually need to continue takingeither of these. I am just willing to risk my dysphoria coming back and saving a few dollars and to take 2 less pills a day. Shrug. It sure keep the old blood pressure low!

Quote from: flytrap on February 28, 2018, 10:45:22 AM
I am wondering if either of you have your testicles?  I have been taking spironalactone and estrogen for 8+ years. My GP is religious about monitoring my postasium levels but after the first few check never saw a need to continue to check my hormone levels or adjust my prescriptions. I'm not sure there are even gonads in my scrotum anymore and have often wondered if I actually need to continue either of these...

Yes.  I still have those but they appear to be non-functional according to the blood tests.

My potassium is always good, hovering around its upper value.  I don't really eat to control it either but I have noted that my normal diet contains only about 65 percent of the RDA for potassium.


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