I had to first do my blood work before I met with the Doctor.  She then prescribed a certain level of both T-blocker and E.  I had to go back in 2 weeks and do more blood work.  Everything looked good.  She upped the dose and I had to again go back with more blood work.  Again everything was good.  I saw her again and she again upped the dose.  When I went back in my one level was really high or she lowered my T-blocker dose.  I was then on the right dose for me.  I had to see her every 3 months for the 1st year.  Now it will be two times in the second year.  Then it is just once every year after. (if everything still looks good).

Julie (13 months on HRT) 

Quote from: Julie -2010 on March 10, 2018, 08:55:47 PM
I had to first do my blood work before I met with the Doctor.  She then prescribed a certain level of both T-blocker and E.  I had to go back in 2 weeks and do more blood work.  Everything looked good.  She upped the dose and I had to again go back with more blood work.  Again everything was good.  I saw her again and she again upped the dose.  When I went back in my one level was really high or she lowered my T-blocker dose.  I was then on the right dose for me.  I had to see her every 3 months for the 1st year.  Now it will be two times in the second year.  Then it is just once every year after. (if everything still looks good).

Julie (13 months on HRT)

Hi Julie and welcome!  Wow, from your avatar you look pretty gosh darn good for 13 months.

Quote from: ToriJo on March 10, 2018, 12:30:29 AMPeople read too much into the levels too - what matters is that you get the feminization or masculinization, not that you end up in some green zone on a chart. You don't want hormones at such a high level as to cause health issues either, which is why you should get monitored when taking them. That said, I'm always happy when my hormone levels are in the "female" range. 

The female range can be quite wide. For testosterone, 6-120 ng/dl. For estradiol, 20-1,000 pg/ml. Where in there is the ideal level for a given individual, no one really knows in advance (guesswork, arbitrary, no studies have established an ideal range) because individual sensitivity varies. Also, we aren't ciswomen, we *may* need more because our particular circumstances/genetics or certain other hormones/drugs we take (progestogens reduce sensitivity to E).

Levels also fluctuate, quite a bit!

Levels in our blood may not reflect intracellular concentrations so that they may be low in the blood but high in our cells due to conversion of weaker forms/precursors (estrone, androstenedione, dhea-s, estrone sulfate, etc.).

T is often BLOCKED by anti-androgens so that what you see in your blood, some of it is blocked and a test in unable to tell you how much.

Total T is often measured when really part of that is bound to SHBG and cannot bind to receptors. A more accurate measurement is free or bio-available T.

T may be high but if one is taking a DHT inhibitor such as finasteride, then DHT may be low.

Studies appear to also show that even high levels of estradiol are relatively safe across different populations, especially if taken non-orally, as far as coagulation and cardiovascular risks go. Pregnant women have levels as high as 75,000 pg/ml (risk of DVT is 0.1%), in men, levels as high as 1,000 pg/ml were found not to increase the risk of blood clots (and even reduce the risk) despite their cancer and advanced age, etc.

The more one reads about these things, the more one realizes stuff. I try to share as much as I can with my doctor so they may become more aware.

Quote from: Cassi on March 10, 2018, 10:38:24 PM
Hi Julie and welcome!  Wow, from your avatar you look pretty gosh darn good for 13 months.

Thanks Cassi.  I'm pretty happy with the progress.  I don't see as many changes as I thought I would, which I not totally out so that may be a good thing for now.
Julie

Pretty much the same here. Just told my younger oldest sister that she's no longer the oldest sister in the family.  She asks if I'm growing boobs (she's not too versed in trans - her daughter had to explain to her) and told her they're growing a wee bit with 2 months on HRT.

Too funny Cassi. The rest of my family found out Friday after I talked to Mom and my sister who is the middle of 5 kids is so happy and overjoyed to have a big sister now. She wants to fly out and go shopping with me. I never expected that responce.