So, I want to ask a question of others who have more experience with HRT.

This morning I finally got all my ducks in a row (Support letter, blood work, etc.) and obtained my prescription for androgen blocker and estrogen.

I took my first dose about 2 hours ago.

I feel noticeably calmer than usual. Is this a real effect of medicine, so soon? Or could it just be the psychological effect of the relief of finally making progress?

At 2 hours, it's probably mostly a psychological effect,  but it depends on which drugs you're taking.
The GNRH blockers I take to stop my T take two weeks to kick in, but it really was night/day for me when they did [emoji4]. X

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This is certainly a placebo effect as Megan suggests.  Just the thought that you're on the way to making changes can have a dramatic effect on our psyche.  For me I didn't notice changes for quite some time but they had snuck up on me as I realized I was much calmer in stressful situations.  Congratulations!   

Quote from: Megan. on April 11, 2018, 12:29:02 PM
At 2 hours, it's probably mostly a psychological effect,  but it depends on which drugs you're taking.
The GNRH blockers I take to stop my T take two weeks to kick in, but it really was night/day for me when they did [emoji4]. X

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I was prescribed spironolactane (hope I spelled that right) and estradiol.

Quote from: BlueJaye on April 11, 2018, 01:04:22 PM
I was prescribed spironolactane (hope I spelled that right) and estradiol.

I think Spiro acts directly on T unlike the GNRH drugs, so it should be faster,  but it's effects will also be proportionate to your dose. Others here may be able to give a more informed experience. X

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With spiro it takes a long time to lower your T.  Initially, after 60 days, mine dropped a lot but it took nearly a year, and a dose increase, to get it to female levels and nearly two years to fully bottom out.

I don't know if feeling good so fast is real or placebo but I felt exactly the same thing.


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Impact on different individuals seems to vary quite a bit.  I don't think what I experienced was a placebo effect.  After starting my estradiol-only prescription I noticed things within a half day when I wasn't thinking about it at all (driving etc.).  From the 2nd day, amped up sensory perception of smell, touch, and I look carefully at scenery I ignored for years. 

I briefly stopped a couple times for surgery and noticed the reverse effect.  When I re-started, the next morning I enjoyed the scenery from my hospital room window I hadn't bothered to look at earlier. 

Quote from: Deborah on April 11, 2018, 01:29:52 PM
With spiro it takes a long time to lower your T.  Initially, after 60 days, mine dropped a lot but it took nearly a year, and a dose increase, to get it to female levels and nearly two years to fully bottom out.

I don't know if feeling good so fast is real or placebo but I felt exactly the same thing.


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I was on low dosage of Spirononactone and first three months my Testosterone level drop off dramatically. So it's depends on person Endocrine systems in their body.

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I was on spiro and dutatriside well before I started E. in the first two days I could feel the change from the E. just a very different feeling. About two weeks in I got one heck of a jolt from the E when it just hit me with this warm calming feeling that came over me and the emotions just opened up.

Quote from: Deborah on April 11, 2018, 01:29:52 PM
With spiro it takes a long time to lower your T.

And sometimes, it doesn't lower it at all but just blocks it.

I did experience a fast reaction. Maybe it was low T to begin with, I had started some herb supplements with the intent of lowering T a mo the or so ahead of getting HRT,  but within 30min of letting that first E tablet disolve in my mouth I suddenly felt a complete change. It was like this background anxiety like feeling that I hadn't realized was there just dropped away. It was profound. The herbs must have been somewhat successful lowering T production as my existing gynocamastia that had left me with breast buds had begun aching several weeks before getting HRT.

Changes from HRT regimens are powerful, but gradual.  I would guess that what you're feeling at two hours in is a sense of emotional relief and satisfaction with taking a major step in transition.

Most trans folks have experienced years of internal gender noise and confusion inside their heads as they struggled with uncomfortable social norms and expectations.  It can take a long time to sort things out and decide in which direction you're going to move.  You've made your decision, and you're now under way.  That sense of decision and action feels good, and that's what I think you were feeling at the two hour mark.

Over the next weeks, months, and years, you will notice all sorts of physical and emotional changes that you will like.  Most of them will develop very subtly and gradually.  You may not even be aware of them for a long time until you have a sudden jolt of awareness.  (Here are two from my transition:  Suddenly finding yourself crying when you're watching a sad movie when you have gone through your whole adult life without crying.  Unexpectedly catching sight of your reflection in a store window and being startled at how much your face or body have changed.)

Congratulations on getting started.  I'm glad you're feeling good right now, but the best parts are yet to come.  Buckle up and enjoy the ride!