Well, not sure what to think but today my therapist has given me the green light for HRT to address my dysphoria.  He is asking me to choose estrogen or spironolactone or both and starting with lower dose and find what works best for me.  I was real encouraged when he said if I am able to handle HRT I could be cleared for an Orchiectomy in 10 months which is what I think I need and embrace a eunuch life.  If would love to hear from others how there MD picked the medications. 

We discussed breast growth which is not on the top of my list and he said they would offer breast reduction if needed down the road.  Everything has been Yes and Yes.  Everything is doable.  Mind you this is Kaiser!  Pretty cool. 

Now I must pick the road to go down. 

@MikeP
Thanks for sharing your good news about getting ready to start HRT.

The vast majority of HRT regimens include both a T-Blocker (Spriro) and also a doctor preferred variety of Estrogen.  Those meds are the basics in HRT.
I am not certain why your therapist and/or doctor offered just you one or the other....   or both.   

You and your doctor should be very clear on this and discuss this thoroughly as it relates to your specific medical issues, transition goals and your overall health.   No one here can second-guess what your doctor is telling you.

Wishing you well and please keep us updated as you feel comfortable doing.
Danielle

Good luck. I'm only a few weeks ahead. My PCP operating under IC at a LGBT hospital/clinic relied on me to determine my cocktail as well. I looked at it as a litmus test.  How "informed" I actually was. Granted she listened to all my answers and then made a recommendation. We were in accord for most part, but I added fin. In the end we compromised on a lower fin dose until 3 month labs. We then went over the IC paperwork.  All scripts initial scripts were based on my transition timeline/expectations.

Congratulations! I went the informed consent route after a number of years on supplements, and was living
full-time with a name change by my first appointment. I started on estradiol patches and spironolactone. After a month my T had actually gone up and an increase in my dosages didn't bring it down, so my doctor approved me for an orchiectomy at seven months. Good luck!

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on November 27, 2018, 11:28:29 PM
@MikeP
Thanks for sharing your good news about getting ready to start HRT.

The vast majority of HRT regimens include both a T-Blocker (Spriro) and also a doctor preferred variety of Estrogen.  Those meds are the basics in HRT.
I am not certain why your therapist and/or doctor offered just you one or the other....   or both.   

You and your doctor should be very clear on this and discuss this thoroughly as it relates to your specific medical issues, transition goals and your overall health.   No one here can second-guess what your doctor is telling you.

Wishing you well and please keep us updated as you feel comfortable doing.
Danielle

Just to clear the air, he is sending me to the endocrinologist and she and I will discuss what's the best for me.  He wants to support my researching here and other places and let her know what my perceived prefeance is.

It is very difficult to choose as everyone is different.   I am leaning towards a trial to achieve normal female estrogen level and a below normal range for T and work from there.

My goal is to eliminate uncontrollable mental sexual arousals and ease some of my very masculine appearance and manorialism.  I have always thought highly of feminine men and women too. 

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Quote from: Devlyn on November 28, 2018, 01:27:28 AM
Congratulations! I went the informed consent route after a number of years on supplements, and was living
full-time with a name change by my first appointment. I started on estradiol patches and spironolactone. After a month my T had actually gone up and an increase in my dosages didn't bring it down, so my doctor approved me for an orchiectomy at seven months. Good luck!

Hugs, Devlyn

Devlyn.  How are you doing now.  Your route seems to fit my objective.  I am hoping by curbing my sexual obsessions I can fill that time with usefull things.  Get the monkey off my back. 

Thanks for all your help and support at Susan's. I know a lot here have given some very good honest opinions. 

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Quote from: MikeP on November 28, 2018, 02:17:27 PM
Devlyn.  How are you doing now.  Your route seems to fit my objective.  I am hoping by curbing my sexual obsessions I can fill that time with usefull things.  Get the monkey off my back. 

Thanks for all your help and support at Susan's. I know a lot here have given some very good honest opinions. 

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Doing well! I'm a little over a year post-orchi, my E & T levels are in perfect female range. My libido is low, but I can still function with lots of warm-up time.

Hugs, Devlyn

Great, any negatives?   Mood, energy, ambitions and alike.  I am hoping that anything I may loose physically I will gain in other activities. 

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My friends unanimously tell me they don't know anything about transgender, but they know I'm happier now. 

Good for you Mike. As s you know I'm a few months ahead of you.  I'm liking it so far.

Quote from: GordonG on November 28, 2018, 04:09:44 PM
Good for you Mike. As s you know I'm a few months ahead of you.  I'm liking it so far.

@GordonG
As time goes by you will see more and more noticable changes as a result of HRT...   
...it can be very exciting for sure, but patience is defintiely required.   
Usually nothing happens very quickly with HRT... and least not as quick as we all desire.

By the way ...  I absolutely love your new Avatar/profile picture!!!   VERY NICE.

Best wishes to you as you continue on.
Danielle

Quote from: Devlyn on November 28, 2018, 02:41:08 PM
My friends unanimously tell me they don't know anything about transgender, but they know I'm happier now. 

Do you present male or female to friend's.

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Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on November 28, 2018, 04:17:16 PM

@GordonG
As time goes by you will see more and more noticable changes as a result of HRT...   
...it can be very exciting for sure, but patience is defintiely required.   
Usually nothing happens very quickly with HRT... and least not as quick as we all desire.

By the way ...  I absolutely love your new Avatar/profile picture!!!   VERY NICE.

Best wishes to you as you continue on.
Danielle

Thank you Danielle . I love that picture also.  Too bad I don't look that good for real.

Yes I  know that Hrt is a slow boat. And personally I don't want anything happening fast. I've already noticed a big drop in my libido. Which is THE main reason I started this journey.  That plus the fact that I've always been a more feminine guy than not, I figured what ever else I get won't be a deal breaker.

Quote from: MikeP on November 28, 2018, 04:22:05 PM
Do you present male or female to friend's.

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I'm full-time.