Thought I would start a thread of the changes and timing for my diary and also others who may wonder how others have done on it.  Look forward to the peace and calm others speak of, I feel better already knowing I am moving towards discovering my true self.    Took my first meds this morning, I am looking forward to the journey.

Congratulations!!  Don't be disappointed if nothing seems to happen for a while.  It will, and you will probably be giddy as heck when it does.  In my case the changes were as much emotional as physical in the beginning and probably more placebo than actual.  For the first time in my life I knew I was going to be okay.  No matter what happened or how if all fell into place I would become, a little at a time, whole.

That was eight years ago, and so it has come to pass.

Peace,
Julie

Welcome aboard the E-train

Quote from: Jennifer300 on February 12, 2019, 12:12:30 PM
Thought I would start a thread of the changes and timing for my diary and also others who may wonder how others have done on it.  Look forward to the peace and calm others speak of, I feel better already knowing I am moving towards discovering my true self.    Took my first meds this morning, I am looking forward to the journey.

@Jennifer300
Dear Jennifer:
I am so very happy that you decided to start your own personal transition thread.
Your own thread is indeed important for you and important for your followers.

It allows you to chart your progress all in one spot and is a great place to post your successes that your followers can read and be joyful with you.
Also it is a place to vent your frustrations so that your followers can lend an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on.

All in all, this is very good personal therapy, please continue to take advantage of that.
You must know that all of us that follow your thread are your biggest fans and we are always rooting for your success and happiness.

I will be eagerly looking for your new updates on your thread and other posts around the forums.

Hugs and well wishes as always,
Danielle

Congratulations Jennifer on starting HRT yesterday. You'll remember taking the first tablet and/or applying the first patch forever! Enjoy the rollercoaster ride.

I wish you every happiness and success on your journey.

Hugs

Pamela 

Congratulations on making this huge step! Good luck and try not to be overly critical of your body.

The first few months ramp up slowly. I reckon at 5- 6 months the emotional side comes right on! You will love it!

Kirsten[emoji1652]

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Quote from: AnamethatstartswithE on February 12, 2019, 01:31:19 PM
Welcome aboard the E-train

I about peed my pants when I read this.... This was, my dear, the most awesome thing I've read all day! Laughing tears right now!!!!

Sophia

Quote from: Sophiaprincess2019 on February 13, 2019, 03:49:58 PM
I about peed my pants when I read this.... This was, my dear, the most awesome thing I've read all day! Laughing tears right now!!!!

Sophia

I'm Glad you liked it.

Congratulations and buckle up: it is the most Exhilarating, Exciting, (sometimes) scary, exhausting, empowering, emotional, and beautiful ride of your life if you let it.

Ricki

I start HRT this Thursday the 21st. I'm excited also. Am I supposed to be this nervous? I get my hair done, step in to a cute dress, wear my heels and it all feels like "AAAAWWWW...... comfort".... but HRT makes me nervous/excited/wondering all at once. I'm probably psyching myself out more than anything.....being a girl!



Sophia

[Posted my pic to practice posting pics]

I know it takes a while to see changes.  I finally got my blood results from initial baseline tests.  I am not sure how to read them, or if they are all important.   Either way, I am taking my meds daily, so I expect the TB will cause the T to drop, and the E will cause the E to rise.  I don't know how common it is to post blood stats, but here are mine.  Perhaps someone familiar would know what they mean and which ones I should be monitoring. 

As to changes, Libido down, which is a good thing, now I can focus on life a little better.  Feel a bit more relaxed, but that could be a mental thing knowing that I am working on solutions and until I recognize any changes and if they are positive, there is nothing more to "do" other than wait.  I long it takes to start feeling the breast pains, but knowing they are coming I am content to wait and enjoy the moments they don't cause any pain.  When the pains come, I will just try to stay positive and consider them a reminder that mother nature is still working on me. My skin is definitely feeling less oily which is a welcome change, it was very oily in my T zone.

Taken  12 Feb 2019

Testosterone, Bioavailable   142.8

Testosterone, Free  68  pg/ml

ALBUMIN   4.6   g/dL

SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN  30  nmol/L

TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL (Males), IA   473  ng/dL

ESTRADIOL  22 pg/ml

Hello again Jennifer

I am glad you are feeling the first relaxing signs of HRT doing its work and as you say, it takes time and we all have to have patience as I see you appreciate that.

It also takes time for Blood Test Results to "settle down" and your doctor/endo may adjust your medication after 3 or 6 or 9 or 12 months. Quite a few of us do indeed show their E&T BT readings (and other BT readings aswell if they wish) on their HRT thread. I note your baseline readings. Thank you.

Also I maintain a "Comparison HRT BT Results" thread here on HRT Board attached below which accounts for Members' E&T results after 3/4 and 6/7 and 9/10 and 12/13 months and in May you may wish to post your 3 months result there if you wish.

Thank you for the update and wishing you future happiness.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,244695.0.html

Hugs

Pamela

I will be sure to participate in your data table.  I think some of my more at peace feeling comes from actually making the big decision.  You consider the repercussions, yet you can't deny the truth from yourself.  It is when I finally gave in to myself in complete exhaustion of denial that I felt at peace that I am making the right choice.  I guess time will tell on HRT, but I have no doubts about the decision to finally try HRT to see if the psychological effects give me the peace I have longed for my entire life.  When I start to reflect on the events of my life that point to my transgender brain, I have few doubts.  The real question will be, if the HRT does relieve my Gender Dysphoria, how far do I go.  I have no definite limits.  I am just going to consider each decision as I evolve.  Odds are, the woman I am becoming will decide differently than the person I am today anyway, so why worry about it.  I have found lots of insight reading all the posts here and will continue to do so.  Those who share the deep intimate feelings help others understand themselves better.  I remember when I started basic training in the Air Force decades ago.  The boys were individuals and wanted to do things themselves.  The girls were more about bonding and helping each other.  Just one more black and white example of the differences in the gender of the brain.   

@Jennifer300
Dear Jennifer:
I was very excited for you when you started your own personal transition thread about 2 weeks ago.  I have been following your posts and the reply comments that you have been receiving here on your thread.

I think it is about time that I share with you my personal experiences of HRT and some of the timelines you "might" expect for yourself as you continue on in your journey.

As has been stated over and over here on the Forums in many of my past comments on various posts, HRT will work uniquely in your own unique body.
What you read about other transitioning members experiences with HRT most likely will not be identical to your own experiences.

Some will experience more significant changes more quickly and then some will experience less significant changes more slowly....   it is all up to your genes and how your body reacts to the HRT.   Your doctor will  undoubtedly be continuing to look at your frequent blood test results during your journey to determine if any alterations in the medically prescribed HRT regimen are needed.

The adage that you have probably already heard regarding HRT and how it may work for various individuals
is "YMMV"  meaning that Your Mileage May Vary.
   
PATIENCE is definitely required.... usually not much happens very quickly with HRT... but changes will happen.  Here on the Forums you might want to do some reading of other transitioners posts and look at many of the posted HRT timelines and the before and after pictures. ....  they can give you a rough idea of what you MIGHT expect as time goes on.

Many times the very first noticeable changes can be felt and seen within the first 3 weeks to a couple months... nipple and breast tenderness, erect nipples a lot of the time, breast bud lumps forming under the nipples and some pain when bumping your nipples.  Also as time goes breast growth may continue and there may be changes in body hair growth, also your own body and urine smell, changes in erections becoming less intense, less libido, etc.

Without a doubt this can be very "EXCITING and SCARY all at the same time."   One needs to hang on for an amazing ride.  Some of my best and most appreciated and dramatic body changes happened at about the  4 to 6 month point through the start of year #2 of my HRT journey. 

Regarding your body measurements, it would be a good idea if you established a reference point  allowing you to judge your body changes as HRT does it's magic.   
For me, I did not gain a whole lot in my hips but my breast growth was very good and after 2 years of HRT my breasts were a C-cup.   
Many will achieve an A or a B cup and some transitioners may possibly achieve a C-cup or even a D-cup.
Even though I was able to very successfully pass before I went full-time... when I did go full-time at the 1 1/2 year mark I have been passing 100% of the time.  Of course that is just my unique experience, I suppose I can thank my body makeup and my genes for all that.

We are here to rejoice with you in the good times and to support you in the not so good times.
One more time.... PATIENCE is required.   The attitude of many people today is "I want it all and I want it now" ... that will not apply to HRT.  You might want to re-read what I just wrote so you can get a good grasp of the details that I mentioned.

Regarding your own future progress... things will happen with HRT, but in their own time and in their own ways in your unique body.

I will be looking forward to your continued updates as you feel free to post them.  Please hang in there!
Hugs and well wishes
Danielle

Quote from: Jennifer300 on February 20, 2019, 02:23:19 PM
I will be sure to participate in your data table.  I think some of my more at peace feeling comes from actually making the big decision.  You consider the repercussions, yet you can't deny the truth from yourself.  It is when I finally gave in to myself in complete exhaustion of denial that I felt at peace that I am making the right choice.  I guess time will tell on HRT, but I have no doubts about the decision to finally try HRT to see if the psychological effects give me the peace I have longed for my entire life.  When I start to reflect on the events of my life that point to my transgender brain, I have few doubts.  The real question will be, if the HRT does relieve my Gender Dysphoria, how far do I go.  I have no definite limits.  I am just going to consider each decision as I evolve.  Odds are, the woman I am becoming will decide differently than the person I am today anyway, so why worry about it. 

Hi Jennifer,

I just started HRT as well a week and a half ago.  The first few days I felt the relief you describe at having made the decision.  The last few days I've been somewhat fatigued, but feeling so much more peaceful than I have in a long time.  I'm sort of in the same mind frame as you, wondering if it is just having let go of denial, or if already I am feeling changes from the diminished testosterone.  It will be interesting to see my blood test next week!  If all looks good I will be moved up to a higher dose.

Best of luck to you!

Love, Jael

I literally JUST walked in from the Pharmacy with my initial HRT meds, I got pills, usual cocktail: Estrogen and Spiro. She gave me pills twice daily and Spiro once a day each am. I'll have the 1st pill in my mouth tomorrow morning! Can't tell you how excited I am. Thank you Jennifer for starting this thread. The E train is about to leave the station...all aboard!

Sophia

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you.  HRT is a great ride.

Julie

Quote from: Sophiaprincess2019 on February 21, 2019, 07:51:20 PM
I literally JUST walked in from the Pharmacy with my initial HRT meds, I got pills, usual cocktail: Estrogen and Spiro. She gave me pills twice daily and Spiro once a day each am. I'll have the 1st pill in my mouth tomorrow morning! Can't tell you how excited I am. Thank you Jennifer for starting this thread. The E train is about to leave the station...all aboard!

Sophia

Hello Sophia

So today is the day Feb 22nd and congratulations as you will be starting HRT. You'll remember taking the first tablets forever!

I wish you also every happiness and success. Enjoy the rollercoaster ride!

Hugs

Pamela

I held the first one in my hand just looking at it for what seemed like forever. When I put it under my tongue I swear I could feel the first layer of chains falling off of me.

Congratulations!!! Actual change takes time. I hope the physical act of being on HRT gives you hope and comfort while it happens.

Ricki