I had my interview today. It looks like I am one step closer to getting my hormones. She will let my primary care and social worker know.
I had my testosterone tested back in 2005, and it was low normal. From what I read, The doctor should have tested my estrogen to see if my body is converting the testosterone to estrogen. (symptoms of gynecomastia).
I get to wondering, considering that I have breasts due to low t, will estrogen make them bigger.
Other thoughts that I have is it possible that the low t caused low bone density, thus ending up with two broken wrists from falling while on roller skates. Apparently the bones were dense enough to put screws through metal plates in my wrists. At this point I figure I need HRT due to health problems due to my age.

Quote from: Michelle_K on August 07, 2024, 11:22:14 PMI get to wondering, considering that I have breasts due to low t, will estrogen make them bigger.

Definitely. They may suggest a T-blocker to prevent added estrogen from converting to Testosterone. I would also suggest adding progesterone with the estrogen, but not all providers are on board with that. I am pretty sure adding estrogen will make your breasts grow, progesterone helps them fill out (volume-wise).

I am so happy that you are making progress. It seems like it's been a long road, but you are moving forward and that is important for physical and mental health. You are on the right track!

I received a pamphlet about feminizing hormones. A lot of those changes have already happened to me decades ago. That is why I have a lot of confusion. I am already a 38b cup. Small enough to hide under a loose shirt.
I bought my first home electrolysis kit about 20 years ago. I used it to remove the hair from my toes, feet, and lower legs. I also did my fingers and most of my hands. To me, I felt that since I was very feminine, it should be ok to wear more feminine clothes, besides they fit me better. My mother had different ideas, It was ok for her to tease me about looking feminine, but not if I did anything to look more feminine. She slapped my face. That was about 20 years ago.
Now that I can see properly again, I am back to using the home electrolysis kit. Hours and hours to remove the hair above my lip. I don't remember how much was done decades ago.
I got denied by a psychologist, back about 1990, stating that I was not trans. I decided I did not need any diagnosis to wear feminine clothes. Now that I have my diagnosis, the anxiety about getting denied again is gone.
I became Miss Michael with my name change back in 1983
Michelle 

August 15 is my birthday. I will be 75 years on this earth. It looks like my birthday present will be the estrogen. A little more complicated than that since I need the prescription first, but close enough.

I posted the following on the better health web for my therapist.
11:41am
August 8, 2024
Hello,
I now have my gender dysphoria diagnosis through St. Cloud veteran health center. I have decided that since my body already looks feminine, Adding estrogen should enhance my looks. Maybe even get rid of the wrinkles on my face. At this point I'm thinking that low testosterone has already made my genitals dysfunctional, so the addition of estrogen will not have much effect on that part.
I read someplace that it is not HRT, It is cross sex hormone therapy. Imagine, my 75th birthday Present will be estrogen.
Michelle

I had an appointment with the social worker. I thought that since I was at St. Cloud Veteran's care I would made an appointment to get the hormones, or at least get the program going. I got told that I have to wait for the nurse to contact me to make my appointment.
Michelle

Hi Michelle,

I'm sorry this is taking so long. If you have a VA.gov account, or you can do it through MyHealtheVet too, just log in and select appointments. You should be able to request an appointment with your Primary doctor. You might be able to choose a date. If not, you will still have to wait for them to call back. But maybe you can schedule it yourself. It is worth a try.

Good luck.

Got a call today. Missed the first call. Called back, and the person was not available, They would call again. I needed to pee, so I took the phone with me to the bathroom. Yep, They called while I was sitting on the toilet.
 They are working on finding me an endocrinologist.  I put my VA insurance info along with the photo of my VA ID into the MyChart program.
At my first appointment at the Veterans' care, I wanted my hormones checked. It was determined that it would be A hour drive to get there, so the test was not done. Hopefully with the gender dysphoria diagnosis, she understands why I wanted the test.
What was this about baby steps?
Michelle

Baby steps exactly!

It is still progress even if it is slow progress. Keep moving forward and you'll get there.

Conversion to estrogen is definitely something that happens, though it generally happens when testosterone levels are excessively high.

Gynecomastia is a complex condition that can have several potential causes.

But I can answer your question about whether your breasts will get larger. The short and simple answer is yes. I also had gynecomastia during my teen years (and of course they never went away in my adult years). Just like you, I had 38B breasts before transitioning.

You'll definitely have some further breast development. How much is impossible to predict. Several factors are involved. Age, activity level, general health, diet, lifestyle factors (such as smoking and alcohol consumption), and genetics. I was 36 when I started HRT, am very athletic (which has an impact on your body's utilization of cholesterol derivatives such as estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone), I had never smoked or drank alcohol, and the women on both sides of my family tended to have larger breasts. I am currently 38D or 36DD, depending on the bra and how it's cut.

Not knowing your personal health, lifestyle, and family genetics, the only thing I can say is that age could make the effects on breast development less pronounced. What that will equate to in terms of cup volume is hard to predict. But since you're already a B, you will definitely be at least a B.

A slight problem today as secure messaging would not let me reply to a question about which endocrinologist I wanted to use. I did find a number to call and was transferred to the proper person. The St Cloud veteran health care will send a referral to me and my chosen endocrinologist. This will only be a half hour drive, and once the detours are gone it will be reduced to 20 minutes.
I have an appointment with audiology next week, First get my ears checked, and then maybe speech therapy. Imagine, getting your ears checked in grade school, and finding a problem. Then having your dad say, oh, he is just faking it. So, I play a game called, fill in the missing sound. Unlike my mother, I am not going to mistake the word truck for a four letter word starting with f. She must have heard foul language because she was expecting foul language.
When my sister suggested sign language at the dinner table, My dad said I was faking it. In order to use sign language, both participants in the conversation need to know sign language.
I understand there is a hearing aid that vibrates the bone instead of amplifying the sound into your ear.
Michelle