As the day is getting closer and closer for me to take my first dose of estrogen i find myself getting anxious and excited about finally trying it.

Realistically I know there probably won't be much of a difference from taking the first dose (but who knows).

What can I expect from my first shot of estrogen?

I know physical changes won't happen quickly, I know I may or may not have mental changes from the first dose (mood, attitude, etc), however I know there can be a sense of relief for finally taking that step, but I don't feel that would be a direct effect from the estrogen just the act itself.

I don't really have any expectations other than the needle will pinch and I might be sore in the injection spot afterwards. Lol.

Even when I was using testosterone I usually didn't notice anything for at least a week or two specifically for mood, attitude, shorter temper and mental changes.

Are there any adverse reactions I should be looking for that would suggest my body and estrogen don't like interacting with one another lol..like an allergic reaction to the medication? I have heard some people (rare) have had almost life threatening issues from starting HRT (again rare)

As you said, the most likely thing you will notice is the excitement of getting started finally. The first day, probably nothing but a sore injection site. By day two, you may notice a difference in your mood. For me, I felt great. Pay attention to any moodiness or depression. That will be your sign. Either bliss or depressed mood sort of tells you if you are on the right track.

It will not be super-obvious. Not like getting smacked with a hammer. Very subtle and you might not notice anything for a few days, then thinking back on it decide, "Oh, yeah I do feel better".

Just relax and enjoy it.

Thanks @Lori Dee I want to make sure I am aware of everything to be looking out for.

I'm not sure if this is normal or not. But I have been having more dreams activity since starting HRT specifically just Spiro than I can remember in the recent past ever having.

Did/does anyone have or had weird dreams when they initially started hrt? And by weird I mean sexual.

It is a month now of being on Spiro and I have had what seems to be the full range of its effects such as in the beginning there was the dull aches down stairs (which has subsided now), less and less erections to practically none, no sex drive or libido.

But now not sure if my body is adapting to the Spiro  or what, but I have had two dreams that were sexual in nature and both time I woke up after climaxing. This was about a week apart or so.

I have not started estrogen yet. I plan to take my first shot tomorrow In The evening since I am going to do lab work in the morning.

Has Anyone else have sexual dreams when they started hrt? Or I guess any dreams that were out of the normal for you specifically .

And in these dreams, I know or I am aware that I have a penis in these dreams but as to the rest of my body I don't know. It has not been revealed as to if I am still a man in these dreams or transitioning and have not had bottom surgery yet.

Just curious since this is the second time this has happened since starting HRT, and before hrt almost no dreaming ( or being able to remember my dreams) what so ever, even when I was on testosterone I had very little dreams I could remember

I figured I would take my measurements again before starting estrogen. My starting stats are (taken aug 31st 2024):

Height 5"8

Weight 193.8

Waist (1 inch above bellybutton) 33.7in

Waist (where my pants normal sit) 34.5

Bust 44in

Under bust 40in

Hips (across my hip bone) 35in

Hips (around fullest part to include my butt) 38.5

Thighs/quads 22in

Calves 14.5 in

Shoulders (measured around outside of my shoulder chest and back, Not across the front shoulder to shoulder. ) 51in

Biceps 16in

Fore
arms 11 in

Neck 15.5 in

My current stats are :

Height 5"8

Weight 189.9 lbs

Waist (1 inch above bellybutton) 35

Waist (where my pants normal sit) 36

Bust 45

Under bust 41

Hips (across my hip bone) 37

Hips (around fullest part to include my butt) 40

Thighs/quads 22.5

Calves 14.5 in

Shoulders (measured around outside of my shoulder chest and back, Not across the front shoulder to shoulder. ) 51.5

Biceps 16.5

Forearms 11 in

Neck 15.5 in


So I have increased in my waist, hips while actually losing weight. The half an inch increase here or there I am not really counting since it could just be a fluctuation from day to day.  I'm kind of dumbfounded that I gained 3 inches around my butt and 2 inches around my waist while actually loosing weight. Not sure how since I'm pretty strict on my meal prep and I'm getting 40-60 min of cardio on the stair Master 5 days a week.

I always measure on the first day of the month only, and always at the same time of day. That helps to rule out too many fluctuations that happen day to day or week to week.

You are correct that a 1/2" isn't much to worry about considering that measurement is all the way around your body. So a 1/2" change at the bustline would actually equal less than 1/4" per breast, plus any change in "back fat".

@Lori Dee I hate back fat. Lol. I'm surprised how much my waist and hips have changed with being off testosterone since April and only being on sprio for a month now. With all the cardio and strict meal prepping.

My pants are starting to fit differently like looser around my waist even tho I have gained size around my waist and hips. Doesn't make sense to me. Hips and waist have gained two inches. And my pants feel looser around my waist but the same maybe the slightest bit tighter around my butt.

I don't know. Just thought it was interesting that my body is adapting already. Even if it was just a change in my metabolism from not being on any male hormones, and my body storing fat in different places.

Testosterone is much more powerful than estrogen. Your body produces both. So by blocking the T in essence you are on a microdose of E. With nothing to oppose it, the changes start getting ready to happen. Once the E gets going, the body will continue to react.

I was disappointed at first because I was gaining at the waist and little elsewhere. That changed when my hormone levels finally got high enough (to my standards, not the doctors'). Now bust and hips fluctuate with weight, but my waist has remained the same for a few months.

It will be interesting to see how your changes happen over time. Don't get disappointed, just stay the course. It takes time but you'll get there.

@Lori Dee yea. I am curious as to what my body's new normal will be once it gets adjusted to hrt.

Weight gain is Definitely going to be something I will prob fight with mentally. I have always had issues with weight and body image issues.

Quote from: Robbyv213 on December 04, 2024, 04:00:11 PM@Lori Dee yea. I am curious as to what my body's new normal will be once it gets adjusted to hrt.

Weight gain is Definitely going to be something I will prob fight with mentally. I have always had issues with weight and body image issues.

My body and I have reached an agreement. It can gain all it wants to in the bust and hips, but leave the waist alone. I'd love to have curves if I can. So far, so good. 

Lol

Well members of susans place, I took my first shot of estrogen last night. I have to say I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary other than the physical act of sticking a foreign metal object into my body. Lol. I will have to monitor myself over the next few days to see if my mood or an attitude changes while my body absorbs the new hormone. 

I have to say I felt more anxious and anxiety than anything else even slightly depressed yesterday all day thinking about having to give myself an injection. Even when I used to use steroids I always hated when I would have to give myself a shot I don't know why I just never like doing it even though I was physically capable of doing it just fine. You never know something can always go wrong you can pin the wrong place or go through a knot or cramp up while you're doing it or something but luckily that was not the case and usually isn't the case whenever I have to give myself a shot. I'm not saying it's never happened but typically I try to plan my shots when I know a certain muscle group isn't going to be sore or being worked out that day and trying to recover from a workout. 

Anyways I think my biggest source of anxiety yesterday was thinking about taking my first shot and at the same time letting my wife know that I was going to take my first shot and whatever could possibly happen surrounding having that conversation with her. 

But all in all it went well. No arguments with my wife or anything. Nothing out of the normal for performing the actual act of taking shot, and nothing out of the norm for afterwards. 

Not even any dreams that I could remember, which I find weird since When I used to take a shot of testosterone I would almost always have a dream that I can remember the same night after taking a shot. So I'll have to see how estrogen affects my dream cycles if at all.

Glad it went well.

I think the anxiety was just the stress of starting something new and all of the related factors. Within a couple of months, it becomes secondhand. I even forget which side I injected so have a system so I remember which side is next so I can alternate. I have a small urn-style incense burner in my bathroom. If I inject my left side, I move the urn to the right of the shelf. The following week, I inject the right side and move the urn to the left side of the shelf. That works for me.

Eventually, you will find your own routine and it will become a minor issue.

Just think, the clock is now running and your boobs can start growing!   

@Lori Dee yes the countdown to the bomb blowing up my life as I know it has started lol

Quote from: Robbyv213 on December 05, 2024, 11:57:06 AM@Lori Dee yes the countdown to the bomb blowing up my life as I know it has started lol

It's not a bomb, usually. Changes will be gradual, but one day you will begin to notice a calmness that you may have never felt before. As some people describe it, the squirrels will stop running around inside your head. The only 'bomb' is telling others. Once they know, you can't put the pin back into the grenade. Unlike most bombs, this one is usually a delayed reaction. However, those closest to you will usually have the quickest and most dramatic reactions. Good luck.

Love always -- Jess

@Jessica_Rose yes. That's exactly what I mean. The having to come out socially and possibly blow up my entire social life, my small group of friends, gym buddies, and work (assuming I won't have to find another job).

Quote from: Robbyv213 on November 22, 2024, 09:49:57 AMShe fully supports me in anything I feel I need to do, but depending on what it is and how far I feel I need to go she will still support me but no longer as my wife, and just a friend. So once again she has pointed out that she can't go on this journey with me as my spouse depending on how far I feel I need to go.

She's being pretty fair about this. Better to know where you stand with an agentic partner than to live with uncertainty. Go for it.

I had my second laser hair removal appointment yesterday. It went okay. The laser seem to have left red bumps all over my arms and a few spots on my torso. The closest thing I can kind of compare it to is like razor burn but without the irritation. They were more predominant yesterday and have somewhat faded or dissipated but they're still clearly there.

I also tried doing my neckline and working into my face but my face/neck line was pretty painful. And after having an hour session of doing my arms torso and chest I didn't want to try to endure having my face done as well. So I'll probably hold off on my face or do it when I'm only doing my face versus multiple body parts at the same time.

I thought I had a higher tolerance for pain but there's something about that laser that really hurts like a mofo. But then just as quick as the pain is there the pain is gone. So I don't know.

I guess my main concern would be any kind of skin sensitivity and irritation caused by the laser that would be left on my face and if I have a bunch of red bumps left on my face like my arms I'm probably not likely to move further with it. So we'll see how these red bumps go away with time on my arms.

The first session there were no red bumps left afterwards so I don't know if the first time wasn't as good or it's just that my body is now reacting to the laser whereas the first time my body was adapting to something new.

I would be very surprised if the laser even works on facial hair. I tried it and it didn't. The PA that did it said that the roots of facial hair are very deep compared to body hair. Laser just doesn't have the energy to get to the root. It has got to be electrolysis.

I tried using an IPL with carbon black to get deep into the pores and I cranked up the energy almost full-throttle and burned the crap out of my skin. Lesson learned. Don't play around with things that don't work. Go for electrolysis and be done with it.

Laser worked on my facial dark hair, shame that was only about a 1/3 of it. Depends on the machine being used, my lady tec had an up to date machine and even when on high setting never burnt my face.