I am not on T yet although hopefully I will be starting it sometime in the new year after my appointment with the endo at the gender identity clinic.  My question is really in the guidelines the clinic sent me they state that you must give up smoking before commencing testosterone therapy so if you haven't quit before they see you they will advise you to quit and they also state that you must not have been a smoker for at least three months before starting T.
So should I be thinking about trying to quit now, I mean I really don't want there to be any delays with my starting T. I'd ideally like to start it as soon as I can, obviously I will have to be assessed psychologically first as well as physically but if I am a smoker will they refuse to give it to me until I have been quit three months or is this just guideline advice but not strictly adhered to?  Does anyone else have any more knowledge of the procedure for starting T  especially peeps within the UK?
Also what are the health risks of smoking while on T?  And I know it's wrong and I'm not saying I'd do this but do people just say they are non smokers when they are?  I mean is there a serious medical reason against telling them you are a non smoker when you aren't?
I am obviously aware of the health risks of smoking but just wondered apart from the obvious negative effects on your body if there was any specific enhanced risk associated with being on T?
I want T waay more than I want to smoke so if it comes down to it it's not a hard choice but smoking is a stress reliever for me albeit a bad one for my health and believe me I do need that stress relief right now if at all possible.

Is smoking riskier for men than women? Cisguys smoke, so I don't see how it'd be different for us.

Strikes me as medical paternalism. Smoking increases the chance of heart disease and so does T, but like Nero says, same thing for cisguys. However, if that's the procedure for NHS, then you at least have to be able to tell them you're a nonsmoker.

Dennis

I read a study that claimed that smoking and drinking lowered the effectiveness in T.

Smoking is not a stress reliever. Initially, it was a pacifier. Now if you don't do it you get stressed. Smokers don't want to hear that, but it's the plain and simple truth. Addictive chemicals do not relieve stress, they create stress.

I know, I know I should quit.  And yes I know it's a filthy 'orrible habit and  that it's not really a stress reliever at all because it actually makes you more stressed in the long run (and if anyone needs any proof of this they should see me when I don't get my nicotine fix) but hey hum it's a filthy 'orrible habit that for now I seem to be stuck with that somehow at least feels like it is helping me.
Interesting what you say about smoking and drinking possibly having an effect on T.  I could be in double trouble if you follow my drift.  Might have to look in to that.....

It isn't helping you. But you might not be ready to quit. I recommend trying to quit before starting T.

Sorry, I forgot to mention it was drinking/smoking to excess. But pretty much anyone who smokes does so to excess.

Quote from: Elwood on September 21, 2008, 09:06:21 PM
I read a study that claimed that smoking and drinking lowered the effectiveness in T.

Smoking is not a stress reliever. Initially, it was a pacifier. Now if you don't do it you get stressed. Smokers don't want to hear that, but it's the plain and simple truth. Addictive chemicals do not relieve stress, they create stress.

That's the Alan Carr party line. Good book to use to quit smoking. Worked for a friend of mine and I'm trying, three attempts so far. Next quit date, 8 days from today. But really, if you've never smoked, you have no damn clue about how hard it is to quit or what people go through to quit.

I've read same studies about the effectiveness on T and maybe that's true. I'm certainly slow growing facial hair, but so were all my cousins. Mind you, they all smoke too.

I would recommend quitting smoking for any reason, whether it be starting T, mother's birthday, garbage day, or whatever you think is a good reason. But I understand if you take a few tries - hell, it's taking me lots of tries.

Dennis

Im from the UK and I was advised to quit before I started T. However I haven't and been on T about 5/6 months now. I haven't noticed anything diffrent from being on T and smoking. When I was given my T prescription I was told to cut down. and Was given a list of side effects of the T and told what could happen and what was reverable and what was not. You where made to sign it I guess its to cover your them.

Ok cool, thanks for the advice guys.  I think what I will do is try really hard and quit before starting as that seems to be the best thing all around but if I really can't I guess I am just gonna have to wing it with regards to what I disclose to the clinic dependant on their policy.

I wonder, does smoking marijuana have the same effect on T as smoking nicotine? I smoked cigarettes for a while and never really got into it (makes me feel sick), but I'm a big pot head.

Quote from: Yochanan on September 22, 2008, 10:35:43 AM
I wonder, does smoking marijuana have the same effect on T as smoking nicotine? I smoked cigarettes for a while and never really got into it (makes me feel sick), but I'm a big pot head.

STTONNNNERRRR!!! Sorry had to do that.

Personally I dont know as I have never asked anyone but I am sure the Doctor would say. It all depends if you mix it with tobacco.. there is a WHOLE diffrent risk list for pot!

I'm rather proud of being a stoner. =p

Before I get T, I'll have my medical marijuana prescription, so I s'pose I won't feel weird about asking the doctor about side effects from it...

Smoking increases your cardiac risk.  Anything that increases your cardiac risk- cholesterol, smoking, obesity- can and may be used against you in getting your prescription for testosterone.  Not because there aren't cisgendered men with these same risk factors, but because we live in a litigious society where you can sue the pants off your doctor for "giving you" a heart attack.

I get stoned on a semi-regular basis. Marijuana use isn't as bad as cigarettes, generally because you just don't need to smoke as much. I firmly believe that alcohol is much much more damaging than cannabis in the long run.

IMHO of course ^^

Quote from: kestin on September 22, 2008, 07:00:55 PM
I get stoned on a semi-regular basis. Marijuana use isn't as bad as cigarettes, generally because you just don't need to smoke as much. I firmly believe that alcohol is much much more damaging than cannabis in the long run.

I agree!

Quote from: kestin on September 22, 2008, 07:00:55 PM
I get stoned on a semi-regular basis. Marijuana use isn't as bad as cigarettes, generally because you just don't need to smoke as much. I firmly believe that alcohol is much much more damaging than cannabis in the long run.

IMHO of course ^^

I agree with that also!

How did you get a prescribtion for it Yochanan?

Well, I haven't got it yet, but it's not hard in California. I'm not sure of the exact procedure, but I think you have to pay to see a doctor, who can write a letter of recommendation for a prescription. Then there are "pharmacies" where you can register to buy it and stuff.

Quote from: Yochanan on September 23, 2008, 09:50:51 AM
Well, I haven't got it yet, but it's not hard in California. I'm not sure of the exact procedure, but I think you have to pay to see a doctor, who can write a letter of recommendation for a prescription. Then there are "pharmacies" where you can register to buy it and stuff.

Oh cool.. you can get it here on the NHS but it is extremly controlled as in only patients with EXCESSIVELY bad pain get it!

Looks for such "pharmacies"