Okay, so I just started on these yesterday, and I've already discovered one massively bad side effect...they're pills!

They're just sitting on the kitchen counter in their box, winking at me mischevously with their manly promises of awesome, and it's killing me! If my doctor had signed me on for injections, I would have gone in and had a shot every couple of weeks and been all good. Instead she gave me a whole box of pills and went 'only take four a day!'

It would just be so easy to grab a glass of water and swallow half the box...it wouldn't even be that bad, maybe a massive spike of T would make me uber manly in only days! O.o

For those of you with little to no will power, I'd steer clear of the pills.

That box is just tempting fate...

Um, liver damage is a common side effect of T pills. You sure that it's testosterone?

There are safe pills and unsafe pills. . . perhaps you should check that out first.

And no, that will not work. XD It's more dangerous than anything else.

Just remember that T doesn't work that way.  Large doses can harm you, and massive amounts of T makes the extra T turn into estrogen. 

Hahaha, I know, I was joking guys. You all took me way too seriously! 

And the pills are fine, I'll only be on them for a few weeks, and they were prescribed by an endochrinologist.

Weird, never seen a safe testosterone pill.

Things are a little too easily demonised in this community if you ask me. I recently attended a function in which several members of my local trans community sat down and talked with a few GP's with a lot of experience in trans issues, and a couple of endos. They explained everything very well, such as the huge worry everyone seems to have with excess amounts of testosterone being converted into estrogen, and things like the pills causing liver damage. They explained away our fears very well.

And no offence to anyone here, but I'm more inclined to believe the professionals, who have spent most of their life studying the effects of hormones on the human body, than a few average people who have read too many horror stories and thinks that's how things work.

I started this thread as something light hearted, but now it's gone all serious. 

Quote from: MaxAloysius on June 18, 2011, 12:48:34 AMThey explained everything very well, such as the huge worry everyone seems to have with excess amounts of testosterone being converted into estrogen, and things like the pills causing liver damage. They explained away our fears very well.

And no offence to anyone here, but I'm more inclined to believe the professionals, who have spent most of their life studying the effects of hormones on the human body, than a few average people who have read too many horror stories and thinks that's how things work.

except that many of us are trans people who have spent a long, LONG time researching the effects of hormones before making the decision to go on them.  Yeah a professional is <i>most likely</i> going to know what's true and what isn't but that doesn't make our knowledge any less valid. 

Watch out you don't get a hairy tounge!

Apparently tonight is a very serious night...so I'm offering these for free:     

Quoteexcept that many of us are trans people who have spent a long, LONG time researching the effects of hormones before making the decision to go on them.

I'm aware of that, I'm one of those people too don't forget. But did you spend ten years studying them? After that did you spend another fifteen years working with them daily and watching the effects they've had on people? Or did you just read a few books and a bunch of internet articles over the course of a couple of years? Because let me tell you, I thought I was well informed on these things, I thought I knew everything, including how dangerous the pills were and about how a higher dose could convert into estrogen, but sitting in that room with those people, man, I knew nothing.

P.S. Thanks Magickbear, at least you're smiling!

Quote from: MaxAloysius on June 18, 2011, 12:09:25 AM
Okay, so I just started on these yesterday, and I've already discovered one massively bad side effect...they're pills!

They're just sitting on the kitchen counter in their box, winking at me mischevously with their manly promises of awesome, and it's killing me! If my doctor had signed me on for injections, I would have gone in and had a shot every couple of weeks and been all good. Instead she gave me a whole box of pills and went 'only take four a day!'

It would just be so easy to grab a glass of water and swallow half the box...it wouldn't even be that bad, maybe a massive spike of T would make me uber manly in only days! O.o

For those of you with little to no will power, I'd steer clear of the pills.

That box is just tempting fate...

LOL, oh boy   I can imagine what that must be like.  especially for your who's waited so long. 
Maybe you should keep them out of sight. out of sight out of mind? maybe?  lol

Hahaha, I know right?! I've waited so long for them and now I have extra just laying around. I'm good but, I know what taking extra would mean, so I won't. But I could definitely see someone with less willpower bending to their call. 

They're orange and shiny and pretty and they whisper about how awesome they'll make you, totally hard to resist. 

Really? I find injections just as tempting. As in filling up the syringe with a higher dose since I get to do them myself. I've done it a few times, because I'm stupid like that. However my doctor just gave me a very specific prescription so I can't do it anymore... I think he knew. 

Jealous. I have the pills and I'm only on one a day. For four months!

You'll have a different dose to me I assume. My pills each have a smaller dose because they're for problems in bio-men, that's why I take four a day. It super sucks though, because a pack of sixty which costs me $45 only lasts for fifteen days. It's just as well I won't be on them for too long...

Mine are actually also designed for cis guys, which is good for me cause it means they're government subsidized. 

Awesome. Must be a much higher dose pill than mine then! It's actually annoying having to get up early just so I can take the pills on time, but it's much better than not taking them at all!

Quote from: Nygeel on June 18, 2011, 12:40:59 AM
Weird, never seen a safe testosterone pill.

The pills are not "unsafe" it is that they aren't recommended for long term use. Because pills are metabolized in the liver they can cause liver damage and they also can be less effective because a lot of the testosterone is broken down before you actually have it in your bloodstream. There are risks with the pills just like there are risks with the injections (abscesses, infection, venal puncture, etc...) but if you are monitored by a physician (who is going to check your liver enzymes and other levels) I don't see the problem with short term use.   
Now to the OP...I understand the temptation and the desire to get things rolling. I swear my vial was basically talking to me until I was able to do my first shot! I got my T-vial a week before all my other supplies came and that was torture! Congratulations on starting! I know it has been a long wait. Now hide those pills in a drawer!