Quote from: Maiara on August 04, 2011, 03:11:27 PM
Both Androcur and Spiro have risks, just different ones.

Androcur is hard on your liver.
Spiro is hard on your kidneys.

At high doses.

I think spiro is dangerous because it plays with your potassium levels. I know of at least one transgirl that ended up in the ER with arrythmias from spiro.

Yep.

It plays with your potassium because it changes how the livers work! Anyway, it is possible to use it and be fine, you just have to keep your bloodwork on check.

The problem with changes in potassium is that it leads to life threatning situations without warning, hence why we need a doctor to do our HRT.

And a good doctor. IMO a bad doctor is worse than having no doc at all.

Quote from: Maiara on August 04, 2011, 03:29:19 PM
Yep.

It plays with your potassium because it changes how the livers work! Anyway, it is possible to use it and be fine, you just have to keep your bloodwork on check.

The problem with changes in potassium is that it leads to life threatning situations without warning, hence why we need a doctor to do our HRT.

And a good doctor. IMO a bad doctor is worse than having no doc at all.

A good doctor should also be able to choose between spiro and androcur. In the US doctors can only give spiro because the FDA is ridiculous.

Also, androcur is a superior anti-androgen.

My hormones aren't making me crazy, but my AA is.  Completely crazy.  I'm sitting here right now on the verge of another crying fit because of it.   All I can think about is how ugly I am and how I'll be alone forever.  I feel like there's no hope whatsoever for my life.

Great.  It's all going downhill again.  I should just get off the forum now until it passes.

Quote from: Zoë Natasha on August 04, 2011, 04:41:53 PM
My hormones aren't making me crazy, but my AA is.  Completely crazy.  I'm sitting here right now on the verge of another crying fit because of it.   All I can think about is how ugly I am and how I'll be alone forever.  I feel like there's no hope whatsoever for my life.

Great.  It's all going downhill again.  I should just get off the forum now until it passes.

I hope you feel better. You're beautiful and a good person.

I think spironolactone is actually quite a safe medication; the potassium-depleting effects are only significant in people prone to low levels of potassium already, or people who have a nutritional absorption disorder, or people who take high doses of spiro. I don't even think it's "hard on the kidneys" at reasonable doses ("hard on the kidneys" is a very vague term  ).

For me, it's been smooth sailing. I get "hormonal" once in a while, which basically means I have a fit for a few hours over something not worth having a fit over. But mostly, the hormones relax me, especially the spiro, which makes perfect sense as it does tend to lower blood pressure.

I can only post from my experience...... 

I have been taking both estradiol and spiro since March 1st this year.  Very slowly and subtly I had an increased sense of calmness and wellbeing, so much so that I have twice stopped taking the meds believing that I didn't need them anymore (I know, I'm not the first one  )  Both times my feelings of angst and utter inability to "live in the moment" returned in anger.  The second time being the worst because I was travelling away form home for 10 days (had already stopped about 10 days prior to that), and I intentionally left them at home.  That was one of the toughest trip I've been on.  I don't need to say the first thing that I did when I walked in through the front door 

While I do find myself obsessing over my body, this is mainly due to looking for more signs of development etc. and reassuring myself in the mirror that one day I'll pass ok.  So my experience doesn't have too much in common with the OP, but perhaps in a year or two?

Quote from: Sarah7 on August 05, 2011, 09:37:40 AM
Other way around, Spiro is potassium sparing. I.e. it is a problem if you have high potassium levels, not low.

Oh, LOL! Sorry.  I must've been really tired when I wrote that.

Still, I meant the same sentiment, just the other way around.

With a doctor's supervision, and reasonable doses, it's not a dangerous medication.

My doc said my testosterone levels are practically non existant and my e is high.  Ive never felt better to be honest.
Its hard to explain exactly the whole perspective change, but I feel complete. Yeah my physical characteristics are still a way out, but emotionally I am begining to feel splendid

    Hormones make me feel great! But sometimes they make me super bitchy like total ice queen bitchy. 

Quote from: Forever21Chic on August 05, 2011, 05:55:15 PM

    Hormones make me feel great! But sometimes they make me super bitchy like total ice queen bitchy. 

QFT, that's what I meant for reals.

Quote from: Forever21Chic on August 05, 2011, 05:55:15 PM

    Hormones make me feel great! But sometimes they make me super bitchy like total ice queen bitchy. 

I have a twin XD

Zoey, Forever...

that's just because we get in touch with our "inner bitch" - nothing wrong with that. Not so "rational male" as it goes --- but then SO WHAT?! :-)

Nice to spit some poison at times (like a Ringhals/Spitting Cobra), such an inner relieve, eh.

Axelle

Tried 1x E2 yesterday "swallowed" just to see what happens.
I'm completely off AA because of low T, and also in prep for SRS on the 20. Sept.

This morning I was hormonally challenged --- feeling I had it coming to me (crying fits).

Then took my morning E sublingual and I'm back to feeling really, really fine.

That's just me, because to say it again, I'm only on 1x E2 in prep to stop 2 weeks before SRS.

My question: What the heck will happen when I go to ZERO E???

Just the diff between swallowing and sub- , and I notice it! Negatively!
Then going to ZERO E --- I start to think about what Zoë is going through, nothing too look foreward to.

I think this may get ugly?

Axelle

Not starting hormones years ago through the grey market makes me feel crazy, and that's coming from a crazy person. Sure, it might have been dangerous... but so is walking out your front door. And getting out of bed. And not getting out of bed. To be paralyzed by danger and promises to people that didn't matter (ie: parents)... that's crazy to me, and yet I did it because I didn't want anything to go wrong. All the more crazy the more distant my respect for law gets from me

Hope I can start on the bloody things inside of the month -_-

Quote from: Sarah7 on July 30, 2011, 09:04:33 AM
I know we're all supposed to go crazy and emotional and whatever, but me... I feel like I'm actually in control of my emotions for the first time since I hit puberty. I don't feel half-dead anymore.

It's the same with me!  I cry a lot less. I am stable, so much stronger.  I feel very very in control of my emotions and my perspective. I look in the mirror more but it's because I'm looking for changes and happy when I see them.  I am more control of food and desire.

HRT is the greatest thing I've ever done. I feel "normal" now.

How, Vaerama....
at YOUR age hon (no more age less beauty, thank YOU!) and stating wanting to have started YEARS ago, eh!?

OK, we all at times just love to push the envelope (spell it impatience), no need to go dilly for having started LATE, though. OMG! :-)

It be cold in your place, OK, but going on E will make it some worse as your metabolism will soon tell you.

Though I'm sure we all wish you all the luck in moving forward,
Axelle

Quote from: Sarah7 on August 05, 2011, 09:37:40 AM
Other way around, Spiro is potassium sparing. I.e. it is a problem if you have high potassium levels, not low.

Yes it is Sarah7! Levels above 5.0 can interfere with your Heart Rhythm,  and cause Arrhythmia's /Lethal Rhythms (i.e. Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation).  The Antidote is a liquid medication called Kayexolate, it will cause you to have the runs, you'll poop out the excess K+(Potassium). Low levels can do the same, <3.5 is low, and for that the  Doctor prescribes KCl (Potassium Chloride) tablets. So be sure to get your levels drawn regularly( every 3-4 mo. or whatever your provider sez).

Quote from: Axeleeat YOUR age hon (no more age less beauty, thank YOU!) and stating wanting to have started YEARS ago, eh!?

Absolutely. I wanted to start then, knowing I'd be only all the more irritated later for not doing so... but I caved under the warnings of everyone I talked to at the time. I didn't grow a real spine until 2+ years ago, where I then foolishly made a promise not to get what I wanted through the black market... and as I started seriously trying to get this done it spurred on so much needless drama with my parents. No matter how I tried, they wouldn't assist their daughter in doing this... my first act of my freedom was meeting with the recommended therapist I needed to get a letter for HRT... and she's also writing me a second opinion letter for SRS! ^_^ (I intend to get a councilor for far longer for my primary).

QuoteOK, we all at times just love to push the envelope (spell it impatience), no need to go dilly for having started LATE, though. OMG! :-)

Dallying is my least favorite thing to do

QuoteIt be cold in your place, OK, but going on E will make it some worse as your metabolism will soon tell you.

I'm about to leave for Texas, so I should be avoiding the infamous Arctic cold

OK hon,
Texas sounds good, and so still to me ZZ Top :-)

At least not freezing when going through your first HRT cold-flushes, few folks talk about.

Have my consent FWIWI, I mean battling for 2+ years already!

Axelle :-)