I've been on HRT for about 2 months now and I Haven't felt a thing. I look at my body and I see no changes whatsoever. I'm starting to freak out and think perhaps it just wont do anything for me. I've tried to be patient but I really think I should feel something. my skin is the same. my emotions are the same. just...nothing.

is this normal? I suppose I'm on a fairly low does. idk what normal doses are though so i cant really say. but I do feel like my body probably absorbs it really well. because any medicine in general does nothing for me.

I was prescribed vicodin once and it did nothing. I've taken it for headaches and felt no different. perhaps that means something. idk.

would I possibly be better off with a different method? I will ask my doctor all this on my next appointment in may. but im worrying so much that Its making me depressed. I just want some opinions.

I also wanna know if its possible that HRT will never do anything for me...

Even 2 months is not a long time for this sort of thing. Give it longer.

I too had doubts. It was 3 months before something happened that could ONLY have been caused by hormonal changes - my breast buds became noticeable. Now they are unmissable.

I am probably nearly twice your age and so things happen more slowly for me than for someone of your age and if you are on a low dose then it may need upping.

I am sorry, but this is the hardest message of all - be patient.

I know how difficult it is but hormones are very powerful and have to be used carefully. The other thing that many forget is that hormones are very much an ON/OFF switch and the doctors need to find what is the lowest level that flips you from male to female. Once they know that doubling the dose will not half the transition time because the hormones trigger your body and it changes at its own speed. If your body is slow to respond then even upping the dose will make very little difference once you are over the trigger level. Even pubescent girls take three to five years to complete their basic development.

When I started HRT, my first month I was on a seemingly insignificant dose, the 2nd month it was increased a little, and the 3rd month it was increased to a "normal" dose. It took until the end of the 3rd month for me to really notice anything out of the my norm--breast buds and the shapes of my calves beginning to change. I've been on HRT for 2 years now.

Like Beverley said, it's an extremely gradual process, and patience is key.

Quote from: Eve of Chaos on April 16, 2012, 06:50:26 AM
I've been on HRT for about 2 months now and I Haven't felt a thing. I look at my body and I see no changes whatsoever. I'm starting to freak out and think perhaps it just wont do anything for me. I've tried to be patient but I really think I should feel something. my skin is the same. my emotions are the same. just...nothing.

is this normal? I suppose I'm on a fairly low does. idk what normal doses are though so i cant really say. but I do feel like my body probably absorbs it really well. because any medicine in general does nothing for me.

I was prescribed vicodin once and it did nothing. I've taken it for headaches and felt no different. perhaps that means something. idk.

would I possibly be better off with a different method? I will ask my doctor all this on my next appointment in may. but im worrying so much that Its making me depressed. I just want some opinions.

I also wanna know if its possible that HRT will never do anything for me...

It depends on the individual and their physiology. HRT is not a "one-size-fits-all" deal. It does not work the same for everyone. Too many factors and too many variables can affect the outcome. Age, physiology, body type, other medical conditions, etc.

For me personally, it hasn't changed me a whole bunch. I've been on HRT for close to 2 years, and no major changes to report. I've yet to be mistaken for Hedi Klum. I'm 28 and aside from body hair, and a slightly bigger butt and hips, not much has changed. So, as with all things... it depends.

I think people put too much emphasis on HRT... HRT isn't the final destination (at least not for me)... it's just a step along the way, like hair removal, make-up, clothes, etc.

Two months is nothing, that's when you're on a low dose to get your body adjusted to the new hormones.

Don't worry, at six months you will start seeing changes, and just wait until one year!

Two months is not enough time even though I remember after one month I did start feeling a tingling sensation but we're all different. You definitely need to be way more patient. I assume at your next doc visit, you'll be getting labs done. That's a good way to see how they're working for you.

Yeah 2 months is still to early to see results. If you want to see results faster switch to injections. =P

Stop worrying so much, geez. You're worst than me, and that's saying something.

No one is immune to HRT. Your dose is just insufficient, and the doctor will see that when they see your hormones levels in May.

If you're an exceptional case of super-resilient testicles, maybe, MAYBE you'll need orchiectomy to see change. But I've never heard of such a thing, ever.

If you want to know what kind of dose is considered normal, look here. It should put you at ease. Lucky you, over in British Columbia, they prescribe spironolactone, too. http://transhealth.vch.ca/resources/library/tcpdocs/guidelines-endocrine.pdf

In my opinion, your problem is that your anti-androgen is not effective/a high dose enough. Spiro isn't considered a very strong anti-androgen, so maybe you'd need to switch or add finasteride if your dose is already supposed to be good, I don't know.

My endo put me on the maximum recommended dose of E after just one week, so whilst it may decrease my long-term, final results, it's probably normal that I see results and you don't.

I've heard from some people that they just stop paying attention to trying to find the changes because when they do that, THAT'S when they start noticing something.

I'm going to just echo what the others have said and just be patient.  It will come. 

Ask about adding finasteride. Even a lil DHT can block estrogen from binding.

If you are expecting a lot of stuff after 2 months... then you definitely have unrealistic expectations about HRT (and that is just going to cause a LOT of letdowns).

Basically... go into it with the lowest expectations possible. Consider that the hormones will change nothing... then, you will be happy with whatever you get.

Also realize this will take YEARS...

I don't think she's expecting a lot; just something. I'm only 2 weeks ahead of her and I've seen noticeable change within the first few days (notably my sex drive going way down), and my nipples have begun changing 2-3 weeks ago, and my hair is growing much more slowly in some places, and...

Which is why I think a dose adjustment should be performed if NO effect has been felt yet. HRT takes time, but it doesn't take months to start to take effect.

 

Hello folks. Let's please remember that dosages are not to be posted in the forums.

Quote from: Susan on July 27, 2006, 07:45:44 PM
8. The discussion of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and it's medications are permitted, with the following limitations:

A. Advocating for or against a specific medication or combinations of medications for personal gain is strictly prohibited.
B. Discussing the means to acquire HRT medications without a prescription, and self medication without a doctors care is prohibited.
C. Discussing dosages is strongly discouraged to prevent information obtained on this site from being used to self medicate.

We can not in good conscience condone the self administering of these medications. Not only may self medication be illegal, but HRT medications can cause serious health problems, and many have the potential for life-threatening side effects that can only be detected and prevented with proper medical supervision.

Thanks.

Isn't what we have done so far permitted?

Suffice it to say I felt the reminder was appropriate at this time. If anyone feels I have acted inappropriately, please report this post and/or contact Susan and Forum Admin directly.

Okay, I was worried I had misunderstood.

I didn't start feeling more like myself until about 3 months into hrt. And I'm getting even closer to myself as time passes. It's a long and complicated process.

I know its going to take a long time. im ready for the long haul. i just truly expected to feel sometinhg. mostly mental changes. just something knowing my body is getting something different than it has for the past 23 years.

what A said is true. im jsut afraid I'll end up being someone HRT doesnt work well for.

I will ask about finasteride though. my hairline is another horrible giveaway that needs addressing. lately I started to accept taht I will need some ffs to be ok with myself.
but thats off topic.

Quote from: Eve of Chaos on April 16, 2012, 06:50:26 AM
I've been on HRT for about 2 months now and I Haven't felt a thing. I look at my body and I see no changes whatsoever. I'm starting to freak out and think perhaps it just wont do anything for me. I've tried to be patient but I really think I should feel something. my skin is the same. my emotions are the same. just...nothing.

is this normal? I suppose I'm on a fairly low does. idk what normal doses are though so i cant really say. but I do feel like my body probably absorbs it really well. because any medicine in general does nothing for me.

I was prescribed vicodin once and it did nothing. I've taken it for headaches and felt no different. perhaps that means something. idk.

would I possibly be better off with a different method? I will ask my doctor all this on my next appointment in may. but im worrying so much that Its making me depressed. I just want some opinions.

I also wanna know if its possible that HRT will never do anything for me...

It takes years! and after being on HRT continually for 12 years I too have been disappointed with the lack of results from HRT and Anti androgens. 

What form of HRT are you taking?

She's on a low dose of E and an unknown dose of spironolactone.

As for you, after such a long time, I'd have asked my doctor long ago if I were you. If you haven't seen anything at all, your dose is clearly insufficient, and you've been more or less losing your time for 12 years, if you ask me.

If you've seen something but find the final effects dissatisfying, well, I don't know what to say. I don't know how old you are, but maybe you got a combination of a very unlucky low sensitivity to treatment and too advanced an age for starting...

Either way, I'm still convinced that SOMETHING should be felt quite fast after beginning the treatment, normally, even if it's obviously not much.

Eve, I'm sure you'll be all right with a dose adjustment. Trust your endocrinologist.