HRT meds

[Reborn@57]

Hello ..

Started my HRT meds on the Oct 6th...

57 yrs old ... MtF....  Found out on blood work that body has been running on estrogen .. level 58 ...the whole time for last 5 yrs ... Tess was way low at 88 ...

Doctor said this explains why I have A -cup breast already and emotional over anything Sad or Happy .. also Mr Tiny half works .. well now you know my whole story so here is my question..


Everytime I take the Spironolactone it gives me upset stomach bad and a headache. Both happen within 30 mins after taking with food .. normal ?

Doc also says that since I'm used to estrogen my body will adapt really quickly to the meds .. says it's a good thing and should speed up time line on changes maybe .. we will see .. anyways the question is on the meds ?? Normal or not ??

Thanks for the help  as alway ❤️

[Lori Dee ✅]

Mayo Clinic website says:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/spironolactone-oral-route/description/drg-20071534 🔗

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Headache
Heartburn
Indigestion

Among many other possible side effects.

I would call them right away.

[Alana Ashleigh]

I'd call the doctor like @Lori Dee said. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Devlyn ✅]

Agreed, call your doctor, but also make sure you're super duper hydrated. Spiro is a very effective diuretic. I was drinking almost a gallon of water a day when I was on Spiro.

Also, hold onto your hats, we're taking this discussion to the HRT subforum.

Wheeeeeee!

Hugs, Devlyn

[Alana Ashleigh]

Agreed, call your doctor, but also make sure you're super duper hydrated. Spiro is a very effective diuretic. I was drinking almost a gallon of water a day when I was on Spiro.

I don't leave the house without my hydroflask full of water being on spiro. I drink so much water now. That side effect caught me by surprise.

[Devlyn ✅]

I don't leave the house without my hydroflask full of water being on spiro. I drink so much water now. That side effect caught me by surprise.

I always had great blood pressure. On Spiro I had a few instances where I stood up and went right back down again. One time I was completely out and the first thing I became aware of was the feeling of the carpet on my fingers.

[Tills]

Yep I nearly died on Spironolactone because of that ^^^

I was out walking on a hot day. Thought I'd drunk plenty. The following morning I was barely able to breathe. My pulse was down to 20. I didn't have a bp monitor but I guess it was barely registering. The whole world was a washing machine. I couldn't stand up. Could barely crawl. Was a horrible horrible scary moment and one of the main reasons I went on to have an orchidectomy.

Anyway, not wanting to scare you @Reborn@57  or anyone else but the lesson is to hydrate and watch the potassium levels, get regular blood tests, and check in with the doctor about those side effects.

xx

[Stottie Girl]

I have occasional palpitations (skipped beats) on spiro but my blood pressure is normal. I have quite low blood pressure anyway. I can relate to the standing up and passing out thing though, I have orthostatic hypotension (always had it) and I can get very dizzy when I stand up after a long while seated or particularly kneeling. It can sometimes cause complete blackout/ fainting. This has happened a couple of times in customers houses when working as a heating engineer. I once keeled over and crashed into a shelving unit knocking all the customers ornaments on the floor! Amazingly all unbroken!!

As I said earlier, Spiro and Cyproterone have unpleasant side effects (though not for all) but they are effective at what they do. If you can get GnAR analogue injections I am led to believe these are more effective and come without the nasty side effects. Others may be able to provide anecdotal evidence about this though.

[Allie Jayne]

I also had low T and elevated E on my initial blood test, and my endocrinologist said I was lucky as I wouldn't need an anti androgen, so I would avoid their side effects. I went on Estradiol only HRT (called Monotherapy).

Anti androgens are used to bring T levels down, or simply block receptors, and this was important when synthetic hormones were used, as they had significant side effects, and AA's allowed keeping the synthetic E doses low. Modern bio identical Estradiol has less side effects (similar to natural E), so there is a move to avoid AA's and the risks associated with them, and rely on the E levels alone to suppress T. It pays to do a little research into MTF Monotherapy HRT, and discuss it with your doctor to see if it would be more suitable for you.

hugs,

Allie