Well after a very long talk with the wife, a long talk with my Doctor who just happens to have many Trans patients, I have taken the plunge.
I am now on T-Blockers and low level Estrogen. If I want to advance even more, I will need a letter from a Gender Specialist, saying so. I do plan to talk to the Gender Specialist that holds seminars at my Tri-Ess meetings.
I have been on these meds for a month now and already I have noticed some minor changes. Wife says my skin not only looks better but feels smoother and softer. I have also started to notice that the hair on my chest, legs, and arms is not growing as fast. In fact I did not shave my legs this morning because I have only a very light stubble and went out today fully dressed in a skirt and top. I had a couple of days where every few hours my face and neck would get flush and I would get real hot. It would last around 10-15 seconds and then fade away. Guess I was experiencing Hot Flashes...LOL One of the T-Blocker (I take two different types) has a known side effect....breast enlargement.... I have not noticed anything yet, but keep hoping.
One of the T-Blocker is given to Men only for Enlarged prostate. My Doctor said at least it's a dual purpose drug. LOL
The main reason that the wife is OK with this, is all effects are reversible by just stop taking the meds.
I took the Plunge
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JoAnnDallas
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Carolynn
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Hi JoAnn. Is the low level estrogen a .05 mg patch? That is usually the best form to ease into estrogen.
After I started hrt, I did n't feel the hot flashes as a result of the change. But after nearly a year, my insurance changed and refused to refill my estrogen patches. I was without them for about 1.5 weeks and by the end of the period was experiencing crying jags that I had no reason for, much to the amusement of my gg friends who had already gone through menopause.
It was summer so that may have been why I didn't feel any hot flashes.
For most, breast growth only begins towards the end of the first 6 months or so, but you may soon notice itchy, kinda puffy nipples and a bit of soreness if you bump something with your chest or pick up something you usually would clutch to your chest, and an increase in sensitivity in the nipples. Very stimulating when that occurs. Nodules or milk buds may also make themselves known behind the puffy nipples. Your mileage may vary (YMMV)
Are you feeling any other mental effects, like any changes in anxiety level or anything like euphoria? Some do, some don't. But because the effects are mostly reversible in the short term, it is a good test of who you ultimately are.
Interesting experience isn't it?
To have a wife OK with your experiment is really nice, and promising.
Carolynn
After I started hrt, I did n't feel the hot flashes as a result of the change. But after nearly a year, my insurance changed and refused to refill my estrogen patches. I was without them for about 1.5 weeks and by the end of the period was experiencing crying jags that I had no reason for, much to the amusement of my gg friends who had already gone through menopause.
It was summer so that may have been why I didn't feel any hot flashes. For most, breast growth only begins towards the end of the first 6 months or so, but you may soon notice itchy, kinda puffy nipples and a bit of soreness if you bump something with your chest or pick up something you usually would clutch to your chest, and an increase in sensitivity in the nipples. Very stimulating when that occurs. Nodules or milk buds may also make themselves known behind the puffy nipples. Your mileage may vary (YMMV)
Are you feeling any other mental effects, like any changes in anxiety level or anything like euphoria? Some do, some don't. But because the effects are mostly reversible in the short term, it is a good test of who you ultimately are.
Interesting experience isn't it?
To have a wife OK with your experiment is really nice, and promising.
Carolynn
"It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,"
David Weber – In Fury Born
David Weber – In Fury Born
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Elizabeth
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Hi Johann,
I am so happy for you and just burning with jealousy(laff). I know what a big step this is to take and I am glad to see that you have taken your time to sort things out. As you know, many people jump right into this and many times it's not what is right for them.
It's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of coming out of the closet and take things too fast. Instead you have preceded slowly and deliberately and let the pink fog subside before you made important life changing decisions.
I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing reports of your progress.
Love always,
Elizabeth
I am so happy for you and just burning with jealousy(laff). I know what a big step this is to take and I am glad to see that you have taken your time to sort things out. As you know, many people jump right into this and many times it's not what is right for them.
It's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of coming out of the closet and take things too fast. Instead you have preceded slowly and deliberately and let the pink fog subside before you made important life changing decisions.
I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing reports of your progress.
Love always,
Elizabeth
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DanteCarrie (FTM)
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Lydia
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Hi Johann,
As one who has taken T-blockers for a few years, I think my expeience might be useful. If medical details bother you, read no further.
The three drugs I have used are: finasteride, spironolactone, and flomax. All of these are fairly standard to treat enlarged prostate (benign), and all have side effects, and I have been on them for about 5 years. The main result (other than improving urination) was impotence - unaffected by Viagra or its relatives. Since at my age, sex is a mere memory, that loss has not been traumatic.
For a CDr, some side effects have been desirable. Body hair growth has slowed. Breasts have enlarged. But these effects reached their maximum within the first year. For example - I went from a flat chest to an A-cup size - but no further.
Perhaps some estrogen medication would help, but I have been advised against it for reasons related to blood clotting problems and fears of stroke.
Undesirable side effects of these medications have been minimal. Flomax gave me a few dizzy spells at first, but a continued nuisance has been a runny nose - especially at mealtimes.
Long term, these T-blockers are marginally feminizing, so don't expect too much. I wish you luck with estrogens. By the way, don't spend money on the phytoestrogens: they are uncontrolled, useless, and could even be dangerous.
Hugs,
Lydia
As one who has taken T-blockers for a few years, I think my expeience might be useful. If medical details bother you, read no further.
The three drugs I have used are: finasteride, spironolactone, and flomax. All of these are fairly standard to treat enlarged prostate (benign), and all have side effects, and I have been on them for about 5 years. The main result (other than improving urination) was impotence - unaffected by Viagra or its relatives. Since at my age, sex is a mere memory, that loss has not been traumatic.
For a CDr, some side effects have been desirable. Body hair growth has slowed. Breasts have enlarged. But these effects reached their maximum within the first year. For example - I went from a flat chest to an A-cup size - but no further.
Perhaps some estrogen medication would help, but I have been advised against it for reasons related to blood clotting problems and fears of stroke.
Undesirable side effects of these medications have been minimal. Flomax gave me a few dizzy spells at first, but a continued nuisance has been a runny nose - especially at mealtimes.
Long term, these T-blockers are marginally feminizing, so don't expect too much. I wish you luck with estrogens. By the way, don't spend money on the phytoestrogens: they are uncontrolled, useless, and could even be dangerous.
Hugs,
Lydia
"There comes a time ... when you must grasp the bull by the tail and face the situation."
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Pat
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