GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

So, my endoc decided to wait another two weeks before seeing me. I was kind of glad though because at first she said 'oops something happened wait 34 more days'. So, since I'm not really confident about her yet I'm going to DIY the hormones. It's in case she'd want to do blood work, have me wait an eternity again and then give the go ahead for hormones. At this point I'm definitely not getting my hopes up on this although I've only heard good news about her. I just looked at the online site and I'd only have to pay just over 10 dollars for a month supply of 1 mg daily estradiol. This would be without progesterone or anti-andros until I actually get the scripts from the endoc. I'm guessing it or premarin 5mg a day would be fine until I get the scripts. What do you think? Would it be a waste of money? I'm figuring on only estradiol right now because I don't want to be too high a level and then be less sensitive to the endoc's regimen. I would just rather have this as a back up in case she cancels another appointment. Patience has never been one of my virtues.

Won't hurt to have some E in the bathroom will it?

I think you're right. It's best to have a backup supply in case of anything. In the end I plan on having like 100's of bottles just to feel safe in case someone else decided against it. Always better to be prepared.

You're young, two weeks won't matter, but I understand your impatience. Like so many others of us, I've been there, and waited several months longer than I would have liked (seven months instead of the standard three). I think I'm in the minority, I was a good girl, despite how impatient a person I am.

One consideration might be to call her office and ask if she's willing to order the blood work early. There's no real need for you to see your endo herself to get the blood work done; it'll be good for her to have that available when she does meet with you. Further, if you can get the results, you'll be able to see for yourself if things are out of norm. If you've started to self-medicate before you get the results, and anything is out of whack on the report you should probably stop and wait for your endo to go over them. If they're ok, well then, it is unlikely your endo will ever know you started taking them early as your first blood work will be pre-hrt.

It's also very possible that since you're young your endo will write the scrips on the day you see her, in particular if she has many transsexual patients and understands their impatience. She might plan on calling you or changing your prescription only if she sees something wrong with your bloodwork later. If that's the case, there's no real need to order online - it's going to take a couple weeks to get them to you anyway. But, as you've said, at least you'll have them if you want them and she postpones again.

I have to agree with Cassie. Two weeks feels like an eternity, but it is totally worth the wait to know you have a good Endo checking your labs.

If you have never taken hormones before it's a good idea to wait to have basal level tests done. The most essential are your base levels for total T, free T and vascular health (usually the glycosilated haemoglobin test, Hg A1c).

Also, the better endocrinologists order a liver panel and thyroid function tests before starting.

The initial level tests are invaluable in case you have problems later on.

From all the advice it sounds like a complicated, exact science. Since that's the case I'll go ahead and not DIY it for now. Two weeks is really not that bad and I've got responsibilities to stay busy with. The delay has actually been good to get my head out of the final countdown mode. Nothing worthwhile ever came quickly.

One major thing you want to watch out for doing it yourself is without the andro blockers you take the chance of developing tubular breasts. It's not a pretty thing to have happen to you especially if you want to develop a beautiful set of breast.

Where in the world did you hear that, PhotoGurl? I have never heard that before. I am not saying it is or isn't correct. It just doesn't make sense. What role would anti-androgens play in preventing tubular breasts? Estrogen *is* an anti-androgen.

I can't find any evidence that Estrogen is a particularly effective anti-androgen. It will decrease Total Testosterone and Free Testosterone over time, but these levels will likely still stay within the spectrum of normal male testosterone levels.
Only infrequently will Estrogen cause you to drop to hypogonadal ranges.

In other words; you could take estrogen all your life and still have fairly average or slightly below average testosterone levels - and certainly not the recommended levels for a female.

Anti-androgens such as spiro and CA are the most effective way to drastically reduce testosterone production - other than having your testicles removed.
While testosterone levels are still within the male 'normal' they will inhibit breast growth.