meds

Comment by Dal Maxwell on August 10, 2012 at 11:22pm

Danica - I'm thinking that it is really up to the doctor to determine HOW to start you.  I know people who have gone on an estrogen and later went to spiro.  MY thinking is that starting spiro first, to inhibit resistance to estrogen, might make sense but I'm no doctor. 

I was on both for a number of years; it was the problem with my kidneys (which IS a diuretic) that took me off of spiro.  Like Lisa, I am on premarin and with the exception of three months in thhe late 90's when I tried a patch, I have been on premarin since '95.  The most I ever took was 3.25 mg per day but I didn't like how I felt so I cut myself back to 2.5.  Since I got my orchie in '04, I am on 1.25 which I understand is just on the high side of a post-menopausal dose.

Maybe someday someone should develop a chart comparing the different doses so we can translate one person's dose to another.

Comment by Keri Ellen Abrams on August 11, 2012 at 1:10am

Danica,

   Spiro is dirt cheap and so is estradiol. I am also on Prometrium(progesterone) which is extremely expensive even with insurance

Let your doctor decide which ones to start you on. At our tg clinic here , you are started on both together unless there is a problem detected during the initial labs..

Comment by Erin Detty on August 11, 2012 at 5:31pm

My Doctor started me off on 1/2 mg Estradiol, 100mg Spiro, I am now taking 5mg Estradiol, 200mg Spiro,I started off taking Spiro first, 50 mg for the first month, don't think he is going to up it again anytime soon, that's as far as he said he can take it at this point.

I'm so happy for you, I remember the day I started HRT, it was the happiest day in my resent memories, Your on your way now:)   

Comment by Erin Detty on August 11, 2012 at 5:47pm

I forgot, the Estradiol is 30.00 every 90 days and the spiro is 50.00 every 90 days I think, the spiro at Wal- mart only come in 25mg on the 4.00 scrip so I had to take 8 a day, my ins covers the spiro so I now get the 100mg tabs and take them twice a day, the cost is 5.00 a month it ends up being cheaper for me but not for the Estradiol.  

Comment by Danica Athena on August 11, 2012 at 9:38pm

HI gang , thanks for all the input this far , for myself I am only on Spiro right at this moment 100 mg twice a day . My cost is 23.00 a month for almost 5 months. As well I forgot to put some other things down that my Dr did which seems odd for me but it is how it is done up hear in Alberta . I was given a legal paper from him to carry with me 24/7 that allowing me to be well ME ! I can legally go ahead and start legal changes of my name to everything except Birth cerificate , as well I was given the goahead and start my real life experience time . This I ADMIT has not happened as of yet, I sort of feel like I am unpassable yet , but yet I go out with breast forms and bra's and womens tops on all the time ! I hink it is just a small fobia in which I need to get over. As well it took me a good half hour of sitting their looking at the pill in my hand contemplating do I or don't I , Am I serious or am I seriously crazy . But I knew this was what I wanted for as long as I can so I am now completing day 3 of being on them. 

I know everyone is different as well, but when do "THINGS" start to be noticable as well ??

Comment by Erin Detty on August 11, 2012 at 10:42pm

When do things start to become noticeable. That varies from one girl to another, My experience is, I noticed softer skin pretty much right away, the rest took awhile longer. Breast soreness at about the third month, figure at about six, my face throughout.

I'm into my third year of HRT, my breast still from time to time feel a little sore, their a large A and I don't think their going to get any bigger, from that I'm told this typical. I'm sure everyone of us have a little different experience but I would think it would be somewhat the same in many ways.

Just don't let your emotions get the best of you, "Seriously" you'll see, you will love the changes though, I noticed with in a few days, I got upset about something and about as fast as I was mad I felt it like blow away like a breeze carried it away, I had this grin on my face I swear I couldn't wipe it off "but" at the same time I could cry at the drop of a hat. I wouldn't go back for love nor money, I should have done this years ago, never be afraid to live, all you'll do is wast time:)      

Comment by HELEN BRADY on August 11, 2012 at 11:28pm

The renegade here. I didn't ask anyone's permission. I just did it. I also told my doctor recently how much spiro I wanted as the T was still too high to suit me. My E is normal female range. My boobs have grown from B to C in about the last 2 or 3 months. They still have some soreness, which I believe means they are still growing, from all that I have read.

I'm with Caremore HMO, I pay 0 for spiro and $3 for estradiol each month. 5mg estradiol and 200 mg spiro, increased in April from 100. Been on HRT since Jan 2011. Already had near B's from years of sawtooth palmetto and fenugreek.

Before my instant transition I hardly ever smiled. I immediately began smiling all the time. People noticed it too.

And I cry a lot for emotional books I'm reading (Debbie Macomber) etc. I had a real bad session of crying a few weeks just because I wasn't born with a female body.

Comment by HELEN BRADY on August 11, 2012 at 11:32pm

Danica nothing wrong with some breast enhancement. I call them "explants." I used to wear either the 1/2 foam cups before mine were C, and before they were B used silicone triangular breast forms size D. D's looked good on me for my body size. However, I am happy with the C's I have now. I do go bra-less most of the time.  It makes guys look!

Comment by HELEN BRADY on August 11, 2012 at 11:34pm

Sorry forgot; always took both spiro and estradiol.  Some girls I know use shots, some use patches, and one used a six month implant for estrogen.

Comment by Darla Rose Klein on August 12, 2012 at 1:16am

Hi Danica 100 spiro and 1 estradiol.All seems well.Good luck

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