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What to expect????

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  •   After 30 years fo kicking the tires i am finally on my raod to transition.... what a rough and rocky road to start onto.  I found an endo and when I tried to get referred they told me I had to go to a place called CAMH in Toronto Ontario.  That would be fine except they have an almost 2 year wait!!  I called them to see if I could get in any faster and was given some very helpful info.  So this Thursday I will be going to a trans friendly GP to start my journey and I am just wondering what to expect?  Am i going to be sat down and just talked to or will I maybe see blood work ordered? I have heard many say that i probably won't get any meds on the first visit but I don't want to wait any longer.  I have waited this long, Im almost 40 now so i think i know what i want.

    Julie Sinn
      June 19, 2017 5:11 PM BST
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  • Trans friendly GP! they still are required to have a duty of care, that is any medication drugs prescribed are warranted,  a valid need, so you might be refered to a gender therapists before the GP makes any recomendations to an endo.   In this climate of litigation, GP's have to cover their backs.    Best of luck xxXxx

    Cristine Jennifer Shye.  B/L.  B/Acc
      June 19, 2017 6:41 PM BST
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  •  So i had my first appointment with the GP and things went really well.  He ordered up blood test and had me make a follow up appointment.  I am still very scared of the next step but that is only outweighed by my drive to get things started.

      I hope i can ask one more question of all the great people here?  I am almost 40 now, i want to start HRT but don't know how well these meds can work for me at my age.  Should I be looking at HRT or at my age I should look more into cosmetic surgery?

    Julie Sinn
      June 26, 2017 6:57 PM BST
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    Age is not really the issue,but be clear that once you engage with Transition many things cannot be undone.It takes a while for HRT effects to make physical changes,but perhaps more significant is the mental changes you may well experience.How the meds work will depend a lot on your own base health e.g. If you smoke ,weight, if you have any liver or blood or heart condition.Golden rule is make sure you get proper medical supervision.General advice is to start HRT before considering any kind of surgery.Also consider that you will need to have some sort of schedule to see a specialist in gender dysphoria.and gauge how you feel ,when and what steps to take next.Generally try to look after your general health
    <p>Donna_V</p>
      June 26, 2017 9:22 PM BST
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  • Julie...I began my physical transition at the age of 59.  I was a former athlete who maintained myself pretty well over the years and looked decidely masculine.  Almost 8 years downstream on HRT, the metamorphasis has been remarkable!  I have far exceeded any expectation I had in terms of growth and development.  But as Donna alluded to, the absolute best part was in the mental changes.  Virtually all of my former T influenced anger, aggression, angst, and anxiety melted away repalced by a wonderful sense of well being, composure, and an extremely astute clarity of things around me. I truly have found my "happy place" and feeling this way has carried over into being socially accepted as people just seem to "like" me more.  Looking back, it is easy to understand why!  (smile)

    Best wishes always!

    Traci xoxo

    <p>Traci</p>
      June 26, 2017 11:19 PM BST
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    3 1652 3‚ 0
    Hi Julie, I was 41 when I started on HRT, and was really happy with the effects. Keep thoughts of cosmetic surgery as a last resort and give the med's several years to do their magic. I'm 13 years and counting now, and am still seeing and feeling the benefits of HRT.
    Oestrogen is a wonderful thing!
    Best of luck in your transition.
    xx
      June 27, 2017 7:47 AM BST
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  •   You lovely ladies have given me some hope that all will not be in vain.  I go to the doctor again on July 13th so i just have to wait a little longer.  I don't know much about specific HRT meds yet, but maybe one of you can give me just a little help.  From everything i read i want to go onto Spiro (oral) and estrogen (patch) as i hear this is the safer way to go. After I get those levels under control and all is good I will add progesterone.  Is it wrong that i am going to use HRT as an excuse to quit smoking?  I have not really cared about my body up to this point because it never felt like my body so i am looking at this step in my life as a sort of rebirth.  I am 6'1" and weigh in at 280lbs so diet and exercise is really going to be stepped up.

    Julie Sinn
      June 27, 2017 1:06 PM BST
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  • Moderator
    3 1652 3‚ 0

    You neither want nor need spiro. If you're of a certain age then oestrogen alone will reduce your testosterone count dramatically, if not entirely.

    Patches (or gels) are probably the safest route but as long as it's 17-Beta oestradiol then pills are pretty safe too. As well as 2 x 2mg tablets per day I'm also prescribed oestrogel, which is probably less hassle than patches; it dries/disappears almost instantly and is unlikely to cause any allergic reactions (I got a deep red mark on my skin around the edge when I tried using a patch, which lasted for over a week).

    17-Beta, or bio-identical oestrogen, is extremely safe.

    Spiro is more risky, best to avoid it, especially as you'll find it's entirely unnecessary.

    xx

      June 27, 2017 1:23 PM BST
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  • For what it is worth, spiro is most used for people being treated for congenitive heart issues to reduce swelling in their extremities.  If it were so effective in blocking T (and I use the word "block", not kill off), there'd be hundreds of thousands, if not millions of men complaining about losing their ahhhh...ummm....manhood! (smile)  Plus, it can mess with your body tons if not careful.  

    As Lucy said, avoid it...

     

    Traci xoxo

    <p>Traci</p>
      June 27, 2017 1:37 PM BST
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  • Remember no drug is designed to change men into women, Spiro used to be used to inhibit the androgen  receptors recognising the naturally produced T,    Often used in over production of T affecting a persons heart rate.    It.s basically a T blocker.     Persons with intersex conditions ie. AIS, Reifensteins and people born with xxy cromosones should not be prescribed  Spiro.   It still suprises me that candidates for transition as far as I am aware are not tested for these conditions.    Lucy is our expert on HRT, having done a lot of research for herself.   AND does'nt she look great on it.

    Cristine Jennifer Shye.  B/L.  B/Acc
      June 27, 2017 3:49 PM BST
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  • I'm 48 and started 3 months ago, close enough to 3 months. The most immediate noticable change were the emontional changes. I've never felt as clear and happy in my entire life. I personally do not like the idea of patches/gels. I've known others that had absorption issues through the skin and responded much better to injections/tablets.

      June 28, 2017 11:07 PM BST
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