Hi i will be starting hormones in 10 days and though i have been told what to expect from someone who has experienced it. Is there any immdeiate changes and on an average how long does it take before u start to see results/ Darla

I can help you with MY personal experience, having recently started hormone therapy. I take ONLY Premarin, 5mg per day, 2 doses of 2.5mg each. I began on December 8, so it's been right at 8 weeks. Below is a list of what I have noticed;

Reduced the excess oil on my face
Mood swings
Softening of skin
Hair on my legs and body growing slightly slower
Need to wear my glasses more frequently (I REALLY do need to tell my doctor about that!)
Nipples have become VERY tender
Some (very minor) increase in breast tissue

But note, YOUR results may vary. Perhaps some reactions will happen much slower, or perhaps much quicker.

Don't be discouraged, it's going to take time, figure on TWO YEARS for optimal results. I feel that I've been very fortunate to be getting results so quickly, given that I'm in my middle 40's. Results will most likely be quicker, and more dramatic, the younger you are. (Or slower and less dramatic, the older you are.)

I cannot recall any specific places on the web where you can read about what to expect, but I try to dig up some info, and either post it here, or drop it to you in an email.

Good Luck!
Knikol

The results really vary a lot from person to person. But I count also some 100 weeks to get more or less the optimal results. I´m now on week 63, so I think I´m 63% ready. I pass okay as a woman in any situation. But only last september-october I remember kids running after me and asking if I´m "an uncle or an auntie". That stopped in november. Everyone will pass these phases: first people notice something odd, then they start to wonder if you are a he or a she and finally you pass as a woman. In the "middlesex-phase" I seemed to get all kinds of funny freaks at my coffee table...

Laura

It takes time. I started in May of 2003. I am presently on 2.5mg premarin/day and 100mg spironolactone/day. Being a very risk-averse person, I purposely ramped up very slowly and I have told my doctor that I want to keep the drugs at the minimum level necessary. I have seen some breast development, with a considerable increase in sensitivity. This began about a month after I started (and I was only taking 0.625mg/day of premarin at that time). Body hair has not yet diminished, but I just started spironolactone, and that drug is supposed to be the major cause of loss of body hair, especially when estrogen doses are moderate. I have noticed some emotional change (generally an increase in patience and contentment) but the change is relatively small at this point.

By the way, spironolactone can cause potassium retention, so taking a multi-vitamin with high potassium content might not be a good idea. I would check the ingredient list carefully.

Just be patient and make sure you are working closely with a competent doctor.

Heather H.

Thanku everyone, this has been very helpful I have been on hormones now for 10 days(noth yet no surprise) but I have felt flushed and calmer is this just in my head or something else? Love Darla

This is how I look after 66 weeks on hormones...

Laura

Sandra...I don´t know if I have the guts to go topless. My breasts still grow, I have no idea when they think to stop. I bought a very nice bikini last summer, but didn´t wear it, because I thought I look too masculine. Now I tried it on...and it looked now quite different, 6 months difference. So, I think, at least I will be bikini-fit until the summer .

Laura

My srs-date is October 6th at Dr. Kunaporn´s place, Phuket. But that will go under SURGERY topic....

Laura