Rebecca

#HRT question. A couple months ago I switched from pills to injections. Went from 6mg/day sublingual E and 50mg bicalutamide to 5mg/week E mono therapy. My numbers just before switching were T at 4 (yes!) and E at 112.

The first few weeks were great, but the last few have been … ? Basically I’m worried that my T isn’t being blocked well enough. I’m starting to see regrowing/darkening in body hair that had previously basically disappeared. My face feels more oily and some hair regrowth has happened there too. 🤬😩😩 My smell has changed again. And my mood has been really fucking sour and even a few SH thoughts have creeped in.

Most of these could have other explanations, but given they are coming after changing my dosing, it’s hard not to suspect something is wrong. Could I be remascularizing because of inadequate T blocking? I had read that 5mg/week on injections is a relatively high dose that should adequately block T. What’s going on here?

#trans #transgender #transfem #transition

Jun 15, 2024 at 2:49amWeb
Show threadKodyJun 15, 2024
@ria It’s really difficult to say without seeing your levels. As your route of administration changed and your regimen, I would expect that your prescriber wants you to get bloodwork soonish?
Show threadFaith, Purple haired feminist 🧋   Jun 15, 2024
@ria I'd see if you can get your levels checked. That definitely doesn't sound right.
Show threadJanet Logan (she/her) 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 15, 2024

@ria

What everyone else said. Get tested again. When I switched from pills to patches, my E level nose-dived. Like from about 95 down to 26. It still hasn't recovered. I'm getting another round of blood work at the end of next week. I'm afraid that I may be forced to go back to pills, which given AFib, is not good.

I *wasn't* on monotherapy, so the T didn't jump back up. But no doubt it would have had I been.

I guess the point is, it takes time to get the levels right again after a change.

Show threadJenniferJun 15, 2024
@ria I am just here to commiserate, I am taking hormones for menopause and it took forever to get the right balance. One thing I've learned is hormone levels fluctuate wildly during the day so my tests were always wrong and my doctors kept prescribing a dose that was too low. My current doctor goes more by how I feel instead of testing. That's maybe not how you need to do things but hoping your levels get evened out soon!