Introduction: - new member charlene (tgirl)

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Hi All,

Well, here goes...

i am a 52 year old healthy average genetic male who believes she is definitely gender dysphoric.

This i have come to realise over the last 2 years after chatting with, discussing and interacting with others online. Actually i have know i have been like this since my teens, but struggled to fully recognise or accept it.

i live in the Uk about an hour or two west of London and am married and in full time work (office work).

For the last 10 years i have bene consistently dressing in lingerie every day and now have no male underwear whatsoever - actually i can not imagine wearing any EVER again.

In the last 2 years i have given a LOT of thought to gender and contemplated how hormones would probably help me - and nearly embarked on a careful 'trial' to see if it was truly what i want and need.

However, i did not have the courage, conviction or certainty to start.

Over the last 6 months or so that has subtly chasnged, and now after much research and reading and soul-searching, i am ready.....

i have ordered Estroderm patches (both 50 and 100 ) and 100mg Spiro tablets, which should arrive next week.

I am fully and patently aware of the risks and will be very careful how i self-administer. Yes i will seek proper medical supervision if i know it is something i must do , long term.

i must admit it almost feels like a relief, now the decision to start has beem made......

i plan to start off next week with 1 Spiro 100mg taken twice a day, and apply initially the 50 patch. i will maintain this for 1 week then carefully re-evaluate how i feel, any physiological or psychological changes that may have occurred, and then re-evaluate my dosage. Ohh and 75mg enteric coated aspirin daily as a slight blood thinner to combat any clotting effect

i would like to say i am so excited and full of anticipation ---- and am prepared to continue for 6 months.

The information here and the comraderie and feeling of 'belonging' for me is very strong, and i hope i can both gain and contribute to the eunuch archive

If anyone has any further comment and or advice i will be very very happy to recieve it

Yorus,

charlene

[snakecharmer (imported)]

Welcome Charlene and here's wishing you best on your journey. There is a wealth of information to be had here in various posts.

One comment I would add is in response to "

i plan to start off next week with 1 Spiro 100mg taken twice a day, and apply initially the 50 patch. i will maintain this for 1 week then carefully re-evaluate how i feel

"

Spiro will take at least 2-3 weeks , if not longer, before really showing it's effects so keep that in mind before deciding to up the dosage or the likes.

Cheers

ron

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Thanks for the pointer ron, i will now wait for 4 weeks before making any changes - unless of course i 'feel' something is awry

Thank you so much for your warm welcome too, that made me smile and gave me a huge amount of encouragement.

Though, as many have said, i am 99.9% sure of my actions.

i look forward to a long and happy association with the group.

charlene

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

Welcome to the zoo! --FLO--

[paulault (imported)]

Welcome Charlene, I'm from Ohio in the US, MtF, 57 years old and been in transition 14 months.

My advise is start out by breaking a 100mg. Spiro pill in half thus taking 50mg in the morning and 50mg. in the evening, do this for a month or so then if you don't see any side effects like low blood pressure, light headedness when you get up etc then up it to 100mg. in the morning and 100mg. in the evening, 200mg a day should keep the testosterone low but this is going to take a few months. Be aware curb your potassium intake and if you crave salty foods eat them and drink plenty of water if not you will get leg cramps and be prepared to get up to pee lots at night, at 14 months I'm back to normal and sleep thru the night.

The 50mcg patch is a good starting point, do this for a month or so also then go to the 100mcg patch, my Endo had me on Estraderm 100mcg. patches but i was allergic to the adhesive, watch for that, he switched me to Estradiol pills 4mg divided dose a day and I'm doing great.

You can email me anytime at [email protected]

Paula

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Thanks Paula,

That is very good to know, and thanks for the advice aqnd offer of mail contact, that is so kind.

Hopefully i can start on Monday, if they arrive....

after you started how long before you stsarted to be aware of

1), physiological changes,

2), psychological changes?

charlene

[ramses (imported)]

If you self administer aspirin therapy, you have to be consistent with it and not stop abruptly or you could set yourself up for clot. Also, make sure you stay with the 81 mg/day dose and not a regular aspirin.

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Thanks Ramses,

i will make sure i keep it stable and level, and only use those reccomended for this purpose

charlene

[Dana Lane (imported)]

Welcome and good luck on your journey!

[clysmaniac (imported)]

Spiro is not a very strong anti-androgen and is not really administered as a primary drug for that purpose. So be aware that whatever dosage of it that you settle on, it will probably not lower your testosterone level by a quantum amount. Here would be another example that you should get an initial testosterone test done in your natural state before starting the Spiro and then again after maybe two months of doing it so you have some real objective measure of how your T level has changed and if further reductions are feasible.

My experience: I was on 100 mg of Spiro for over 2 1/2 years but was also taking monthly injections of Depo Provera which is a much stronger anti-androgen. That combination was enough to drop my testosterone from 280 to 95. I added androcur after that when I wanted to go lower and got it down to 44 before I was castrated. I felt like it was really low at 95 but there was a noticable difference when it dropped to 44. I am playing with my level right now to get it slightly above the 95 but hopefully lower than 150 with TRT. I had a test done last week and it cost just over $22 so it is not a horribly expensive lab test to have done.

Good luck with your experiment.

Sam

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the advice. i have found a way to get tested by sending a sample off, and will do so.

i will probably get some Siterone (generic androcur) too in the near future, dependent on results.

i am afraid i am a little needle-phobic and dont think i could manage injections !

charlene

[Danya (imported)]

Hi Charlene,

I'm glad you are here! I agree that Spironolactone is not a very effective testosterone blocker by itself. I am on the Vivelle-dot patch for estrogen and Spironolactone. For some months now, my testosterone has been so low as to be undetectable by standard lab tests.

Androcur (siterone) is very effective and when I first started my own journey I was taking it. It is a very powerful drug and you need to be careful when using it, as Paula points out.

Hugs,

Danya

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Hi Danya,

So if i am using oestrogen patches and Spironolactone then the Spiro could be Ok then? Is that what You mean?

Ohhh goodness - so much to learn!

xxx

charlene

[charlenebrown (imported)]

quick update:

have been taking 2 x 100mg Spironolactone and applying 2 x Estroderm 100 patches now for 11 days and have not had an erection for over a week, at all.....i am so so happy.

Ohh and to my knowledge i am exteriencing no negative side-effects.

Thanks in the main to the wonderful information and people here

x x x x x x x

charlene

[paulault (imported)]

Sorry i didn't answer sooner, Physiological changes occur almost immediately from just knowing you have started this journey, i have become a happier, friendlier, more fun to be around i think it's because i am finally me, it was a 180 degree change from before i started, as time goes on there may be changes in all of your senses, they become more acute, this started within a few months of starting hormones. Be prepared to become more emotional, i can cry at the drop of a hat.

As far as physical changes you may notice in a few months body odor changing, of course your nipples will become sore to the touch, this can start as early as 2 weeks or take as long as a few months, mine started at 2 weeks and at 15 months is still sore, as time goes on you will feel hard lumps or knots forming under your nipples, this is the milk ducts forming and will continue as the breasts develop. Skin changes will occur, skin will become softer over your body and lots more sensitive, your facial features will soften, it will take 6 - 7 months for this to be noticeable, friends will ask you if you got a haircut, a new shirt or if you lost weight, they see something different but don't know what, it will take you much longer to see these changes yourself. People you have not seen in a long time will really notice the changes as time goes on, those that know me see K___, those that don't see Paula. Body hair will diminish and become finer and lighter, facial and neck hair changes very little if at all and laser or electrolysis will be needed to eradicate those hairs.

Hope this helped

Paula

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Have now managed to upload a picture of me to my avatar, i had tried before, as i was unsuccessful in the past.

Hope i am a teeny bit convincing

charlene

[punkypink (imported)]

hello and welcome!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi charlenebrown,

Thank you for posting your photo as your new avatar. It's always so nice to associate a users face with their screen name.

[charlenebrown (imported)]

A pleasure indeed Erica Ann. Happy to show the *real* me.

2 days to go and my 1 month anniversary of being on hormones ...... yayyy

Funny how i feel so much better for it

xxxxx

charlene

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi charlene,

Oh, just wait. The best is yet to come. Give it about 6-8 weeks and your going to really start to see a difference in you, both mentally and physically.

The start of breast development is something to really look forward to.

Some people have a bit of difficult adjusting mentally to the hormones. You might feel that your on an emotional roller coaster for awhile. You might find that you'll start crying without any real provocation and be very sensitive, but this to will past after your body adjusts to the estrogen. Just be aware of these changes so that you'll be prepared to deal with them.

Good luck and stay the course.

[charlenebrown (imported)]

Ohh Erica Ann you really are wonderful. thansk for the feedback and encouragement, trust me i will definitely stay the course

On the mental sid, i seem to have had no trouble whatsoever in adjusting mentally, so far, which i deem to be a really good sign, and probably confirms beyond all doubt that i am indeed transgendered ......

i will celebrate my 4 week milestone on Tuesday

i will watch the crying , and yes, i do seem to have been a littlel more 'sensitive' in the last week or so.

As far as breast development is concerned, ohh i am looking forward to that immensely.

feel free to pm me any time, i also use msn and yahoo and chat with another girl here regularly.

xxxx

charlene

[Dana Lane (imported)]

Hi charlene,

Oh, just wait. The best is yet to come. Give it about 6-8 weeks and your going to really start to see a difference in you, both mentally and physically.

The start of breast development is something to really look forward to.

Some people have a bit of difficult adjusting mentally to the hormones. You might feel that your on an emotional roller coaster for awhile. You might find that you'll start crying without any real provocation and be very sensitive, but this to will past after your body adjusts to the estrogen. Just be aware of these changes so that you'll be prepared to deal with them.

Good luck and stay the course.

So far I haven't experienced the emotional roller coaster. I have been almost totally even it seems. Very calm and content. I watched a movie today that should have made me cry my eyes out but nothing. Although I did feel a huge connection to the female interaction with the leading man.

Anyone seen ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE? OMG what a greaaat movie!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

So far I haven't experienced the emotional roller coaster. I have been almost totally even it seems. Very calm and content. I watched a movie today that should have made me cry my eyes out but nothing. Although I did feel a huge connection to the female interaction with the leading man.

Anyone seen ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE? OMG what a greaaat movie!

Hi Bridgette,

It all depends on the dose your taking and your testosterone levels. Once your testosterone drops down below 100 or so and your estrogen levels start to approach 300+, you may experience some of the symptoms I described, but a lot of it is based on your individual metabolism and your body.

I didn't have much trouble adjusting either, but I've know a lot of girls that did have a number of problems, especially once they started progesterone. There are some women that just can't handle progesterone. It makes them very "bitchy." Some even experience suicidal tendencies.

[charlenebrown (imported)]

will start on androcur on Wednesday xxxxx

Will keep You all posted ....

charlene

[EricaAnn (imported)]

will start on androcur on Wednesday xxxxx

Will keep You all posted ....

charlene

Hi charlene,

Congratulations on taking this big step in your life. I think you'll start to see the difference and feel the effects pretty quickly as the testosterone begins to disappear from your system.

Any aggression will begin to disappear. You'll find yourself much calmer and relaxed, but watch for signs of some temporary depression. I didn't have any depression, just relief, but some people do. That darn "T" is poison to many of us.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.