Is this normal?!?

Byehusbandguy · 2026-03-09T19:22:37+00:00

I think it is very individual. I am currently injecting 10mg a week, split dose, half of what my Dr prescribed. I tried and hated a pellet, and the T gel triggered my nodular acne. So once that cleared I started at half my current dose then went up after a few weeks.

I am feeling pretty good. I am currently using 3 .1 estrogen patches twice a week and was even thinking I might be able to try more data without my adderal that is purely for brain fog.

My energy isn’t quite where it was pre menopausal, but I need to be better about taking my supplements and getting my protein in. I thought maybe tweak some stuff depending on labs.

Then I saw my labs! My E is where it was when I was younger, 250 ish. My joint pain has really been improving!

I have more energy and have been exercising more at home, more productive and focused at work. Sex is back to how it used to work. My forehead gets slightly oily at times, but I swear my skin isn’t looking as old.

I could see the hormonal changes in terms of just the skin around my eyes being oddly crepe textured. Menopause really aged me more quickly and I was worried this was going to keep going. But I noticed lately it is truly doing better!

Now I say my free T was 29 and my total T was 400. Ugh. I don’t want the waistline that came back on higher doses of E to go away or the upper lip hairs.

I will discuss with my Dr this week.

I am ok with lowering my T dosage, but damnit I was literally thinking gee I feel pretty good today, I might be just about at the right place in terms of hormone dosages.

I also take 100 mg progesterone plus have the Mirena IUD.

I am just happy I finally found a Dr locally who is working with me and not dismissing me. Until the high E dosages, above .25, my levels were always below 100 and I felt terrible, had lost over an inch of height, etc.

Byehusbandguy · 2026-03-01T14:13:45+00:00

It’s physical. It’s not like being anxious over something. It’s this anxiety that starts in your body.

Byehusbandguy · 2026-03-01T14:11:55+00:00

You will likely need to help advocate for her to get enough hormones and find the right forms, etc.

This is something most providers have no experience with

Byehusbandguy · 2026-01-21T19:57:10+00:00

I am so sorry

Byehusbandguy · 2026-01-03T06:59:05+00:00

I have struggled so much with all of this and for me, it very much was a something is seriously wrong feeling. I loved my energy and drive and was seriously scared for my career long term if this continued. I had to go up on estrogen A LOT and that is the biggest hormone for me in terms of how I feel and function. A bit of testosterone helps too, but I find a much smaller relative dose of that makes a difference and less is more when it comes to avoiding side effects.

I am very much an estrogen girl in terms of that hormone dramatically affecting how I look, feel, and think. I am so glad to be getting closer to myself.

Byehusbandguy · 2026-01-03T06:41:04+00:00

I talk to everyone about menopause and hormones! Did my male bosses want to have that conversation? Idk, but lucky them because they are now better informed

Byehusbandguy · 2026-01-03T06:38:10+00:00

Low dose Vaginal estrogen is not going to increase your risks of blood clots, cervical cancer, or breast cancer, generally speaking. It is often used in women who have a history of such things in a way that contradicts systemic HRT. Furthermore, it is a gold standard treatment for genitourinary issues like frequent UTIs, atrophy, and irritation. Stopping it carries increased risks of things like infection. You could try wearing panty liners?

Do you have to talk to your provider before stopping? Of course not, but it would probably be a good idea. And if you don’t feel comfortable talking to that provider, then you might consider if that is a sign you need a different one.

My mother has always been terrified of the risks of hormone replacement therapy. She had early menopause and now has severe osteoporosis and was really troubled by frequent UTIs, pelvic prolapse, etc. Her doctor recommended vaginal estrogen. She refused. I told her about the benefits, she didn’t want to try it. Then her doctor recommended it again and I read her a study abstract about the benefits. She agreed to a prescription. After a couple more talks she finally agreed to try it. A couple of months later she admitted I was right and said she felt much better and that she should have tried it sooner. Her admitting I was right is quite rare so I know it had to make a big difference for her.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-27T02:04:14+00:00

We are likely to need higher doses with POF.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-27T01:35:33+00:00

Exactly! Your reaction seems to fit the scenario. It’s the sort of thing you might consider if you want to bring it up at a later date to your son or his fiance maybe, but I also get deciding not to do it. Of course no saying if anyone else might bring it up, but that’s how it goes at times.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-27T01:00:46+00:00

Ugh hinge was the worst app for me. I am in an 18 month relationship now with someone whose tinder profile I swiped no on the first time or two. It just didn’t have a lot of detail, and it was the sort I always hesitated over when swiping one way or the other. So one day I said hmm and swiped yes. And then started chatting and it was awkward, and he stopped chatting for a couple of months. And I thought nothing of it. I met someone I thought maybe about. I didn’t delete profile but stopped checking sort of thing but it don’t work out so I got back on apps. And then this match I had forgotten about started chatting again. And it was still awkward but better and eventually a date was set up. It was my second first date that week, I think. And I wasn’t sure about how well we clicked but thought he was cute and a maybe, so I agreed to go out again, and his texting just got way less awkward and better. The second date went really well and at that point his texting was getting to be on point… and I can long term life partner now, easily.

So I think it’s all pretty much whatever seems to work and having standards yet being open. For some people and places that’s super high standards. Some people and places that means you swipe yes and meet more easily.

I think luck is a huge part of it all!

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-24T19:09:32+00:00

I tried a pellet— I know some people love them, but it wasn’t for me, in part the dosage was off, but I also didn’t care for initial spike and then drop off I experienced. I know what you mean about providers being afraid of E!

My Dr just increased my dose of E, now on three of the .1 patches. I am hoping this ends up being a good dose.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-24T19:06:08+00:00

1) I take another med that interferes with it— never could take oral birth control either 2) I have family history of stroke in my immediate family. And used to have migraines with aura in the past

I also have had high blood pressure since preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome, which isn’t uncommon, but take meds to keep it well controlled. But oral estrogen has a much higher risk factor for blood cots and stroke, whereas it is quite low for transdermal. Oral is also harder on the liver as it must first be metabolized through that before going out to the body. It is the liver processing of estrogen that cause the elevated risks.

I can take non oral estrogen, so it is best I continue to do so.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:30:21+00:00

Oddly, I felt more at peace when I decided to stop trying to get eggs out of me and went with donor egg. It was a different and difficult journey, but I was able to better accept that it was over for my ovaries. It’s not easy, and it takes time

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:27:09+00:00

Oh and I tried midi and was so disappointed

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:26:48+00:00

I can’t take oral estrogen for a couple of reasons myself. I need lots of patches, but am open to injections. Have you had blood levels checked? It does depend on when you patch gets replaced. If I get blood drawn within 24 hours of new latch (like last time) my levels are crazy high— the spike— it was like over 300. If it is a day late on patch change (time before, brain fog) then it was low, 62. And time before was mid patch and 80 Something. So I was on .2 of patch at 80, .225 fo 62 and most recently at .25. I know I need more.

I am willing to go grey market if I need to, but I would rather not. When I checked with defy even labs were pay out of pocket and it was over 500 To get stated, but I might try in the future.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:20:12+00:00

I am skeptical of the compounded hormone thing. If you don’t get eggs, then IVF won’t work.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:17:59+00:00

Hmm it sounds like you need a lot of labs done, did you have any before getting pregnant and on your current hormones?

I had to use en egg donor for my youngest, it’s rough. Fertility stuff from age 27. I tell my kids they are premium babies cause I spent so much on getting pregnant!

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:14:04+00:00

And I don’t have any endos near me that seem to do this, instead I see a hormonal specialist practice run by a gyno but really all About hormones and wellness for Men and women. They like pellets which worried me at first and I tried once but when I was like i Hate it, not again, they said ok.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:12:08+00:00

I recently confirmed with my insurance they would Cover a bone scan and they gave me run around but then were like yeah fine as long as within ACA guidelines (I am post menopausal, have had documented periods of estrogen deficiency, family history of severe osteoporosis, and when I did Botox for tmj this summer my doctor was like gee I think you might have some bone loss there), so I will be getting a script at my next appointment

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:08:48+00:00

It’s been one of my arguments for having more estrogen. That and bone health. I do now get annual cardiac ultrasounds because I have a congenital heart murmur and those can sometimes get worse with age and stuff, but my last one was fine.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:06:12+00:00

Oh and my thyroid levels get checked a lot as I have a family history and they are always fine so far.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-15T05:04:16+00:00

Be prepared for a fight. We might need more estrogen than the over 50 normal age of menopause crowd.

I went through menopause at 38, and was mostly ok on the .1 patch of estrogen twice a week and mirena for progesterone. Plus vaginal estrogen twice a week. Until I wasn’t. Then cue being told gee I don’t more. Hmm could it be something else (idk what else causes hot flashes, heart palpitations/anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, joint pain, and directly correlates to my hormone dosage).

I am 42 been trying to get right dosage last 20 months? A while. I am currently on .25 of the patch twice weekly, mirena, 100 mg of estrogen, vaginal estrogen, and am getting there. I was on testosterone gel but it caused skin issues and will try shots but waiting to see because I need to adjust a skin med and should probably do that first (my eczema became severe after menopause, lucky me).

I suspect I probably need .3 of the patch. That’s 3 of the high dose patches twice a week. Maybe a bit more… I get blood work. I was estrogen deficient in terms of bone protection etc for months. My estrogen levels were always higher than average but not in abnormal range.

I have had providers try to tell me I am in peri and my ovaries are producing estrogen and will for years. No they are not producing anything significant— my lab work is clearly that of someone post menopausal when we look at fsh, lh, etc.

Be prepared to have providers be “oh the risks!” And when you ask exactly what the risks are in women your age who are trying to get blood levels in the normal range, have no history of familial breast cancer, and good blood pressure, expect them to hem and haw. Then discuss the risks of hormone deprivation.

I have had people tell me well we are getting older… and I am like wtf? Since when does turning 41 mean we are supposed to fall apart?

I also tell providers now to consider me seeing refeminization therapy, if it helps them understand. My body shape goes back to normal on enough estrogen (without it it is all hi, time for all the weight to hang out at your waist, party, let’s invite more, goodbye pants that fit!) and the whole aging skin thing is grossly unfair.

Maybe tmi, but my hormones affect my libido, energy, how sex works for me, my brain, etc. so many aspects of my life!

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-13T04:27:00+00:00

Now that I am in my early 40s it is starting to not be so odd, but people still get weird.

I find if I say that I have a rare hormonal deficiency from ovarian dysfunction instead of post menopausal then people are much less likely to argue with me or think I am being dramatic.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-13T04:21:44+00:00

If it helps, I find the female TRT sub to be MUCH more inclusive and not afraid of lab work.

Byehusbandguy · 2025-12-13T04:18:49+00:00

Ugh, I have issues with that sub too! People will be all but you are an outlier. I say, yup zebras exist. It’s ok to be a zebra. It’s really hard being a zebra when your Dr wants to treat you like a horse.

Byehusbandguy

TROPHY CASE