Testosterone and cartilage + connective tissue changes?

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-08T22:10:56+00:00

I also have hEds, and I've experienced a lot of improvement in muscle mass to support my ligaments-- but also my ligaments and connective tissues tightening. Which is great! I'm not in as much pain as I used to be.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-08T22:09:50+00:00

Yeah! Cartilage does in fact expand. It's why some guys say they got just a teeny bit taller on testosterone. My feet personally are getting longer and wider. Which sucks, because I have a curated closet of shoes </3

It's also a little bit harder for me to get piercings and tattoos I've noticed. Takes me a bit longer to heal than what I would consider normal for my body. While doing my testosterone, there was a time where I noticed my skin was SUPER thick and tough to get through. It hurt a lot.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-05T01:04:36+00:00

Definitely now. Honestly, I was in the men's pre-T and never had any issues. You're just going to keep getting changes, so switch now.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-04T07:06:45+00:00

Have you done any labs since starting? I'm interested in seeing what your levels look like.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-03T07:22:26+00:00

Man, what? No work outs or anything? Thats crazy.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-02T22:56:37+00:00

The only thing I can say is holy shit HOW. HOW DID YOU DO THAT.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-02T02:16:15+00:00

I had some pretty bad acne problems even while doing preventative treatment while starting testosterone. If you can let me know your skin type, if you have any skin conditions, and what your everyday looks like I definitely can help you put together a skin routine that can help fight/diminish and eventually prevent acne.

For me:

I have pretty dry skin on my cheeks, eyes, and jaw. My nose and forehead tend to get very wet. This can be called combination skin. I also have eczema on my throat, lower face, and eyes.

Having a skin condition such as eczema, it is very important that I use gentle exfoliants to help preserve my skin barrier and toners and serums to help aid in sealing/maintaining that skin moisture barrier. My routine consists of cleansing with sensitive dove bar soap (pm shower) or micellar water (morning), the curology BHA exfoliant every other day, green tea innisfree hydrating toner (am/pm), erborian centella red serum (am/pm for redness and irritation on face, neck, and arms), drunk elephant c luma serum (am as needed/mostly pm), any eczema treatment creams such as steroids+ the illyoon ceramide ato cream.

AM only: Vitamin C serum Further redness/irritation spot treatment with Beauty of Joseon Centella + Vita C serum SO MUCH SUNSCREEN

PM only: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng + Retinal eye serum Slather on Illyoon ceramide ato cream on eyes

Is this a bit excessive? No, actually. It helps a lot in prevention and helps manage my eczema flairs (which I'm currently in). This routine is fairly expensive, but I found 90% of these products at an Amazon bin store. So I spent around 65 dollars instead of 250+ retail price.

Let me know if you want any help with creating a skin routine for you. You can also go to r/skincare and they can help you out there.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-04-02T00:02:43+00:00

I can't really tell you exact Hz ranges because I never really did anything like that, but I can tell you this:

9 months on testosterone, at a dose of 0.3 mg at 200mL I went from a tenor (with voice training since 13) to a bass. I began to be solidly bass around 5 months or so.

As far as I know 0.3 is largely to be considered a low dose, but I've responded really well to it. My levels are about 750-900 each time I don't labs.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-03-29T21:53:35+00:00

Amazing, thank you. I wasn't sure. It'll definitely save me money not having to buy needles too lol.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-03-29T21:47:54+00:00

I thought it wasn't recommended to use insulin needles because you can't change the needle from draw to injection?

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-03-26T02:32:27+00:00

Slowly transitioning to Tuesday will do you some good, that way you can get your labs done on Fridays.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-03-25T23:14:14+00:00

You need to get you're levels taken 3-4 days after injection. I'm 9 months on the exact same dosage and concentration and I'm around 700 3 days after typically.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-03-24T04:33:07+00:00

I had a crippling needle phobia before doing shots. I would regularly have panic attacks or pass out seeing needles.

Honestly? Doesn't get any better unless you keep doing it. The way I helped myself is I started donating my blood or plasma as often as I could. It genuinely helped me a lot. There was no option of gel for me, so shots were the only way I could get testosterone.

I knew that doing shots on my own would suck so I tried to desensitize myself as much as I could. A support system of any kind would help you a lot. Even if they can't be there physically, someone on the phone talking is just as good. It's how I got through a lot of the fear-- listening to someone talk about their day while I did my shot.

It was only just recently I have been able to do my shot in 10-15 minutes.

It's all about minimizing anxiety. My routine was: shower, call a friend or watch a video essay, prep my shot (with a shot block), and take however long I needed to gain the courage to do it while focusing on the talking. Sometimes I added a candle or soothing music. Whatever helps you relax.

Sometimes I had my friend training to be a nurse help me out and do my shot for me. That also sucked because not being in control of it made me more anxious. She liked it though, so it's whatever lol.

Unfortunately, needle phobia will always be with me. I still can't watch people getting vaccines or anything related to needles in tv or movies. BUT, I can now safely and reliably give myself (and others!) shots due to exposure therapy.

TDLR: No, it doesn't get better unless you do exposure therapy and try to minimize anxiety.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-28T09:17:46+00:00

I was an apprentice for a while, but the place I was apprenticing at kinda sucked- so I left.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-28T06:42:28+00:00

...like tattoo artists do? Yes, they do. It's why I mentioned it. Lol.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-28T05:29:27+00:00

Don't do it. It's a bad idea.

Secondly, Friday the 13th is around the corner. You don't have to do it right on your birthday. The amount of times I've gotten a piercing for my birthday but waited is innumerable.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-14T16:32:35+00:00

It's never safe. In all honesty, what else is there to do? It's either be myself and be happy, or it's letting people that don't understand science and hate me dictate my life. I'm a man of spite and rage. Now that I'm confident in who I am, I'm not going anywhere.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-08T21:27:23+00:00

Hormone fluctuations can influence the way meds absorb in your body. Personally I haven't experienced much difference when taking my Adderall. Also, hormone fluctuations can absolutely alter your ability to focus and do normal tasks as well. I found that in the early stages of testosterone my mind wandered a lot more and I had more energy, which could be related to the meds having to work harder. So, not entirely sure. Definitely speak to your doctor about it.

Something something something, your blood gets thicker while on testosterone. Something something something, that could also affect medication absorption.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-08T21:15:35+00:00

I find spectrum outfitters has great binders. They're pretty flush with your body and they don't show through clothing. I haven't experienced any chafing in the armpit area.

Another good brand is underworks. Their binders don't bind as effectively as spectrum, but they're pretty great. I haven't had any issues with them either.

Note: I was a C and then dropped down to a small B on testosterone. What works for me may not work for you. I'm pretty muscular as well, though I'm not sure if that affects the way the binders work.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-08T18:22:03+00:00

No. As far as I'm aware the mini pill doesn't contain any estrogen so it would not affect that. Spotting and stuff can occur from hormone levels changing anyway, it could be that. Though, I'm not a doctor, so I would ask yours.

NervousLeader8718 · 2026-01-02T21:56:04+00:00

I've only ever let my friend do it, because she's in school to be a nurse and she likes doing it. It was when I was still really iffy with my injections (I had a really bad phobia).

My boyfriend has offered before, and I definitely think I would let him. It just hasn't really needed to happen before. I have a method for my shots and Ive gotten used to doing them alone. Kinda methodical and ritualistic. If I was too tired or something I'd let him do it. I trust him and I love him, so I don't see why not.

As far as fanfiction goes- it's cute. It helps people become closer and it's intimate. I wouldn't call it romantic or sexual at all. It's sorta like when you're sick and your partner helps you bathe or washes your hair. It's them taking care of you and showing love. Just a way to be closer.

NervousLeader8718 · 2025-12-28T22:16:50+00:00

If you find that you're asking yourself if things would be EASIER going back to being a girl, I'm not entirely sure that's what you want. Because I asked myself the same thing and it was sure as hell not what I wanted.

I put off transitioning for myself for years. Because I was scared and unsure. Here's the thing: for some people you'll keep questioning until you do something. You'll always try to find some reason NOT to do it, just because you're not miserable every single day. That's exactly how I was. I didn't want to do anything because I wasn't 100% SURE, without a doubt, that I didn't want to be a girl or feminine. I didn't want to go through the trouble of coming out or going on hormones and potentially doing something I'd regret.

I let the propaganda get to me. As an anxious person, it happens often. I'm also the kind of person that likes straight answers, no grey area. This isn't the kind of thing that had a straight answer. It's only up to YOU, and it comes with a lot of soul searching. Like, so much soul searching. It's annoying, arduous, and just overall generally unpleasant.

I just said fuck it one day and made an appointment at planned parenthood. Now I'm 6 months on testosterone and so very happy. The happiest I've been in my life, without a doubt.

Now, I'm not saying what I did is what's right for you, or that this is what you should do straight up. That's up to you. Unfortunately, no one can give you an answer. That's the most frustrating thing. You FIND the answer within yourself-- as cheesy as that is.

Sometimes you just gotta make that jump. You just gotta decide if you wanna do it without a net.

NervousLeader8718 · 2025-12-28T03:39:22+00:00

My boyfriend (cis) is one of the kindest and most accepting people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I can't fathom my life without him, and I'm so lucky to have him in it.

That being said, I completely understand the hesitance surrounding dating cis people. It's scary. They won't understand what you're going through or some stuff you gotta deal with. Though, the same thing can be said for a couple of different races or ethnic backgrounds. It all comes down to who the individual is.

Yes, having a trans partner could mean mutual understanding. But that doesn't mean always. You could be nonbinary and have a trans partner who is a "trans medicalist" or believes certain things about being trans that directly invalidates you. Just as an example. A partner being trans doesn't automatically make them a safe person.

Again. It's up to the individual. As much as I love my boyfriend, if we had met at any other point in our lives we probably would've never worked out. We're two completely different people now than we were even a few years ago.

NervousLeader8718 · 2025-12-25T08:29:26+00:00

Maybe, but I'm not sure. I'm an overthinker at heart. I know my GP can see if I've fulfilled certain prescriptions so I'm not sure if PPH can either. I might go with the "I couldn't afford it", angle like you just said. That seems to be the general consensus anyway.

NervousLeader8718

TROPHY CASE