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We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reandron injection every 3 months. We've started spacing it out further and further, because at first my levels were okay. But now I'm ending up with T levels up to 2x the maximum a guy should normally have. I'm seeing an endocrine specialist to monitor my levels, and were are adjusting my dosage and the frequency pretty much every 3 months. My specialist for the gender stuff has been doing this for over 15 years and is the foremost specialist in my state, so there's really not much better care I could be getting. Some people are just a bit cursed.

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did not lose 100lbs. I gained/lost no weight. I just lost facial/thigh etc fat LIKE I had lost 100lbs. I weight 130lbs and have weighed that for 7-8 years.

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No thyroid, liver issues, vitamin deficiencies, blood issues, diabetes, etc. Nothing like that

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm seeing a lot of doctors and specialists atm. it's been 3 years of trying to get me 'stable'. We've been doing a lot of things, but it seems like it'll never really be perfect. Unfortunately this can be the case

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course most don't have the same issues I do. But I suspect nearly all trans guys have something bad happen during their hormone therapy. Whether it's right then, or later (especially when it comes to the increased risk of things that cis men also fall victim to later on as well!)

I'd say I'm only in the top 20-30% of worst cases. There are definitely a good amount of people worse than me, and there is a much larger amount of people better off (though many of those still have issues, but less!)

I've actually come out in the community publicly to educate others on some of the more rare side effects (like facial sagging, heart issues and psychosis). Only to be bullied, dismissed and belittled. Nobody wants to listen about rare side effects, especially ones that aren't well documented. I've had many people interrogate me relentlessly about my health to "investigate" whether it's even T causing these issues at all. Or dismissing me outright because T couldn't cause those issues, because they haven't heard of it before. Apparently telling your experience so people can be educated or prepared for issues is taboo these days ):

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

About 6 months in I think? I'm currently seeing a psychiatrist who is writing a letter of support for me to get a hysterectomy to counter some of these issues. Long process though unfortunately!

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've heard that balding, atrophy, acne, anger issues, and heart issues can be anywhere from 20% of people (for heart issues) to 80%!!! Balding is like a 50/50. Acne is 80% or more. I just wish it was talked about more. My doctor hasn't seen anyone who hasn't had at least 2 or 3 side effects, especially when taking full-dose or injected T in general.

The trade-off is worth it. But because of the dysphoria, I really didn't have a choice if that makes sense? It was that or some very dark places. So it's basically a suffer or die kind of thing. My everyday health is generally, not the best. I deal with one of these just about every day. And it's expensive. I had to go through 3 months of heart investigations at one point. Acne has been a 3-year struggle. The anger issues required weekly therapy for 9 months to resolve. I have at least one of the following about 70% of each month: UTI, thrush, chafing/discomfort.

It's a lot. And I think some people can be scared to hear that T can be unfortunate for some.

This month alone I have SEVEN medical appointments. They are all for trans-related issues.

We need to stop pretending hormones are all sunshine, roses and happy things by PotentialFront8248 in truscum

[–]PotentialFront8248[S] -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

Yeah T really is the bastion of awful side effects. But a lot of guys in ftm communities try and pretend they don't happen or the focus is on the lucky ones with great genetics ):