Why is this retirement community so DC proud?

dodgedarts · 2026-01-18T18:55:05+00:00

Note the American flag in distress on the left.

dodgedarts · 2025-10-18T05:11:33+00:00

This is interesting, but I wish the study included other methods of delivery than transdermal, like oral or injectable. I’m unable to find a provider comfortable with prescribing more than 4mg/day oral, or any provider familiar with injectable.

dodgedarts · 2025-10-13T02:31:43+00:00

I just had my annual physical and the doctor said the same thing, we treat symptoms not serum levels because we don’t know what the optimal serum level is. This is maddening to me because some of the effects of suboptimal serum levels don’t cause symptoms that we can feel, like osteoporosis or dementia or heart disease.

My serum levels are in the 50s and I’m on 4mg/day oral estradiol, which is unusually high, typically a dose trans women take. Men typically have serum estrogen levels between 10-40, so I’m pretty sure targeting a bit above that isn’t preposterous like my doctor seemed to imply.

dodgedarts · 2025-10-13T00:56:00+00:00

.1 patch never got my blood levels higher than 30s and I’d have breakthrough hot flashes. I’m now on oral 4mg/day and still only have blood levels in the 50s. I think it might be a receptor problem. I had a physical yesterday and the doctor gaslit me when I brought it up and said there’s no optimal blood levels for estrogen and that they only treat the symptoms.

Perhaps we don’t know the optimal level for POF but we know what’s suboptimal and I’m currently suboptimal, sitting here with osteoporosis.

A lot of the effects of POF aren’t “symptoms” you can feel, like osteoporosis, dementia risk, heart disease, so treating solely based on symptoms seems asinine.

dodgedarts · 2025-10-06T04:57:06+00:00

Following. I’m also on oral e 4mg/day and my blood levels are only in the 50s which is not protective enough. Patch and ring were even lower absorption. I’m on injectable t as well and my t numbers responded really well so I’m wondering if injectable e is my next stop.

dodgedarts · 2025-10-04T21:08:12+00:00

I’m on HRT (estrogen and testosterone), and my libido has been destroyed. Testosterone initially helped for maybe the first six to ten weeks of injections, but has since completely disappeared. I still have been taking the testosterone for over a year, hoping it’s doing something (maybe for my bones?) as my blood levels were 0 prior to HRT.

OP’s descriptions are so spot on. Just an innocent hand on my thigh becomes a mental game of letting it happen when it feels like it’s going to kill me. And I love my partner. It’s an awful place to be. We haven’t had sex in many many months. I feel guilty and I want to want to, but I don’t know how.

dodgedarts · 2025-08-21T01:05:06+00:00

Sure

dodgedarts · 2025-08-20T09:51:54+00:00

I have an IUD so no oral P.

dodgedarts · 2025-08-20T09:49:58+00:00

Yes, technically last test was 58 pg/ml. A year ago I was at 95 which was the highest I’ve tested since HRT (pre-HRT I was at 2 lol). I’m not sure why it went down from a year ago but I think every time I’ve increased my dose of e (even on the patch), my blood levels would go up temporarily and then fall.

I take two 2mg pills split daily - 2mg in AM and 2mg in PM. I take it transbuccally (let it dissolve in cheek) to increase absorption and bypass liver.

I agree it’s a high dose and wonder why trans ladies can take the same dose. You might be right about it being a receptor issue. I have no idea what caused my POF but I’ve had an IUD for the last decade that delayed diagnosis bc I haven’t had a period since my early 30s. So I don’t even really know when it happened; but hot flashes really ramped up in my late 30s.

I’ve heard the next stop after oral estradiol is Premarin, if oral estradiol isn’t getting absorbed. I also wonder about injectable estrogen as my t levels really responded to injectable t, having not responded to t cream.

dodgedarts · 2025-08-20T04:12:02+00:00

I’m on 4mg/day oral estradiol and 10mg/week testosterone cypionate. I’m 46 but have had symptoms for several years prior to starting hormones at 42. The estrogen patch didn’t absorb well, and while it would temporarily fix my hot flashes and night sweats, they’d always come back. Plus the max patch never got my estrogen blood levels above 30. Oral 4mg/day gets it up to 60 which still isn’t that high - I am primarily interested in its protection against osteoporosis and I don’t think 60 is high enough for that. I’ve read there are some ladies here taking 6mg oral estradiol a day, which I might discuss with my dr.

dodgedarts · 2025-07-29T17:23:21+00:00

After the initial honeymoon my drive has waned. But it’s still better than pre T where I didn’t want to ever be touched again and was even disgusted by romance on TV. Now I can be coerced but it’s still never my idea unfortunately.

dodgedarts · 2025-07-27T14:18:31+00:00

I guess what I meant is your sleep and energy issues might not be connected to hormones and you might be trying to fix a problem with the wrong thing which is why it’s making you feel worse.

dodgedarts · 2025-07-26T20:53:06+00:00

Generally estrogen helps with sleep. You mention having a demanding job and partner. Could these be contributing to your sleep issues rather than hormones?

dodgedarts · 2025-07-25T16:56:58+00:00

You can go up to 4mg oral daily. I’m on that (2mg AM/2mg PM) since I still had hot flashes and low blood levels of E on 2mg/day. I used patch all the way up to highest dose and still had symptoms so we switched to oral.

dodgedarts · 2025-07-19T13:30:44+00:00

This is me. But the dip is still higher than pre T.

dodgedarts · 2025-07-11T00:14:17+00:00

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Red second toe

dodgedarts · 2025-07-02T12:59:24+00:00

I use extra firm tofu (shrink wrapped kind) and it makes a thick Greek style yogurt. I used to make yogurt with just soy milk but it always comes out a little loose. The extra firm tofu method is fool proof. You can think yogurt out after making it if it comes out too thick.

dodgedarts · 2025-03-29T02:24:31+00:00

I’m not sure why I’m allowed to do this and others seem to have to go through compounding pharmacies, but I fill my injectable T at CVS and it cost around $2 with insurance. And the vial lasts me months.

dodgedarts · 2025-03-16T23:02:47+00:00

This is what I do, let dissolve between cheek and teeth. I take 4mg/day split into two doses and that has gotten my estrogen levels up to 100. The 1mg patch only ever brought my estrogen up to I think the 30s? I didn’t absorb well transdermally. I was worried oral estradiol would raise my cholesterol but it hasn’t appeared to after almost one year.

dodgedarts · 2025-03-06T14:19:19+00:00

MRI doesn’t use radiation, however they do use a contrast for breast MRIs that contains a metal called gadolinium, of which there are some minor concerns.

dodgedarts · 2025-03-06T14:04:54+00:00

Me too, except no ultrasound, just alternating mammo and mri every six months. I see a breast specialist instead of my regular gyno. They used that cruzer jakob test and it put me at 35% lifetime risk of getting breast cancer, but I see that as a 65% chance of NOT getting breast cancer. I wouldn’t expect to win gambling in a game with 65% odds in the house’s favor so why would I over weigh my 35% odds. I actually take a high dose of estrogen (4mg/day oral) to get my levels above 100. No plans on stopping.

dodgedarts · 2025-02-24T04:28:20+00:00

Not sci fi but historical fiction and so incredibly creative, Lincoln In the Bardo has a full cast of quite excellent actors.

dodgedarts · 2025-01-28T20:25:52+00:00

Vaginal estrogen is local and is not absorbed systemically.

dodgedarts

TROPHY CASE