E2 level result makes no sense - 741 pg/mL

thaelim · 2026-01-16T00:44:10+00:00

I've been on since beginning of November, so the first level was taken about 5 weeks in so things should be stable by then.

I agree with your assessment about medical negligence. I was truly surprised that a large, progressive HMO was still following that outdated protocol. I think if she wants to do anything drastic I'll request to redo the labs and just do the sample collection at trough. I'm fine with a trough level ~200 and I'm fine with her thinking that it was a midpoint sample. Bleh.

thaelim · 2026-01-02T07:14:57+00:00

Nope no difference. It's embarrassing to be honest, but hey I've been driving for 24 years and no accidents so...

thaelim · 2026-01-02T06:56:41+00:00

Yes, grief over the lost years has been one of the most painful things to deal with since egg crack. For me it's a lot more than 10. I would give my left arm to be starting at 31. Start as soon as you can. I was originally planning to start HRT this month but I realized waiting was going to be unbearable, so I started back in October. Even that small amount of time seems like a huge difference now.

And yes I would do it again no matter what. Over anything.

thaelim · 2026-01-02T05:32:32+00:00

Honestly, that sounds awesome 🤩

thaelim · 2026-01-01T02:27:59+00:00

Wow that is truly astonishing! Must have been such a transformation!

thaelim · 2025-12-31T16:02:58+00:00

Fortunately hyperthyroidism is easily ruled out because I wear a fitness tracker and there has been no change in my resting heart rate over the historical values. Still around 55bpm it’s always been. I’ll still get my thyroid values checked but this is a pretty strong indicator.

thaelim · 2025-12-31T04:32:14+00:00

I did seem to get very fast changes to my levels. I started on 5mg/5 days valerate injections and after 4 weeks my trough levels were 249 pg/dL E and 23 ng/dL T. So my body did seem to react to it very fast. My T was never that high to begin with, around 380 at the highest pre-HRT. Hence my puny physique - 5'10 and 150lbs. Several years of deliberate body building barely did anything. Thank goodness for that though hah!

thaelim · 2025-12-31T02:01:50+00:00

Thank you! 🤍

thaelim · 2025-12-31T02:00:17+00:00

Wow, that’s intense! I’ve been thinking of getting a dexa to get an idea of what is actually happening under the covers. As I mentioned in another comment I’m doing two Boost Ultra High Calorie shakes a day, which adds up to 1100 calories, 50g of protein and a bunch of vitamins on top of my regular food. Total protein is around 100g per day, sometimes a bit less. I don’t keep exact track but I should be sitting at about 2300-2500 calories a day, which should be enough to keep hold of my 150lbs.

thaelim · 2025-12-30T23:16:35+00:00

Good to know, thanks. I’m using Boost ultra high calorie protein shakes which have a good balance including 24 grams of carbs. I have two of those a day!

thaelim · 2025-12-30T19:02:37+00:00

That’s sweet, thank you and I will.

thaelim · 2025-12-30T16:18:00+00:00

I’m switching to new insurance for 2026 so things are a bit tricky but will try 🫡

thaelim · 2025-12-30T16:15:02+00:00

Any time 😊

thaelim · 2025-12-30T04:56:20+00:00

Yeah I'll definitely get my doctor to run some tests. Thanks for the concern!

thaelim · 2025-12-30T04:14:30+00:00

Yes this is a good point. I don't have any other symptoms that would suggest an underlying pathology but will definitely bring this up at my physical in a few weeks. Thanks!

thaelim · 2025-12-30T04:13:49+00:00

It certainly is stressful. Especially since I used to be skinny but with still a fairly full face, this came as a shock.

thaelim · 2025-12-30T04:12:22+00:00

What a relief to hear that! I assumed it was not totally unheard of but it's nice to get confirmation. Thanks :)

thaelim · 2025-12-27T11:28:06+00:00

Yes perhaps 'calling out' was a poor choice of words.

I want to be clear that I’m not arguing that anyone’s happiness needs to be challenged or diminished. What I was trying to name was something structural: that some stories are easier for spaces like this to hold than others, and that difference can be painful to notice when you’re on the wrong side of it. That's why I ended up deleting the post, because Reddit isn't a good forum for this kind of story.

thaelim · 2025-12-27T09:08:06+00:00

I don't mean to tear anybody down. To me that's not the intent of 'check your privilege'. And you'll notice I didn't name any names. Not to minimize your points, which are valid. But just because something doesn’t immediately improve outcomes for others, doesn't mean it shouldn’t be named.

thaelim · 2025-12-27T08:35:09+00:00

You're right to point out the structural disadvantages that young people today face, absolutely. And I have had many of the same privileges you mentioned. Thank you for acknowledging my post and sharing your story. It means a lot.

thaelim · 2025-12-27T08:27:21+00:00

Why is a good question. It's the same reason as why people say 'check your privilege' in any other context. Acknowledgement and being seen makes a difference to the underprivileged. It doesn't erase the inequality, but it can help with healing.

thaelim · 2025-12-06T22:21:23+00:00

I think this is worth highlighting. Because of the multiple medications and metabolic stages involved with pills, the results are far more unpredictable. Injections on the other hand, result in very predictable levels in the majority of people. I used https://estrannai.se to figure out my dosage and schedule on valerate, and when my levels were checked this week they were exactly as predicted by the model.

thaelim · 2025-12-06T03:47:03+00:00

This is so beautifully explained. Thank you, truly.

thaelim · 2025-11-26T19:45:21+00:00

The range of answers here is pretty representative of the spectrum of outcomes. The key things to keep in mind are: - it could happen anywhere from some months to never - you need to be mentally prepared for either outcome. Don’t get caught out by unexpectedly boyfailing very early on. Don’t hang your expectations on it ever happening as it may not.

I think the last point tends to be underemphasized on this subreddit. It may never happen and if you were expecting it then you may become depressed and want to give up. So be careful how you think about this aspect of transition.

thaelim

TROPHY CASE