AA dosage?

[cloudberryhaiku]

Hello, all. I've been self-medding (Yes, I know it's horrible, etc etc etc, I'm well aware of the issues, but I'm not here to get lectured on not going this route) for the past 2 1/2 months, only taking Estradiol twice daily. I started on 2mg after a week of feeling TERRIBLE on 4-6, but I've been taking 4mg a day now for the past two months

Comments

[auntysarah]

Are you getting blood tests? Estradiol is relatively benign and forgiving, but Spiro can cause serious health issues if you get it wrong.

If in doubt, stick with just the estradiol. It will likely be lowering your T anyway just by causing your body to reduce its own sex hormone production, and by increasing the amount of sex hormone binding globulin in the body, which binds to testosterone preferentially.

Disclaimer - I am not a doctor and you probably shouldn't take anything I say here seriously.

[cloudberryhaiku]

No, I'm not. I don't really have anywhere nearby to go safely, or I wouldn't be solely self-medding in the first place. I live in a town of about 500 people, so everyone knows everyone, and it's a ridiculously conservative area--to the point where my parents are completely against transitioning not for health, but simply because they think it would ruin the well-known name of out family. The nearest actual doctor is a 1 1/2 hour round trip, and I don't have a car with any reliability to make the trips when needed. I know you didn't ask for a rant, but that's just kind of the situation I'm in. Not the easiest to go the safest route here. =\ Thank you, though!

[auntysarah]

Sorry to hear that. If it were me, and no monitoring was possible, I'd just stick to the estradiol. Good luck.

[cloudberryhaiku]

Hmm, I see. Thanks a lot, then.

[shelleybear]

How's your blood pressure?
Spiro was originally created for that (I get the state to pay for it).
Also, I suggest dermal patches for your E.
Less stress on the liver.

[cloudberryhaiku]

My blood pressure is quite low, actually. Well, not abnormally so, but it's well within the normal range, and closer to the lower end. I don't know about patches, though. My family doesn't have a history of clotting, and I'm only in my early twenties so age isn't a factor for me, either. Plus I barely have the money to afford Estradiol as is, let alone more expensive patches. =\ This is the first time I've heard someone recommend them barring any outstanding circumstances preventing one from taking Estradiol, though. o_o

[shelleybear]

My blood pressure is quite low, actually. Well, not abnormally so, but it's well within the normal range, and closer to the lower end.

Then be very careful with Spiro.
The patch and injectables both by-pass the liver (a very good thing).

[cloudberryhaiku]

True, but again, more money I don't have. I've still heard taking the E sublingually helps bypass the liver somewhat as well, so at least there's that.

[nanaki_muyo]

I'm on 6mg estradiol and no spiro. My doctor told me I don't need it because the amount of female hormones in my system are preventing my body from producing normal amounts of T. The last two blood tests I've had have shown my free and serum T levels to be in the normal female range.

[cloudberryhaiku]

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. :) It'd be nice to know what changes I should have expected in these two months to know if I should up my E or not, though.