[Boris]

Hi Katie
Good luck with your journey. Dressing - It's just one of those things, no right or wrong to it. As long as you are happy with your outfit then it must be right. I'm just back from shopping, wearing jeans Tee shirt and nikes - same as plenty of others regardless of gender. So there I was feeling very feminine inside and wearing same clothes as the man infront at the checkout, perhaps I was crossdressed after all.

You didn't mention if you are self medicating, but I have initially started that way and have first doctors appointment next week. I was a little concerned regarding elevated potassium levels that spiro may cause and didn't feel sufficiently informed to start self medicating with spiro as well.

[The First Aria]

Boris, you are right to be concerned about Spiro and Potassium. It by itself can cause heart flutter's, leg/muscle spasm's and other nasty things. I have to have blood workup every 6 months just because of Spiro. The first 2 months, it was monthly just to make sure my salt and potassium levels were in the safe range.

So, good for you to get the workup done at the Dr.'s Office!

[Katie]

Hiya, Yes I`m self medding and been on Pharma for 4 months next week, haven`t seen a doctor at all and have no plans on doing so yet.

I do test my BP each day though, and there`s no significant change there before or after taking spiro, and the small dip in pressure it created (only 5 points AVG) has now returned to my pre-spiro baseline.
I am however an avid label reader, and if I see Potassium in there (or Mineral salt) I don`t eat it.

to be honest, other than the feminisation and mental effects, I wouldn`t know I was on anything at all

[Boris]

Banana is one to watch Katie, they are high in potassium.

[jannet.duff]

Banana is one to watch Katie, they are high in potassium.

I love bananas, but I stopped. As soon as I started Spiro. I have always had a craving for salt or similar, so no difference to me on that. I just have to watch what I eat. Like mentioned, read all the labels before I purchase.

[Skye is on fire]

Still, even if looking to fully transition they have found that 50-60% of the folks E only is enough to suppress testosterone.

I don't suppose you could point me towards where you read that ?

Strong enough dose of E does work by shutting down production by negative feedback. But I think it takes awhile. The dose is supposedly supposed to be high enough to overcome the effects of testosterone. Years ago, I did that only on E injectables. It did work, but now I take spiro and the effects are more immediate and pronounced.

[jannet.duff]

Still, even if looking to fully transition they have found that 50-60% of the folks E only is enough to suppress testosterone.

I don't suppose you could point me towards where you read that ?

Strong enough dose of E does work by shutting down production by negative feedback. But I think it takes awhile. The dose is supposedly supposed to be high enough to overcome the effects of testosterone. Years ago, I did that only on E injectables. It did work, but now I take spiro and the effects are more immediate and pronounced.

That's what I told my Dr, I even took some printouts in with links to papers that supported the facts. She just said, "I am following the recomended guidline for prescribing HRT medication "

[Boris]

Whilst it it is the doctors decision what to prescribe it is the decision of the patient what they put in their body.

[WendyA]

Still, even if looking to fully transition they have found that 50-60% of the folks E only is enough to suppress testosterone.

I don't suppose you could point me towards where you read that ?

Sorry for the delay, my notifications were going to my spam folder. I believe this is where I first saw this information.

[The First Aria]

Just goes to show ya, a lot of variables out there.

My thoughts are that most women have X amount of progesterone and x amount of estrogen. Why don't most gender specialists see this??