[Nightshade]

It looks like I'll most likely be able to get on HRT, but I have no idea how soon. Several weeks at the earliest, but perhaps many months. I thought I'd stop the supplements as I'm already taking a bunch for my health and I'm not even sure how effective my current program is (I've been tweaking it as I learn more info).

So just curious what the pros and cons about stopping the herbs now or just stopping after I get the prescription for HRT. I feel like the stuff I've been taking is kind of wasted if I don't keep going. Especially since I've already purchased them. On the other hand, maybe I shouldn't have my body processing too much stuff.

I didn't think I made any gains, but today my boobs feel bigger. Probably placebo (or I've gained weight ). It is sort of making me second guess my decision to stop everything.

[The First Aria]

Great question.  I stopped almost everything about 2 months before my first consult with my Gender Doctor.  I did it for several reasons.

1.  I wanted a truer hormone baseline so the G.D. could do his job easier and have a better idea of dosage rates etc.
2.  It takes about 1 - 2 months for your body to "reset" from herbs.  For example, PM and Pharma grade Estrogen compete and fight for the same E receptors.  So, you can't get the full benefit of estrogen till the herbs work their way out of the body.

In my case, even after being off herbs for about 2 months.  The HRT really didn't start working for me for about 45 days for exactly #2 reason above.  Although the G.D. thought that the estrogenic herbs did "prime" my body for better results.