Running out of T - What that means, What I did, & My T levels
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2013
- So about the thumbnail for this video :D
Since I talk fast and am not always clear, here's what I mean ;] :
In May, I ran out of T. Couldn't get it filled at CVS due to misinformation and their lack of knowledge. Spent two weeks without T feeling emotionally terrible, like I'd die, sad panda. Worked hard, finally got it, but it made me think more about my reliance on T.
There are some people who, after a hysterectomy, don't take any HRT (hormone replacement therapy, which is what I am doing.) So it is possible to live without significant hormones in your body, but for some reason, I've always heard the opposite. Hormones control a lot of your functions, and even while just one part of the endocrine system is removed, there are still your other glands and such which help produce and regulate hormones. However, after removing one big part (ovaries) it seems to me like the levels are scary low. There can be negative side effects, so worrying about reliance is definitely not out of the blue.
However, I got over it. I know I'll be fine. I pay full price for my hormones/syringes, and factor it into my budget (about $250 a year.) Lowered my dose to 50mg which is what I originally started at, but the most I've taken is 80mg weekly. My current level is 464 ng/dl is not considered "low" but is considered "lower" than average - for men under 40, it should be between 500 and 800 or something along those lines. Some doctors say 800-1000. YIKES. But since I feel happy at 464, I feel good, no negative side effects - I'm okay with having the testosterone level of a 65 year old man, even though I'm only 22. Working out, eating right - these all factor in to raising T levels and/or converting overall T to active T ;]
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Just FYI...I used to work at CVS as a pharmacy tech and they most certainly CAN correspond with other CVS Pharmacies nationwide. They have to be able to because people do travel all the time and sometimes they run out of medications when they are away from their main "home" pharmacy. Walgreens is bad about messing with people as well. I'm sorry they did that to you. It's unethical and horrid. Hence the "used to work for CVS" on my part. Wishing you all the best Skylar.
I'm sorry you had such a negative experience :[ that sounds really rough. I didn't have any sort of menopause post-hysto because starting T actually causes menopause (for almost all folks who start HRT with T) pre-hysto. Hotflashes, moodswings, headaches - all the same things, but I was also on T and knew they would come and was still happy because T was lessening my dysphoria, so it seemed worth it. Good advice for others considering a hysto pre-T though!
Great to know! Thanks for telling me - I used to live within 45 minutes of a Costco, but now there aren't any nearby. I'll definitely look into it if there's one near me in the future :D
I love finding people who do these videos. I have finally come out to my family and am begining the process of starting T. These videos give me support in a way ppl dont really understand. So thanks :)
Thank you so much for this video! I get my levels and such checked for the first time tomorrow, and thanks to you, I feel so much more prepared. Keep on keeping on, man.
anytime, kind sir :] definitely ask your docs lots of questions - like what the levels mean, what the averages are. some doctors will list it, but mine hasn't yet. definitely good things to know!
Thanks for sharing your story! You are such an inspirational young man. I hope your parents tell you what proud pandas you make them.
Thnx Skylar for posting a URL in the description :D means alot u guys look so happy together :]
Glad to see you're doing well!! :)
bro. you are the best. i would so love to meet you in this life time. wishing you the best. scottie
your videos make me feel a lot better about life
Glad you're still alive! :)
Thanks for the update man! You look really good!
hey my friend, i don't check youtube messages because the messaging interface didn't work on my old computer, so folks who want to chat, i encourage you to send an email to skylarkeleven (at) gmail (dot) com :]
Glad you are feeling good! :)
Hey Sky! been a fan of your channel for a couple years now. Emails for ur new videos are always exciting-u are a valuable component to the trans resource of youtube. Your attitude is so HEALTHY and balanced, and your ability to serve as a pioneer is awesome.This video was great-good info, and helpful to learn more about the myth of dropping dead from no hormones! scary.Sorry NY was such a party pooper! I'm from NY originally and their laws are a bit stickier-bummer. comment again soon- Levi
you are soo adorable! I love you so much and you are such an insperation
so far, it seems that herbal transitioning or naturally transitioning don't significantly increase free T levels, so i just don't really see that being an optional. one can lower their dose while also doing other things - for instance, with my 50mg injection, i also drink a cup of Nettle tea every day which helps my bound T turn into free T which allows me to have that lower of a dose but with slightly higher free T than I would if I didn't :]
Ahhhh buddy I'm sorry you went through that. Glad you are ok.
You seem so happy, and that makes me happy. :-D
I got so sad when you said you had a girlfriend, but she is a very lucky girl and I'm sure she is very supporting. I love you and you are an inspiration to me and just....
Stay Awesome.
Well, I wish you the best in health. Be safe!
You seem super happy in this video!
they look pretty good! they aren't white all over, but they are white in the parts under my armpits (like what folks can see when I wear a tanktop.) i'll show them in a video sometime soon!
i definitely will - my doctor said the same thing. what they did was super unprofessional and really invasive. first she asked me loudly what it was for, and then also said loudly that it was a narcotic and i wasn't allowed to have it. all three of those things are really incorrect!
my doctor told me i could lower my dose, and every time he sends me my blood test results or we talk at our next visit about past blood results, he is totally comfortable and happy with where i'm at with everything. literally, at my last visit, i talked to my doctor for over 2 hours (to my mom's dismay.) i've also presented with him at a conference - we're in pretty good communication about things in my opinion. ;]
very nice vid :).. ur smile makes me smile so much :D
i use the camera on my new iMac (desktop) so it's great! in videos like "all in my head" i used my canon DSLR camera that I use for photography :] and in any videos with a squeaky noise, that was my old macbook camera!
You are amazing.
You are so strong, and I really look up to you. 3
depends on the person, but most stop having their periods within a year on average, usually within a few months. i stopped having them after the first day i took T. i've had a hysterectomy now, so i don't even have those organs anymore :P
yeah - that is a major reason why they don't like to perform hysterectomies on younger folks. bone/calcium issues can be major - and with my family's history, i do worry about that :/
I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for your words.
I love your Banksy rat tattoo!! It's the BEST!
Glad your a happy panda and that everything is sorted
awesome, i'll go with them next time!
"So I thought I was going to die and I was just really sad." Man that killed me. But I'm glad things are going better.
You're so energetic!!!!
Hey Sky! I just have a quick question. You mentioned in this video that 80mg was too much T so you dropped your dosage down to 50mg ..I was wondering when you said it was too much, what does that mean exactly? Like does your moods change more when you have too much T in your system? Or how do you know it's too much?
Sorry for all the questions, and this wasn't meant to be a ignorant or rude question. I've just never had somebody explain that aspect of T. Thanks! -Greyson
Mostly an internal feeling - I was experiencing way more of the negative side effects than I had on a lower dose. I was actually taking 100mg for a while before dropping to 80mg for a longer portion of time, and that had a lot more negative side effects for me too. What I noticed was I was hotter more, more irritable, couldn't sleep, had too much energy, couldn't cry/feel some emotions, just had a sharper edge to me overall. The negative effects definitely differ wildly from person to person, but that is how I could tell something wasn't right!
what's crazy is I am more moody on low doses of T.. u just did my first shot of 100 ml and honestly it's the best thing that ever happened to me. My mood is 10 times better. I'm 10 times happier. less groggy. I sleep less but It doesn't bother me so much. I have so much energy I love it
i've always talked a lot - so does my dad, so i don't know if it's a woman characteristic but thanks ;] YES! i will survive the apocalypse! hopefully. just with low energy. and sad faces.
definitely! i just put a link to a recent picture of us at the bottom of the video description :] she was in a video with me two summers ago i believe - she had dreads then and everyone thought we were high cos of that (which we were not!) but maybe we'll make one together again soon!
wow your tattoos are awesome!
Hello Sky, I have been watching you for years,
however I haven't had a laptop for over 6 months.. have you had full surgery now?
you look really well :) X
there are T pellets - they last 3-12 months depending. my insurance wouldn't cover them though back in the day.
Very happy panda! Hahah, you're so cute
what exactly is a hysterectomy? I know it removes the female uterus, but how did that effect you? Im really curious
When you remove the uterus, you remove the female hormones that produce the fat deposits in the waist, thighs, and hips, the feminine facial structures, the menstrual cycle, literally just anything feminine and you can hit menopause early if you decide not to take estrogen after the hysterectomy.
it's a 10ml vial. I'm on 50mg weekly, which is .25mL which means, on average, a full bottle will last me 40 weeks! if you're on a 100mg dose (which is the highest I've seen, unless 200mg every other week), yours would only last 20 weeks then, so about 5 months, with the same size vial :]
Poor you! How could they do this? They surely know you need it, and it's an emergency! You're so lovely!!
I love your story(: and just asking. What kind of camera do you use? You are cute by the way
Don't ever let anyone treat you with disrespect especially if its someone in a service industry. They don't have the right to question you about your prescriptions, its just their job to fill it. What ever pharmacy you go too if they treat you like that again make sure you go to their web site and comment on the treatment. Most cash receipts have a number to call to do a survey. If enough complaints come in they will change their attitude.
I think the way to look at it when getting bummed out is that plenty of people are reliant on medications in this day and age and you just happen to be one of them. That's the way I like to look at it.
Dude almost the same thing happened to me this spring! I was finishing up my last year of school too, out of state, and had trouble getting my new rx called in. I missed 3 weeks and it hit me way harder than I thought it would. Bad news bears.
thanks for the update sky! it makes me wonder ... Do you need a perscription for T in CVS in Texas . im desperate to start already but no clue where to get it from /: HELP!
just a question, do you have to be on testosterones forever? or do you stop once you reach a certain level or whatever? :P and by the way, I adore you !!!!
you do need a prescription - overusing and misusing T can lead to really bad side effects (and eventually death in some cases.) you can go talk to your primary doctor, to a gender therapist, or to an endocrinologist. all of these are google-able for your specific town i'm sure!
The hand tattoo is awesome
nope. i have one girlfriend now and she's only been into guys but she's completely cool with me as who i am. i'll have her make a video sometime once we're living together!
Can you make a video on how you saved up for top surgery? Maybe some tips and tricks that could help us other tansguys? :]]
I know this video's old, but just make sure you take enough to avoid osteoporosis. The endo surely knows how much that is.
Hey, can you tell me how big are your tunnels? I love your videos :3
happy and hyper panda lol you look great!
Your so awesome dude.
For women there's a thing called Implanon which is a flexible bar inserted under the skin in the arm which releases oestrogen (for contraceptive purposes). Is there any testosterone equivalent of that or is injection your only option?
Excuse my ignorance on this, but if you stop testosterone completely, would estrogen start working up again since you're ftm? What would the effects be?
You're a happy panda!!
I love your voice. lol. Glad you didn't die. Makes me a happy panda. ha
Hey Sky, just wondering how much T do you get per vial? Yours lasts so much longer than mine, bit that could also be because of different dosages.
I am concerned about things like muscle mass and body hair. They are things that constantly worry at me nowadays, so if I ever get the chance to start T, they will probably be among my main deciding factors for dosage.
I'm really curious about your sexuality, so I wonder is it possible that you could do a video about it ? Btw you're super adorable :3
Okeyy thanks Sylar :]
Not that this will make you feel better, but I have some sort of problem every single time I go to CVS. Half the time they give me a wrong brand, and every time they give me too few pills. We should write a letter.
Do you have a link to the guys video about being post hysto/ no T? I would really appreciate it.
Just wanted to throw a shoutout to Stroheckers Pharmacy. They're a compounding pharmacy in Portland, and a lot of trans guys order their T from them. You can get a 10 mL, 200mg/mL vial for about $60 including shipping, and they include all the needles and alcohol wipes you need. I've been using them forever since my insurance doesn't cover T, and they were recommended as being cheaper than most pharmacies and trans-friendly. And they will take your faxed prescription for sure :-)
Can't you make a tattoo video? That would be so interesting!
He goes to a "rock star" endocrinologist. Two rock stars together.
My mom had a hysterectomy because she has cancer and I know she takes a lot of things because of her cancer, but as far as I know she doesn't take any hormones... I could be wrong, but then again she's 53 so maybe that has something to do with it. She had already had menopause so maybe that has something to do with it.
I heard there could be problems with bone deterioration after prolonged periods of time without any sex hormones running through your body. My aunt had a problem after her hysterectomy where her bones began getting extremely brittle due to her not taking supplements like estrogen for it. :/
I am a little over 4 months on testosterone. I am on axiron. I am pre-op. And today I used my ladt dose. My insurance won't pay for my next bottle so I have to come up with money on my own. I knew I was running low so I've been skipping doses anyway. I am super scared of my body reverting and stuff if I can't get it anytime soon.
"but I can make my voice go really looowww" LOL I litterally burst out laughing lol
probably why my mom and girlfriend told me not to do that ;]
I'm glad everything worked out, but you should still file a complaint against the pharmacy and their personnel. They need to change their act.
if you use stroheckers in portland or, it should be about $50-$60, it's through the mail but very reliable. Lots of guys including myself have used them for years
Kyler to much t can convert into estrogen and the effects and changes decrease drasticly. And in some ppl can alter.your mood but everyone body and dosage is different.
It's none of their business to why u use a prescription!! That's so unprofessional!!!! Ugh gross cvs
I had problems with CVS too. It was the first time and the last time that I went there. They wouldn't even give me over 20 syringes. They made me tell what it was for in front of a pharmacy full of people. Their staff wasn't discrete at all.
my wife is from NY, Brooklyn in fact but went to collage in New Paltz. you may tak fast to some but its normal to me.
sadly it wasn't a video - just talking with people at the Philly Trans Health Conference.
Could you please put subtitles on your videos?
I had no idea you were going through t-withdrawals :/ If you ever have trouble again with pharmacies, finances, etc as you move about the country you should check out Stroheckers Pharmacy. They will ship T to any state once they confirm a prescription from your physician. They also send you a ton of free needles and syringes in the package (you can ask them for whatever size you prefer). A bottle is about $52 dollars plus maybe 5 bucks for shipping for like a 4-5 month supply.
Estrogen is really important for maintaining bone strength, whether that estrogen is produced in ovaries or derived from testosterone (in fatty tissues, I believe). You definitely don't need a high level of testosterone now that you've had your hysterectomy, but you probably should talk to your doctor about whether it's okay to keep your levels below the normal range for a guy your age.
if you stop the T what will happen?
"you cant get a fax for narcotics" omfg your expression was hilarious!!
Ok thanks!
Hey sky can u pleeeeaaassseee make a chest update
god, you're such a cutie!
Did he say that he's a very happy panda?
"Very happy panda" awwww hahahaha :)
Sounds like one seriously crappy pharmacy situation. I take ADHD meds that are also tightly controlled, and it can be tough. With mine, a faxed prescription just wouldn't be allowed--it has to be mailed in to the mail-order pharmacy, and since I have ADHD, remembering to do that before I run out is tricky. If I do run out, I end up having to get them locally, which is absurdly expensive.
The idea that your internal organs will fall apart without hormones is so silly, yet I hear this all the time on youtube, and elsewhere. I'm an older guy (I'm trans) and went thru menopause, and I will tell you nothing at all like that happened. I hated estrogen so I didn't supplement. I things I have heard that are true are that certain things can reverse. I don't know what the dosage is that they reverse (muscle mass, hair, male fat distribution). Might be things to watch for.
Do you still have your period if your on t?
I was out of T for over a month recently bc I could not afford it. It was awful. Plus, there are other hormones in your body besides testosterone and estrogen.