theresa

Sublingual doesn't work when you just take them once a day. There's a very high spike 1-2 hours after taking them but the estrogen is absorbed very quickly after that. That's why taking them every 8 hours or at least every 12 is recommended. I think most people who do gel do it in the morning and in the evening. Patches seem like a good alternative though. I don't even know if they're an option where I am, I'll ask my endo the next time I see her.

You can find more information about the different modes of administration here: https://transfemscience.org/articles/e2-equivalent-doses/ and here: https://transfemscience.org/articles/

I do take a sublingual pill every 8 hours, so morning - afternoon - evening. It's a bit often but you get used to it and it works well for me. I'd like to switch to injections sometime but currently can't be bothered because they're not that easy to get where I'm at. I might tackle that after grs.

hey, I'm in Germany as well, so if you want someone to talk to and maybe even meet, feel free to DM me :)

Oh you bet! I have a trusty blahaj (of course), my teddy bear and just ordered a polar fox a few days ago.

This, so much this!! It sounds so stupid but on bad days I buy a nice candle and curl up with a soft blanket and it helps so much!!

Ohh this resonates! It took me quite a bit of time to learn that my thoughts are valid and "normal". I always felt like such an outcast, being the weird kid and not really fitting in with my very traditional family. I even had to learn that my opinions are actually valid! Your "now" sounds fun :) It's really the little things that make life brighter, isn't it?

I also have problems with moments where I stray back to reddit and even 4chan occasionally. I'm the same as you and do this when I feel sad or doubtful about my life. As the others have said, this is exactly what the hateful people there want. I don't have any advice that hasn't been said but what I do is just be very very conscious of that fact. They want you to come back, they want you to feel bad. You can just not do it. It's not always easy. But making coffee, going for a walk, reading a book, doing some silly computer thing etc. are all things that make me happier than going back to those websites. They show me that I have a life worth living regardless of what people online think about me.

Self-harm and crossdressing (what I called it back then) occasionally, after years eventually started dressing in a very non-binary way in public. Think legs unshaved but with a skirt. This got me a lot of attention in public. I live in a very progressive area luckily so I didn't get attacked (physically, at least). I also masturbated a lot. Nothing helped until I started HRT, then I got better very quickly, mostly because I allowed myself to really be a woman.

Could you describe the difference it made in more detail? Did you just experience the expected prog effect more intensely?

People tend to take it rectally because of higher bioavailability. See: https://transfemscience.org/articles/oral-p4-low-levels/

Ohh yeah completely agree with the being better at empathizing with women's issues! My favourite quote about being trans is "Men think they understand women's issues and women think they understand men's issues. Neither are correct". That rings very true! I feel like even though I called myself a feminist before transition already, I didn't really "get" it.

And also completely forgot about voice stuff, thanks for reminding me! Someone once called my voice cute and said I couldn't even sound angry if I tried. That made me very happy especially because that person doesn't know my old voice. :)

Have heard of them but it makes me more dysphoric than anything else to have to wear "special" underwear that cis women just wouldn't wear :( But honestly it's the thought of it. I haven't bought any because they're expensive.