From b4140453ea2cd987a59de52f842bdcaa67d55891 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: zyl Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2023 20:31:04 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] update estradiol delivery method blog post --- site/blog/estradiol-delivery-methods.md | 84 +++++++++++++++++-------- 1 file changed, 59 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-) diff --git a/site/blog/estradiol-delivery-methods.md b/site/blog/estradiol-delivery-methods.md index af71a0b..b4a99d5 100644 --- a/site/blog/estradiol-delivery-methods.md +++ b/site/blog/estradiol-delivery-methods.md @@ -1,30 +1,64 @@ --- -title: Estradiol Delivery Methods -timestamp: 2023-05-28T16:00:00.00Z -tags: [trans, hrt] -desc: A comparison of the various ways I've taken estradiol since starting HRT. -header_image_file: cat.jpeg # TODO: placeholder image -header_image_alt: placeholder +title: estradiol delivery methods +timestamp: 2023-11-12T20:00:00.00Z +tags: [trans, hrt, estradiol] +desc: a comparison of the four forms of estradiol i've taken since starting hrt +header_image_file: 2023/11/syringe.jpeg +header_image_alt: A photograph of a syringe for instramuscular injection with needle still in its wrapper. draft: true --- -I thought it might be useful to write out my experiences with the four methods of taking estradiol I've tried. +i started estradiol injections a few months ago and felt it might be useful to write out my experiences with each of them for posterity -- patches - - wouldn't consistently stay on me - - could feel the effects wearing off 3-4 days after application - - insurance sucks -- sublingual pills - - worked alright, except: - - could feel them wearing off ~5-6 hours after taking a dose - - apparently hard to measure levels? had one test at ~200 mg/ml and another at 400+ mg/ml at same dosage -- swallowed pills - - could not get ideal levels with a reasonable number of pills, but: - - couldn't actually feel them wearing off even at 12 hours between doses -- injections - - holy shit these are great - - was kinda nervous the first few times I injected myself, but I got used to it - - cannot feel it wearing off between doses - - levels are actually good?? - - insurance sucks pt. 2 - - insurance sucks pt. 3 +## patches + +my endo started me on estradiol patches. these definitely work, but only if you put them in the right spots and also if they stay on + +i had trouble with both of those and found it pretty annoying + +aside from that, i could feel them starting to wear off 12-24 hours before it was time to replace the patches. definitely not ideal + +additionally, insurance sucks and regularly caused me to be a couple days late on replacing a patch because they wouldn't cover it in time + +## sublingual pills + +these are pretty neat. easiest and cheapest of the bunch + +unfortunately, i could feel _these_ wearing off too, at about 5-6 hours after a dose. apparently this isn't common, but it affected me sooo + +i've also had problems with getting accurate estradiol level measurements since it flucuates so much. definitely my preferred method if they worked better for me + +## swallowed pills + +before switching to injections my endo had me try out swallowing my estradiol pills instead of dissolving them. the results for me were that i couldn't feel them wearing off anymore, BUT i couldn't get my levels back up either. not an ideal solution + +## injections + +these are _great_ + +i was super nervous before starting them but turns out it's actually not that hard to inject yourself if it's your only option + +cannot feel these wearing off at all between doses _and_ i get good estradiol levels + +my E levels are so consistently good now that i don't need a testosterone blocker which is _very_ nice + +however! + +## insurance _sucks_ + +my insurance filled my first three-month prescription of estradiol valerate for around $120. this is absurd. + +then they failed to fill my prescription when i was out. when i called to ask for a fill, they told me they couldn't. doing the math from what they told me i found they expected me to around 16 and half doses out of a vial, which would be an extra 3-4 weeks over what the prescription from my endo actually said + +so instead i went out of pocket and through discount programs get my estradiol for cheaper than with insurance and (importantly) _on time_ + +loooooove insurance. + +## conclusions + +- injections rock if you can get insurance to cover them +- sublingual's good too and works great for most people but didn't for me +- avoid swallowing them +- patches are ehhh + +that is all.