thefraj (imported) wrote: Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:54 pm I understand exactly what you're getting at Bryan,

After breakfast I was hanging out our washing, it was quite early and the sun was brilliant. Which was odd - considering the country I'm in! I just remember the deep green of the grass, seeing the wonderous colours of the flowers, and seeing two children playing happily, noisily and carefree in the street. There was just such a feeling of peace and contentment. It's a level of happiness I think I've seldom known on male hormones (or with testicles).

This was the first sign of change when I began horomone therapy to transition from male to female. Colors were SOOOO vivid and shocking to me, that I had to wear sunglasses indoors and at night, for like a month. Hearing increased drastically, tastes were more enjoyable and various, pungent/pleasant odors beacame significantly increased, and most of all my sense of touch was EXTREMELY heightened. I have neared orgasm from my bellybutton alone. A mere brush on my arm sends chills down my spine. I became one giant nerve begging to be touched and held.

Not all was positive though... I bruise easier, and my pain tolerance has bottomed out. Now I whine about little things that never would have bothered me previously. I cry alot too... and I have gotten WEAK! I used to be able to carry a 100lb rucksack, 2 bandoliers of ammo, a couple mortar rounds, and a 16lb machine gun, and keep treking. Now I struggle to open a jelly jar.

There is alot to be said for the elimination of testosterone, but like everything, it has pro's and con's. I think all the pro's are WAY worth the con's in this instance. But that's just me. Everyone is different.

sag111 (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:53 pm I think for me its been the way i feel about others and how much more love i have for people i dont even know.I used to be afraid to drive anywhere but now i can drive anywhere i want with out getting upset or afraid i might get lost or some other dumb thing.I just have so much more confidance then i ever had i just wish i could have felt this way earlier in my life but thats ok i feel so much better about others and myself i will take what was given me

I really love your posts, Sag. They bring me back to a state of loving and feeling at times when I'm instead "analyzing". Loving always feels better than inspecting and judging. Thanks for that.

It's funny how different each person's response is to the effects of testosterone. I'm on a stiff dose of testosterone now after 30 years of replacement therapy. At times in the past when for one reason or another I would would not get testosterone I would become impossible to live with. I would become emotional, nit-picky, severe and closed-hearted to my wife and kids. I would lose my ability to manage people effectively at the office. I would lose discipline over things like my diet and exercise. On testosterone I'm so calm; I can handle so much more stress. I maintain a light, loving atmosphere in my home. I recover more quickly from emotional events, if that makes sense.

Well, it's just great that we, being all so different, can get along and help each other - have a sense of community with each other here.

DocT

I guess I should preface this by saying I have Hypogonadism (low testosterone) and am not castrated (not yet anyway)

bryan (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:22 pm - Increased concern about appearance (this tickles my wife!)

Yes! Although I didn't really think about it as having to do with Hormones. My wife thought I was becoming metrosexual.

bryan (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:22 pm - Increased empathy/compassion, with tears to back it up

Weird but true. Crying at some idiotic Radio Commercial was the tip off for me.

- Deeper emotions

Humm... Yes Probably so.

bryan (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:22 pm - Ability to hug my 5yo son in times of distress like a mommy would

No, not so much. I'm just not a hugger.

bryan (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:22 pm - Increased disdain for violence/war

Nope, I tended then (and now) to remember the people jumping from the flaming twin towers and the Police, fireman who were smashed to death along with the brave folks who fought back and stopped the white house from being burned to the ground. And died because of it. As Ernie Pyle said in WWII BRAVE MEN!

bryan (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:22 pm What sort of internal changes surprised you?

Anger at everyone. Inability to do small things. Hatred of the phone and whoever was calling to bother me. Tiredness. Mood swings. Hot flashes, Lack of any sex drive but not able to see it until it was shoved in my face.

I feel much MUCH better under HRT. I'm not fond of my shrinking testes or the constant ache I get from them but I really do like myself better with testosterone.

I'm fasinated at the comments about transition from male to female sex hormones. Talk about seeing how the other side lives. I really believe that women DO have a stronger sense of smell for example and all the rest. Its amazing what hormones do for us.