Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

PennysIntoPounds

I don't have first-hand knowledge but my assumption about the warning is that it's aimed at women trying to get a more 'fit' look and/or trans people taking it without appropriate health care plans.
Women and men both have testosterone naturally occurring and healthy in the appropriate proportions. If it's been prescribed for you then I wouldn't worry about the packaging warning, though it is, as ever, an absolute disgrace that manufacturers have completely overlooked the existence of women's needs, and that one would have to pay extra to not have to see that packaging every day.

I would drop a message to the Dr asking if this is actually the med they thought you would be receiving, and could they please use the yellow card system to pass on your feedback.
(You can also report through the yellow card online system, but it's frankly more useful for Dr's to be aware and engaged)

LadyWithAPlan

PennysIntoPounds said:

I don't have first-hand knowledge but my assumption about the warning is that it's aimed at women trying to get a more 'fit' look and/or trans people taking it without appropriate health care plans.
Women and men both have testosterone naturally occurring and healthy in the appropriate proportions. If it's been prescribed for you then I wouldn't worry about the packaging warning, though it is, as ever, an absolute disgrace that manufacturers have completely overlooked the existence of women's needs, and that one would have to pay extra to not have to see that packaging every day.

I would drop a message to the Dr asking if this is actually the med they thought you would be receiving, and could they please use the yellow card system to pass on your feedback.
(You can also report through the yellow card online system, but it's frankly more useful for Dr's to be aware and engaged)

Ah maybe  yes its about that -  not to be taken for those who have not been prescribed it.. I have a sachet of gel that I have to guesstimate and eek out over 8 days - which is a bit worrying as I dont want to take too much as the warnings are that deepening voice, facial hair (!) , losing hair etc are all potential side effects if you take too much.

I took some  TST yesterday and this morning and think I can still hit a high C...(not actually tried it in a while for my neighbours sake.. I will also see if  I become more muscle bound... though I am still doing my 2 x weekly EMS training and feel great - its the only exercise I am doing apart from walking/dancing but I saw some friends last week and they were marvelling over how fit I look.

I always have been fit and trained  a lot  but  the triple whammy of covid lockdown, WFH, pre-menopause had made me put some pounds on really without noticing it but 6 months now into being electrocuted  regularly and I am fitting into clothes well and my legs definitely look slimmer in my jeans.. I am eating the same (well with some junk snacks)

@Watty1 my HRT GP specialist will prescribe me the female  TST one  but was unsure of the cost - she actually asked me to tell her when I found out but looks like its minimum £1 per day.
I will try this one I am on for 3 months and see ..
 '...thyroxine, oestrogen, progesterone, dhea and testosterone. '
I dont know what some of your list are (dhea? ) i actually went to the drs asking for TST after reading about it but they discovered my 0 levels were low so needed to fix that first .. May have to ask them to test for DHEA and thyroxine (assume that is for thyroid?) 


Sunday - didnt go to the gym as I had settled down to do some focused work ahead of tomorrow and didnt want to stop then not start again
. Took me a while to settle as its v rare I work on a Sunday but as I had 2 contracts last week plus running around with  the dog and some side hustle work, plus a few nights out I felt the need to catch up.  I  then worked straight through til 10pm - I did roast a crackling joint in the halogen whilst I did lots of excel and some baby programming . (as in my tech levels vs me training a robot child)
I did manage to get a lot done and refused to get distracted by MB etc.

Watty1

Yes, the thyroxine is for the thyroid. i was coming up low thyroid  on the NHS test but not "low enough" for them to prescribe, until they realised I was experiencing really dark thoughts and the private doctor prescribed.   The change in mood was sufficient for my GP to take over.

The DHEA is a hormone that the adrenal glands produce and that is a precursor to the other hormones like testosterone and oestrogen.  i still take this after stopping the testosterone.  My GP said he couldn't prescribe but my private doctor does.    Apparently it is an over the counter supplement in the USA so one private GP visit might give you the info to buy when you are travelling inexpensively. I get a prescription privately and then can order as I need from a pharmacy that has the year's prescription on record.    (A really good read on  hormones is Sara Gottfried's The Hormone Cure. I love this book as she starts with diet tweaks that might help, then moves on to food supplements, then herbs and finally medication.  Her other books were not as good but I love that one and it kick started my journey to work out why I felt so bad)

LadyWithAPlan

Oh Tx for the info @Watty1
I read a book my sister had which got me thinking on the testosterone 
DHEA - will see if I can get a test at least for it when going in 3 months I am often in the States - was last month (need to chase those expenses) 

LadyWithAPlan

Life is so full on right now - this system
Build is of course not that simple - especially with Mac Pc issues - was on phone to MSoft at 2am this morning solving one issue - man couldn’t figure out the connection issues they called back 8am but now largely fixed .. 
I have a new found appreciation though for my brain it really does work well especially in design and build 
Enjoying the mental challenge even though it’s frustrating at times - good news is I am very clear what it needs to do - challenge is getting system to do it as I am having to bespoke some calcs - those courses I did last term were so worth it largely as gave me some knowledge but mainly huge confidence in my own abilities on this 

I am reminding myself I am so busy cos this is to help me buy my home - this focus will be worth it . Short term pain etc .. 

got a side hustle tonight as well - and seeing humans ! I had to cancel my gym session Sunday Monday and this morning .. so now going at 5.30 before more work - .. but don’t want to not train at all .. last time was Friday and that’s not healthy  to be sat at desk  for ages 

house is largely tidy - a cleaner would be so helpful - and the crackling joint tinned beans and frozen vegetables keeping me fed ! 

PennysIntoPounds

As you say, short term pain for long term gain, and if that has to include workouts then so be it for a short while, make sure to at least be going for a lunchtime walk or something though!
Do you have an idea of when 'short term' should ideally end though? Are you still looking at places to potentially buy?

LadyWithAPlan

@PennysIntoPounds I need to really wait til we sort the flat position and no time to look right now 

LadyWithAPlan

So I have borrowed a pc (Mac person here ) as Microsoft people (and this is the specialised support team ) had less of a clue than I !! 
When I know more about windows operating systems than they, you know it’s time to give up
I was saying I think this is the issue - they ignored it for 2 hours - asked the next level up - and said exactly the said thing as I had but didn’t then understand virtual remote machines 
the guy didn’t even know how to uninstall a windows programme !  At least all apple support are trained  properly 

I often say when building systems to remind myself I know more than the support people on most software .. sadly I am proved right again and had to figure it out myself 

The pc laptop is from my friend whose dog I look after ( part my london family ) so she says I can keep it as it’s a spare but I think I just need to use for a week then maybe buy a cheap one myself or hers..  

money saving - my DS has a sudden rescue trip for her son  as he away - he being v bullied and teachers not helping and she asked if I wanted to come - tried to Make it work to fit tomorrow but as I am working remotely and need to be live on teams all Thursday Friday I’d have needed to take a 2 plus  hour cab £200 plus at 11pm to the resort from the airport .. So £600 cost to get there with the £400 flight - plus spending money too much .  

Plus I have other  work to do .. and it’s fashion week in london this weekend so I have some parties to go to - would rather be there but...

I am now on day 5 of the testosterone and whilst I am being super super busy and not getting as much sleep as wanted I do feel happy and energised .. I am not saying it’s just that .. but I am coping with everything well and getting on with things . I feel balanced calm and good 

If this is the TST kicking in then great - had female friends say they feel like a teenager again on it with energy levels - so far all good and haven’t grown a beard

However my nutrition is very grab and go at present .. hard to eat GF decently and not too expensive on the run 

LadyWithAPlan

Managed to do the minimalist game today running around the house before I went to bed to get to my requisite number 20 as it’s the 20th of the month

Had a v busy day and only because I booked my EMSI did go training at 5.30 on - it’s amazing how when I see the money going out every week by DD how I actually make sure I go to the gym  unlike when I’ve paid the annual fee it doesn’t have the same impact or motivation

Discussions over on @Watty1 thread made me think about how grateful I am for my friends

I have lived in London for many decades and have friends from lots of different communities groups classes, work, hobbies, entertainment. I feel incredibly lucky to have the friends I have and indeed I did see one last night after my Buddhist meet . 

Some of the reviews on the new BJones diary film have talked about how lovely it is to see B with her friends that she’s had over decades and how these old friends really know us and it has made me reflect on that myself

I have friends who have known me since I was a teenager actually I don’t think we really changed that much. 

This is why I plan to buy on the edges of London as I can’t live too far away 

A random side hustle job popped up today for next month 

skint_spice

I am much the same LWAP, I have friends that I have known since I was a teenager and even my newer friends are probably a couple of decades old. I sometimes contemplate moving further north but I would miss them.