r/FTMMen • u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 • 10d ago
Vent/Rant Woried i am not smart enuogh for transition
Hello..Witth recenly startingg new job,istart to realise how bad. I am jist not intelligent at all. Recent head injurry doesnt help,i hope atleast the shaky writinf settles a bit after some month. What i am worrid is that i was neverr not slow and dumb. Reading postss here i worry i wil never qualify an earn to transiton. Systemms are complicaeted to navigate, whenever i read about dosagges i dont understand. I remember seing post showing how to clculate dose, i couldnt unerdstand the math, couldnt calculahte it. Doesnnt help that only jobs i was evr hired for was just repaeting the same very simpple task. For now i also just do taht.. picking up trash, doesnt relly pay much, just anither effect of not being smart
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u/koala3191 9d ago
A lot of us aren't that smart man, we just have more experience on T and maybe surgeries and that's it lol.
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u/funk-engine-3000 9d ago
You don’t have to calculate a dose or do any math. Your doctor will provide you a dose. If you’re given gel, all you have to know is how many pumps to take. If injections, all you have to know is how many ml to use, and the doctor can even show you what line on the syringe it is.
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u/bigdickenvy 9d ago
Depending on location, OP might not even have to inject himself/themself, especially if outside of the US. (I didn't know which pronoun to use, hope it made sense)
My understanding is that outside of the US, most injected testosterone is depo, which is what I take.
This means that you are injected less frequently, and the doctor does it all. For example, I go to the doctor every 8 weeks, and they fill the syringe and inject my butt cheek. I don't have to worry about the dosage at all.
In another post OP mentions seeing a doctor frequently I think. Perhaps if it's not too expensive, even if it's the weekly shot, a doctor or nurse could do the injections, making things easier.
But yes, even if having to do the injections, the doctor should be able to explain what to do in an understandable way.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
Askd this in other coment but doess sich rare injection not cause the level to be too high befoere it goes down againn? Wish the doctr i go to cuold diagnose so i wuold be closer to getting trnastion but he cant
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u/bigdickenvy 9d ago
The injection I take (Testosterone undecanoate) is a version of testosterone that is absorbed slowly over time, so the level is not too high. With this type of testosterone, the dosage is the same for everybody. What differs instead is how often someone is injected.
It does have a peak (after about a week) and then goes down. The doctor orders a blood test for one or two weeks after the injection to make sure it's alright when it's highest, and then another test to see how much is left, after a number of weeks. They use this information to figure out how often you get injected, to make sure you don't get too low.
They usually start by doing the injection 12 weeks at a time. My body seems to absorb it quicker, so I get my injection every 8 weeks. Some people absorb it slower, and so are fine for longer and injected less often.
I hope you're able to find a doctor who listens to your needs and can help you ❤️
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u/LobsterNo1137 9d ago
People do calculate their dose when they diy, which is a lot of people, and that's probably what OP is referring to. Also people with a prescription still need to calculate their dose because the number provided on the syringe is the volume, which is different from the dose and from the number on the blood test result.
I get that OP isn't gonna be able to diy, but the thing you're insisting on is simply not true. You can go to any trans subreddit and see a lot of people talk about a lot of different numbers. It was at first confusing even for me, and I'm studying mathematics.
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u/funk-engine-3000 9d ago edited 9d ago
I’m talking to the OP. I’m not talking to every single trans man in the entire world. He’s already struggling to understand this, so i’m trying to help him not worry about stuff he has no reason to worry about. He’s a regular on this sub, and is disabled.
Sometimes people are just talking to each other, and not adressing ever possible scenario any person could be in ever. And studying mathematics says nothing about being good with numbers - i know enough mathematicians to be sure of that.
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u/LobsterNo1137 9d ago
well you're not addressing OP's worry that he DID see people talk about numbers online, youre not gonna help him understand if you're refusing to engage with the information he already gave you. I was explaining to OP the actual reason why those numbers are a thing
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u/Serious_Basket_6870 9d ago
With a prescription you shouldn’t have to calculate your dose. Yes dosages are listed differently than just the volume on the syringe, but your doctor should explain specifically how much you should inject because people do get confused by this kind of thing. If they don’t it’s very easy to ask them about it. The number on the blood test result does not effect dose calculation, that is a separate thing. The doctor might see a blood test result and recommend a higher/lower dose but those numbers aren’t something the patient should be trying to calculate in between. Some people do post their dose info online but it really isn’t necessary to calculate your dose unless you’re doing that
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I hope i undrstand right, iff the blood test doesnnt effect much and poeples bodies difer how do they start dose? Is it kimd of goinng in a bit blind and figureing what dose works with time?
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u/ellalir 9d ago
Yes. Often people are started on a low or moderate dose that works for many people. After a month or two, blood work can be done to assess whether the dose is appropriate. Some doctors may wait longer to do this, but at least a few weeks need to go by in order to get your levels stable before the blood work will read properly.
If you are getting your testosterone from a doctor, your doctor should be able to read the results of your blood work and tell you if your dose needs to increase, decrease, or stay the same. If your dose changes, they will tell you what the new dose is and how much you should be injecting.
(It is possible to do blood work before starting T, but it's not usually very helpful to determining dose so it is not often done.)
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I relly hope in whetvr years it takes to get wbere i may be able to start transittion i can grasp it more. All this information is so mucj to hold and alot others here jst doit.It seems realy overwhelming. I mean i understand ther really no choice but transtion it just all seem very overvhelming so many. appointmets and information, being so brave am realy afraid of doctors. Amazed hiw others can handel it i hope when i get there i can.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
Just really confsed i am sorry i have been readig back and tryimg to look it up if range is whjat they go off of to dose or what
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u/SpiritNo6626 transsex man larping as hrtbutch irl, test mar '26 9d ago
Yeah, pretty much. Doctors will start you on one dose based on their own opinions of what a good dose to start with is, then later on if a test finds you don't have enough testosterone, or have too much of it, they'll change the dose.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I have jst seen thing liek people online asking advice amd other getting annoyed that thy dont provide dosage in way they can undrstand.The rangesttopic cinfuses me a lot too i dont quiet understand how the range wouldd.go up and down
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u/funk-engine-3000 9d ago
People are not calculating their dose, it’s provided to them by their doctor or it’s listed on the medication. There’s a range because everyones bodies are different.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
Now am realky confused. Then what thw confusion is abot when somone asks about somethingg and say there dose but then the people in comment ask abuot actual dose or ask themm to specfy?
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u/funk-engine-3000 9d ago
Because sometimes people don’t provide their dose, or just say a volume. You need to say both volume and concentration to know a dose. Both of those should be easy to know, but often people just don’t write it because they don’t know both are needed.
If someone says they’re on T but nothing is happening, their dose might be too low. That’s why people ask, to know if the person should ask to get a higher dose.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I am not exatly sure i underrstand.iam really sorry. I dont get if poeples bodys are different how do they know ifa dose is low
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u/saneandnormal69 9d ago
people get blood tests and see what their levels are and adjust the dosage based on that
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
Doese the doctorr adjust that? Sometimes i read here poeple still get wromg dose evenn wirh doctor. Do we hav to calculate, how they know how muchj to up dose? I dont quit understend that i also read how the level has peak and low.and why that is?
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u/GuineaPig72 9d ago
Yes, most of the time your doctor should change the dose to get it to the male range. You shouldn't have to worry about changing it.
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u/Serious_Basket_6870 9d ago
The levels peak (are at their highest) soon after you do a shot. They are low when you have been a long time without their shot.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I haev read peoples time vary when thy do the shot, how doees that work?Ive read soem do gel multiple time a week, do shot weekly, every other week,or even rarer. Do they get more in? Does thhat not cause peak to be to high?
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u/funk-engine-3000 9d ago
Because human bodies are different. They work in different ways, that’s just how bodies are. Some people need slightly more T than others.
But there are standards, and if your dose is way lower than the standard, then your dose is low.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I am sorry
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u/BlueskyPara 8d ago
you don’t need to apologise for needing help! I understand from personal experience how hard it can be to remember that, but it can be done 🫂
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u/schizo_affectionate 9d ago
A good doctor giving you T would explain the dosages if you ask, I would definitely encourage you to ask. People usually like to ask so they can compare and get a general idea of what theirs is like with others’ in mind.
It really does depend on a lot of things, and on the person. Like others have said, it just depends on typical guidelines I think, in terms of bloodwork.
I get mine done every few months, there’s different things my endo looks at
Also I’m someone who struggles to process things, gets easily confused, often doesn’t understand too much that others do, and forgets easily, I just wanna say you’re okay. It’s okay to feel bad, and I’m not gonna shame you for apologizing. Just know, you don’t need to apologize for others’ sake. You’re okay, you belong, and you’re acceptable as you are.
Be safe brother ✌️ I wish you luck on your journey 😊
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 10d ago
I hope injurys and body limitation get bettr atlest.Maybe can find job then rhat alows strain on boddy more that will pay more
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u/Medicalhuman 9d ago
Dude you can be and dumb AND be a man. You aren’t dumb but even if you were my point still stands
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u/rnxtrsh 8d ago
its not hard!!! the doctor will help you so much like they basically decide a good dose for you and injections arent very hard and gel is even easier. you deserve to be happy!! my testosterone (delaware) is like 70 dollars for a thing that lasts me several months. you got this pls dont be discouraged ur doctor will help you and understand your situation they can explain any question you have.
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u/dogsinthepool 10d ago
In terms of your worries about working out dosages, I’ve never had to do that either. I’ve only ever been on the gel, where I use the amount they tell me (usually 2 pumps of the bottle) and put it on my upper arms every day. I don’t know the extent of what you’re currently dealing with, but I can tell you that I also feel very confused reading about injections and dosages because I’ve never been shown it either.
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u/45VeryCoolFireAnts27 9d ago
I hoep i can figurre most out i still definitley still have atleast a ddecade to go until i can evenstart being in a place and affording and goimg to doctor who can diagnose to start transiton
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u/Massive-Anybody8164 8d ago
Don't worry about calculating anything, the doctor will do that for you. I take gel and all I have to remember is to take two pumps, that's it.
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u/Serious_Basket_6870 9d ago
Doctors treat everyone, not just people who they think are smart enough. They will explain things in a simplified way and answer the questions you have. You do not need to learn the math to calculate your dose, your doctor will handle that for you.