I want to start HRT as soon as possible, at least low does, or SOMETHING.
I’m white, but I’m an immigrant in the US, currently on foodstamps so not someone this administration would look kindly upon.
At the moment, I’m in a trans friendly state and have the option of starting HRT for near free, and I’m so tempted to do that.
On the other hand, I feel that it’s a terrible choice to have any sort of papertrail - how long until this administration seizes medical records even without the legal ok to do so, and then persecutes trans people, or trans immigrants at least?
On the other hand, to do it DIY will take me several months to get the money, and my dysphoria is REALLY BAD recently. I also don’t know when I’d be able to get crypto, which may be a while longer after I have money, realistically not until May or so which seems so far away.
Am I being paranoid here? Are there any options I am overlooking?
personally recommend DIY, if you go injections its roughly ~115 usd a year or so, and you can get on an actual sane dosing regimen. plus the fears of medical records being seized (not out of the question at all). plus the existence of trans healthcare in the US is so fragile that even if getting it you should look into getting diy, as there is a not insigificant chance a day, week, month from now your healthcare could just get cut off. not a consistent nor reliable source of medication, especially since iirc the “big beautiful bill” included banning healthcare for trans people.
i think in a country that is spending billions of dollars to kidnap people off the streets, commit to mass surveillance, and actively ruling murders as suicides just because the victims are trans, you are being more than reasonable here.
as far as crypto goes if you have an ID you should be able to just purchase it, and if you dont you can always mutualaid. (or just mutualaid anyway! i think people would be more than willing to help someone get hrt. and “i dont need help as much as others so i wont ask for it” is something literally everybody who has ever needed help has said to themselves, cut out those brainworms.)
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you cant start on a low dose, not how hormones work (despite what some doctors seem to think for reasons beyond me). all thatll do is lead to hormonal imbalance which will lead to badddd mental health and (technically) bad physical health tho that takes years
not sure exacts on pills, but more. probably more like $60-100 a month or more because oral E is more expensive, and you need an antiandrogen
honestly not sure how much private lab costs are, based on surface level research they seem to be incredibly variable (anywhere from like $50 to $300) so i cant really give a good estimate there. this is also why i just recommend injections (past cost) because dosing with them is generally reliable, and you can always take a higher than average dose to near guarantee good levels if you cant afford blood testing (and slightly higher E levels isnt gonna hurt you)