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Quote:

Originally Posted by Paphigleo (Post 179443)

Hey guys...

In two weeks I have an appointment with a doc in Charlotte NC who is willing to manage and prescribe my T regimine.

This past month I did the hardest part for me so far; I told my family.

They never cease to amaze me. Little sister said, "You've always been my big brother just now it'll be official". An older sister said, "I knew it, and I think I even ASKED you a few years back but noooooo you weren't ready yet".

My mother and father and respective step-parents were all very kind and supportive.

It went so well I had to refrain from kicking myself for waiting so long out of fear!

At any rate, my first appointment is Sept 8th. I am getting more excited with each passing day. I will be submitting to insurance but am doubtful of coverage. I'm prepared to just suck up the costs.

This is my gift to myself. I already quite smoking, been building a routine with working out. Dropping the unhealthy weight I've been hiding this body under. I'm ready to become me.

Viva la Transformation

Congratulations. Don't be too hard on yourself for experiencing fear. You're human. I like your use of the word "Transformation." It speaks to me. I believe all of us are so much more than just our bodies. Yes, we strive to have self determination of our bodies and how we choose to express our gender. We also have other deminsions of who we are and when one of us moves forward, we all move a bit more forward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paphigleo (Post 179443)

Hey there!!! Good for you!!! :clap:

Even better that you've got such a loving and encouraging support system in place. So many guys don't have that and I think it's really heartening when a brother does get that kind of unconditional love from those dear to him.

Now, prepare for the ride of your life!!! May it be enlightening, soul-freeing and fun!!! :winky::thumbsup:

Best wishes,
~Theo~ :bouquet:

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoddz (Post 179261)

GREAT, Linus and Sam, you're going to do it!!!! :clap:

Well, a little more than a year later, I'm doing really well. My scars have faded quite a bit and what does remain is gradually getting covered up with hair. I can't begin to tell you how much more comfortable I am since having chest surgery. These Vegas summers are absolutely *brutal* when it comes to heat, and wearing the heavy sports bras and compression shirts/binders was absolutely miserable. It really did wonders for my confidence and comfort. I'm finally feeling congruent and at peace with myself. :winky:

I here ya on summers being brutal. I don't think I could have survived another and this one has actually been pretty tame. I can't wait to see what my scars look like in a year ... there are already a couple small spots that are pretty faded compared to the rest. Unfortunately i don't think i'll have chest hairs to help ... not even an orphan hair here or there :| Neither my dad or brother have much and I don't remember my grandpa being overly hairy either, so doesn't surprise me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoddz (Post 179261)

I think you'll be seriously happy with Dr. Voloshin and his team. I don't think you could get a better surgeon with more experience than him. I liked the fact that his office and team has a "family" feel and I think he has a good feel for the FTM community. From what Koop said, he thought the same.

I'm totally glad I went with him. I had a friend who went with alter and seems happy with his results but I'm still glad I went with voloshin. I probably would have checked out alter but my friend said there was a charge for the consultation .. and voloshins was free. Also voloshin would have tried to put in through insurance ... I may have gotten it covered ... it definitely has helped my neck pain ... but personally chose not to because of some personal complications.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoddz (Post 179261)

You're going to be pretty close to your home there, too, since Dr. V is in Newport Beach. That's another huge plus!!! I think the travel thing, along with having to spend the first one or two nights in a strange (but comfortable) bed was probably the most stressful to me.

Congrats again, Brothers!!! :thumbsup:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

If someone can be within an hour or so of your dr i definitely recommend it. I would still recommend staying close the first night .. i couldn't imagine traveling more then a few minutes by car the day of surgery. I actually found the first night not being at home was helpful .. no distractions .. albe to just rest ... the next day though it was nice to ony have an hour drive. also it was good to be able to drive home that day. I probably felt the best the day after ... two, three, and four days after were my hardest so I'm glad i didn't have to travel home on them and that I was home for them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paphigleo (Post 179443)

congrats ... and i'm so glad your family is so supportive. My parents haven't been too bad .. but next month when i meet up with them i'm going to have to talk with my dad about it more. Right now I feel like their "little secret." Sometimes that is hard yet i really don't want them to have to put up with peoples stupitity unless they are really onboard with it. We live thousands a miles apart and it different environments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Oopster (Post 179844)

Really? He'll try to do that?! Oh.. that makes me even happier at trying to get him. I have Aetna PPO (soon Aetna PPO CA) and I've heard, even when they list gender change as an exclusion you can sometimes get it covered anyways..

Koops question time!

So has anyone dealt with meeting people from their past?

Where I live people know. However occasionally there are people that I grew up with or worked with in the past that have no idea that I would like to approach but 1) am not sure how to 2) sort of scared to.

Right now I will hold out til i talk to dad in sept, but I am wondering how people have handled it and what the results were.

not so much worried about negativity towards me .. I just don't want my parents to have to go through the gossip mills and looks at home.

It's also weird because that part of me feels literally like another person so it's like I want people to know we know each other but I don't want them to remember me that way.

There is one person out here that was a sophmore in high school when i was senior. We weren't like best friends but we had mutual friends and were in some of the same high school clubs and both ran long distance in track. I probably will approach her. If nothing else she seems like a good test subject. She lives in LA so for one she lives in a more liberal environment and number two she's a comic so I feel like i can approach her with a sense of humor.

It's just weird though it's not like I can friend her and go hey remember me? Because without some explanation she won't

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Oopster (Post 179847)

I've had students from even before I even considered transitioning finding me as well as friends from high school (we're talking nearly 25 years now! :blink: ) find me and we're ok. Granted, some weren't but those who were true friends then are still true friends now. They asked questions about the process (they know me to be open and willing to answer anything so I was ok with these) but otherwise, we're ok with it.

Granted your mileage may vary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linus (Post 179845)

He was willing to try to submit it for me ... I just chose not to for personal reasons. If I hadn't had the money who knows and it's not like I couldn't of used the money for other reasons but to avoid some complications it as just easier to pay out of pocket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linus (Post 179850)

Right now no one is going to find me .. because there isn't any commonaility for them to link me to, so i'm the one that would have to do the approaching. Eventually i may just link myself to my high school but for now i don't wont my parents to have to deal with any fallout.

I have My next doctor's appointment on Friday morning, wish Me luck :)

Greyson, indeed. Transformation speaks to me. Life if full of growth opportunities and this one just happens to have the power to lend me new eyes to see this world through.

Thanks to all!

Good luck Braedon!

Off to bed for me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paphigleo

Thanks bro, I wish you luck also when you get your appointment ~ I see fantastic things in the future for both of us :D

Just a *bump* and an update too :)

I went to see My doctor today and we talked more about My childhood and teenage years, how things were at home and how gender played a role in My everyday life. I filled out a couple of forms to consent that I know the effects and possible side effects of testosterone, then he scheduled Me for two future appointments ........ September 24th for complete bloodwork, then October 1st for a physical exam.

Then the doc said something that not only floored Me but has put Me in the best mood possible ........ if the bloodwork and physical exam are both positive and nothing is wrong, then on October 1st I will begin taking testosterone :cheer:

Talk about Me being one happy guy right now ~ I never, ever expected things to go this fast but I'm not complaining at all :dance2:

Hi all.
Back in town after a month of being away.
This is my 10th week. The only thing different is my voice.
There is a lot of fuzz around my chin and some whiskers.

I don't want them for the same reason I don't get a tat. I don't like it.
I've progressed a lot my workouts tho, and I guess its because of the T which I like very much.!

I developed a lot chapping and dry skin around my eyebrows and nose. I use Hyrdocortisone on those areas. I have an appt. with yet another doc on the 15th.

Anyway, jus' dropping in to say hey after being gone.

Okay, something I've noticed, and it's occurred over time, is how my jaw seems to have "adjusted"/squared off, so to speak. It kind of escaped my immediate attention to what was happening at the time, because it came on very very gradually.

At first I thought my dentist hadn't filed off my fillings evenly, but then I remembered that when they do that little "tap tap" with the little carbon paper, right after the filling, everything felt really good. Now, as I look in the mirror, I can see where my jawline is much more squared than it used to be. I think T has done this, amongst the many other effects I've had from it. I remember, after about a year of being on it, how my joints would ache a bit, and not just my knees, which have been very bad for many, many years.

I've been on T for going on 4 years now, and everything is as it should be. I've turned out to be a pretty hairy guy, overall, and the scars from my chest surgery have faded out a lot after about a year and a half. My voice is unmistakably male, no questions about that, and I have absolutely no problems with "passing".

One thing I would like to pass on to my brothers here is the importance of having regular blood work done, say every 6 months at first, then every year once you've gone through the first couple of years with no problems. It's important to monitor your liver enzymes and make sure the T isn't having an adverse effect on that and to work hard to keep your cholesterol and triglycerides in the "good" zones.

Learning to manage stress has really helped me, over the long haul, and I still sometimes struggle with that, due to my work and, well, my union activities. I have to remember to do my exercising and make time for relaxing. Spending time with Myra and Ivan helps me immeasurably, so I'm really glad I have those two "little green people". :awww::frog::frog:

Take care and be healthy....and happy, fellas. It's a marvelous journey. I've really enjoyed reading your posts here and knowing how everyone is coming along.

Parker, I'm glad you're back. :winky:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

just a quick hello

i have my consult this week, hoping to have a surgery date by the end of the week.

leaving for GA on monday, looking forward to finding out.

have a great week.

Quick note from me as well.

Finally had my T increased this week, so I'm assuming I'll actually begin to see changes over the next few months.

I have half the $$$ for top surgery, but may need to spend it on something else now. It's always something!!!

Oh well, we shall see.

Hope you all are doing well!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by T D (Post 189760)

maybe quicker than that. My voice changed within a couple of weeks

I had my consult yesterday, everything went smoothly.

I will be having Top Surgery October 28th, Pre-Op October 25th.

I will be having it here in Georgia.

Now I need to start the process of finding out what my county will want for my gender/name changes. I will start that process right after surgery as i will be here a few weeks recovering.

One thing still confuses, the Dr says he will let me choose where my nipple graphs will be on my chest. Now mind you, im NOT a surgeon so i'm not sure where to put them. i'm guessing that playing around in the mirror will hopefully prove to pick the right spot?

I am so looking forward to POST transition.

I see my T doc today, i'm hoping for an increase in T. But who knows.

One last thing, by looking at myself in the mirror at the Dr's office yesterday i realize just how much hair i have growing on my chest and back. I never payed attention to it before.

I need to write a letter to the courts on WHY i want to change my gender, anyone have any idea's?

*edited by Admin* - Please private message user for any help would be appriciated.

Have a great week

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam (Post 192110)

One thing still confuses, the Dr says he will let me choose where my nipple graphs will be on my chest. Now mind you, im NOT a surgeon so i'm not sure where to put them. i'm guessing that playing around in the mirror will hopefully prove to pick the right spot?

!!!! What?

Based on the time I spent with my surgeon right before surgery, there is a whole mathematical blah-blah-blah involved. He measured and drew on me with a marker and did a little calculation on his paper........explaining to me all the while about proportions and distance from clavicle and sternum, etc...

Has he done this type of surgery before? Is that the method he has always used (letting patients decide)? Perhaps you could call a few other surgeons and ask and then take that info back to your surgeon?

This is an exciting time for you, Sam, so I don't want to rain on anything. Just want to make sure you advocate for yourself... You're paying *him*; it's his work to do. It's going to be impossible for your to pick because your chest will look totally different once tissue is removed.

Thinker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam (Post 192110)

I need to write a letter to the courts on WHY i want to change my gender, anyone have any idea's?

sam.jankowski@gmail.com for any help would be appriciated.

Have a great week

Sam - Why do you need a letter for the courts to change your gender? I changed everything this summer and never set foot in a courtroom.

What state were you born in? Each state of birth has different rules for changing gender. Let me know and I will try to help you.

Rufusboi