top surgery

[Dean Thoreau]

I love my kids, my 30 yr old daughter picked me up we went to the endocrin, by the time we got there her and I were laughing and joking so much I was calm and ready. So I got my first T shot.... a tiny amount... but a shot. I handed them the papers that instructed male pronouns and name to call me tho they can change my name on records they will Call me the name
After that daughter took me for a haircut and then returned in time for the T DAY PARTY. 😀😀😀

Hey Dapper,
The first plastic surgeon I saw was Joshua do’s not, penn med, very excellent surgeon but a bit of an asshole egotist. And just a real condescending jerk; so after I left the appt I talked to a few docs and got a referral to Dr Au another fine plastic reconstruction surgeon at penn med who has a good amount of sensitivity, trans experience, and I trust him. The speech therapist office I am going to is penn medicine on at the good shepherd location, it took my choice person 2 weeks to find a qualified person. Actually I asked my VA PRIMARY DOC and Va psych person who did my trans psych profile for a speech referral and I cited about 20 different reasons as to why it was necessary. So the VA said yes but since they don’t have a qualified spec they gave me vet choice I said penn med... so then the va makes aptmt with the civilian doc and they pay the costs. Penn med is great for vets and all docs under penn med accept the vet choice payment schedule
I have my speech aptmt may 4 so can give u more info after that. That worth standards book has great info and I quote from it frequently... if u private msg me I will try to find a copy of my notes and justifications I used to get the referral. And what to emphasize. Passing with appropriate voice is major important due to rest rooms and the danger associated ...
ok so dapper I just looked in mirror and my chin hair growth hasn’t increased..... 🙃🙃🙃 damn wanted to start waxing my beard ( joke, I know it will take a bit, my kids have a pool going as to when the beard and mustache is visible from 10 feet away)

[Reach *BANNED*]

I can feel the joy in your heart when you write Dean. Congratulations!!

(hope this was ok to put here)

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Dean Thoreau

I love my kids, my 30 yr old daughter picked me up we went to the endocrin, by the time we got there her and I were laughing and joking so much I was calm and ready. So I got my first T shot.... a tiny amount... but a shot. I handed them the papers that instructed male pronouns and name to call me tho they can change my name on records they will Call me the name
After that daughter took me for a haircut and then returned in time for the T DAY PARTY. 😀😀😀

Hey Dapper,
The first plastic surgeon I saw was Joshua do’s not, penn med, very excellent surgeon but a bit of an asshole egotist. And just a real condescending jerk; so after I left the appt I talked to a few docs and got a referral to Dr Au another fine plastic reconstruction surgeon at penn med who has a good amount of sensitivity, trans experience, and I trust him. The speech therapist office I am going to is penn medicine on at the good shepherd location, it took my choice person 2 weeks to find a qualified person. Actually I asked my VA PRIMARY DOC and Va psych person who did my trans psych profile for a speech referral and I cited about 20 different reasons as to why it was necessary. So the VA said yes but since they don’t have a qualified spec they gave me vet choice I said penn med... so then the va makes aptmt with the civilian doc and they pay the costs. Penn med is great for vets and all docs under penn med accept the vet choice payment schedule
I have my speech aptmt may 4 so can give u more info after that. That worth standards book has great info and I quote from it frequently... if u private msg me I will try to find a copy of my notes and justifications I used to get the referral. And what to emphasize. Passing with appropriate voice is major important due to rest rooms and the danger associated ...
ok so dapper I just looked in mirror and my chin hair growth hasn’t increased..... 🙃🙃🙃 damn wanted to start waxing my beard ( joke, I know it will take a bit, my kids have a pool going as to when the beard and mustache is visible from 10 feet away)

Dean, I am glad things went well with your shot and that you have a supportive family. What dose did they put you on?

You might want to consider going with a trans surgeon for your surgery. I would strongly suggest this. There are two surgeries in your area that have surely done well over 100 surgeries. I can't suggest this strongly enough.

Your two options of trans surgeons in the Philadelphia area that take insurance are Dr. Kathryn Rumer and Dr. Leis. Most prefer Dr. Rumer. She also does well with larger guys. You can see pictures of both of their work at transbucket.org. You might want to visit topsurgery.net. You can also visit their websites. I have seen two many guys go to surgeons who have some experience and have poor surgeries, only to seek out actual trans surgeons to revise their surgeries.

Since you go through the VA I assume the insurance you are using is Tricare. Is this correct? Is Tricare your primary insurance and Obamacare (the health care marketplace), is your secondary that picks up the copay?

If so, Tricare would have been the insurance to authorize voice therapy, and again, that would be useful to know. Trans people have attempted to justify voice therapy for years and it has never come to fruition. I am wondering if the key is your insurance. I don't know anyone who tried to get voice therapy paid for under Tricare. Thanks and congrats.

Oh, and 10 feet away may take a bit of time! lol

[Dean Thoreau]

Dapper,
First off Thank you those words are simple but really meant, your advise and assistance is helping me a lot. And I am most appreciative also jealous of your car,,, I miss my spyder more than I can say; and have been looking but trying to hold off till I get the legal name change and gender change on my legal docs and college transcripts. By August that shud be done.
With regard to T My beginning dose is very tiny, it will be increased every two weeks as long as the blood pressure stays under control. So I am at 25 and am doing weekly shots; I wanted the lowest possible to start... they were going to start at 50 per week which I knew was small. But I had wanted even smaller. The endocrin and I have been talking for months about this and at this stage being overly cautious is my rule of thumb. What’s a few months at real low doses and staging if it helps prevent heart attack etc. currently living in 4 diff heart meds and still watching the Bp hit high levels I really want to prevent any heart complications.
Dr Rumer , I met with her some time ago, she does her work at Hahnemann hospital... she just became the head of the trans program their. Truth is I was uncomfortable with her; and I am not fond of hanneman hospital, it’s a personal prejudice and bluntly its dirty And the staff is cranky.
I’ve seen au’s work he’s great, he was also in the or when I had the mastectomy to draw lines for my oncology surgeon so the cuts where done where needed for top work.
Dapper I am a disabled veteran and have use of va hospitals/ medical care. Any veteran that applies to the med center can get treatment there with or without service connection illness. I strongly recommend it. With a few newly implemented programs over the past couple years the VA has become more inclined to send folks out of the VA medical center for care to local specialists.
So when I approached the VA regarding my gender dysphoric issues and needs I made sure I had done the homework and research and had laid the groundwork.
I have found insurance companies and the VA are very responsive when the issue of passing and dangerous restroom situations are brought up and really pushed. Also the fact that for over 50 years I have been escorted or dragged out of a ladies room, more times than I can count on my digits. Also the vocal adjustment one does so one is not mistaken.... I raise the pitch of my voice for so long to try and reduce the yes sir,,, thing,, that lowering it just back to the normal speech octave is so difficult I need speech path assistance. Basically dap because the voice can in fact cause one not to pass and put a trans in physical danger the VA took quite seriously. Bluntly I point to places like North Carolina, and I show the “bathroom app” and say if I am in this location the info on this app says the safest unisex washroom is 6 miles away.... now at my age the washroom and time to get there does not include a 40 minute drive in the city. Etc etc etc
And I was approved, the VA doesn’t have a qualified speech therapist for my needs so they had to send me outside of the veterans administration health system.
I also knew penn med aka univ penn hospital had what I needed so I was helpful to them and told them where I could go.
��

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Dean Thoreau

Dapper,
First off Thank you those words are simple but really meant, your advise and assistance is helping me a lot. And I am most appreciative also jealous of your car,,, I miss my spyder more than I can say; and have been looking but trying to hold off till I get the legal name change and gender change on my legal docs and college transcripts. By August that shud be done.
With regard to T My beginning dose is very tiny, it will be increased every two weeks as long as the blood pressure stays under control. So I am at 25 and am doing weekly shots; I wanted the lowest possible to start... they were going to start at 50 per week which I knew was small. But I had wanted even smaller. The endocrin and I have been talking for months about this and at this stage being overly cautious is my rule of thumb. What’s a few months at real low doses and staging if it helps prevent heart attack etc. currently living in 4 diff heart meds and still watching the Bp hit high levels I really want to prevent any heart complications.
Dr Rumer , I met with her some time ago, she does her work at Hahnemann hospital... she just became the head of the trans program their. Truth is I was uncomfortable with her; and I am not fond of hanneman hospital, it’s a personal prejudice and bluntly its dirty And the staff is cranky.
I’ve seen au’s work he’s great, he was also in the or when I had the mastectomy to draw lines for my oncology surgeon so the cuts where done where needed for top work.
Dapper I am a disabled veteran and have use of va hospitals/ medical care. Any veteran that applies to the med center can get treatment there with or without service connection illness. I strongly recommend it. With a few newly implemented programs over the past couple years the VA has become more inclined to send folks out of the VA medical center for care to local specialists.
So when I approached the VA regarding my gender dysphoric issues and needs I made sure I had done the homework and research and had laid the groundwork.
I have found insurance companies and the VA are very responsive when the issue of passing and dangerous restroom situations are brought up and really pushed. Also the fact that for over 50 years I have been escorted or dragged out of a ladies room, more times than I can count on my digits. Also the vocal adjustment one does so one is not mistaken.... I raise the pitch of my voice for so long to try and reduce the yes sir,,, thing,, that lowering it just back to the normal speech octave is so difficult I need speech path assistance. Basically dap because the voice can in fact cause one not to pass and put a trans in physical danger the VA took quite seriously. Bluntly I point to places like North Carolina, and I show the “bathroom app” and say if I am in this location the info on this app says the safest unisex washroom is 6 miles away.... now at my age the washroom and time to get there does not include a 40 minute drive in the city. Etc etc etc
And I was approved, the VA doesn’t have a qualified speech therapist for my needs so they had to send me outside of the veterans administration health system.
I also knew penn med aka univ penn hospital had what I needed so I was helpful to them and told them where I could go.
��

I started on a very low dose of T too, so I hear you on that. I agree that UPenn is a good hospital. There is no question about that. In fact, I recently had some surgery there. Good luck with your top surgery. You shouldn't go with a surgeon you are uncomfortable with.
Trans people have been living dangerously for years when it comes to their voice, most pointedly trans women. Doctors saying it is a "medically necessary" or "making a case" does not work with insurance companies. If it is on their exclusion list, it is on their exclusion list. That is why I am so curious about you getting it covered. I am going to be with a group of trans health providers and surgeons over the next few days. I am going to find out if anyone else has heard of someone getting Tricare to cover voice therapy.

[SleepyButch]

I hopefully will be having top surgery at the end of May. I just got my insurance approval and am waiting for the surgery scheduler to get back to me so we can get the ball rolling. I'm so excited and cannot wait!

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by SleepyButch

I hopefully will be having top surgery at the end of May. I just got my insurance approval and am waiting for the surgery scheduler to get back to me so we can get the ball rolling. I'm so excited and cannot wait!

Awesome and congrats! Who is your surgeon and how long is the usual wait time for them?

[SleepyButch]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Awesome and congrats! Who is your surgeon and how long is the usual wait time for them?

Thanks!! I'm seeing Scott Harris in Plano, TX. When I had the consult at the end of March, they said they were booking into April so hopefully I can still get end of May at this point.

[Dean Thoreau]

Originally Posted by SleepyButch

I hopefully will be having top surgery at the end of May. I just got my insurance approval and am waiting for the surgery scheduler to get back to me so we can get the ball rolling. I'm so excited and cannot wait!

I wish u great success Sleepy Butch!

Once the drains r gone life is easier....
My daughters made little pouches I could put on a belt put drains in and then could walk and shower easier... and a tad privately

[SleepyButch]

Originally Posted by Dean Thoreau

I wish u great success Sleepy Butch!

Once the drains r gone life is easier....
My daughters made little pouches I could put on a belt put drains in and then could walk and shower easier... and a tad privately

Luckily enough, they don't use drains. The compression garment is what is going to drive me to drink but I understand it's necessary lol. Thanks for the well wishes!