FTM's and Transitioning

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Sam

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.

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?? I'd be a little concerned if a doctor who was doing this kind of surgery for me asked me "where I wanted my nipples". Not dis'ing your surgeon, but this doesn't sound good. Thinker's right on target with what he says about it being a sort of mathematical equation about ratios and proportions and such. There is a distinct anatomical difference in proportions when it comes to where a male's nipples are, in respect to where a female's are. If your surgeon is experienced in doing this sort of surgery, he should be the one making those decisions. Is he Board Certified in Plastic, particularly Reconstruction surgery??

That sounds totally strange about the State of Georgia requiring a letter (essay??) from you about WHY you want to change your gender marker!! Are you sure that they just won't accept a letter from your surgeon, post-op, saying that you had irreversible surgery for the sole purpose of permanent sex reassignment (as a treatment for gender dysphoria). It's been my understanding that most states only require an official affidavit from a surgeon saying that you've completed sex reassignment via permanent, irreversible surgery. For us FTMs, top surgery is sufficient for this purpose in most states. I'm not sure if there are still some other states that still look to the standards of MTF surgery and require genital reconstruction.

I found this info on the Mega Family Project's web site (http://www.megafamilyproject.org/informed/trans.html) that might be helpful to you:

"Although the state of Georgia will allow all transpeople to change their names, the state will only reissue birth certificates to transpeople that reflect their current gender identities if they provide proof, in the form of a notarized affidavit from a surgeon, that they are undergoing or have undergone gender-reassignment surgery. However, many transpeople who want their legal documents to reflect their true gender identity either don’t have the money to cover the high cost of surgery or don’t feel surgery is necessary to lead fulfilling lives as transmen or transwomen.

Additionally, in the last few years the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety has issued a regulation that requires transpeople to show a notarized affidavit of genital surgery to have the sex marker changed on their driver’s license. This policy is enforced unevenly, however, and many times a person who presents with a certified copy of their order for name change and legal change of gender can get their sex marker change, depending on who is working the counter that particular day."

I have my own physician's post-op affidavit that I will post, minus names, of course, if this would be helpful to others here.

~Theo~

[Rufusboi]

Sam - Here is the information I found on Georgia:

Georgia will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one.

Contact Information:

Vital Records Service
State Dept. of Human Resources
47 Trinity Avenue SW, Room 217-H
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-4750
Email: GDPHINFO@dhr.state.ga.us

Mr. Michael R. Lavoie
Director, Vital Records Unit
mrl0600@dhr.state.ga.us

Please contact the Legal Section of the Vital Records office (404-656-4901) and ask for instructions for correcting a vital record.

I would give them a call and ask exactly what is needed.

Rufusboi

[Sam]

Thinker, the surgeon specializes in Trans here in georgia. He did take all the measurements and he will draw everything out at my pre op. i researched this guy and have talked and seen 3 guys that used him and they all look great. he told me to use small round bandaids to position them on my chest as to where i feel my nipples will look best on my chest. this guy is one the best plastic surgeons in ga. i even called our son's plastic surgeons office and they had all great things to say.

kelle came to the appointment with me and she said she thought he was thorough. my buddies chest looks excellent and he said he played around with the bandaids and his pre op they measured and attached his graphs.

Rufus and Theo, i called newton county today and they said the surgeons letter and a letter stating i have been on T for more than 2 years. My birth certificate was issued in NYS.

I had my DL picture updated today, I have been having issues with airport security as of late saying my picture doesnt match up to my looks. Ga issued me a new DL until after my surgery.

And, my dr upted my T today to 1cc every week. Anyone else taking that dose?

[Rufusboi]

Here's the info I found on New York State.

New York State

See the 2006 update on the Transsexual Road Map site:

http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/nam...rtificate.html

New York State will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate.

New York requires more documentation than most states. You must first complete an application which can be obtained from the following address:

State of New York
Department of Health, Vital Records Section
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany NY 12237

Return the completed application, with fees as indicated on the application, and the following documents (all "original or certified copy"):
- the court order for name change, bearing the court seal, certified by the clerk of the court. Certified proof of publication is also required. The court order must include original name, date and place of birth.
- the letter from your SRS surgeon, specifying date, place, and type of procedure
- the actual OPERATIVE REPORT from your SRS
- a letter from your primary therapist "documenting true transsexualism or inappropriate sexual identification."
- a letter from your endocrinologist or other medical physician "concerning hormonal, chromosomal or endocrinological information."

Once these documents are received, a "medical review" will be performed, and your new certificate issued. Processing takes approximately three months. One certified copy will be provided following the amendment; any additional copies are $15.00 each.

Mr. Peter Carucci
Director
Vital Records Section
pmc02@health.state.ny.us

Updated information June 2002 for New York State:

It turns out that NYS has two different forms of birth certificate:

(i) a regular "Certificate of Birth" that contains your name, sex, date of birth, time of birth, county/city/town of birth, parent's names, ages and social security numbers, mother's maiden name and address at the date of birth, whether this was a twin birth, etc.

(ii) a much shorter "Certification of Birth" that the Dept of Vital Stats internally calls the "short form", which only contains your name, sex, county/city/town of birth, and date of birth.

The "short form" isn't mentioned anywhere in the paperwork, but is available by simply asking for the "short form" (it costs the same $15 as the long form) when ordering. The short form carries an impressed seal and serves as a legally valid birth certificate just as well as the long form.

The New York State short form can be very useful in cases where both first and last name were legally changed - because it eliminates the incongruity of the child on the certificate having a different last name from the parents (it is also useful in cases where the "father is unknown", etc). Quite a few postops face this problem, which causes unwanted outings if they ever need to use a regular birth certificate.

[Rufusboi]

Just received my passport today with my gender change. As of today all of my paperwork is complete. I'm official.

I am one happy camper.

Rufus

[Sam]

hey guys

hows life treating ya'll?

im nearly 2 weeks away from surgery, i have pre op wed the 20th.

i quit smoking this week. it hasnt been as bad as i thought. Propbably cause i gave myself a date and just chucked the pack i had.

but anyway, im getting ready to change my name in the state of ga, i will start the paperwork next week.

i'm ready

[Jet]

I'm glad for you Sam. I know you're really excited about this.

[Paphigleo]

Sam, that is awesome!!


On a seperate note, I finally got my T. I got the paper scrip 35 days ago and have spent the intervening time fighting with an online pharmacy who has since lost my business.

Regardless, after all the waiting I'm officially doing something to transition that is more than introspective internallized crap. I was beginning to feel as though I would never get to this point. Now that I am here it is surreal.

Pearls gave me my shot and I didn't even feel it. But of course excitement and restless leg syndrome have me up late.

I hope everyone is well.

[Leigh]

Today was My first T shot and let Me tell you, I couldnt be happier

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Today was My first T shot and let Me tell you, I couldnt be happier

Happy to hear it, Matthew! Congratulations and good luck!!

[Leigh]

Thanks Thinker, it was awesome to finally get it today

[Sam]

9 days away, im just wallowing in my own happiness. i know there will be alot of pain with this experience, but it will be physical. cause my mental state is ready and my emotional state is on stand still.

i'm totally excited, ready. i think the only stress factor right now is missing my marlboro's. but its been over a week and im doing ok on the most part.

i have started v blogging, i will get the site up and running by oct 27th, just my personal journey.

ftmsam.com theres nothing there yet, but its being built up. crazy life, crazy experiences. but they are all mine

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by Sam

9 days away, im just wallowing in my own happiness. i know there will be alot of pain with this experience, but it will be physical. cause my mental state is ready and my emotional state is on stand still.

i'm totally excited, ready. i think the only stress factor right now is missing my marlboro's. but its been over a week and im doing ok on the most part.

i have started v blogging, i will get the site up and running by oct 27th, just my personal journey.

ftmsam.com theres nothing there yet, but its being built up. crazy life, crazy experiences. but they are all mine

I've been thinking about v-blogging, but through youtube since alot of guys seem to post videos there. I haven't gotten around to posting anything yet since I've been busy with training at work and stuff, but I hope to start making videos soon and when I do I can give everyone the link

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Matthew

I've been thinking about v-blogging, but through youtube since alot of guys seem to post videos there. I haven't gotten around to posting anything yet since I've been busy with training at work and stuff, but I hope to start making videos soon and when I do I can give everyone the link

i upload everything to youtube, its a great tool. i just got a website to post all the youtube video's on makes life a bit easier lol

[Jet]

Sam,
I think you're really blessed to be so free and excited about this change in your life, and I'm very happy for you. We'll have to get together after you have your surgery. I've stopped T after 15 weeks. The only changes are more body hair and my voice. I had a long talk about health with the doctor i saw about my shoulder and prescriptions and so forth. I went to a gay/gay friendly practice and I felt very comfortable. He was concerned that I wasn't involved with a trans support group which I probably should have been.

At bothers me that, at 54, I feel bound by family and jobs. I came to the conclusion that I don't think I can face my family or tell them in a way that they could understand. This isn't etched in stone by any means, but it's a huge stumbling block for me. I'm gun shy because I've been in one physical fight with an uncle and I've never forgotten it.

The other thing that weighs heavily is the kind of work I do. I'm in the communications industry and I'm trying my damnedest to go from freelancing to a full-time position as a senior designer or art director. The market sucks, the competition is high and I don't want to jeopardize my chances of landing a job. Being a designer in advertising involves working with 3rd party clients. and it's always about impressing them and selling them on concepts. That's if I work at an agency. If I work corporate side, which I have, there's that uptight structure that's always there in PR and marketing. It's a very different baby and a difficult one.

I don't think I was as prepared as I should be. I miss taking T because even the minor changes that I gone through, I like. I haven't given up the idea and time will tell. I just think it would be better if I went through the change after I get a job. I could work out of the industry, but after 30 some years of being in the field, it's all I know.

I'm also working through an 18 year bout with severe PTSD. Now, I feel more like myself than I have in years. This is about coming back after such long dark struggle. What saddens me is that if things hadn't happened to me, I'm sure I would be much more ready to go through a transition. I was TG when TG wasn't even heard of in my 20s and 30s. Now it's at the forefront and I'm not able to go through it—at least not right now. Life is damn funny.

So Sam, I think you're very blessed and I'm happy that you don't have these kinds of obstacles. Best to you, bro.

[Sam]

John

thanks i totally appreciate your words. i'm sorry your going thru all thios, i wish it was easier on you and for you. and maybe things might fall into place.

just be you.

Pre Op is over
EKG done
blood work done

wed the 27th i go in to get marked up
thursday i go under the knife
fri i wake up being me

[Logicaly]

Video blogging is awesome for those of you that feel comfortable doing it. I plan to try and video blog as much as I can as well once I start the process.

I have an appointment on the 15th to meet with a doctor to do a general health exam and find out what I need to have done in order to start hormones. I hate doctors, but they are a neccessary evil in this situation.

[atomiczombie]

A recent new effect of the T: I'm perpetually hard. Oy. Nothing seems to make it go away. I feel like a 13 y/o boy. O.o

[T D]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

A recent new effect of the T: I'm perpetually hard. Oy. Nothing seems to make it go away. I feel like a 13 y/o boy. O.o

I was like that for a while, but then it eventually passed. I was a walking hard-on.

Hang in there, Drew!

[Sam]

Hey ya'll

i havent said much, but my surgery was last thursday the 28th, everything went great. by saturday i was walking around, i had alot of discomfort from the drain area. But NOT much pain at all. I had alot of clotting on friday morning.

I was suppose to go back to get drains out on monday, but he had an emergency so i went in today to see him.

Had my dressings taken off, drains removed and saw my graphs. i absolutely love the results so far, i do have some swelling, may get more.

But overall, im extremely happy.

Thanks for all the well wishes. if you are on my facebook i have uploaded some pics and will be uploading more.

just ask sam.jankowski on fb, have a great week.

Thanks Liam, i have been to GNC.

Sam