FTM's and Transitioning

[Logicaly]

You certainly haven't over stepped at all! I do very much appreciate the advice! I was using a heating pad, but it seems everyone suggests ice, but I don't want it to travel any slower than it already does, ha.

There is a good chance she may have moved the needle, I know I felt her inject, and then pause, and then she felt like perhaps she might have moved deeper, but I am not entirely sure, so its highly possible.

I might take that hot bath though, as it sounds completely relaxing altogether.

Thank you very much for the advice!

[DomnNC]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

My top surgery date is May 4th. *happy dance*

Congrats Atomic!!!

[DomnNC]

Another natural alternative to Niacin in lowering cholesterol is Red Rice Yeast capsules, available in the vitamin section in most drugstores, Walmart, etcetcetc. Just an FYI.

[Logicaly]

Originally Posted by DomnNC

Another natural alternative to Niacin in lowering cholesterol is Red Rice Yeast capsules, available in the vitamin section in most drugstores, Walmart, etcetcetc. Just an FYI.

Thanks for the tip! I am finding that if I read the label, just about everything has niacin in it, especially since I eat a lot of pasta. I've also been eating a TON of cheerios, and I am going to be adding flax seed to my diet by basically putting it into anything that I can when cooking or anything of that nature.

[DomnNC]

Hi Logicaly, try oatmeal as well, it's good at lowering cholesterol as well!

[Logicaly]

Originally Posted by DomnNC

Hi Logicaly, try oatmeal as well, it's good at lowering cholesterol as well!

Will have to get that a try. So all this talk of lowering cholesterol. How does one raise the good cholesterol? Cause thats the only low cholesterol I got apparently, lol.

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by Logicaly

Will have to get that a try. So all this talk of lowering cholesterol. How does one raise the good cholesterol? Cause thats the only low cholesterol I got apparently, lol.

Eat lots of wild salmon, not the farmed stuff, it isn't sustainable. Fish, primarily ones in high omega 3 fatty acids, you can find a list by googeling omega 3 fatty acid fish. Oh nuts as well, almonds and sunflower seeds.

[Logicaly]

Fish makes me want to vomit, I have never been able to stomach it unfortunately. Any other suggestions to raise good cholesterol? You mentioned Omega 3, I suppose I could always find things that have that added in it.

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by Logicaly

Fish makes me want to vomit, I have never been able to stomach it unfortunately. Any other suggestions to raise good cholesterol? You mentioned Omega 3, I suppose I could always find things that have that added in it.

There are fish oil capsules you can take with out the taste of fish.

[DomnNC]

I take fish oil pills, the Omega-3. I take 2 1200mg pills a day and my good cholesterol rose about 12 points over a 3 month time period. The Omega-3 I find doesn't give you those fishy burps if you know what I mean, lol. They even make them Entric coated just in case fish does give you indigestion. Also, there is the Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Fish Krill oil, which is a one a day dosage and costs significantly more than just the Omega-3's. Also, there is a new prescription one that your Dr can give ya but it generally runs in the higher tiers of most insurance policies. I order all mine online from Puritan's Pride, they run a lot of specials, buy 1 get 1 free, buy 2 get 3 free, buy 5 get 5 freei. They ship out quickly and via UPS or Fed Ex, I think UPS.

Here's the link. http://www.puritan.com/

They sell tons of supplements, vitamins and other stuff.

God Luck!!

I was typing too slow, lol.

Puritan's has Enteric coated fish oil pills Logicaly that do not upset your stomach or give you that fishy aftertaste. link---> http://www.puritan.com/fish-oils-056...6885?NewPage=1

[Linus]

So I've finally got a consult scheduled. Apparently this surgeon (Dr. Jewell -- Theo, I know you recommended Dr. V but he doesn't work with insurance and I wanted to see if I could get some if not all of this covered) has done top surgery before for FTMs. I'll ask her if she has before/after photos but I was curious if others have used this surgeon before.

She is interested in helping me work with my insurance provider (they listed her so I'm hopeful that they will cover majority of it.

I'm thinking of asking her the following:

1. What do I need to do to prepare for the surgery (e.g., weight loss, hormones, etc.). I expect weight loss to be on there since I'm 5'1" and 220 (it's already a goal for me anyways and once my back is better I'll be able to really pursue this more)

2. What procedure would she use and what the risks involved?

3. Expected time for recovery

4. Time in hospital; length of time for the surgery itself

5. If revisions needed (e.g., dog ear effect) will she do this?

6. post-op care for reducing scars and such

7. estimated costs (granted this will depend on insurance and such)

What else should I ask? What generally happens during the first consult?

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Linus

So I've finally got a consult scheduled. Apparently this surgeon (Dr. Jewell -- Theo, I know you recommended Dr. V but he doesn't work with insurance and I wanted to see if I could get some if not all of this covered) has done top surgery before for FTMs. I'll ask her if she has before/after photos but I was curious if others have used this surgeon before.

She is interested in helping me work with my insurance provider (they listed her so I'm hopeful that they will cover majority of it.

I'm thinking of asking her the following:

1. What do I need to do to prepare for the surgery (e.g., weight loss, hormones, etc.). I expect weight loss to be on there since I'm 5'1" and 220 (it's already a goal for me anyways and once my back is better I'll be able to really pursue this more)

2. What procedure would she use and what the risks involved?

3. Expected time for recovery

4. Time in hospital; length of time for the surgery itself

5. If revisions needed (e.g., dog ear effect) will she do this?

6. post-op care for reducing scars and such

7. estimated costs (granted this will depend on insurance and such)

What else should I ask? What generally happens during the first consult?

I really hope this works out for you, Linus!!

I would be super clear about what you want. The not-so-great stories are that the patient ended up with, essentially, a double-mastectomy. There is some reconstruction that occurs to get a more "male chest", so I would make sure she's clear that that is what you want (assuming, of course, that *is* what you want).

I'm happy for you.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Thinker

I really hope this works out for you, Linus!!

I would be super clear about what you want. The not-so-great stories are that the patient ended up with, essentially, a double-mastectomy. There is some reconstruction that occurs to get a more "male chest", so I would make sure she's clear that that is what you want (assuming, of course, that *is* what you want).

I'm happy for you.

I was clear in my request that this is chest reconstruction for an FTM but I will be diligent with the surgeon when I see her on Friday about that.

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by Linus

I was clear in my request that this is chest reconstruction for an FTM but I will be diligent with the surgeon when I see her on Friday about that.

Get before and after pics and ask if you could talk to any of her patients who have had this done by her. I am gonna get my surgery from Michael Brownstein in San Francisco and he has provided pics and references to me. Show her some pics of guys chests that you would like to look like, if you can. If she is a good surgeon, hopefully she can provide you with these things. Good luck!

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Linus

So I've finally got a consult scheduled. Apparently this surgeon (Dr. Jewell -- Theo, I know you recommended Dr. V but he doesn't work with insurance and I wanted to see if I could get some if not all of this covered) has done top surgery before for FTMs. I'll ask her if she has before/after photos but I was curious if others have used this surgeon before.

She is interested in helping me work with my insurance provider (they listed her so I'm hopeful that they will cover majority of it.

I'm thinking of asking her the following:

1. What do I need to do to prepare for the surgery (e.g., weight loss, hormones, etc.). I expect weight loss to be on there since I'm 5'1" and 220 (it's already a goal for me anyways and once my back is better I'll be able to really pursue this more)

2. What procedure would she use and what the risks involved?

3. Expected time for recovery

4. Time in hospital; length of time for the surgery itself

5. If revisions needed (e.g., dog ear effect) will she do this?

6. post-op care for reducing scars and such

7. estimated costs (granted this will depend on insurance and such)

What else should I ask? What generally happens during the first consult?

I'm surprised because Dr. V wasn't willing to try with the insurance. I just chose not to because of my particular situation. Did you do an initial consultation with Him? There isn't any charge for it. I highly recommend him. Like atomic said ask to see pics... if she doesn't have any take pics of people to show what you want. I'm skinny but had over 5lbs removed so was quite big ... I'll send you before and after pics if you want.

I'd ask if she uses drainage tubes? Most people have come to expect them and if the surgeon does a really good job they aren't needed. Dr. V said he prefers to take any extra fluid out with a syringe if needed. Less chance of infection. Luckily that wasn't necessary for me.

I'd ask about follow up. Since newport was still a good hour away I stayed overnight and went in the next day then didn't have to go back in til the stitches were taken out.

from what I remember at my initial consult is I asked my questions ... looked at pics of previous patients. They did take pics and he drew on my chest roughly what he would do. I'm not sure if they took pics because I did go ahead and schedul surgery.

http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/foru...ead.php?t=1184

is a thread where I posted my questions and experiences. It's hard for me to remember now a lot of the stuff but I posted right after the surgery while i remembered.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Linus

So I've finally got a consult scheduled. Apparently this surgeon (Dr. Jewell -- Theo, I know you recommended Dr. V but he doesn't work with insurance and I wanted to see if I could get some if not all of this covered) has done top surgery before for FTMs. I'll ask her if she has before/after photos but I was curious if others have used this surgeon before.

She is interested in helping me work with my insurance provider (they listed her so I'm hopeful that they will cover majority of it.

I'm thinking of asking her the following:

1. What do I need to do to prepare for the surgery (e.g., weight loss, hormones, etc.). I expect weight loss to be on there since I'm 5'1" and 220 (it's already a goal for me anyways and once my back is better I'll be able to really pursue this more)

2. What procedure would she use and what the risks involved?

3. Expected time for recovery

4. Time in hospital; length of time for the surgery itself

5. If revisions needed (e.g., dog ear effect) will she do this?

6. post-op care for reducing scars and such

7. estimated costs (granted this will depend on insurance and such)

What else should I ask? What generally happens during the first consult?

Linus, it's all in what you're comfortable with. Remember, this is something that you're going to have to live with and be comfortable with. When I was ready for surgery, it was my goal to have a physician who had lots of experience working with FTMs and doing the reconstruction surgery. You want something that's going to look reasonably decent and the results are, largely, dependent not only on your body build and health, but on the surgeon's skill. The more experienced the surgeon, the better job you're going to get. If you're not satisfied with the results, how important is it going to be that your insurance paid for it??

Another thing to consider is this. Is the surgeon you choose willing to provide you with the necessary letters and/or documentation that will allow you to legally change your gender markers?? Some surgeons who might be less experienced with doing top surgery as legal GRS (Gender Reassignment Surgery) might be hesitant to sign affidavits attesting that their work now determines that you are, in fact, legally male. In other words, it's good to get a surgeon who is familiar with the legal aspects of gender reassignment surgery and is willing to provide you with appropriate documents, post op.

The only reason I can think of that Dr. V would not be willing to go the insurance route is that he is a board certified cosmetic/plastic/reconstruction surgeon. Most of the procedures he specializes in, like tummy tucks, face lifts, botox and other procedures done for strictly cosmetic reasons, have traditionally been considered to be purely elective and not "medically necessary" under traditional legal definition and therefore, not covered by most insurance policies. When you deal with insurers, you need staff in your office who are familiar and proficient with medical coding, because this is how doctors bill for their services.....ICD-9 Codes. If you don't know what you're doing with these codes, or the intricacies of medical coding, you can get yourself into some really deep trouble with mail and/or insurance fraud......and it doesn't have to be intentional. So yeah, I can understand why Dr. V doesn't want to be involved with trying to bill an insurer. One thing he did do for me, however, was to send the tissue samples from my procedure to a pathology lab that my private insurance DOES work with. This saved me nearly $500 out of pocket for pathology fees.

Anyway, do what you feel comfortable doing. I think that, ultimately, that's what we all do!! Good luck to you on this leg of The Journey!!! I hope your experience is as great as mine was. Having my top surgery completed was one of the best things I've ever done for myself and I am soooooo much more comfortable, physically, mentally and emotionally.

~Theo~

[DapperButch]

OWN network (Oprah Winfrey) on right now (9pm)transgendered folks. Have seen it before. Don't know the title. Loren Cameron on right now. I think that is his name.

[T D]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

OWN network (Oprah Winfrey) on right now (9pm)transgendered folks. Have seen it before. Don't know the title. Loren Cameron on right now. I think that is his name.

Comes on here in 45 minutes. Thanks for the reminder!

[Miss Scarlett]

FYI - today (Sat 3/5) at 2pm (EST) on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) they will be showing the "Transgender Lives" episode of Our America with Lisa Ling...

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

My top surgery date is May 4th. *happy dance*

Hey, you know what??? That's the anniversary of my top surgery, back in 2009!!!

One of these days, we should get together on that date and celebrate together!!!

Good luck to you, Drew!!!! I hope your experience is as wonderful as mine was!!!

Keep us posted, willya???

~Theo~