Ask a trans person!

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Kobi

I have a question....

I'm presuming you are familiar with the article about Kye on the GWU NCAA womens basketball team. He said "I'm not a trans, I am a man."

Is that a personal preference or is there a distinction that is made in the community?

Originally Posted by Thinker

Personally speaking, I think it's just a self-identification thing.....so a personal preference.

There are many who reject the "female at birth" notion and many who accept it without question. It's just self-identification.

Just my opinion, of course...

I have to agree with Thinker about this. It is an identity choice.

[Leigh]

I agree as well that its a personal preference, as I've seen that with many people to be the case. I've known trans guys who compleely shun the notion that they were ever female even if only at birth, and I've known other guys who embrace who they were as they transition. I personally am the kind of guy who embraces My past and knows that I may have been born female, but I'm still a man and am matching My outside to My inside feelings. I'm not ashamed of any of My years as a female, no I dont like that but I embrace it and know that I had may good times in the past ~ times that I wouldn't trade for the world

[Joe Mario]

Hey Guys,

A question about facial hair:
How long should one give it until his facial hair is coming in as fully as it ever will?
Might it take longer than 2.5 - 3 years?

Just wondering...

Thanks,

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Joe Mario

Hey Guys,

A question about facial hair:
How long should one give it until his facial hair is coming in as fully as it ever will?
Might it take longer than 2.5 - 3 years?

Just wondering...

Thanks,

Hey bud...

I wonder about that too. I've read in a few places where that type of growth is still changing for up to 5 years.

I figure that at the 5-year mark, I will have as much as I'm gonna get.

[Jesse]

Well, I have been on T for 12 years now, and my beard started coming in much thicker just this year. I'm wondering when it stops. lol

Originally Posted by Thinker

Hey bud....

I wonder about that too. I've read in a few places where that type of growth is still changing for up to 5 years.

I figure that at the 5-year mark, I will have as much as I'm gonna get.

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Tranzman

Well, I have been on T for 12 years now, and my beard started coming in much thicker just this year. I'm wondering when it stops. lol

NO SHIT!!!!!!?!! Well, that's good to know!

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Kobi

I have a question....

I'm presuming you are familiar with the article about Kye on the GWU NCAA womens basketball team. He said "I'm not a trans, I am a man."

Is that a personal preference or is there a distinction that is made in the community?

I think you could say it's both. I also kind of cringe when people talk as though its about denying that you were born with female anatomy. I don't think many out there actually deny that, since it's a little hard to deny with it in your face every day. Personally, when I reject the word "trans" it's because I don't like its implications for me, and I consider my mental/neurological sex more important than the biological sex I was born into, since that is what determines my consciousness as an individual. I know a lot of guys my age see it this way, too, so it may also be generational.

Personally, I don't think saying "I'm not trans, I am a man" is necessarily denying having been born biologically female (I didn't get the impression that Kye was denying that fact), but taking the mind as more important than the physical manifestation of sex one was born into.

That's my two cents, anyway.

Edit, wanted to add that I don't think this kind of statement necessarily severs one from the LGBT or trans community. It's simply a different way of seeing your situation.

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

I think you could say it's both. I also kind of cringe when people talk as though its about denying that you were born with female anatomy. I don't think many out there actually deny that, since it's a little hard to deny with it in your face every day. Personally, when I reject the word "trans" it's because I don't like its implications for me, and I consider my mental/neurological sex more important than the biological sex I was born into, since that is what determines my consciousness as an individual. I know a lot of guys my age see it this way, too, so it may also be generational.

Personally, I don't think saying "I'm not trans, I am a man" is necessarily denying having been born biologically female (I didn't get the impression that Kye was denying that fact), but taking the mind as more important than the physical manifestation of sex one was born into.That's my two cents, anyway.

Edit, wanted to add that I don't think this kind of statement necessarily severs one from the LGBT or trans community. It's simply a different way of seeing your situation.

Ender, thanks for giving your perspective. Your post helped me get a better understanding of where you and others are coming from. On this particular nuance, we differ.

For me saying I am a "Transman" lends clarity to those that are trying to fit me somewhere on the gender spectrum. I do want them to know, I was born into a female body and my gender expression, how I think, how I feel, how I move through this world, did not and does not fit the constructs of how gender is perceived, critiqued. (BTW, I don't agree with how gender is broken down by the larger culture. Femininity and masculinity are not exclusive to either female or the male sex.)

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by Greyson

Ender, thanks for giving your perspective. Your post helped me get a better understanding of where you and others are coming from. On this particular nuance, we differ.

For me saying I am a "Transman" lends clarity to those that are trying to fit me somewhere on the gender spectrum. I do want them to know, I was born into a female body and my gender expression, how I think, how I feel, how I move through this world, did not and does not fit the constructs of how gender is perceived, critiqued. (BTW, I don't agree with how gender is broken down by the larger culture. Femininity and masculinity are not exclusive to either female or the male sex.)

I am right here with you Greyson. I claim "transguy" because for me, I am on a spectrum. My upbringing and experiences when I was young and in the closet have shaped me and are part of who I am. But I am a guy, not a woman. For me trans means I stand outside the gender norms. It just fits for me and how I feel as a person.

There is nothing wrong with guys IDing as men and not trans. That is their sense of self and should be acknowledged and respected. We are a diverse population, not completely homogenous. But its that way with any of the "letters" in the LGBTQ community.

[Joe Mario]

Curious how other guys on T feel about being referred to as TransSexual?

I don't like the term for myself.
I feel similarly to other posters who say the term
"Trans Guy" is a comfortable fit.

PS: The 'Trans' part of the term for me is used partly as social clarification with people I don't wish to, but who might otherwise take me for a bio-male.

Looking forward to your take on it

[weatherboi]

Originally Posted by Joe Mario

Curious how other guys on T feel about being referred to as TransSexual?
why does a guy here have to be on T in order to answer this question?

I don't like the term for myself.
I feel similarly to other posters who say the term
"Trans Guy" is a comfortable fit.

PS: The 'Trans' part of the term for me is used partly as social clarification with people I don't wish to, but who might otherwise take me for a bio-male.

Looking forward to your take on it

Joe Mario-
Trans covers a lot more guys,than just guys on T. For example, a guy decides to only get top surgery but never use T. His opinion would be just as influential to the conversation. I am going to assume you thought out your question because of it being only specific to guys on T so I need some clarification as to why. Thanks in advance for taking the time out to answer this question.

[Linus]

I have a question for those who have had top surgery: how long before you were "fully" back to "snuff" for work (that is, back at a 100%). My work wants to know if I would be ok with traveling for work on the week of June 13th (about 3 weeks after surgery)

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by Linus

I have a question for those who have had top surgery: how long before you were "fully" back to "snuff" for work (that is, back at a 100%). My work wants to know if I would be ok with traveling for work on the week of June 13th (about 3 weeks after surgery)

Hey Linus,

I just had my surgery yesterday. My doctor told me not to lift anything above 20lbs for 4 weeks (right now I am too sore to lift anything above 5lbs). My concern for you is lugging your baggage around. It tugs on your sutures and makes the scarring worse from what I have been told. If I were you I would give yourself 4-6 weeks til you travel. Hope that helps.

Drew

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by weatherboi

Joe Mario-
Trans covers a lot more guys,than just guys on T. For example, a guy decides to only get top surgery but never use T. His opinion would be just as influential to the conversation. I am going to assume you thought out your question because of it being only specific to guys on T so I need some clarification as to why. Thanks in advance for taking the time out to answer this question.

Grant,

I know you directed this question to Joe, but I guess I'm curious.... why does Joe have to explain why he chose to direct his question to a certain group of people?

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Linus

I have a question for those who have had top surgery: how long before you were "fully" back to "snuff" for work (that is, back at a 100%). My work wants to know if I would be ok with traveling for work on the week of June 13th (about 3 weeks after surgery)

If I remember correctly I took 6 weeks off. When I did return, I wished that I had returned to half days; I would hit a wall around 1:00 and was just useless after that.

When I returned, we had just moved in to new office spaces. I remember attempting to spray and wipe down my work surfaces and feeling pretty nervous about that kind of reaching.

Like Drew said, you really won't want to lift even your laptop case at 3 weeks.

Even if things are healing well and you're feeling good at that time, the incisions and tissue will still be very tender and not even close to "healed".

If you have the gift of time, I'd sure take it.

ETA: To answer your real question, I'd say I was feeling good to go at about 8 weeks. I had my energy back, and I was doing some mild stretching. Keep in mind, though, that I literally laid around for 5 or 6 solid weeks......did only the bare minimum.

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

Hey Linus,

I just had my surgery yesterday. My doctor told me not to lift anything above 20lbs for 4 weeks (right now I am too sore to lift anything above 5lbs). My concern for you is lugging your baggage around. It tugs on your sutures and makes the scarring worse from what I have been told. If I were you I would give yourself 4-6 weeks til you travel. Hope that helps.

Drew

I thought of you yesterday morning. I'm glad you're already here and checking in; that's a good sign!

I don't even need to say I hope you're feeling good..........cuz I know you are!

[Jesse]

Linus,

There are so many variables. Much depends on the type of surgery you have, how well and fast your body heals, how long the drains remains in etc. I drove a pick up truck from Maryland to TN 8 days after my bilateral chest surgery. Three days later I was outside pressure washing a house. lol Was it fun? No. Fact is. I had to do it so I did. But I also am blessed with a high pain threshold and did not have to take any pain meds after my surgery.

Truly if the healing process all goes as it should and you have even a decent pain threshold I would think you could travel as long as you are not lifting heavy suitcases, and you probably should get somone else to lift your carry on in and out of the overhead as well.

Good luck you you.

Originally Posted by Linus

I have a question for those who have had top surgery: how long before you were "fully" back to "snuff" for work (that is, back at a 100%). My work wants to know if I would be ok with traveling for work on the week of June 13th (about 3 weeks after surgery)

[Rufusboi]

Originally Posted by Linus

I have a question for those who have had top surgery: how long before you were "fully" back to "snuff" for work (that is, back at a 100%). My work wants to know if I would be ok with traveling for work on the week of June 13th (about 3 weeks after surgery)

Linus

I was back to work full-time after 5 days. I only took off the five days because work made me. I felt good after 3 days and wanted to go back to work then.

Rufus

[Linus]

Welp. As I trek towards surgery date, I've done a few things. One of the first was get this (La-Z-Boy Roland La-Z-Time Reclining Chair with special coating in case of puppeh disasters):



Big enough for me, the two pugs and, if they are eager, our soon-to-have two new kitties.

I also moved my "surgery money" over to one of my credit cards so I can get air mile points for paying for the surgery. (win-win for me, IMO).

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Linus

Welp. As I trek towards surgery date, I've done a few things. One of the first was get this (La-Z-Boy Roland La-Z-Time Reclining Chair with special coating in case of puppeh disasters):



Big enough for me, the two pugs and, if they are eager, our soon-to-have two new kitties.

I also moved my "surgery money" over to one of my credit cards so I can get air mile points for paying for the surgery. (win-win for me, IMO).

Number one, GREAT looking chair! I still have my threadbare Lazy boy that was once my father's b/c it is wide enough for my jack russell to sit beside me. (and yes, it really is threadbare!)

Number two, awesome plan for air mile points!