How long can you hide the effects of HRT?

[STACY B]

I think the beginning an middle is gonna be the hardest? Hiding it is easy, If you are Really Trans you are the Worlds Greatest at hiding stuff. Hell I never gave it much thought about hiding it? I just want it to come on an get with it so the Bad time will be through. Half way through looks like the worst in what I have seen before, Not a Man anymore an Not a Woman ether. I just want to be able to pick a side an stay.

Hell I have been Hiding my whole life, I took this path to stop hiding, Once you accept it your well on your way, That was the hardest for me , I am hard headed an just wouldn't give in or up! Once I came to grips with it all of it comes together slowly but more understandable an clearer on all fronts.

But the hardest thing for me is making EVERYONE ELSE UNDERSTAND! Thats the Hard part, I know there is a over sized shirt stage in my future an excuses are all but gone now for the most part. But after this stage I really think it is going to get REAL TOUGH?
I have no delusions about losing friends and family on my way, One things for sure the list is already pretty small so I will see whoever else drops out of the Game?

But I get what you mean but you need to start making plans an don't wait till it's to late an surprise those who can't take!

[Jorja]

Just my opinion and what I did, don't try to make "EVERYONE ELSE UNDERSTAND". Just be yourself and treat people the way you would like to be treated. The rest will take care of itself. Make a plan for your transition and try to stick to it as close as you can. Sure there are going to be setbacks and challenges in your life but even if you have no GD and the need to transition there are setbacks and challenges. Yes, you might lose friends and family. Go look up what a family is. Create a family of your own if you need too. Friends are a dime a dozen, go make new friends. It is not easy but you can survive it and flourish. Make every attempt to keep moving yourself towards you goal. Sometimes this may mean taking a detour around a roadblock.

[morgan pure]

Do not wear a bra to hide your boobs. Bras lift and define breasts. Scientists and designers have spent years and fortunes to make them serve the purpose of enhancement. Some of my sexiest bras that make the most cleavage are not the maxi-padded ones, they are just well-engineered unlined balconette's.

[Linda Z]

Jora, those are wise words.

[Launa]

Hi everybody, I'm just sending thanks to all who have shared their experiences.

One other reason I was asking about hormones which some members already chimed in on is to try to understand what they do with brain chemistry? In my case I don't think I am a True Text Book TS but I must be somewhere on the Trans scale other than a CD. I think about what it would be like to live 24/7 as a woman and know I can't do it but wishing I could do it. I've heard everybody say the old cliche over the years, "if you want something bad enough you can go do it!" Blah, blah
I have also read many comments on this forum from intelligent members that say If you can avoid transition then avoid doing it. In my case because of age and the life I have built I choose the latter but I sure as heck have it on my mind an awful lot during the 24hr day. Its frustrating as you know what the _______ its like.
I'm not sure what the next step will be.

[charlenesomeone]

Launa I feel exactly like you and your situation above.
I'm seeing a great Psychologist who is helping, don't know if you
have tried that or not. Wanting nothing but the best for everyone on
this journey, ( knowing reality, not cheer leading) but wanting it for
everyone.

[Launa]

I haven't tried the psychologist yet but have been thinking about it. Main reason for not trying to go is I've been to them before about other things and get nowhere. Well somewhere, I try not to be cynical but have always come to the same conclusion once I finish a few sessions and that conclusion seems to always be if you want to make some change then you reserve the right to go do it! And I always seem to blow a $1000.00 bucks on them before I get close to an answer and right now I need a couple new gowns for some upcoming pageants I want to be in....Gowns, laser, shoes, accessories VS sessions LOL
Cheers Charlene

[Frances]

You've just lost all credibility.

[Launa]

For what?

[Frances]

Pageants, gowns, shoes and accessories.

Why do you think trans people seek therapy?

[Kimberley]

There are several factors. Age and dosage of the meds being the primary ones. Additionally, the type of blocker can influence things. In that, there is a choice of medication
Dosages prescribed are; or should be monitored in the beginning to ensure the correct levels are maintained.

As to hiding, I wont say it is a bad thing; we all have different life circumstances that dictate different needs, but if you are young, about a year before you have to start "covering". Layers and loose tops work fairly well. Personally, I have to sort of hide because of my job but outside, that isn't the case. I haven't been questioned. (I am 63 in a month) So, don't worry about it; enjoy the ride!!!

[Launa]

Pageants, gowns, shoes and accessories.

Why do you think trans people seek therapy?

Trans folk see therapy for many different reasons depending on their situations. Your situation will be different than mine and so on. I can speak for myself and say that I won't see a therapist right now unless moving forward in a transition sort of phase or outing myself in my male life would be an option. Because I've reached a plateau with my limitations, the next step might be something like hormones, FFS, botox, dressing more full time.... Because this will not be an option right now I don't think I will benefit a whole lot by going to a therapist. Maybe I'm wrong but everytime I go to one I seem to get the same common denominator that works for me not necessarily you. That conclusion I come to is if you want change you can go do it just understand the possible and probable consequences of your actions.

Kimberley

Great info, hopefully down the road I might see a chance to be able to do this too. Maybe when I hit the retirement years I could go fulltime...BTW I really like your website. I have saved it to my favorites so I can read through it this week. Good work.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

You are right...all experience is different.

Based on your posts and experience, scratch hormones off your list..
They will almost certainly disappoint you if you are hoping for cosmetic help

I am all for having personal choice, and do what you want
...but based on my experience you are right...you don't need therapy, or HRT... things like hair removal are a better bet..

its interesting you talk about common denominators...
prioritizing ball gowns vs therapy is not a common denominator you will find often in transsexual women...

[Launa]

Common denominator for me right now is money $$$. This whole thing is costing a fortune right from hair removal, wigs because I won't buy a cheap one, shoes and clothes for big girls that look decent is just so much money that's unless you don't mind looking look like a hooker. If money was no object and I could do everything Carte Blanche then I'm sure I would get some therapy too. I have the perfect life as far as a CD might be concerned it just doesn't seem to be enough though. As far as the ball gowns go yes I like to hang out with 2 of the Imperial Courts in my province, although its members are predominantly gay there are more than a few Trans women and men in the group. I'm not saying I'm one or the other because I've never been to anybody for a professional diagnosis but my CD friends don't like being around the Courts as much as I do. I do need a few different gowns for those events that come up and we have a lot of them in the next 2 months.
Once again I won't seek therapy unless there is a possibility I might make a change in some form or another I personally won't find any use for it unless I am in that frame of mind going in.
Kaitlyn, I also don't think I am TS. I do think though I'm somewhere between CD and TS wherever that might be on the scale.

[Frances]

Unlike Kaitlyn, I am not a liberatarian. I don't think you should be allowed to "try" hormones. You are obviously not trans and do not understand the meaning of the word dysphoria. Therapy is not a means to transition, it is required to alleviate anxiety and unhappiness related to sex and gender. Whether the patient/client transitions or not is besides the point. People seek therapy because their condition hinders their ability to function in regular life, not because they want boobies.

Have fun, buy gowns, remove your hair. You are not trans, and you should not contemplate HRT.

[Launa]

I didn't say I would try hormones ever without proper supervision, guidance and direction. I was merely asking some questions about them. If I ever tried them it would be for the long haul and yes I'm learning as I go only asking questions. I forgot to say that I could careless if you're a Libertarian or not. Folks go to therapy for many reasons I'm not knocking that, never was. You don't even know me but thanks for politely diagnosing me not being Trans now I know. LOL

[Kaitlyn Michele]

I really appreciate the honesty.
isn't therapy covered in canada??

look its not really for me to say, but you brought it up...i don't think you are transsexual either...i think you picked up on that in the common denominator comment...

why not avoid focusing on something so drastic and medical...as others have said, the effects are unpredictable and uncontrollable...and the older you are the more risky and the less impactful they will be..
and what's more, there is a good chance it will screw with your identity as a cross dresser...especially if cross dressing excites you.... you will need blood monitoring, you will have to deal with dosage blues where too much or too little messes up your electrolytes and other aspects of your blood chemistry... you could gain a lot of weight, your cholesterol will likely go up...what do you do if in 6 months or 12 months nothing really happens??? do more?? stop??

your bones will be more brittle and you will want supplements for that.. i assume you'd take testosterone blockers as well and those can be even more nasty than the estrogen....transsexuals put up with this because it aligns body and mind to soul....its not a cost its just the reality of our bodies coming into alignment with who we are...

i just spent a terrifying couple of days getting fast tracked because of a nasty lump we found in my breast that seemed to come from nowhere...biopsy was negative...its just an unexplainable mass that i can choose to remove...

that's the wonderful world of hrt.. and it did barely anything for my boobs even though my mom and sis have large breasts and i was "only" 46 when i started them..even so, they played a part in saving my life...

hormones have helped a lot of people out of misery...taking them for anything else is crap shoot with pretty bad odds..

[Launa]

Kaitlyn, thanks for telling me the info in that manner. It really puts perspective into the harsh reality of taking HRT and explains a lot of things to a newbie. Of course I would always get doctors advice before I would ever take 1 single pill even though you can buy everything online these days. As far as being Trans goes I know I'm not TS. Where I sit I don't know I do have friends, acquaintances that live 24/7 as female, changed just about everything but have kept the bottom bits and pieces only. I'm not sure what name they fall under in the textbook or here but they call themselves Transgender. I'm just asking questions about different things right now to help me out. I think I will start asking serious questions to my friends that are TS/TG when I meet up with them next and get some insight too. I'm usually whooping it up with them when we get together at parties or events. As far as therapy goes in Canada I believe its covered but I think you have to wait a long time to see a specialist in dealing with GID. Up to 18 months I've heard or you can jump the line and pay out of pocket for it and get help on the spot.

[maryellen]

I've gone 14 months without comment and am about to come out and live full time. I rarely wore anything tight-fitting. I really thought FFS would give me away, but people don't tend to pry. Because the change from hormones is gradual, people see what they expect to see. We'll see if anyone at my job figured it out when I talk to management mid-month. If mouths drop open or heads start spinning, I'll figure it surprised them.

[Kathryn Martin]

Normally it will take six months to a year before you can really tell. And only if your wear tight t shirts. yon telling you any different just is too impressed with their booblettes. Skin does get soft and clearer, they'll jut think you discovered skin care. Don't worry about weight distribution that takes years. Voice and ha jut stay the sae and are not all affected by hormone therapy.

[Launa]

I've gone 14 months without comment and am about to come out and live full time. I rarely wore anything tight-fitting. I really thought FFS would give me away, but people don't tend to pry. Because the change from hormones is gradual, people see what they expect to see. We'll see if anyone at my job figured it out when I talk to management mid-month. If mouths drop open or heads start spinning, I'll figure it surprised them.

Maryellen, I have to ask about your FFS. How were you able to get FFS while your employed and nobody has noticed or not said anything? Did you take a month off work get surgery, wait for the bruising to go down etc? There must be more to the story on how you pulled that one off without anybody saying anything! You'll have to let me know if you're happy with FFS and where you had it done.

Normally it will take six months to a year before you can really tell. And only if your wear tight t shirts. yon telling you any different just is too impressed with their booblettes. Skin does get soft and clearer, they'll jut think you discovered skin care. Don't worry about weight distribution that takes years. Voice and ha jut stay the sae and are not all affected by hormone therapy.

Well everyone seems to say the same thing that it takes 6 months - 1 year and small things become noticeable.
What do you do then if the boobs don't grow as big as you want them to, go get implants?
Kathryn, where did you get that top, sweater in your profile pic? I saw one like it at Long Tall Sally awhile ago and really liked it but didn't buy it.

Cheers gang!

Launa

[DebbieL]

It all depends on how you react to the hormones. I tried to hide it from church and my in-laws (at Lee's request), for as long as I could. About 6 months along, I was able to wear a shapewear camisole that mashed things down under baggy dress shirts from LLBean.

By 9 months, I had 38C breasts, and there wasn't any hiding any longer. Eventually, they grew to 38D. The thing is that even though I thought I had passed as a male, most people suspected and many even knew about Debbie, and weeks before I came in my first dress, several women if the church were whispering in my ear "I can't wait to see you in a dress". My Inlaws saw me as Debbie at Thanksgiving and liked me so much that Debbie got all the Christmas presents. It was the best Christmas ever!

When I went to my college and high school reunions as Debbie, NOBODY was surprised. It turned out that even people who had known me since second grade knew that I was transgender. Of course, that term didn't exist in those days. They knew I was "a girl inside".

If you are thinking about starting hormones, you want to do as much of the ground-work in advance as possible. Telling wife, children, parents, are really important. It's also a really good idea to find an employer with a good LGBT diversity policy. My employer even covered most of the medical expenses for therapists and doctors and HRT.

Your therapist can be a valuable partner in assisting you with planning and executing this groundwork. Listen and take the coaching.

[maryellen]

Maryellen, I have to ask about your FFS. How were you able to get FFS while your employed and nobody has noticed or not said anything? Did you take a month off work get surgery, wait for the bruising to go down etc? There must be more to the story on how you pulled that one off without anybody saying anything! You'll have to let me know if you're happy with FFS and where you had it done.



Well everyone seems to say the same thing that it takes 6 months - 1 year and small things become noticeable.
What do you do then if the boobs don't grow as big as you want them to, go get implants?
Kathryn, where did you get that top, sweater in your profile pic? I saw one like it at Long Tall Sally awhile ago and really liked it but didn't buy it.

Cheers gang!




Launa

Launa -

I used Jeffrey Weizweig near Chicago and was very pleased with the result, price and pos-surgical care. I stayed a week at a wonderful re=hab faciloty before returning to Philly. I had my nose fixed, chin rounded. neck re-draped and ears pinned bacck. 8 hours surgery, When I rEturned to my large law firm 8 days after FFS I still had some bruising and swelling. I kept my door shut a lot. Only my secretary asked about my appearance and she seemed to buy my response of "adnoids surgery." Again, people see what they expect.

Maryellen

[Rogina B]

Just my opinion and what I did, don't try to make "EVERYONE ELSE UNDERSTAND". Just be yourself and treat people the way you would like to be treated. The rest will take care of itself. Make a plan for your transition and try to stick to it as close as you can. Go look up what a family is. Create a family of your own if you need too. Friends are a dime a dozen, go make new friends.

Surround yourself with people that "get it" and leave the others behind...

[morgan pure]

5 years- just es. Can't wear polo shirts.