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Thread: Another step

  1. #1
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    Another step

    I have for the last 2 years been giving serious consideration to the idea of transitioning. In this time my gender dysphoria is not improving but is getting worse. Now I have scheduled an appointment with a therapist who deals with gender issues for this Saturday the 23rd of July. I feel that HRT is something I really want to do, and I feel therapy is necessary before starting HRT. Plus, I just need the opinion of an objective third party.

    Currently with the exception of work situations I have basically been living my life as a woman. One thing I have been doing is having laser hair removal done on my face. I have had some good results with this. Soon I am planning on having electrolysis to get rid of what the laser cannot. Also, I have been googling a lot on transitioning and things related to it.

    Grace

  2. #2
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    Keep working your way through it here too Grace. Therapy is the beginning. There is a whole lot more. You are starting down the road and doing it with therapy is a good thing as it means you haven't totally reached a breaking point yet. This will allow you to work through it as thoughtfully as you can. Good luck!

  3. #3
    GROUP 3 :-D tgirlamc's Avatar
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    Hi Grace!!!

    Sounds like you know that you need to look at things a bit closer and that is a good thing!!! All the best on your exploration and the road ahead!!!

    Take Care,

    Ashley
    Have you seen the little pieces of the people we have been?... Little pieces blowing gently on the wind... 11:11

  4. #4
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    To update my situation. I went to therapy and we talked about my gender dysphoria, and I believe I found a good therapist. Also I mentioned to her that HRT is something that I am interested in. She said she would not feel comfortable writing a letter after one session and I said I understood her position. She said she found no reason from our session to not write me the letter in the future. So I feel the session went real well. I am scheduled to go back in 10 days to see her again.

    The therapist and I agreed on steps to take for the future. One of them is that I would schedule a physical exam with my internist to determine if HRT is medically ok, and to check my health in general. Another is to work on securIng a steadier employment situation.

    Right now I feel good about what has happened. I am taking action rather than just talking about what I want to do. As to where all this leads to, I cannot say for certain. Maybe it even leads to SRS. Years ago I never would have thought I would be where I am at now.

  5. #5
    GROUP 3 :-D tgirlamc's Avatar
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    Hi Grace!!!

    Congrats on the step forward!!!... I remember how good and affirming it felt for me knowing that I was taking steps and beginning to move forward and I hope you feel that too!!!... You sound like you have a good mindset and I believe you have amazing things ahead!... Onward we go!!!!

    Take Care,

    Ashley
    Have you seen the little pieces of the people we have been?... Little pieces blowing gently on the wind... 11:11

  6. #6
    Silver Member Starling's Avatar
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    Once you take those first steps--even if serious obstacles interrupt you--you have drawn a new starting line, and it will change your life profoundly.

    Lallie
    Time for a change.

  7. #7
    trans punk Badtranny's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by grace7777 View Post
    Right now I feel good about what has happened. I am taking action rather than just talking about what I want to do.
    Really excellent point. The majority here do a lot of TALKING about transition and they're generally full of advice and pamphlets but very low on actual experience. Discernment will be your first hard lesson in the "community". It certainly was for me.

    Your next hard lesson will be the value of patience. No matter what you decide to do, patience will be a key factor in how you deal with it. Patience with the system, patience with your friends & family, patience with yourself, patience with HRT, yadda yadda, yadda.

    Everything will happen in its own time and nothing will happen soon enough for you so decouple your satisfaction from your expectation. Learn to be satisfied with increments.

    Also while you're learning IF you should transition, take the time to learn WHY you should transition as well. Sometimes the study of IF will actually make you a better man, and the study of WHY will make you a more content woman. I can tell from your avatar picture that you're not a slave to fashion, ...and that's actually a good thing, as most of the TS women I know were pretty bad at cross dressing. There are exceptions of course, but if my actual experience is any indication, one of your most important goals will be to get to the bottom of any attraction to women's clothes. Find out what that's all about because I can assure you that clothing is but a tiny part of the transition experience.

    One more thing, this whole Full Time Except For Work gag is a proven BS tactic. There isn't a single gal here (who has transitioned) that gives any credence to stuff like that. Transition is about honesty first. Get honest with yourself about who you are and then get honest with us. We don't need your fantasy stuff or your exaggerations, or your wishful thinking. In fact the post transition gals don't need much from this forum at all.

    What we WANT is for our sisters to be happy and have great transitions, and we KNOW that can't happen without honesty no matter how hard it is. Find out who you are, and then be that. Be the hell out of that.
    Quote Originally Posted by STACY B
    At least there is social acceptance in being a drunk in our world. Hell I was good at it too.
    Melissa Hobbes
    www.badtranny.com

  8. #8
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Badtranny View Post
    one of your most important goals will be to get to the bottom of any attraction to women's clothes. Find out what that's all about because I can assure you that clothing is but a tiny part of the transition experience.
    One more thing, this whole Full Time Except For Work gag is a proven BS tactic. There isn't a single gal here (who has transitioned) that gives any credence to stuff like that. Transition is about honesty first. Get honest with yourself about who you are and then get honest with us. We don't need your fantasy stuff or your exaggerations, or your wishful thinking. In fact the post transition gals don't need much from this forum at all.

    What we WANT is for our sisters to be happy and have great transitions, and we KNOW that can't happen without honesty no matter how hard it is. Find out who you are, and then be that. Be the hell out of that.
    Yes, transitioning is more than just about clothes. I know you do not transition just to wear a dress, and I have been asking myself the question, Is it just about the clothes? Personally there is more to me wanting to transition than just the clothes.

    Also, I understand that "Full time except for work" in no way compares to transitioning and gals who have transitioned are right not to give credence to it. Yet, I also know that there are gals who where at the "Full time except for work stage" before they transitioned. My point in mentioning it is to tell people where I am at. Transitioning will be like nothing I have faced so far, but I also know if I cannot handle what I have faced so far, then I have no business considering transitioning.

  9. #9
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    On Tuesday I had another therapy session with my therapist. The session went well and the therapist said she is willing to write a letter if needed.

    Today I went to see my primary care physician for a physical. This was my first time to see her. I informed her of my desire to transition. She said she would check with the endocrinology department to see what steps needed to be taken. She said she would have a nurse get back to me on what she found out. Also, she informed me that this is the first time she has dealt with the issue of transitioning.

    I am on the Kaiser Permanente health plan. If anyone on here has transitioned with Kaiser, I would love to hear about your experiences with them.

    Grace

  10. #10
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    An update on my situation.

    A nurse from my physicians office got back to me on what I would need to do to start Hormone Replacement Therapy(HRT). I was informed the first step would be to contact the psychiatry department at Kaiser Permanente. So, I contacted psychiatry, and was told that I needed to meet with a therapist of theirs. I called and scheduled an appointment, and the meeting happened on Monday.

    Overall I thought the meeting went well. The first thing she was looking for was that I was psychologically healthy. I had to answer a lot of standard questions you answer when seeing a therapist for the first time. In the meeting I never got the feeling she was opposed to me transitioning, which I feel is a positive. Working for Kaiser, she promoted how they had a great program for transgender people. She explained also everything that Kaiser would cover, which includes SRS. The surgery would be done in Arizona, and they would cover the costs to travel there and back. For me SRS is probably at least 2 years away at a minimum. I was kind of impressed with what they covered.

    For me the most important question was when I could get a referral to an endocrinologist to start HRT. There are a few steps I have to go thru to get the referral. Next Tuesday September 6th I have to attend an introductory session on transitioning. Then I am scheduled on the 12th for a group session with a gender therapist, which I will probably have to postpone for a week due to work commitments. On October 17th I have to meet with the same gender therapist for an individual session, if that goes well then I should get my referral to the endocrinologist and hopefully be able to start HRT very soon after that.

    I wish this process could go faster now, but I know I must be patient. Due to financial considerations, I have to do things Kaiser's way. The disappointing thing is my 2 previous visits with a therapist do not count as far as Kaiser is concerned, but I feel I did benefit from those sessions, even if they do not count as far as the health plan is concerned.

    Grace

  11. #11
    GROUP 3 :-D tgirlamc's Avatar
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    Congrats Grace!!!

    I'm happy for you!!! ...Sounds like the wheels are starting to turn!... like a locomotive pulling out of the station, it may feel a little slow but, you'll be picking up speed and humming down the tracks in no time!!!

    Hugs!
    Ashley
    Have you seen the little pieces of the people we have been?... Little pieces blowing gently on the wind... 11:11

  12. #12
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    Hi Grace, I was reading your thread and IMHO I think you are going about this very intelligently. It does sound like your desire for HRT is strong - nothing wrong with that but as someone that is in early transition I am getting a lot out of the psychological and emotional side of this journey. My biggest focus with both my therapist and introspection with myself is on getting comfortable with accepting myself as bring trans. I am currently waiting for my blood work results ( hopefully tomorrow ) so that I can start HRT which I am excited for however my biggest focus is on my mental journey and living in the world as myself. Best wishes for you, I will be interested in reading about your future progress.
    Kym

  13. #13
    Junior Member Jmichelle60's Avatar
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    Congratulations Grace! Things are moving in the right direction.

  14. #14
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    I finally got my referral to an endocrinologist. I am such a happy woman right now. My appointment to see her is on November 1. On Monday I went in and had lab work done that was ordered by Endocrinology. My understanding is that if their are no problems with the lab results, I should be able to start HRT immediately.

    As far as to how I would prefer to go about HRT, right now I feel injections are the best way to go. The pills seem to be riskier because of the danger they pose to the kidneys. The patches to me seem to be a lot of trouble to manage, and they seem to be the slowest in producing results. Also, to me it seems injections work the fastest. For those of you who have different opinions on this, I would love to hear from you.

    Grace
    Last edited by grace7777; 10-26-2016 at 01:41 AM. Reason: Grammar

  15. #15
    Aspiring Member MarieTS's Avatar
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    Grace, I do not have any predicament with the patches but the injections clearly have a quicker effect. Good luck and enjoy!
    Marie

  16. #16
    Aspiring Member grace7777's Avatar
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    I went to see my endocrinologist today. The visit went well. I asked the doctor when I could start hormones and she said I could start them today. That was good news for me.

    After the visit with the doctor, I was scheduled to get my first shot. I was in the waiting room and got called by a nurse and escorted to a room. The nurse talked to me a few minutes and then left to prepare the injection. After maybe 10 minutes later the doctor came in informing me there was a backlog of injectable oestrogen, and they would not be getting any until December. So, she wrote me a prescription for Estradiol, that I got filled the Pharmacy. After getting the prescription I took my first pill. I will be taking the pills once daily. When the injectable estrogen comes in I will be switching from the pills to the shots.

    Also, the shortage of injectable estrogen is apparently nation wide.

    It feels great that I have taken another step on the road to transitioning.
    Last edited by grace7777; 11-01-2016 at 04:43 PM.

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