Felix
06-20-2009, 06:16 AM
Well I'm almost at the end of my 6 main sessions at the GIC in Leeds. I have to say my experience so far has been excellent and I have been treated really well.
I had my 5th appointment last Wednesday and it went really well :) I was really surprised at myself at how honest and completely transparent I was even with a young trainee doctor in the room :) I had a lot to say because lately I have tended to bottle things up as I don't want to bore peeps with my transition. I mean initially everybody wants to know the ins and outs but then it just becomes boring as this is my personal journey and unless ya going through it or have been through it then I can understand how it may seem a little tiresome. They asked how I was getting on and how things were going at work since we moved buildings and because of my involvement in the setting up of the new unit which is only small and specialist for the kids with learning difficulties. Although we do have a couple of kids with behaviour problems, ADHD and aspurgers. I love working with them its a real challenge.
I was explaining to her how it felt to me going through transition and why at this moment I felt particularly vulnerable. I described it as a parallel to my teenage years and how although it isn't really happening ya feel like everyone is getting at ya. How everything is much more sensitive both physically and emotionally and that you are having to almost relearn things, coping mechanisms and everything. I said the learning curve is extremely steep especially when you are working full time which is exhausting when you are transitioning. I told her that I can see the importance of the real life experience and that although I lived as male before hormones I feel my real life experience is on another level now and that I am now living the real life experience as opposed to simply feeling male I am living it now and will continue to live it and grow in every sense of the word. I mean this is due to the physical and psychological changes I'm experiencing and they will continue for sometime. I know that it takes 18 to 24 months to completely transition hormonally so I can expect changes throughout that period.
I talked to her again about bottom surgery and how becuase of these changes I want phalloplasty for many reasons which I think are typically male. I made them laugh when I told them some things I do which are all wrapped up in psychology and dealing with transition (public forum so can't say :o) use ya imaginations lol!!! She said, 'So it's true what men say about sex then?' I said, 'Well yeah most definitely but it doesn't mean that every man objectifies women and it is also about mastering self control and not all men achieve that. Also that's were respect comes into things.' I explained that although I have a high sex drive and always have I would not expect that my partner bows to my every need that would be totally unacceptable, unfeeling and unequal. Respect is a huge part and there are other ways to deal with sexual urges than full intercourse.
I told them that I was now on 250mg dose of 'T' and that my doctor is happy with that and my progress and that all my blood work is good, so no worries there :)
I also told them that if everything goes to plan I should have my chest surgery by Christmas and that we had the surgeons just waiting for approval and funding. They were very impressed with our communications with the relevant surgeons and took all the details of the surgeons who would be involved.
I have to go back in August for my 6th appointment and to see the endocrinologist there. So its going well really all in all :):) xx Felix :hugs:
I had my 5th appointment last Wednesday and it went really well :) I was really surprised at myself at how honest and completely transparent I was even with a young trainee doctor in the room :) I had a lot to say because lately I have tended to bottle things up as I don't want to bore peeps with my transition. I mean initially everybody wants to know the ins and outs but then it just becomes boring as this is my personal journey and unless ya going through it or have been through it then I can understand how it may seem a little tiresome. They asked how I was getting on and how things were going at work since we moved buildings and because of my involvement in the setting up of the new unit which is only small and specialist for the kids with learning difficulties. Although we do have a couple of kids with behaviour problems, ADHD and aspurgers. I love working with them its a real challenge.
I was explaining to her how it felt to me going through transition and why at this moment I felt particularly vulnerable. I described it as a parallel to my teenage years and how although it isn't really happening ya feel like everyone is getting at ya. How everything is much more sensitive both physically and emotionally and that you are having to almost relearn things, coping mechanisms and everything. I said the learning curve is extremely steep especially when you are working full time which is exhausting when you are transitioning. I told her that I can see the importance of the real life experience and that although I lived as male before hormones I feel my real life experience is on another level now and that I am now living the real life experience as opposed to simply feeling male I am living it now and will continue to live it and grow in every sense of the word. I mean this is due to the physical and psychological changes I'm experiencing and they will continue for sometime. I know that it takes 18 to 24 months to completely transition hormonally so I can expect changes throughout that period.
I talked to her again about bottom surgery and how becuase of these changes I want phalloplasty for many reasons which I think are typically male. I made them laugh when I told them some things I do which are all wrapped up in psychology and dealing with transition (public forum so can't say :o) use ya imaginations lol!!! She said, 'So it's true what men say about sex then?' I said, 'Well yeah most definitely but it doesn't mean that every man objectifies women and it is also about mastering self control and not all men achieve that. Also that's were respect comes into things.' I explained that although I have a high sex drive and always have I would not expect that my partner bows to my every need that would be totally unacceptable, unfeeling and unequal. Respect is a huge part and there are other ways to deal with sexual urges than full intercourse.
I told them that I was now on 250mg dose of 'T' and that my doctor is happy with that and my progress and that all my blood work is good, so no worries there :)
I also told them that if everything goes to plan I should have my chest surgery by Christmas and that we had the surgeons just waiting for approval and funding. They were very impressed with our communications with the relevant surgeons and took all the details of the surgeons who would be involved.
I have to go back in August for my 6th appointment and to see the endocrinologist there. So its going well really all in all :):) xx Felix :hugs: