Hormone Help?

[DizzyRose]

Hey.. this is my first time posting ANYWHERE about this, but I really feel I need help.. Firstly, I am probably unlike most girls going through this.. I have been living "full time" since I was 16 years old, and I am 21 years old now (as of last week).. My family knows all about me and are very accepting of me. I even had my name changed legally and my SS card re-issued when I was 16 on my mother's permission. I have an extremely feminine appearance and voice and can easily "pass". I have never even been questioned about my sex/gender (this was the same before I was even living full time, I was almost always just assumed to be female!) However I have been strongly wanting to begin hormonal treatment and continue the transition for quite some time now.. My major issue has always been money.. I haven't had a job before recently, and although I have one now it's not exactly big money, I feel like I should at least try to continue with my transition.

i have never taken hormones or even seen a therapist about my transsexuality, I'm a bit fearful now that they'll not take me seriously since I have lived full-time for so long and not taken further steps.. If anyone could give me advice as to what I should do, or even better help me in finding a way to get further in my transition I would be most appreciative! Thanks in advance to any responses I may get.. good luck to all you girls and boys! <3

[VirginiaX23]

There's no reason a therapist wouldn't take you seriously if you are serious. Trust me, it took me a whole lot of years of NOT telling therapists about probably the biggest issue I have before I got around to opening up to a lovely caring person who specializes in our issues.

You've found the right place to open up and begin your journey. The people you meet here are the best and will help you discover the best ways to do what is best for you.

Welcome!!!

:hugs:

[DizzyRose]

To add a little bit more to that.. I've never had problems with not looking feminine enough, though I have recently been having problems with facial/body hair. I suppose it was just late coming in. But it's quite pestering to deal with now. Which is one of the reasons I've been really thinking into this and feeling bad about how I haven't taken the steps necessary to be how I feel yet. I also have a boyfriend, who knows all about me being transsexual and has no problem with it.. However I feel I would like to take our relationship as far as possible eventually and I know I can't do that without doing this first. (Just another reason to mope..)

[AllieSF]

Hello and welcome to this great forum. Look around and try to get your 10 posts (you writing comments in your own thread or other people's threads. That will get you access to other parts that are currently not open to you. Secondly, you will be able to send and receive Private Messages (PM's) to other members here. That is one of the great benefits here.

For assistance, I recommend that you call your local public health service. Look in the phone book for their number. Sometimes thatye are city, county or state run. They may have some programs that you may qualify for that would help take some of thsoe firsts steps towards your goal. Initially, that will probably be some type of therapy to cconfirm your situation and see where it goes from there. In addition, if you live near a big city there may be some LGBT organizations and support groups that you can contact. They will have a lot of advice and ideas for you to explore. Good luck.

[DizzyRose]

Hello and welcome to this great forum. Look around and try to get your 10 posts (you writing comments in your own thread or other people's threads. That will get you access to other parts that are currently not open to you. Secondly, you will be able to send and receive Private Messages (PM's) to other members here. That is one of the great benefits here.

For assistance, I recommend that you call your local public health service. Look in the phone book for their number. Sometimes thatye are city, county or state run. They may have some programs that you may qualify for that would help take some of thsoe firsts steps towards your goal. Initially, that will probably be some type of therapy to cconfirm your situation and see where it goes from there. In addition, if you live near a big city there may be some LGBT organizations and support groups that you can contact. They will have a lot of advice and ideas for you to explore. Good luck.

Thank you very much! I actually do live in a pretty big city, so I can try looking for LGBT resources here I suppose. I only know of one currently and for some reason they don't deal with people above the age of 19.. So I guessed I missed my chance there.

[natasha]

After racking my brains for years, I finally went to a therapist to discuss my transgender issues. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but in hindsight it was the most enlightening and best thing I have ever gained the courage to do. I did not go dressed, or did anything about me look feminine but I knew inside that I just had to.

Its been just over a year since I took that step for a therapist, and after 10 months on hmones I have never been happier with my inner feelings. Due to life commitments I cant fully express "me" in public but I now know inside the wiring is now finally getting to where it supposed to be. :love:

I turned 45 today, I can honeslty say I wish I did it sooner!!

[DizzyRose]

After racking my brains for years, I finally went to a therapist to discuss my transgender issues. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but in hindsight it was the most enlightening and best thing I have ever gained the courage to do. I did not go dressed, or did anything about me look feminine but I knew inside that I just had to.

Its been just over a year since I took that step for a therapist, and after 10 months on hmones I have never been happier with my inner feelings. Due to life commitments I cant fully express "me" in public but I now know inside the wiring is now finally getting to where it supposed to be. :love:

Yeah, I understand that completely. Many of the other girls I've met have similar problems. However, I feel very different even amongst us in that I live fully as a woman, yet I do not even take hormones.. Nobody ever questions me about my gender or sex, but I kind of feel odd still.. While I'm glad I can "pass" so easily, I am not very glad that I have not furthered this more before now. I'm worried that if I keep waiting it out longer, I may start looking less feminine, and I may start getting questioned.. Which would of course be pretty hurtful.

[Suzy Harrison]

Hi Dizzy !

I don't think there's anything that will get in your way of getting hormones.

You mentioned your concerns of cost: Well they aren't that expensive.

I spend $22 on hormone patches (lasts 28 days) = 75 cents a day

and

$33 on anti-angrogens (lasts 50 days) = 66 cents a day

Grand total is $1.41 a day !

Your only problem might be the cost of seeing a thearapist (who will refer you for hormone treatment). This can be expensive (around $175 per visit). So the main thing is you don't want to have to do too many visits before he gives you the green light. What I did was to turn up, as a female, looking my best without overdoing things - and I convinced him in just one 1 hour visit.

You also mentioned that you worry because you've lived so long as a female and have done nothing up to now. - Well thats no problem either as everyone understands each of us is different and go at our own speed. In fact in some countries they insist you live as a female for a while before hormones are precribed.

You should have no problems - the sooner you start hormones the better, as the younger you are, the better they work !


:hugs: Suzy

[Veronica_Jean]

Rose,

I suspect there are a lot more resources in your area. If anything I would think a therapist would take you more seriously because you have been full time for so long.

I am a bit surprised that your parents did not go to one or some other doctor and take steps to prevent male puberty from happening.

This is a great place for support and there is an entire spectrum of people here, so I'm sure you can find lots of opinions ans help.

Google gender therapist in your area and see what you get.

Welcome to the forum.

Veronica

[DizzyRose]

Rose,

I suspect there are a lot more resources in your area. If anything I would think a therapist would take you more seriously because you have been full time for so long.

I am a bit surprised that your parents did not go to one or some other doctor and take steps to prevent male puberty from happening.

This is a great place for support and there is an entire spectrum of people here, so I'm sure you can find lots of opinions ans help.

Google gender therapist in your area and see what you get.

Welcome to the forum.

Veronica

Thank you so much for the suggestion. As for my parents.. While they are accepting of me and refer to me as how I'd like, they are a bit awkward on the whole process.. They also don't have a lot of money, which was what my originally perceived issue was with furthering my transition. However, you girls have given me a lot of helpful information here! I am definitely going to look into getting therapy as soon as possible, and I really hope it's as cheap here as it is there! Thank you all so much again.

[GypsyKaren]

Your parents let you change your name and go full time when you were still a child of 16, but they're still awkward about it five years later when you're an adult?

Karen :g2:

[DizzyRose]

Your parents let you change your name and go full time when you were still a child of 16, but they're still awkward about it five years later when you're an adult?

Karen :g2:

Awkward about the procedure of hormone therapy and surgery, yes.. I would rather pursue it with as little involvement from them as possible.

It's not that I think they wouldn't want me to, it's that I think they don't really know what happens.. I'm more worried that THEY would be worried if I went into the possible complications and such.

[GypsyKaren]

Just curious, but if you're a natural B cup and have totally passed for years, why worry about hormones?

Karen :wheelchair:

[Staciej]

Understand were youre coming from dizzy. I was called mamm and hun for so long as a teen to well in 20's. Don't have much hair growth besides on face. Turned 31and started getting sirs and it scared the crap out of me. Guess it's only time before you will need it so best asap. So many passing worries don't get it. Females look like anythang have seen girls that look like boys and vice versa. As a friend and many tcomics point out if bea arthur ( maude) passed for so many years why can't you? Just say if you get a bad remark don't get jelous cause im pretty usely shuts them up. Be who you are as 90% of this world dont care what you look like.

1.Read up on info on hrt.
2.Get advisee from others on it.
3. Be prepared to sacrafice stuff you have.
4. Wave the options of what's important for you not others.
5. Go who you are and what you wear daily. (wen't in a tee pair of jeans and a skull cap) She asked why that if not female say im more tom-boy then girly girl.
6. Don't go alone they like when you bring the person you share you'r life with. ( and will talk to them about fears and how they feal about your trans.)

Go in with a great bit of info and they will know ur for real. Lot of black market selling goes on with hrt. So doctors are verry scared to prsribe it just to anyone. My self I was scared to see the theropist im married to a woderful gg. Have no children, Handicaap in a wheelchair, Have Ms a non functioning sickness can't look the way I want. (With out my wife's help) Im the last person who is aproved for hrt. One sesstion and told me you are great who you are don't have to change. If you want it then I have no problem signing off on it and getting you started. Been almost a year have yet to go to hrt doc changed in any way. Don't get any bad remarks just you need a purse better to carry ur stuff in.(psp,ds hello kitty,iphone 3gs,) Want's we get over the fear you will get better at enjoying life. That is were the real journey begains.

p.s Sorry for any miss-spellings or bad typos I forget a lot.

[DizzyRose]

Yeah, thanks Stacie. That was basically my worry.. I'm afraid the older I get, my femininity might start fading.. I've already noticed more hair growth, and that scares me quite a bit. That's one of the major reasons I'd like to start pursuing hormonal therapy.

[Staciej]

np as my mother says the good lord giveth and the good lord taketh away.

[BreenaDion]

Yes dizzyrose. they give great advice in here Thank you girls ..I too just started seeing a therapist 3 weeks ago an those 3 weeks I have never fealt so wunderful in my life surpisingly is the fealing of exceptance coming out to my family. Just today I asked for hormones an she is geting on the necessary paper work for my insurance company an finding the right people to help me threw my transitioning M2F. Glorious Day. Took me 3 sessions to accually get it out on the table and to be true to my self.:hugs: I wanted to do it the healty an right way so baby steps her I am . My Insurance company , luckily will pay for most of all cost even SRS :love:

[Aubrey Green]

If you have been dressing full time for 5 years, I see no reason why you shouldn't meet a therapist any other way. Make the appt. in your changed name, go as you usually dress and be completely honest. Let the therapist guess why you are there (HA!) Your parents are accepting of you, so only the therapist needs to be convinced. That should not be that difficult considering what you have told us. Once you start the HRT, you should see some very nice changes at your age, after some time, but follow the doctors instructions.
Try this link there is alot of reading you need to do. http://www.transgendercare.com
Good luck and keep us informed. :daydreaming:

[aussie24tg]

I've only been fulltime for 3 months now, but always saw my self as a female since I was 8 and dressed partime till 23. I only saw psych cause in Australia you need to see one before you goto a doctor for hormones and most TG keep going to a psych cause of metal acceptance and life issues. I see my self fully as female now..I now pass 100%, talk, live, dress female 24/7 and noone even thinks I was ever a male..YaY..my family don't accept me though but you can't have everything in life easy.

I'm xxy chromo so I was also a late hair growth child..I didn't start till 22 and even then it was very little..I got laser hair removal on my face 2 times and im hair free on the face..most males go 12-14 times and still get a lil hair..

The Anti-Testostrone slows the growth of body hair and your hair becomes a light blonde colour. I now after 1 year hormones have full A cup "but I wear a B cup bra now..so I guess im a small B".

Its wise to seek therapy even though you are living fulltime they do help and you can always go back to someone you know in the professional field.

I've never needed to go back, I accept myself and I have had probems with family but I doubt a psych can help seeing as my family don't believe in psych's..So I deal with it and keep lving as a female and if people come in my way then so be it..I will just barge through.

Hope you find what your looking for.

[Staciej]

Great attitude aussie24tg don't ever change keep barging through. Keep that wonderful attitude :cute: