Road to Transition

[joanlynn28]

Well the moment that I have been waiting for is finally going to happen tomorrow. I have been making excuses for the past couple of months why not to go see the doctor for hormone treatment. All of my friends (tg) have been telling me when are you going to start, they and I know that this is something that I cannot ignore and must do to maintain my own sanity is this crazy mixed up world. Everyday I take bigger and bigger steps toward optaining this goal that I have had since my preteen years. I have questioned it in the past but now I know for sure that I am truly a girl inside and I must let her out and life and breath. Lately it has been getting harder and harder to not be the girl that I was ment to be. The only hours that I am not female is the short 8 hours a day when I go to work, and I can barely manage to do that anymore. I so want to just stop kidding myself and just go fulltime because I am at the point where I am ready to do it. So torromow is the big day when I have my first appointment to see the hormone doctor. I am both excited and a bit scared, this is one of the biggest steps in my life that I am ever going to take but to me it is the only way it has to be for me. So I will let you know how things are going later in my posts. I am just grateful that I have a family of origin that supports me in my decision, friends that care for me, and a loving church family that excepts me for what and who I am.

[CaptLex]

Wow, I'm very excited for you, Joan Lynn. I'm glad to hear that you already have a support system in place - that's so important. Good luck tomorrow. Please come back and let us know how it went. :hugs:

[MarieTS]

Joan Lynn: I feely your pain. Congratulations for taking the most important steps of your life tomorrow. So many of us share your experinces and concerns. Don't be afraind to share them with us, and by all means fill us in on how well everything goes for you tomorrow. :hugs:

[Caitlintgsd]

Hey, congratulations! (you got that appt moved up?)

[Siobhan Marie]

I'm so pleased for you taking this big step and I really hope it goes well for you and to echo what Capt Lex said, please come back and tell us how it went.

:hugs: Anna Marie x

[Kimberly]

the best of luck in all you do, my luv. Take care! And you'll have people here to tell tomorrow.

Remember - one shot. one life. just do it. xx

[joanlynn28]

Well I have some work to do before I can start on hormones. I'll have just over a month before my next visit to see the doctor to get my blood pressure down, it is a bit high right now I don't know if it is just being a bit nervous seeing th e doctor or I need to cut back on the coffee. I am probable going to have to see my personal physician to adjust my blood pressure medication to get things back in check. And since I was there at the clinic the doctor had me screened for STD's and such which I will get the results of on my next visit. The other thing is that I am going to have to write out my five year plan on transitioning which I havn't really put to paper yet but have been going over in my head for the past year. On a positive note the staff said that I am quite passable which just make me want to reach my goal that much more. Just a little minor setback on my long term plan.

[joanlynn28]

Hey, congratulations! (you got that appt moved up?)

I couldn't wait till November to go see Dr. Sandler so I made an appointment to see Dr. Smith at the Family Health Center, and considering my finances at the moment Dr. Sandler is probable out of my price range right now.

[joanlynn28]

Good news, today I checked my blood pressure and it is back where it should be, I guess yesterday I just will have to attribute it to a bit of nervousness seeing the hormone doctor for the first time. So now that this health scare is past I need to get with the five year plan so I can move on with my life goal of transitioning.

[MJ]

hi there when you go full time all you need is a letter from your doctor telling them you are in transistion to become a woman. that is what i did and gave them a date when i was starting full time as a woman. the first week is the hardest but after that things return to normail remember to let your coworkers get it out of there system then after about a month everyboby got used to the real me. that was a year ago and now i am in heaven thay all call me mj or marissa. and i am treated just like one of the girls. all i need now is the "grs" or srs oh and the money all the best hugs

[Caitlintgsd]

I couldn't wait till November to go see Dr. Sandler so I made an appointment to see Dr. Smith at the Family Health Center, and considering my finances at the moment Dr. Sandler is probable out of my price range right now.

Ha! Dr Smith. I used to see him. He gave me hell over my bp (130/80) which was a "high normal".

[joanlynn28]

Ha! Dr Smith. I used to see him. He gave me hell over my bp (130/80) which was a "high normal".

yeah, I checked my BP yesterday at work and it was 117/77 which is more like it. And Dr. Smith was out of the country so one of the woman doctors at the clinic saw me.

[joanlynn28]

Well today I heard some interesting stories at work. It appears that I am not alone at work, meaning I am not the only transgender employee at the big yellow earthmoving company. I learned today from a close friend that there is a girl who recently had SRS that works at the other facility. My mission now is to try and contact her somehow and find out how she went about discussing her transition while remaining on the job and how she went about it with HR. I am curious to know since this is where I am at in my own transition.

[JODIBANTON]

I have been on them for a year, I buy them in Mexico and have my blood test by Dr. in Laguna Beach. Go to Orange County Transgender Forum for great information.

Love

[Calliope]

It's exciting to hear your news. Please do keep us posted!

[Scotty]

I'm happy for you!!!
That's a huge huge step!!

Remember to have patience on the hormones, it'll take a few months before you start seeing change, but when it comes it will start coming faster and faster....next thing you know you'll be saying OUCH when you bump your breasts into something! (6 months)..

I don't plan to transition much further, I wish I could but I do not see it happening, not this year or next anyway :) I enjoy being so in the closet at this point in my life but I love watching others do it!! You're a brave gurrrrl!!!!

You go girl!!

Keep us posted!!

[joanlynn28]

It has been six days since I saw my Dr. last Wednesday. Started hormones on Friday 200mg spirilactone and 1.25mg Premarin. The first thing I did after I left my doctor's office was to go to the DMV and got my license changed, so now it is official I am Joan Lynn when I show my ID. On the downside I got a letter from my doctor and he thinks that I might have Hashimoto's disease (an enlarged thyroid) states that I should get it tested annually and have my blood work done in three months to monitor have my liver function and lipids profile checked. But I am also going to be able to change my insurance coverage so my endicrinologist can be my primary care physician. He is listed for both internal medicine and endicrinolygy in the Aetna coverage book for San Diego. Been figuring out how much I should put into a Flexible Spending Account to pay for copays and prescriptions. As soon as my divorce is final I am going to change insurance. I will be getting better coverage and be able to see the health care professionals that I really need to, plus the mental health care coverage is better too. I have been feeling slightly nausaus the past couple of days, and also a slight headache. The biggest thing I need to keep an eye on is my potassium levels.

[Scotty]

I have been feeling slightly nausaus the past couple of days, and also a slight headache. The biggest thing I need to keep an eye on is my potassium levels.

There's some chemical change going on in your body right now but keep an eye on it. I had the headaches too, lasted about 3 days and you'll have them just as bad or worse when you go OFF of the hormones. A doctor told me that any withdrawel from something can cause headaches but not everyone gets them.

Edited:

Well I sent an email to Ann Lawrence tonight looking for a Seattle TG friendly doc, got that and the number and tomorrow I'm going to call for an appointment for a blood check up.
I'm far far below suggested hormone levels but I still want to be safe. I didn't go your route - so I'm proud of you!

And then, Dr Lawrence also said she would set me up an appointment to come in and officially get set up for a prescription - so I may be going this route, halfway anyway!!!

You motivated me :)

[JOANNE]

Be very careful if you have Hashimoto's disease. Before I started medication (for life), I put on weight, lost all body hair, was listless, weak. In fact its a case of the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and if left untreated the body will shut down. The hair on my legs never re grew and growth elsewhere is slow.

[Calliope]

The first thing I did after I left my doctor's office was to go to the DMV and got my license changed, so now it is official I am Joan Lynn when I show my ID.

Just, wow! I am about to start transitioning mysef and, let me say, your accounts, however brief, are inspiring!

Here's hoping you are feeling better soon. No doubt soon, I suspect.

[joanlynn28]

I don't really think that I have Hashimoto's, I have done some research into it and it is more likely a overactive thyroid. But I will have my Dr. run tests on it when I have my blood work done in a couple of weeks. On a lighter note I have been doing a little research at work and have found out that there is a company sponsered afininty group for GLBT and their allies. I went and join the group today, its good to be able to network with other employees within the corperation that share something in common. This is an important part of my company's "Values in Action" within the updated "Corporate Code of Conduct":thumbsup: