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Welcome to the Forums @gizgizgizzie we have folks in your situations to talk to and share with.

hi everyone, my name is giz (or gizzie), i use all prns but i prefer they/it and i just found out abt this place pretty recently !! im really excited to find community among other trans people from so many walks of life !! in my personal life, i do have trans/queer friends but its not easy to navigate that without coming out all willy nilly (and i can't come out to my family, pretty much ever) so this is a pretty good place for me to get to know people and make new friends !! i also have this weird dysphoria issue that i feel like everyone (and society at large lol) is attaching me to categories and boxes that don't really fit me (obviously this is to do with my agab) so being here without that presentation is also really helpful !! i also hope to be able to start and share my transitions goals and things like that (just getting my body to a more androgynous look) !! thanks for reading, and i hope to see more of y'all soon !!

Well, my friends are out publicly. Openly transgender, and on HRT. I agree that the survival of all of us is at stake. But I think there are threats greater and more dangerous than those faced exclusively by LGBTQ folks. Rising prices. Unaffordable food. EPA strangling transportation and energy. Needless foreign wars that put us at risk of literal nuclear annihilation. A government that wants to tax us, track us, and control every aspect of our lives...including using us as guinea pigs for their medical experiments. Trump is no savior. Neither is the Republican party. But I believe that a vote for Democrats in the federal government is for sure a vote for globalism and what follows it. War, famine, plague, slavery, and death don't care if we're trans or cis.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, just believe.

Y’all are pretty ladies

People who are out publicly, and openly transgender, maybe on HRT, having changed names and gender, have a lot to lose if anti-trans politicians take power. They have openly called for our eradication, and promise to do everything they can to accomplish this. (again, 2025) For someone in this position the election is about our survival. It's foolish to delude ourselves into thinking "Oh, they don't really mean that. It's all for show," or, "There's other more important things to concern ourselves with." Maybe for some people the other things take priority. But if you have skin in the game, things look different.

If that happens, a lot of things I don't want to see might also be codified into law. And some things that shouldn't be law might not get repealed. To me, progress in one area isn't worth the price we'd have to pay in several other areas. For me, voting on LGBTQ issues always ends up as an "out of the frying pan, but into the fire" sort of event.

Trying out a new wig. Got my reading glasses on. I've also got dark roots now - first time in years.

Thea, your post made me think of a comic named Chloe Petts whom I saw recently on Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda comedy special on Netflix. She is a cisgender masculine lesbian. She is brilliant and so funny. I was intrigued by her identification - specifically masculine, not butch. And it seems to me there is a difference.

Today I had a dr appt. When I checked in, I was asked my surname, which I gave. Apparently there were two patients with appointments at that time with that same surname. The receptionist asked, "Are you (my legal name which is feminine) or Paul?" I got such a kick out of it not being assumed I had the feminine name.

That must have felt affirming, albeit perhaps weirdly so. However, I'd construe that more broadly (no pun intended) as sexism rather than misogyny where the latter would imply contempt. Also, incidentally, I've heard chivalry referred to as "benevolent sexism".

My boss is in a panic. His business is a couple straws away from breaking a camel in half. He's just handling the stress very poorly. My dad, though. He's handling things pretty well, as long as I continue to don't get massively offended by being called: son, boy, etc. His eldest is leaving the State and looks so different than he's been used to over the years. I haven't told him I'm on HRT, but to be fair the changes haven't been massive. I've always had boobs, more so after COVID weight gain and made more obvious with its loss, but now I'm not hiding them--and obviously wearing a bra. The estrogen has done some work, but nothing major (sadly). I think the biggest HRT changes have been my skin and a mild amount of fat redistribution. Today I'm wearing my cheater, I almost have cleavage! :D I need to get another t-shirt bra to keep a good rotation. I only have two, one push-up, and the rest are unlined (great for Summer, but not great for my Summer wardrobe ).

Thank you so much April!

Glad to hear it. Abby

I eat a ketogenic diet and have had no problems. I don't know about your case but I suspect it is the estrogen. Research the types of ways to take estrogen. Pay close attention to the bloodwork results. If they are not satisfactory, bring it up with your doctor. I take injectables, which are fully covered by insurance. It may not be the route for you, but something to consider. I emphasize to do your research and good luck. You can solve this. Be persistent. Jennifer

I'm in a magenta blouse under a baby blue buttoned cardigan - still a little cool here in the northeast today - with dark blue jeans. Oh, and my favorite flame colored copper feather earrings.

What a wonderful photo! You look gorgeous!!!

White crop top and capri jeans ;) Finaly tricked the face id on my phone, "that's not you" lol.

This is my opinion, so take it for that. Fatigue is based more on what you eat. Eat a more healthy diet, and stay away from ultra-processed foods and that should help. Think of eating the way we did a couple hundred years ago before the industrial revolution. It's just a thought. Jennifer

Welcome back, Jennifer! As a relative newbie to the forum and to transition, I look forward to getting to know you and share in your experiences.

I like the fact that you found support and have close members of your life. That is very important. No matter where you are on your journey, you have to have the support. Or you drift, and you question yourself. Looking forward to your progress, Jennifer

The source of estrogen can matter. I started HRT at age 50. My avatar was the result. I started on pills, and moved to estradiol valerate injectables. However, there was a shortage, and I had to use a compounding pharmacy. The estradiol would evaporate in the vial, and couldn't get 5 doses out of it. I eventually move to the patch. Over time I realized the patch wasn't working properly. And, the last time I visited my doctor he told me my estrogen levels were low. He asked me if I wanted to change to estradiol valerate. I jumped for joy. So I started my script for estradiol valerate. My prescription was ready, but I didn't receive my script for needles for a couple of weeks. So I bought my own (legal). I started with intramuscular injections. This requires a longer needle, and the estrogen is released into the muscles. It has a powerful effect right away but isn't stable. So by the time I took my next injection 2 weeks later, the estradiol in my bloodstream was almost gone. When I finally received my script for my needles, the needle was shorter. So the injection was subcutaneous. What is different with this type of injection as that the estrogen released is more even over 2 weeks (before the next injection). Interesting the syringe/needles my doctor prescribed are so much higher in quality. I am going to follow his path. My breasts are now perky again. And I will let my doctor guide me. I wish you success on your journey. Let us know how things are proceeding. I am happy for you. Jennifer

Patches are the HRT method of least risk. Be aware of your estrogen levels with bloodwork. My doctor took me off patches because my estrogen levels were low. And put me on estradiol valerate injections. I have to say that made a big difference. Be aware of the changes. I don't know your age, or circumstances, but I would research available options of administering hormones. There are other methods of taking estrogen, and you should research all of them. When my doctor changed my prescription to estradiol valerate amazing things happened. He was slow to prescribe the needles so I ordered them online. I have used injectables before. Getting the nerve to poke myself with the needle was a great hurdle to overcome. As far as a rollercoaster feeling, I never felt that as much as the excitement of finally starting HRT. That overrode everything. I couldn't focus on how my emotions changed, for excitement trumped all emotions. Let the emotions of starting HRT settle, then make the decisions you feel will best benefit you. Good luck with your journey, Jennifer

Welcome back Jennifer It’s nice to meet you and I look forward to your postings. Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋