Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

Wow It All Happened Really Fast- T News


Guest Evan_J

Recommended Posts

Not sure why I feel I should put this in the FTM board but here we go....

A while back (not that long) I started gender therapy along the way I had....an incident (?)....with my gyno that promted me to come out to her as trans -actually it was because she wanted to start me on progesterone treatments for a prob I got and I knew I would eventually start T, anyway...... still and all the experience of coming out to a doc was kind of a powerful thing. I was like "wow, maybe I need to do this now with my regular MD" lol. A bunch of stuff happens in the middle and eventually I get to see a primary care giver, lay out the trans testosterone deal and do ya know what happened?

He gave me a prescription for testosterone.

Yes, I realize in the world of FTM that means happy dance and yet.....it just seemed too easy. I actually am sitting here with it traveling through my blood wondering if I followed the "correct procedure"?

Yes, I'm kind of anal and "do it the correct way" centered. So tell me, am I nuts? Should I be worried or not? What does this do with regard to therapy? As far as I can tell I still need it so I can get top surgery and all, no?

Link to comment
Guest StrandedOutThere

Whoa man... That does seem weird to me too. Never in a hundred million years would I have imagined that it would be that easy! That's crazy.

I don't know what medical issue you have, but maybe the ease with which you got the script was because it could be treated with either hormone. Maybe? I've got no clue.

Is your doctor going to monitor your T levels and all? As long as you do that, then you should be fine I think.

Yeah, you do have to stay in therapy to get the surgery letter. Most reputable surgeons require one. I think the rule is 6 months of therapy before the surgery letter, but maybe they are a bit more flexible with T. Definitely talk to your therapist about the T scrip and see what he/she thinks.

Well, congrats on the T!! :lol:

Link to comment

Evan.

Congrats dude. Dont freak. Sometimes people need things to be easy. On the flip side, some people need some things to be hard. Just all part of the process of living if you ask me. My opinion? Still do therapy whether you "need it for sugery" or not. The world feels different...or rather, I feel the world differently and im sure part of that is because of the T. I think therapy will help sort all that stuff out.

I havent seen my therapist yet since ive started T and just too g** d***ed much has happened. I think ive dealt with it fairly well.. but its.. just different...:huh: I dont really know how to explain. :unsure: somehow though..i think youll get me. pardon me if you dont though

feelin weird...

Ray

Link to comment

I understand your apprehension. Sometimes it's creepy when things seem too easy.

But, in a way, it's almost like you're "lucky" enough to have a seperate, non-trans issue that T can help. (I'm not a doctor, and I don't mean to minimize any potential illness/issue you may be dealing with.) It's kinda like when DRs prescribe birth control pills because the hormones help control severe acne. I wish I had a mild condition that would allow me to get T without going through the therapy hoops.

Just a different perspective...

Stay strong

Dino

Link to comment

Thanks guys. I definately feel "wierd" and "creepy" like I've been straining to get Docs A, B, and C to do x, y, z and now all of a sudden "stuffs happening" (though not in the order I thought it would.....) and I'm just standing still wondering "why are they all doing stuff?" Very bizaar feeling. Especially bizaar since my gender therapist only got to hear a smidgen of the gyn story the last time I saw him. And has zero idea suddenly T is in the picture. (I had to miss last weeks apt cuz my car decided it needed immediate intensive care treatment <_< ) But yeah, it'll be monitored and in fact its the gyn wanting the whole bloodwork.

.... Still do therapy whether you "need it for sugery" or not. The world feels different...or rather, I feel the world differently and im sure part of that is because of the T. I think therapy will help sort all that stuff out.....

If anything I feel like going to my therapists and asking to move in :P cuz a lot (it feels like) is going on and I just want to stay "within the program" you know what I mean?

Link to comment
Guest CharliTo

For me, as an MTF, I was able to get estrogen shots way before I finally got a therapist. All I did was talk to my general practitioner, who directed me to the AIDS specialist (who also happens to handle any transgender therapies) and after one meeting, I was getting shots every two weeks.

I remember being suprised how fast I was able to get it, but after I asked my doctor/nurse, they said that (at least in Hawaii), you don't need any letters to receive HRT...I'll just need it for the surgeries.

Well, the simplest way I could think is that, if it's a legal doctor giving it to ya, I'm sure it's legal. :)

After about a two shots, I was worrying about how I wasn't seeing a therapist and when I finally did, she had an easy time making me decide whether to do HRT or not :P. (I already did it for her :3)

I guess I could relate to you a lot about wondering if I did the correct procedure...but I think we should just do happy dances :3.

Link to comment

wow, thats so not fair. i've been in theapy for loke 3+months and they are STILL afraid of giving me anything. i wish i could just walk up to my doc and ask for it and get it just like that. i dont know if its the fact i'm 16, or if its just a Tennessee thing, but they are so worried about how i MIGHT react to the changes that they arent even giving me the chance to try. oh, congrats to you on getting your T, hope you enjoy it :D

Link to comment
....Well, the simplest way I could think is that, if it's a legal doctor giving it to ya, I'm sure it's legal. :) .....

And this is what I'm telling myself. While I'm wondering what the gender therapists opinion will be. Again, why is it we can't just go to sleep and wake up "fixed" lol. I honestly hate all the stuff we gotta do to get there.

Link to comment
Guest Nekomata
i dont know if its the fact i'm 16, or if its just a Tennessee thing,

It's both.

And this is what I'm telling myself. While I'm wondering what the gender therapists opinion will be. Again, why is it we can't just go to sleep and wake up "fixed" lol. I honestly hate all the stuff we gotta do to get there.

Congrats. Don't worry about it. Just because it came easy, don't 2nd guess yourself that you don't deserve it. The doctors probably deemed you mentally healthy, old enough to make your own decisions, and financially secure, so they cut all the red tape. I think doctors/therapists are biased towards age. I'm 28, I told a good story, was mentally stable with no acute signs of distress, so I got my HRT letter on my 1st visit.

Link to comment
Guest jantonio

Congrats Evan! Woot! I feel that as long as the Dr. will monitor your hormones level then I don't see an issue with it. Some surgeons require that you be on T but not necessarily. All they need is a letter from your therapist stating that he or she is ok for you to have the surgery. But I guess it differs among the doctors.

Anyway, that's awesome man.

Jose Antonio... :)

Link to comment
Guest Kristian

Congratulations. I'm really happy for you. You deserve for it to work out like that. It's kind of hypocritical for me to say, since you of all people would know how I feel about rules and order and everything, but... I don't know. I keep thinking it'll be alright. Who knows? Maybe it's some kind of weird cosmic blessing or something. I say run with it, anyway... even though it might seem weird. Best of luck to you.

Link to comment
Guest mikethepunk

Wow dude so not fair. I am HELLA jealous. I have been going to gender therapy for 3 years and because I just finally made up my mind to go on T, I still have to wait the 3 months for the letter. So I decide to start the ball rolling and get everything ready so when I got my letter I could start. Anyway I went to the DR today, who is an FtM himself by the way, and he said I would have to wait 3-4 months for my letter. I was like HOLD UP, my counselor who he trusts and he told me so, said that I only have 1.5 months to go before she will give me my letter. I told this to him 3 times and it seemed like he just didn't get it. I don't know what his deal is but there is no way I am waiting another 3-4 months to get my letter. He is out of his mind! I am 36 and have wanted a sex change my whole life. Not until 4 years ago did I realize it was possible. I have PTSD directly related to my transgendered issues. I am tired of suffering in this jail cell of a body. I have been ready for this since I was freaking 9 years old. It is either T and Surgery or suicide, I am at the end of my rope.

HE better not make me wait longer than when I get the letter in 1.5 months. I have been going to counseling for many, many years. Most transguys I know only went for 3 months to get the letter and then stopped so if anyone deserves to get T it is freaking me.

Anyone have any advice for me on this?

thanks

michael

Link to comment
Guest RainBird

Gongrats Evan! :D

Your soo lucky, I had to wait a over a year before I could start E because of living in such a remote area, I even had a psychiatrists report well before, I was almost about to pack my stuff and move down south to Sydney then, all of a sudden, my HRT became available here. :)

Lucky timing I guess. lol

I'm very happy for you! :)

xo

Link to comment
Anyone have any advice for me on this?

mikethepunk...relax. take a few deep breaths and talk to your guy about it. ask him straight up why he would want/expect you to wait an extra three months after all the time youve been in therapy. demonstrate to him your level of understanding of hormone treatment. show him your knowledge of changes (permanent and reversible). make sure he knows of all the work youve done around it. who you have come out to? who you have to support you? your level of stability at work and in your living situation.

generally people only delay (or "keep you from") hormone therapy out of genuine concern for your life and your well-being. keep this in mind and just talk it all out. please remain willing to listen with this. if his concerns arent warranted then there is of course another more stern (on your behalf) conversation to be had ;)

dont be discouraged. itll work out.

i hated it when my buddy said it to me but.. "youve waited THIS long.. an extra couple months wont kill you"

take care and please consider what ive said...

love

Raymond

btw.. nice to meet you. :) Welcome to the Playground.

rw

Link to comment
Anyone have any advice for me on this?

Verifying that I understand you correctly....

Your shrink is giving you your T letter in a month and half but the med-doc doesn't want to act on it then?

Find a different med-doc. My therapist says any MD can prescribe it. Doesn't have to be a specific type as long as he (or she) is a doctor.

Link to comment

In terms of prescribing hormonal treatment, any physician can prescribe it. Estrogen is not a controlled medication, but testosterone (due to the abuse of anabolic steroids) is a controlled medication. Any doc can prescribe it for any reason.

The reason that some physicians are so restrictive on prescribing hormones for gender reassignment therapy is that they want to be sure that the person is mentally sound, the reason for gender reassignment is truly desired and warranted, and other issues are not involved in the person's desire to transition. My therapist knows of people who have not gone the recommended path and have done hormone treatment and surgery to learn that they are not happy in their new genders.

My primary care physician did not have any experience in prescribing testosterone and had no knowledge of the kind of monitoring that goes along with it. I ended up getting a therapy protocol from my prescribing physician for my primary doc so she would have some idea of what one needs to know in prescribing testosterone. There are serious dangers to one's health from taking testosterone without any kind of monitoring.

Sorry, got caught up in work again. Jeez. You'd think I would have learned by now.

Link to comment
In terms of prescribing hormonal treatment, any physician can prescribe it. Estrogen is not a controlled medication, but testosterone (due to the abuse of anabolic steroids) is a controlled medication. Any doc can prescribe it for any reason.

The reason that some physicians are so restrictive on prescribing hormones for gender reassignment therapy is that they want to be sure that the person is mentally sound, the reason for gender reassignment is truly desired and warranted, and other issues are not involved in the person's desire to transition. My therapist knows of people who have not gone the recommended path and have done hormone treatment and surgery to learn that they are not happy in their new genders.

My primary care physician did not have any experience in prescribing testosterone and had no knowledge of the kind of monitoring that goes along with it. I ended up getting a therapy protocol from my prescribing physician for my primary doc so she would have some idea of what one needs to know in prescribing testosterone. There are serious dangers to one's health from taking testosterone without any kind of monitoring.

Sorry, got caught up in work again. Jeez. You'd think I would have learned by now.

Therapy protocol...I made a note of that phrase (wish I'd had it before friday lol) but my two docs are working together it seems. I just got the assurance that all the blood works etc will be mutual between the two.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   7 Members, 0 Anonymous, 64 Guests (See full list)

    • April Marie
    • Ashley0616
    • Lydia_R
    • Birdie
    • Desert Fox
    • Avra
    • SamC
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.8k
    • Total Posts
      770.3k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,103
    • Most Online
      8,356

    BUGFIEND
    Newest Member
    BUGFIEND
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Bobbijean
      Bobbijean
    2. Bryan
      Bryan
      (61 years old)
    3. jlw5ju
      jlw5ju
      (27 years old)
    4. ladykirabellum
      ladykirabellum
      (47 years old)
    5. Lizzie17
      Lizzie17
  • Posts

    • Lydia_R
      Yep, this thing is a red flag that people should be super aware of on this site.  I've been working from home exclusively for 12 years.  I'm a house cat like that, so this isn't much of a deterrent for me.  I've been venturing out into the women's restrooms a little bit lately, but as is typical of people like me, I'm just in there to do my business and get out.  I avoid that as much as I can and use those single bathrooms whenever I can.  I went over a year without going to a public restroom.  I just don't go out much.   I haven't stood to pee in 7 years now.  The idea of surgery is very, very scary for me (I wrote a book about it).  I'm likely going to do it though.  I would like some evidence from other transwomen of what it is really like.  I'm not one to take plane flights, but taking a flight for that is well justified.  Before my testosterone was blocked, there was a much larger sexual side to M->F transition.  Now sexuality plays a back seat to the idea of wanting to pee like a woman.  It's always been in my mind, but the desire for that has grown.   Respectfully, Lydia_R
    • April Marie
      Just a black skort and a yellow t-shirt with sneakers today.
    • Birdie
      Wearing my new top for my Zoom meeting today. ☺️
    • Lydia_R
      I've gotten to the point lately where I'm thinking of the extension of the separation of church and state to separation of culture and state.  Government's purpose to ensure a construct of civility.  Food, clothing, shelter and justice for the individual.  That includes the roads as far as they pertain to the distribution of food, clothing and shelter.  And "ensure" is different than "provide".   I think that there is no way to truly express yourself or have a good foundation without having a personal culture.  I like telling stories and teaching lessons through my culture, but I always hope that people don't think I'm promoting my culture beyond it just being visible as an option.
    • KatieSC
      I would imagine the GOPers are holding that by bull in their hand and paying attention to the Trump version with the nine commandments highlighted.
    • Adrianna Danielle
      Having to call the police on a woman that was being a Karen.Was in my shop fixing my car and wanted me to fix hers.Told her it was my personal shop and told her no.Would not take no for an answer and called the police.I did decide to press trespassing charges on her.I knew she was one of those entitled people
    • Ivy
      It is scary, (and as you say, thrilling) at first.  But the more you do it the easier it gets.  I dress fem 24/7 (almost always skirts and dresses) and I live in a conservative county of a "red state".   Sure, there are places I avoid, but I have little desire to be there anyway.  It gets to just be part of who you are.   My experience is that most people don't care, some are curious, and surprisingly many (usually other women) friendly.   The first steps are the hardest.  It's similar with bathrooms.
    • Ivy
      Don't know how this posted itself.  To continue…   There was a time when I tried to make excuses for them.  But I am coming to the realization that in their eyes, I, and those like me, are 2nd class citizens at best.
    • Ivy
      There is a rather large part of the GOP that is determined to strip the rights of trans citizens, despite us being a small minority, some with families, who work, pay taxes, and who do - and have served in our armed forces, are medics, nurses, etc.   They insist that the US is a "christian country" - referring to their particular brand of christianity.  And this is despite the constitution, that they claim near worship of, expressly prohibiting this very thing.    
    • Lydia_R
      Oregon has a law that allows you to change your name and gender once in your lifetime without involving the courts.  It took me about 2.5 months to complete and was relatively easy.  It came up yesterday about how I changed my gender on my ID to F instead of X.  I identify with M->F, not X.  I passed over the line into F, but I'm still near the middle in the spectrum.  And I intend to keep going in the F direction.  There is another transwoman named Rachel Rand who is about 10 years older than me and I use her as a model for where I want to be in 10 years.   I'm a proud Gen X'er, but it's based on latchkey arcade games, not gender.
    • Lydia_R
      I never met me GT in person.  I started off by dressing in my LBD going to fast food and drive thru coffee.  The first time I ventured out of the car, I was wearing a tight fitting long black dress with hose and heels to the ATM.  No one saw me and it was a good step to take.  I still love that dress and was wearing it last week.  I have learned to accept my male bulge in a feminine way thinking of it being like a teenage girl who's breasts are coming in and how that must feel when being in public.  Nothing I can do about it and I'm not into wearing some pleated skirt to hide it because I'm not into that style.
    • Lydia_R
      Wow, talk about big data!  I think I'd geek out on those vectors.  Politically, that idea is pretty sick.  Artistically....  Gotta have something to do with your time.  It's low impact work.
    • Lydia_R
      Although there certainly is just flat out racist hate in this, I tend to ignore that kind of thing and think of it from an economic standpoint.   I've seen some reports of the Chinese being afraid of their men becoming weaker and becoming less able to do hard, manual labor.  Of course that is just sexist BS on some level (my first wife does professional construction work), there is undoubtedly a weakening that goes with the M->F thing.  I feel it within my body.   In my opinion, it's just old school economics of a growing economy.  Like Vaclov Smil is suggesting, maybe we should give up on the idea of growth:   https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/21/vaclav-smil-interview-growth-must-end-economists   I believe this old school growing economy is over and there is nothing anyone can really do about it.  Like a river, we just need to go with the flow and not fight it.  My roommate is talking about the idea of the country splitting up in to regions.  Perhaps there is some sense in that?  Two of my trans roommates this year came from the mid-south specifically for trans healthcare here.  We all like it here in Portland.  It isn't perfect.  Ironically, it could be much more accepting here.  But all the trans people I know here say that we are not leaving.  Because of my career, it is almost certain I will have to move by the end of the year, but I'll likely be coming back when my job is completed.  My house is 4 miles from the transgender hospital too.  I've had the fantasy for years about being a halfway house for people having surgeries.  I get this feeling that it is going to become a strange episode of M*A*S*H.  I guess I'm just going to go with the flow on this.  Fighting the tow of the moon and all that.
    • Ladypcnj
      Yes, its common in gender therapy, my therapist was similar the same way, I should embrace my femineity. I came out in my childhood years. It was the first time my parents took me clothes shopping; I ran on over to the girl's department when I was a kid, some of us already knew we are girls. Okay, now let's bring things up to 2024, how to get past your fear? For starters, you can watch fashion shows or look around your surroundings outside to see what other women are wearing today. Take out your notebook to write things down such as red top, black jeans, earrings, boots or sneakers.. okay you get the general idea. Since I was already dating x-girlfriend at the time, shopping for female clothes during the holiday, was supper easy, if anyone asked me.. I just said I'm getting these clothes for my girlfriend, and it worked like a charmed.    Another to get past the fear without leaving home, you can try online shopping, you would need to measure waist area, and height .. this might come with trial and error since there is no dressing room. 
    • Lydia_R
      I'm not sure how much you can really help anyone, but I have enjoyed opening my house up to trans people this year.   Including myself, there have been 4 transgender people living in my one bedroom house.  And there is one cis gendered male here.  All of us have experienced homelessness.  Not just a couple days either, but significant homelessness.  Since I was homeless for 4 years 20 years ago, I've always wanted to be in a position where I could open up my house like this.  For whatever reason, I am the only trans person in the house right now, but it seems that others are on the way.  I have a desire to keep my house running like this for the foreseeable future.   I had a retired Scientologist counselor helping me out when I was in my 4 year homeless period.  I can't even imagine how I would have survived without her.  When I was living in those cars and vans, I'd have periods of a week or two where I'd stay with her and have adventures.  I'd get some better food.  She was on SSI, so we would go to the food bank.  I got turned onto cauliflower from the food bank.  I'd get my laundry done and then I'd have some time studying on the computer.  I slept on the living room floor with a sleeping bag.  My Dirty Pot and Igotarock compositions where made on the floor of that apartment.  I just put my gear on the floor and recorded my bass sitting on the floor.  I had made the drum machine parts while I was sleeping in my GEO Metro.  She kicked my out on New Years Eve going into 2004.  I had just been a mad scientist doing math and that was the best thing for me at the time.  a/b=c/d   So yes, you can help if you use some balance with it.

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...