Well, You Decide-Effects of T When You are Older

[JJ]

Thanks. I do feel much better in every way.

It's a decision I have not regretted for a moment. I'd give up just about anything else in my life before T too. Hard to explain really exactly how pervasive and how right it feels for me.

It will change you both inside and out in my experience but the changes feel right and natural. Rather than becoming a stranger you become more who you are I think. Or so it has been for me.

Johnny

[Guest konnorcrewe]

There are definite changes in your features which make you look more masculine. It's cool to see the progress you are making.

[Guest konnorcrewe]

I haven't figured out the photo thing either. I attempted to upload a profile photo, but it never appeared.

[Guest SebastianIAm]

Dude, you're a silver fox!

This gives me hope for the future, since it looks like my parents actually would rather I wait until they died to transition. :/

[Guest Seth1992]

I am glad I've started it at 19, wish I had started when i was still in highschool though.

So since your past the big M do you have a lower dose or higher dose then younger FTMs? Does it still change your voice and stuff? Are the changes the same for you as for younger FTMs? Sorry for all the Q's just think its interesting. And I think you look awesome btw

[JJ]

Sorry for not answering till now. Real life had me tied up.

As far as dosage-I can't give dosage info but there are variations between individuals that probably actually make more difference than age. Being past meno just means not having to overcome E in my system really.

T has done all I hoped and more. My voice is deep and I am always addressed as Sir on the phone. My body proportions have changed a great deal but the weight loss probably helped there. Though I have noticed that even though I am not actively seeking to lose weight but rather to build upper torso and arm muscle to help fill in a little of that extra skin I am still changing shape and masculinizing more and more. It has reached a point that when eating out with my daughter (who is most often mistaken for my wife much to her chagrin and my amusement) the bill always comes to me but when I pay with my credit card in my natal name they always bring the card back to her. Makes me grin.Even when confronted with my natal name in other circumstances people override the name incongruity and still keep using "Sir". When I catch a glimpse of myself I see someone I can live with with less and less shadows from the past.

The real challenge about my age I think overcoming the effects of the long struggle to socialize female. I never really got comfortable with it or was successful at it but it still had deep affects on me. After my physical transition people accepted me fully as male but sometimes looked puzzled or quizzical after longer conversations. It was because my demeanor and way of expression didn't quite match my gender I think. They still saw me as male but maybe a little different. It took time to release that socialization and act and react as the person I have always been inside. But now I have lengthy conversations with new people or people who don't know my history and everything is comfortable and fine. No puzzlement. I think the amazing thing is that we can and do overcome a lifetime of training to emerge as out true selves even when we have long histories.

My beard is still disappointingly spare. That is not the result of age I think as much as genetics. There is a lot of Native American in my heritage and my beard is already thicker than either my grandfather or great-grandfather. Didn't see my father past early childhood so I don't know about him but all the pics in the old family albums going back to the 1870s show clean shaven men during a time most men wore facial hair so I suspect the same applied to that side of my family. I still have hope because beard can thicken for up to 5 years on T and it's only been 20 months. Elsewhere I am increasingly hairy. Chest, belly, etc. On a downside my hairline has changed far more than anticipated even though there is no male pattern baldness in my family. But high hairlines were the norm so maybe it'll stop.

Some people are touting T as a fountain of youth and I don't want to get on that bandwagon but I will say I do feel much younger than before. And just had the best medical checkup of my entire life.

All in all. I never dreamed it would really work this well and feel this good.

Johnny

[Guest Dub]

Man am I glad I found this forum. I am 47 years old and just started on T on 10/23/12. I too have found that there are not many of us older guys sharing our stories out there. I have a blog and I post on youtube in the hopes that it will help someone our age to feel like there are older guys transitioning. It's nice to hear how T is affecting us. I'm new here so I will probably be poking my head in and checking things out. Nice to meet you all. Johnny, you look great man!

[Guest aleon515]

Hi

Thought I'd comment on this thread as I have really enjoyed reading this. I am also an older guy. I actually kind of just discovered I was trans. I recall feelings and experiences back into childhood. But I don't think I had the language or whatever it was to know what was going on (even though I heard stories of mtfs). Since coming out as trans-- not even going thru medical transition yet-- my life has gone places I didn't know it could. For one thing I was asexual, and now I have a girlfriend (also trans).

--Jay J

[Guest connor56]

hi johnny,

i have just finished reading the thread and am very excited to find you and other older ftms here. you look great btw.

i am a 56 year old getting ready to start t. next month. i discovered a piece of research on fibromyalgia and t about 4 months ago. i have been battling fibro for a few decades and it has approached more than i can bear at this point. once i started investigating t, i realized that this is something that is available for people who feel they are male living in a female body.

it has been a whirlwind of excitement and self-doubt ever since. doubt that i should be mucking with the framework i have endured for almost 60 years. and doubt that t. would do much for me at my age. and doubt that i can overcome such long social conditioning so as to pass. the excitement is about finally coming full-circle to a knowledge that i am male, after trying to fit in as female for many years.

some days the doubt is so great, i wish i had not read the word testosterone. However, i believe i will settle in nicely once i begin injections.

it is my hope that you and other ftms will have the time to be supportive as i forge ahead. the thoughts i have read here today have fostered my resolve and comfort level alot.

thank you for that, connor

[Guest Jaques]

Hi you guys, and Johnny, I mentioned before about thinking that it wasnt the normal mal pattern baldness that affected us when taking T. Since i was last on site, i have been on testogel, half a sachet but my hair was still coming out so i changed it to half again. I notice my weight coming down a little, also my high blood pressure - i go to see the endo. aon 24th, but the big thing for me is that my hair seems to have stopped falling out - thank goodness. I guess my T levels will be lower but i still have the same facial and body hair and sex drive, so maybe for me at least a little is good - after all, at 64, as a bio man i wouldnt have massive amounts of natural T.

I hope you are keeping well and wish everyone a happy new year (a little late) ...............

[Guest Strong]

Thanks John: I like others definitely see the changes and I also see that the real you is here both body and soul... this is encouraging because I am older too and I have not yet begun hormone and may not begin for a few years. I am so proud of you and grateful that you are sharing your journey and success with us... Tommye

We get the comment that time is critical in starting HRT and T because the older you get the less it does. I'm 64 and I've been on T just over 9 months. The pic on the left is from the week I started and the one on the R is today. Same place, same camera, pretty much same expression too.

I think it's working okay for me but I'll let you decide.

Not fishing for compliments so you don't have to respond or praise. I'm actually getting pretty secure about it all finally. Not that looks are the most important thing but they do help with confidence. Which IS the most important thing in my opinion.

Johnny

JJ you look awesome! I hope I take to t as well as you do.

Strong

[JJ]

Thought after 2 1/2 years on T I'd update this. T alone didn't do it magically or by itself but gave me the strength and motivation to do the work. I still have that excess skin from weight loss but am proud of what I have accomplished at 66.

But I think just about anyone can do the same and more. It's a matter of trying to see how far you can go and deciding to give it your best shot. Turned out to be way more than I could have expected or dreamed. Funny thing is the further I go the further I want to go. Building muscle wasn't even on the radar in the beginning

The pic is this week and un-retouched. That is one of those athletic compression shirts I'm always talking about.

For so long I said it's too late for me. I'll never be able to do it. I'm too old, I'm too fat, I'm too crippled. I'm not special as I have said before-just stubborn when I make up my mind. Go for it!

Johnny

[Guest nomnomnom]

Wow, you're a tank! What an amazing difference!

[Guest Jaques]

i think photos like this and words of encouragement are very important to those who havent yet begun transition, it shows what can be done and how we change...........you look great Johnny, keep it up.

[Guest Hunt]

You look awesome dude! and you're built. wow.

[JJ]

t's been a year more now. And I have continued to keep the weight off as well as building muscle. What once felt new and I had to think about sometimes even a year ago is just natural now. I still smile at Sir though I haven't heard anything else in a couple of years except from people who kneww me decades before transition and sometimes slip when we have been referring to the past.

While I would far rather not have been born with this condition and have to be aware of it still in many situations I am still deeply thankful that I did transition and now live as myself. And that awareness of who I am fades slowly more and more. I suspect if I ever can afford surgery it will become only a memory - as it is I can liv with it. And it has more than been worth the journey to get where I am. Far from perfect but with no apologies and no pretense either.

Johnny

[Guest Cyd]

Johnny, you look absolutely fantastic! You are an inspiration.

[Guest KayC1]

Johnny........looking good there! Your posts were inspirational for me and allowed me to realize one's dream need not be age bound. Although it isn't even a month for me, I swear I'm growing a chin! My voice has always been quite deep but I notice it has already dropped some. My walk up from the barn (up hill) is no longer annoying, so I am seeing a slight increase in leg strength. My appetite is ridiculous and I've gained a few pounds because of that. I did note those extra pounds did not go the usual places. I've tackled more projects in the last month then I probably did all year. I think I agree with you that it is a sense of well being. Best Regards, KC

[Bulldog1948]

KC. Mmmmm. looks like you're coming down with "The Man Syndrome". Yes siree Bob! It does happen once you get started on T. Before long you will have trouble remembering how you felt lifeless as the old you. Welcome to your "Man World"

It won't be long before you begin your male puberty. And, that brings on some interesting issues also. Sex. beards, bind, pack and on and on. My friend, you are about to ride the wildest bull in the Wild West. You will be amazed at the amount of strength that you will gain. You should keep a video journal or at least a written one. They're always fun to read over.

Mike

[Guest KayC1]

Heya Mike, I was a chute puller at some rodeos in SoCal back in the early 90's and was always in awe of anyone who would give it a go. Now I'm not going to be the one on the sidelines anymore and it will be me rosining up my rigging, pounding my grip and giving the nod. I am most definitely looking forward to the ride! Best Regards, KC

Oh and I did do a video after my first shot (for comparison's sake) and was thinking of maybe doing a monthly one, at least for awhile.

[Bulldog1948]

Heya Mike, I was a chute puller at some rodeos in SoCal back in the early 90's and was always in awe of anyone who would give it a go. Now I'm not going to be the one on the sidelines anymore and it will be me rosining up my rigging, pounding my grip and giving the nod. I am most definitely looking forward to the ride! Best Regards, KC

Oh and I did do a video after my first shot (for comparison's sake) and was thinking of maybe doing a monthly one, at least for awhile.

Hey KC, Just what does a chute puller do? I enjoy watching Bull Riding when its on, but I don't know all the tech terms. I did mmanage to see one wild rodeo in S Dakota back in the early 70s, when I did a motor trip to The west coast.

You're one step ahaed of mme bro, but that's fine with me. If you check it out you will see dudes on utube that have poosted every month about their T progress. But, that's a personel deceision.

Mike

[Guest KayC1]

Mike.......a chute puller means I was the guy on the end of the rope that yanks the gates open. It puts you pretty up close and personal. When you are pulling for the bulls, you better get that gate back before they can slam it once the latch is thrown open. I was a little slow a couple times and ended up on my butt, taken out by the gate flying back at me. Believe me on those two times, I was scrambling to get back on my feet and praying the bull moved out into the arena and wasn't gonna be a spinner stomping me into the dirt.

I guess with all the current selfie applications, gadgets, etc., it makes it pretty easy to document the progression of one's transition. I don't know if I'm doing this strictly for a personal record or I will be posting the videos at some point in time. I'm just thinking if I don't document it, I'll forget too much about happened. Best Regards, KC

[Bulldog1948]

KC, thanks for telling me what a chute puller is. I really enjoy wastching the bull riding and from watching it I know that it's an extremmemly dangerous sport. It takes alotta testicles and guts to straddle one oof those killing locomotives. That's a lotta weight swirling around under ones seat. A little bit more that I ever cared to tackle. But, I did ride a big bull calf when I was a kid. Sucker threw me off and I ended up in a mmanger in between sharpened poles sticking up. Just a miralce that I wsn;t impaled.I decided right then and there that bull riding wasn't my sport lol.

Mike

[Guest KayC1]

Darn Mike, you certainly were lucky! It's amazing how much power and muscle even young livestock has. I have to say though, it sounds like you were a quick learner and a bit of a rascal when you were a youngster. Best Regards, KC

[Guest MostlySwell]

I just came across this thread. Wow! Johnny, that's amazing work you've done. Thank-you for posting. Definitely your jaw is angled, which others mentioned. Not sure if they mentioned your shoulders being more squared. That could be simply from posture and self-esteem, but certainly later, your shoulders are broader from muscle development.

Anyway, having come out of the closet this year at 50, I appreciate finding so many others dealing with transitioning from mid-life and onward.