tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31227612011-04-21T20:49:45.610-07:00The Road Less Traveled...My FtM online journal as I begin
on the road called ''Transition''.
In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1152436058264982332006-07-09T00:56:00.000-07:002006-07-09T02:07:38.310-07:00Well hello there! Long time no see. It's been a year since I last posted anything in this blog and a lot has happened.First I've completed my first year of college. During this year I've spoken to various classes about being transgender which means I'm really 'out out' know what I mean? I, also, became a co-founder of a gay/straight alliance at the community college where I attend. It is my In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1125007888121768382005-08-25T14:55:00.000-07:002005-08-25T15:11:28.126-07:00Hey there readers,I know it's been a while and for that I apologize. It's just that I decided to go back to school and have, until just a few weeks ago, buried under homework. I'm off for 25 more days as of today before I have to go back and thought I'd check in with you.Transition continues. My body is getting furred which thrills me to no end. I'm not sure why but I really enjoy the fact In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1120304070096882232005-07-02T04:26:00.000-07:002005-07-02T04:34:31.546-07:00Well dear readers, I thought I'd post a bit of a good news tid bit. I don't know if I've told you but I've gone back to school and am pursuing a college degree in Psychology. It's my intention to get my Master's degree in Psyc and become a therapist to the GBLTQ community, dealing primarily with coming out issues and gbltq related issues. What's cool is that the Dept of Voc Rehab has committed In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1106826624496114552005-01-27T03:43:00.000-08:002005-01-27T03:55:28.620-08:00Isn't it interesting that in big, bad, oppressive, Islamic, fundamentalist Iran that one would find not only freedom but government support for the transgender person? Below is an article that was sent to a trans group I'm a member of and I thought I'd pass it on to you. I encourage you my readers to think about it, tell others - particularly any transgender friends you have, add to your local In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1095762677490947202004-09-21T03:29:00.000-07:002004-09-21T03:31:17.490-07:00Dear Readers, just thought I'd mention that the new dosage seems to be working. It appears that I'm getting more hair and my sex drive has gone up substantially. Goddess I love being on 200mg I.M. every two weeks! *grin*
In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1094453804115470912004-09-05T23:46:00.000-07:002004-09-05T23:56:44.116-07:00Greetings dear readers!
Once again I'm here to report on my trip to Seattle. My endo is pleased but has upped my T to 200mg I.M. every 2 weeks to help my body maintain it's level while I finish my recoup period for my total knee replacements (had one in Feb and one in June - now both knees are healing well and getting PT... if you need a knee replacement let me highly recommend the process if In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1085926153083138852004-05-30T06:57:00.000-07:002004-05-30T07:09:13.083-07:00I just read a buddy's journal entry and it triggered some relevant thoughts for here.
I recently got my annual 'script' for my binder. I took it to a local medical supply place rather than dropping by a place in Seattle to take what they had on hand. As a result I've ended up with a very strong and much better binder for my chest. Not only does it depress my chest like I need it to but by In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1085012843205416832004-05-19T17:21:00.000-07:002004-05-19T17:27:23.206-07:00Greetings dear readers,
Well, I've been to Seattle to see my endo and it's all good news. My blood levels are good though they want to work on my good cholesterol levels. And the levels are so good that we've upped my T amount to 175mg every two weeks. Yeehaw! *grin* Had my first dose while there. Felt good. *wry grin and wink*
Other than that we discussed the possibility of maybe just In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1076666138667459512004-02-13T01:55:00.000-08:002004-02-13T02:00:28.326-08:00Okay troops, here's the skinny... I found the letter I mentioned from Yanhee Hosp and what is required for our surgery. So read it, make a copy of it, use it in good health!
January 27, 2004
Dear Vaughn,
Thank you very much for your interest in Yanhee hospital's medical services. I am sending you the standard treatment for transsexual protocol in our hospital:
The cost of the FTM procedureIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1076506846443947492004-02-11T05:40:00.000-08:002004-02-11T05:42:34.186-08:00Dear Readers,
Sorry for the longtime no post but the building we were living in got sold out from under us then we had to move (DURING CHRISTMAS NO LESS!!!) and then trying to get settled in the new place. To say the least I've had my mind on other things.
But... I haven't forgotten you! *grins*
Below is a letter I've received regarding a possible FtM surgeon in Thailand. Financially it's In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1065507459591659942003-10-06T23:17:00.000-07:002003-10-06T23:19:27.140-07:00Lots of news tonight...
First, it was a no go on the surgeon. Once again I was foiled by the fact that they don't accept my kind of insurance. Next, they gave me a referral number for another surgeon who ALSO doesn't accept my kind of insurance. To say the least I feel very frustrated and angry at this point. But I'm not down for the count yet. I've just got to find someone, reputable, who In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1063719282263496892003-09-16T06:34:00.000-07:002003-09-16T06:34:42.013-07:00Hey there readers!
I've got some good news. On the 23rd I'll be headed to a trans friendly surgeon to talk about getting this chest either totally removed or at least drastically reduced plus getting this belly of mine gone. I'm really hoping she'll do the surgery because I'd really like to get my mobility back and not have the back pain I've been dealing with. I'll keep you posted as I know In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1061208443326677562003-08-18T05:07:00.000-07:002003-08-18T05:07:23.350-07:00Well kids, I've really done it now! *grins* One of my upstairs neighbors is a DJ at the local college and he interviewed me last night. What was meant to fill a 60 minute time span now fills 120 minutes. *chuckles* Thing is that he thought he wouldn't have enough questions or that I'd give him only surface answers. So he went a bit overboard and we ended up with a total of 54 questions and me In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1059304384199669942003-07-27T04:13:00.000-07:002003-07-27T04:13:04.290-07:00Heyla!
So the struggles begin once again. Remember what I said about having trouble finding docs that took my insurance? Well that got resolved only to be stopped by a doctor who doesn't want to do the surgery. His silent reasonings are because I'm trans. He and his secretaries bucked at giving me the appt and only yielded when my endo placed a call to him. So grudgingly the appt was made.In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-1055506176677809592003-06-13T05:09:00.000-07:002003-06-13T05:09:36.616-07:00Well hello folks! Long time no type. My apologies. But lots has happened.
For starters I went to court on May 12th and got my legal name change! Yes! It's done! Huzzah! Then I went right to Social Security, the bank, my medical clinic, and a few other places and got everything changed over. Then when I could afford it I got my ID changed over.
I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I was In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-928646842003-04-18T17:43:00.000-07:002003-04-18T17:43:35.373-07:00Legal Name Changes:
Okay folks, here's where I give you a bit of advice. I went to a local business/art/supply store and buoght my legal name change papers (Petition for Change of Name & Order Changing Name) for $2.00. Cheap, DIY. Now granted the forms look a bit like gibberish but they can be figured out especially if you talk to a counselor or someone in the know including a clerk at the In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-912490522003-03-23T16:57:00.000-08:002003-03-23T16:57:59.233-08:00Well. saw my endo and all is well. She had them do a blood draw to see how my T and est levels are. But if the results comes back okay she's going to up my T level to 150mg I.M. q2 weeks. We talked about surgery and decided that the lap band surgery is not needed nor what I want. What I *need* is to have the hanging appendages and belly removed to improve my health, my mobility, and my mentalIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-892037952003-02-16T14:07:00.000-08:002003-02-16T14:07:17.383-08:00Heyla all. I know there are at least a few out there who occasionally check back here and with my photo album. To those I just wanted to say that I tried to get pix of the hair on my belly but alas and alack the fur is still too light (as is my belly... winter pale! Ick!) to really show up on 'film'. And I didn't take any face fur pix is because as you've heard me bitch before, it's a slow In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-865342752002-12-25T19:30:00.000-08:002002-12-25T19:30:13.130-08:00Just thought I'd stop by and say that my face fur is finally able to come in on the sides. If all goes well by next December I'll have a full face of fur. But actually I intend to just have some nice side burns and a goatee with mustache.
I seem to be settling into being just a guy. It's a nice feeling, a complete feeling. And my lady wife is wonderfully accepting of it. The only thing thatIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-856652262002-12-07T20:08:00.000-08:002002-12-07T20:08:34.486-08:00Just thought I'd let you know how my trip to Seattle went. It began with catching my med ride at 5am. The ride to Seattle itself was uneventful save for my getting overheated and a bit ill. We dropped off 3 parents and their kids at Childrens Hosp and then my driver dropped me off. I spent time havin' smokes and reading until my appt time.
Saw my doc and we talked about weight loss. While In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-853121922002-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:002002-11-30T17:32:17.240-08:00Well I've uploaded new pix of my side burns, chin beard and moustache for all to see. So far I'm fairly pleased with the results. It seems that my smudgestache is actually turning into a moustache because the hair is starting to darken. YAY! I also have hair in places I'm not planning to take pix of such as my belly, ass, pubic area, legs, back, underarms and forearms. I might take pix of In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-836553712002-10-28T02:42:00.000-08:002002-10-28T02:42:45.893-08:00Just some passing thoughts...in the middle of the night... well on 10/19/02 at 3:55am PDT (when this was originally written but not posted here) that is. I'm sitting here listening to the Stan Roger Mp3s I've managed to collect and singing along very lightly so I don't disturb the wife. For awhile I was playing games like Solitaire and Bejeweled but then I thought I'd write and tell ya what's In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-809109352002-08-30T03:01:00.000-07:002002-08-30T03:01:57.000-07:00Wow! It's been a month since the last time I posted here. Mind you there wasn't much I had to tell but now I do so let me get at it.
I got to see my endo this last week.
We discussed my estrogen levels and what to do about them. I mentioned the idea about estrogen inhibitors and her concern was that they may not block the cells necessary that I need. But she didn't toss the idea totally In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-795060782002-07-28T02:29:00.000-07:002002-07-28T02:29:47.066-07:00Over on an email list I'm there's been a discussion about what living 100% as a man is. Well I put my two cents in and ended up feeling like I'm "less" than a man because I won't use the gent's loo. In truth I don't believe I'm less because I believe everyone has their own exceptions and who am I to say someone is less based on my personal experience or someone else's idea of what is "real" andIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-792149902002-07-21T02:42:00.000-07:002002-07-21T02:42:10.330-07:00Well I heard from my endo yesterday and it's taken me a day to kind of absorb it. My estrogen levels are up a bit as well as my T levels but as most of you know (if you've been reading my journal all this time) it's the estrogen that's been the worry. I had ramped up to 100mg every two weeks and had had two shots of 100mg but after the blood test results came back I'm being ramped back down to In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-789667522002-07-15T02:15:00.000-07:002002-07-15T02:15:56.000-07:00Just wanted to comment.
My moustache now looks like a dirty upper lip so it's starting grow with real hair huzzah! As well as my side burns and my beard, particularly the chin beard stuff. There's a new pix of me in my album if you click on the link on the website.
I've read of other FtMs struggling with acne. To date I've not had any severe problems. A little more acne than usual but notIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-783514322002-06-29T08:06:00.000-07:002002-06-29T08:06:39.216-07:00Just a quick note.
This last Wednesday, the 26th, we ramped up to 100mg every two weeks. We'll continue at this amount until I see my endo next which will be in early December. It is my hope that my beard and moustache will fill in more quickly now and that my muscles will start to bulk up more.
Other than that, all is well and progressing nice. I've lost 55 pounds and am now using free In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-775586202002-06-10T02:15:00.000-07:002002-06-10T02:16:02.000-07:00Well there's good news this time 'round. Saw my endo on Tuesday of last week and she said that my oncologist has said that my being on T hormone therapy is aokay! That is an affirmation that I'm doing the right thing. Not that I need them but when I get them I hold them in reserve for those days (which are getting less and less) when I worry or have doubts. Also discussed my T shot levels andIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-769715252002-05-25T16:12:00.000-07:002002-05-25T16:13:41.000-07:00Well, it's official. I confuse children as to whether I'm a guy or gal. *grins* Here's how: a) I have enough "whiskers" (as a high school senior called it) to make them think I'm a guy, b) add to that I wear tank tops - a very masculine shirt, and c) I have top frontal appendages which make my gender a question mark. I was at a concert last Sunday and then working out at the Y during the In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-764412232002-05-11T16:03:00.000-07:002002-05-11T16:03:33.240-07:00It's been one of those lifetimes again. Same old struggle with "labels". I posted to an email list and a friend cameback saying that maybe we (FtMs and MtFs) are the next level of evolution. You know what? I can believe that. Especially for those of us going for a "blended" and balanced outlook on life. As blended individuals we bring the best of both worlds, a personality in whatever In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-760321352002-05-01T00:04:00.000-07:002002-05-01T00:05:44.000-07:00Well I'm way past shot #2. Tomorrow is Shot #1 of the ramp up to 75mg. Slowly but surely we walk up the ramp and change the body into the image I have in my mind. I can live with this.
Body change? A little more chin fur where there wasn't before. On the tip of the chin I have what? Grey white hair starting to grow. What does that mean? Mean's it's hard to see!!! LOL! But that's okay... In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-109190932002-03-19T20:07:00.000-08:002002-03-19T20:07:55.193-08:00One day past my 2nd shot. *big grin* and I'm doin' good. Trying very hard not to be impatient about changes. But so far so good.In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-107882752002-03-15T21:22:00.000-08:002002-03-15T21:22:49.803-08:00I am three days away from my 2nd T shot and I'm jazzed. While there hasn't been any real changes just the fact I'm on T has made a tremendous difference in my mental state. Not that it was bad before but I seem more "up" than anything.
As to "changes", nothing major save for perhaps and I say this with caution because I'm not sure whether this is a T-related change or not but, there has been In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-105431412002-03-08T17:11:00.000-08:002002-03-08T17:11:34.703-08:00Well let's see... I decided NOT to take the DHEA because I didn't want to screw up my chances of being able to take T. Guess I decided to keep my own hide intact rather than play guinea. Sorry about that guys.
The good news is though that I am now OFFICIALLY on T!! Hurray! Or as we say in the SCA - HUZZAH! :) I went to the endo in Seattle and I gotta tell you she's great. If you need an endoIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-84442062002-01-05T18:07:00.000-08:002002-01-05T18:07:43.936-08:00Well lots has happened since my last entry. I've seen the psych and he's said he'll write my letter, lost 23 pounds, gained some muscle, been ill, and just started taking DHEA (50mgs) a day. I'm taking the DHEA of my own accord in part to see if I can boost my body a bit and in part feeling like I owe it to those who visit my website to present at least one alternative to getting hormones from In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-72625772001-11-20T03:04:00.000-08:002001-11-20T03:07:41.000-08:00Alright, here's the latest and it's good news. A friend referred me to his endo and I have an appt in the beginning of March. Hip, Hip, Huzzah! I know... it's 4.5 months away but hey it's an appt, it's at a season that my beloved won't mind me traversing the mountain passes, and it's a solid beginning. In the meantime good things are happening.
For starters I'm still using the weight room at In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-69898772001-11-09T04:25:00.000-08:002001-11-09T04:25:22.686-08:00Well, I've talked again to my doc and she says that while she is prevented from doing my T script (she's only a PA-C and her higher auth's have said "No" *sigh*) she will gladly do all the monitoring, blood work, etc if I can get the script elsewhere. Which puts me where? Back at square one.
My therapist did give a doc's name but so far she seems to be uncooperative. I have written her back In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-64734352001-10-19T19:00:00.000-07:002001-10-19T19:00:34.356-07:00It's been a few weeks since I got the news from my doc and I have to say that it's been hard to accept. I've had times when I've wanted to cry, times when I've wanted to just get T and trust that my doc is wrong. Ultimately though I talked to my therapist and she suggested I get a second opinion. So I've been trying to get one.
My first option was to contact my oncologist in Seattle. Which I In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-59492682001-09-27T03:59:00.000-07:002001-09-27T03:59:24.706-07:00Well from absolute elation to rock bottom in the course of a single month. About a week after my doc told me we were going to start me on T she called. She was having to get in touch with an endocrinologist as there was concern about an old cancer I'd had that was hormone driven. At that point I wasn't totally out of the ball park. But when I saw her a week later she told me that taking T wasIn My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-55560642001-09-08T02:58:00.000-07:002001-09-08T02:58:51.196-07:00*from the far fetches of the Pacific Northwest you hear loud, resoundings..* HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!
It has been a VERY good day today. I saw my doc and if I can get my blood pressure down to where it's suppose to be (for some reason it was high 130/100 today) in just a little less than two weeks on the 19th, I get to start on T!!!!
In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-53171802001-08-27T03:01:00.000-07:002001-08-27T03:01:28.690-07:00My beloved wife and I did some talking tonight. We talked about whether or not I would take that final step, bottom surgery. At this point I don't know. I'm 45, it would put us into debt as my medical would not cover it. Hard to prove that having a "wubbie" surgerically put in is not an elective surgery. And in a way more importantly we would lose our connection to the Butch-Femme community In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3122761.post-53123512001-08-26T20:07:00.000-07:002001-08-26T20:07:07.023-07:00This begins my online journal. I want to share what I look like, what I have to do, what changes take place as they take place, etc. The journal itself is meant to be an encouragement to those thinking about transitioning, those already on the road. An informational page for those who wonder what it's all about. An educational page meant to expand reader's understanding what it means to be In My Opinionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616894550852754255noreply@blogger.com0