A special annoucement!

[Caleb]

Hey guys! I'm proud to announce I have an appointment for starting hormones scheduled for Monday at 3pm! I have one semester left in college so it will be a little difficult the next three to four months keeping things hidden, but I want to be ready to face the workforce world as a man. Any hints, tips, or etc about what to expect? I'm going to a hormone specialists doctor, it's fairly expensive but at least with him I can get on the right track and have the right amount prescribed.

[Kreuzfidel]

Wow! Congratulations, Caleb!  Now, are you going to actually get your first shot or are you going to talk to them about it?  I presume they've treated trans patients before?

[Caleb]

Thank you Kreuzfidel... yes they have treated trans patients before, but his main thing is weight loss I believe. I'm not really sure if I will receive an actual injection Monday or not, they didn't really go over the details in phone. Lol I hope so though! Have you started hormones yet? If so, how are things and what were things like first starting?

[Hayzer12]

I'm a junior in university, and I was worried that my changes would be super noticeable before I got my name changed legally. I still haven't gotten it legally changed, but the changes are subtle as of right now. My third month on T was this week, and I pass 100 percent already(I passed most of the time BEFORE T though). The only problem is that pesky name. I talked to my professors, and told them the name I would rather go by. I have only told one professor about transitioning and that was through a student paper that we had to fill out on the first day of class. So that's something you could consider? Or is it a small school where everyone knows you as female?

I really wouldn't worry about anyone noticing this semester though. Changes are slow; people aren't going to notice too much. The voice change will be the biggest thing and even that won't be too noticeable.

I got my shot the first day; without even getting blood work done first. I got my blood work done that day and my first shot and script since I didn't want the doc to give me the others(50 bucks a pop; no thanks).

I'm super happy for you though; so congrats!

BTW the things that I started noticing personally was that my temper was shorter, body hair was EVERYWHERE, and it was hard for me to do my "elmo" voice without hurting myself

[Felix]

I started a little over a month ago, and only people who know me very well have noticed outward changes.

My first changes were genital growth and skin oiliness. Also I used to be pretty emotional, and that leveled out a lot as soon as I started T. And I'm bulking up faster from the same exercises.

I think you could get away with hiding it for 3 or 4 months. If you get facial hair in that time (most people don't, or not much) you can shave it, and if your voice drops you can convince most people they're imagining things.

[Caleb]

Haha awesome feedback stiltsk...

My school is pretty large, but the thing is... being a senior, I've met many people in my major courses throughout the past couple of years and so now there are a lot of people that I know and who know me as female. I figured that within the semester, shaving and such shouldn't be something I wouldn't be able to cover up, fingers crossed on that one. I already have to shave my chin and lip so it won't be anything too new.

Here's the kicker though, I haven't told my parents about it yet. I don't plan on it either though.

Fifty bucks? This first go is going to be 200 bucks. : / which is a hurt to the pocket for a college student. Lol. Follow ups with him after that are 100 bucks. And then what do I do? Find someone who will prescribe me a prescription? How much is that usually once all this initial stuff is over?

And I hope to not grow back hair, haha, did you? And I hope that my temper doesn't get too bad, my g/f would not be happy about that! What about appetite? Sex drive? Muscles? Body fat distribution?

[Caleb]

Haha very good to know Felix. So has the skin oiliness caused acne or are there things your having to do to prevent that?

And it's good to hear that you're bulking up quicker. I really wish to drop a couple pounds and start getting right with my body!

[Hayzer12]

Haha awesome feedback stiltsk...

My school is pretty large, but the thing is... being a senior, I've met many people in my major courses throughout the past couple of years and so now there are a lot of people that I know and who know me as female. I figured that within the semester, shaving and such shouldn't be something I wouldn't be able to cover up, fingers crossed on that one. I already have to shave my chin and lip so it won't be anything too new.

Here's the kicker though, I haven't told my parents about it yet. I don't plan on it either though.

Fifty bucks? This first go is going to be 200 bucks. : / which is a hurt to the pocket for a college student. Lol. Follow ups with him after that are 100 bucks. And then what do I do? Find someone who will prescribe me a prescription? How much is that usually once all this initial stuff is over?

And I hope to not grow back hair, haha, did you? And I hope that my temper doesn't get too bad, my g/f would not be happy about that! What about appetite? Sex drive? Muscles? Body fat distribution?

Yeah, mine was 200 bucks as well. It's 50 for the shot itself if a nurse gives it to you at the doc office(or atleast where I go). That's why I chose to not have it after that first time at the doc LOL. And yeah, I definitely know how hard it is for a college student especially with no help financially from parents (my parents are supportive, but aren't in a position to help). My first visit was 200, and that included lab work, the visit, and the shot. My follow up visits were 50 bucks, unless there was lab work and then it was 150. I continue to go to the same doc. He calls in scripts for me when I can't make it in for follow ups(which saves me a LOT of money), and with insurance my script is 10 dollars. Without insurance(which my dad just switched jobs, so therefore I have none) it's 85 - which makes me want to cry. However, the good thing is - my 10 dollar vial went for every week injections. My 85 dollar vial is going for every OTHER week injections(meaning, that 85 dollars is going to last me about 5 months)

And I was in your position with the classmates as well. I'm in the biology department at an engineering school. There aren't that many of us. Once you're in upper division courses, you see the same ppl over and over and over again. I came out to the people that I was hanging out with outside of class. The others, I don't really care what they think.

And yeah, my temper only is shorter. Not extraordinarily so, and not to the point where anyone really thinks I'm a douche. I'm still a pretty chill person. And no lol.. no back hair... thank god. Just more dark hairs on my thighs, stomach, and chest. Being on it for only 3 months, I'm developing a lot of chin hair too - but I'm on a pretty large dose. I shaved that off though, it was too patchy and retarded looking LOL.

I have seen a little body fat redistribution. Mostly my hips and my ass. It shifted to my stomach; awesome. Sex drive is through the roof, which is bothersome at times. All in all though, I'm really happy and I'm glad I made this decision,. Oh and appetite ... O_O just say no. LOL I'm hungry all the time. When I'm full, and I mean severely full, I'm wanting more food in like two hours. I've never been like that. The holidays made me put on a crap ton of weight in combination with T. OIIII


Oh and speaking of acne... I also started breaking out BAD around 5 weeks in. I have NEVER had acne... and now it's horrific. Well not NOW, but it was...

I recommend getting 3 in 1 acne sport by university medical. It lasts a while, and it's cheaper than proactiv. It's a facial cleaner, wipes during the day, and a night cream(it's clear and dries quickly. doesn't look like a face mask). I cleared up in like 2 days.

[supremecatoverlord]

Unless you are incredibly receptive to testosterone, like me, than the changes shouldn't be terribly noticeable in the first few months. If you are like me, being on testosterone will probably be hard to hide. I say this because I'm already beginning to grow a substantial amount of facial & body hair, my voice has dropped significantly, my fat has begun to redistribute, my body is much more muscular, my Adam's apple is visible, my facial structure has slightly changed, and my skin looks more oily & rough. 


You asked about whether or not you would grow back hair...and all I can say is that you might. How much facial and body hair you have is largely dependent on your genetics; for instance, if the men in your family are virtually hairless, it's very unlikely that you will have much androgenic (body/facial) hair at all. The same goes for acne as whether or not someone gets acne or not is usually related to whether people in their family are predisposed to acneic skin. Testosterone just might make it more likely for you to get acne because of DHT and the enlargement of your pores.

[anibioman]

congrats man in 4 months i think the biggest thing that would change would be your voice but if you see the same people every day they might not realize the same way people cant tell when there own voice gets lower because they hear it every day and it changes gradually.

[Caleb]

Stiltsk: Amazing feedback once again bro. Where about are you located? Haha we could be sitting in about the same area and not even know it. But anyways... yea I'm like you on the sense that I'm carried on my parents insurance, which they would never be ok with this anyways so I'm not even going to ask. Once I graduate and get a real job though, it's hopefully going to be a bit easier as far as money goes. This doctor I'm going to is like an hour away, so I hope there's a way he can just start writing the script out for me after a few visits. So considering you eat more now... would you say you're metabolism has gone up though? Or no? And acne... when I was in my teens I had break outs, but I wouldn't call it acne, if you know what I mean. Getting acne and back hair= things I really don't want. Haha. And thanks a lot, I'll have to try that if things start getting bad.

JasonRX: Very true statement Jason, I would say the guys in my family are in the middle, they're not hairless, but they're not hairy beasts either. And about how well I'll take to T... I've thought about what you're talking about. My voice isn't particularly deep right now, but my facial hair on my chin and lip is crazy. I have to shave at least every other day for it to not be noticed. I dunno what's up with that.

Anibioman: Thanks man. And that's true, I was hoping to get some before pictures and record my voice so that I could recognize when things are getting different. And congrats to you, being on it for four months!

[Kreuzfidel]

Thank you Kreuzfidel... yes they have treated trans patients before, but his main thing is weight loss I believe. I'm not really sure if I will receive an actual injection Monday or not, they didn't really go over the details in phone. Lol I hope so though! Have you started hormones yet? If so, how are things and what were things like first starting?

Oh well I'm glad they've treated trans patients before - that will be a good thing!  Funny you should ask me that, I'm supposed to see my GP tomorrow to hopefully get my first shot!  I think they'll probably want to do bloodwork first for you to get baselines.  I had my bloodwork done last week.

[Caleb]

Haha nice! Sounds like we may get to go through these changes together then! Congrats to you as well my friend!

[mm]

Caleb, great to hear you are getting started on T.  Keep us posted on how it goes.  I hope to start soon.

[Cody Jensen]

Congrats!! 

[King Malachite]

Awesome!!!!! *thumbs up*

[Hayzer12]

Caleb: Unfortunately, I reside in the horrific state of Tennessee for the time being LOL - and yeah, metabolism goes up since you eat more frequently. I haven't gained much weight overall, but this Christmas was a beast. I didn't work out, so it was pretty noticeable. Now that I'm back at school and the gym is free, I take advantage of it.

I really can't wait to hear/see how T affects you.

[Caleb]

Thanks for all the encouragement and support fellas, words honestly can't express how appreciative I am!

Stiltsk: I feel you dude.... I'm in the great state of South Carolina. Who has it worse?! Lol.

[King Malachite]

Oh the lovely state of South Carolina, I live there too and that gives me a little bit of hope that if you can do it I can too.

[Caleb]

I feel you Malachite. Don't get me wrong, I love the state. And I love some of the people, but it's just so close-minded. Believe it or not though, there are actually people who are understanding. Mostly people my age (22) and younger. The older generation isn't having it though. Lol. But yea man, I'm going to be going to this appointment on Monday. It's in Charlotte. So if you need any help when you get started, if you haven't already, just let me know.