My Timeline (w/photos)

[Kayle Sky]

You are too kind. My wife's family are not sure how to support us for the most part. My mother in law loves the faxt that she now has two daughters, and no one is allowed to say otherwise to her. Time will work the family stuff out for forbyou I am sure.

[Sarah Anne]

HI Everyone!
It's time for my 6th month HRT update.


The biggest changes this round is that I've started to thin out around the neck and shoulders.
HRT has really made it difficult to lose weight...in fact I was gaining for a bit. My endo
wants me down so I started Weight Watchers and just hit under 200. From 230 2 years
ago, I'm pretty happy about that!

I've gotten some "spotting" in strange patterns in my bra cups at the end of the day.
I have never noticed it actually coming out from anywhere...but the grayish spots
pop up throughout the day. I was concerned and called my endo. He said that was
normal but was going to check my prolactin level in 4 months anyway. It just doesn't seem
like it's coming out of the nipples...but around that whole area. I'll keep a watch and see where
that goes. It's never been enough to "soak through" or be visible on the outside of the bra
so I dunno! And both of them are doing it. It's worse when I exercise or do something physical like mow the grass.

I updated my profile pic to show my current appearance.

Since my last post, a LOT has happened. I have pretty much gone public with it and the outpouring of support from those around me has made this the "absolute greatest" experience of my life! All family and friends now know. My employer is about to release the information to the staff. They are standing behind me 100% on this issue. This week I am filing my petition for name change so I can get that underway. I want to be fully transitioned and full time by mid summer. The light at the end of the tunnel is coming and it's been a loooooong road. I know the road may also just be starting...but I've got my map, a full tank of gas, the tunes are cranked up and I am ready to GO!!!!! ^_^

Sarah

[Shantel]

WOW, pretty impressive Sarah Anne, and you do look beautiful! 

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Way awesome, Sarah.  About time you stepped into the light.

[Jenny07]

Fantastic news Sarah.
It sounds like the cats out of the bag and it's wonderful that you have all of the support.

Congratilations and keep in touch with your journey.
Enjoy the rest of the trip.

J

[ChristyB]

WOW, just WOW!!! You are one beautiful lady.
Thank you very much for having the courage to post your epic journey, it promises hope for all of us just beginning.

Christy.

P.S. Event though you are smiling in your first photo, I feel the person looking at the camera in your avatar is soooo much happier.

[carol_w]

I dare ANYBODY (outside this board) to call Sarah Anne's avitar picture a "guy".  There is absolutely NO WAY in the world that picture is of a "male". 

Honestly, Sarah, thank you for sharing your journey with us.  Your progress is obviously more than awesome - you are now a pretty woman who is ready to take on the world as herself and not a shell. 

Only one question that I have - is your wife taking this well?  I know that it must be very difficult for her, but I was wondering if you feel that your relationship will survive or not.  Thanks.

Carol

[Sarah Anne]

@Shantel - TYSVM!!!!!

@Ms. Obrien - Thanx! You've watched this from the beginning and you know it's taken awhile to get here. This stage has felt soooo good!!

@Jenny07 - TY!! The cat is indeed out and best thing is...not one person was "surprised" by this announcement! I heard lots of "we always kinda thought this."

@ChristyB - TYVM for your kind words! Best of luck if you are just starting out. I remember back when I thought this was only a dream. And in the words of Walt Disney, "If you can dream it, you can do it!"

@Carol- Carol....your comment actually choked me up! That is perhaps the nicest and most emotional thing anyone has said to me. Spending a large portion of my life trying to look like Sarah with failure after failure has made me to this very day, not always see myself as the woman I wanted to be. Lots of people have seen my photos once I revealed what I was doing. Even my dad after seeing them, admitted he was shocked. I told my old boss (who had already heard the rumor) and he said "When I heard that, my initial reaction was he sure would make one butt ugly woman! But that can't be you! These have to be Photoshopped!! There is no way that is the guy who worked for me for 10 years!" Those comments, even though they weren't "stellar", made me feel great. Your comment has pushed that above and beyond and I can't thank you enough. Quite often I still see a guy and it's reassuring to hear that others do not.
As for my wife's emotional state....it's hard. It's REALLY hard! There are times she will just look at me and start crying. But when the tears dry up, she gets closer to me to try and keep the connection between us strong. We've done the best we can. Without her support and care, there is NO way I would have reached the point I am at now. She gave me the courage and freedom to go after this. Right now because the world is finding out, she feels the one thing that was a huge secret between just the two of us no longer has the power it once did. She fears that since I have received such high levels of support, that her support doesn't have the draw or significance it once did. I need to keep this in mind while I am riding the emotional "coming out" wave. I need to reminder her how important she is to me and not leave her behind as the world goes through the adjustment phase. She has been and will continue to be the most important person in my life. We plan to be together forever and we need to work even harder to insure that it remains that way. For as long as I let her know I feel that way, she will continue to accept Sarah as her soul mate and best friend.

[Erik Ezrin]

Wow, you really look like a beautiful woman Sarah, just saying
And I agree with Carol that there is NO way anyone would be able to spot you're trans from your face. You're 100% a woman to me And a good looking one too!

It's great to see a timeline like this, even before you got on HRT you looked amazingly female.

[Karla]

...She has been and will continue to be the most important person in my life. We plan to be together forever and we need to work even harder to insure that it remains that way. For as long as I let her know I feel that way, she will continue to accept Sarah as her soul mate and best friend.

I am so happy, Sarah Anne, that your marriage and mutually supportive partnership is working out !

I read too many stories of abandonment... including my own.  It's encouraging (and empowering) to know that happiness with someone else... is possible, given kindness, devotion and hard work.

-Karla

[spx_1112]

Sarah. So great to hear from you.  So happy for you!

[kylie clark]

This thread is so inspiring.  I smile everytime I read this thread.  Congrats and good luck!

[NotThereYet]

Hi Sarah!!! I have not talked to you in a long time!!!

You look amazimg, but, more importantly, how do you feel? I am full time, now, even at my new job, just Andrea, a female employee. I have moved to Europe, bzw.

I am glad things with your wife are great!!! That is so rare!!!

How is your work going? Are you full time at work as well?

Love,
Andrea

[Sarah Anne]

@Erik Ezrin - Thanx Erik! And your photo looks astonishing! Luuuuv the hair too

@Karla.Allen - I read a lot of those stories too and it was a major concern of mine. It's why I decided to tell her before we got married. It was her "get out of jail free" card. I am sorry yours has not worked out. Obviously my road is just beginning and I can't predict the future...but we're working hard to keep things strong.

@Kylie clark & Spx_1112 - Thanx!!! ^_^

@Andrea - HEY!! Wonderful to hear from ya! You went to Europe huh?? WOW!!!! Congrats on hitting full time status. That has to feel incredible! As for my work, I am not full time. On Tuesday May 14th, the entire staff will have a meeting to learn of my transition. I am the first employee within 100 miles to transition within a school district. So needless to say, this is a huge thing for everyone involved. The administration staff has been absolutely wonderful in getting all the ducks in a row and helping to make this as smooth and easy as possible. I have been waiting for next Tuesday for months now...there are so many people I want to tell and talk to. A large percentage of people will not be shocked or surprised by this announcement. Out of the 100 or so that now know, NO ONE was shocked. I've had to wear a bra full time for over a month and that's been kind of hard to hide, but big shirts help! I have an agreement with the school that I will end this school year as my male self and start the next one as Sarah. I am 12 month employee so I will continue to work through the summer and at some point when my legal name change completes, I will transition to full time. Outside of work, I am living full time and as far as how I feel...I cannot put it into words! I can now walk out to my car as Sarah and the neighbors don't mind. I have returned to the local stores and restaurants that I have avoided for over a year now because people know me. I have not presented "full Sarah" to my family yet (as they just found out a month ago), but I do not anticipate that to be an issue. I know the negatives are out there....but I have revealed this to everyone important to me and not one person has been negative or unsupportive. It may stir up trouble since it's a public school district because there are bound to be parents out there that won't approve of this. But the school district has vowed to stand behind me and provide whatever protection they can. So to sum up my thoughts on the whole transition..."Those who matter, don't mind! Those who mind, don't matter!" I am sooooo excited to see a driver's license with a new name and an "F" where an M once stood!!!!!!! ^_^

[dlee]

You look amazing!!!!!! Gorgeous!!

[ChristyB]

I keep coming back to the timeline of this post. I can't see any "male" persona here. I wish that my journey would have half the results of yours. You are a BEAUTIFUL woman. Your avatar pick is that of a VERY pretty woman. I am attracted to women and you are amazingly sexy and pretty. If I met you for the first time I would have no doubt in my mind that you are female, and would be hitting on you relentlessly. It would take you to admit that physically you were born male and I would not believe you. You would have to show me to convince me that you were not born female. I realize that you may see the male you, but no one that did not know you from here would be able to tell. You are not only beautiful, but plain drop-dead gorgeous. I am soooooo jealous. May your journey allow you to see the woman that the rest of us see when looking at your pictures. Also, may you see that others wish that their transition would be half as successful as yours.

Your admirer,
Christy.

[Sarah Anne]

@Dlee - Thanx!!!

@ChristyB - Your words really lifted me up! I appreciate your comments and TY for making me feel even more feminine then I already do!


OMG!!!!!! We went for Chinese today and I just "HAD" to post the fortune I got from MY fortune cookie! Seriously....this is almost a bit creepy...HOW did the cookie know!?!?!

[Shantel]

@Dlee - Thanx!!!

@ChristyB - Your words really lifted me up! I appreciate your comments and TY for making me feel even more feminine then I already do!


OMG!!!!!! We went for Chinese today and I just "HAD" to post the fortune I got from MY fortune cookie! Seriously....this is almost a bit creepy...HOW did the cookie know!?!?!

How totally cool is that though huh?

[Sarah Anne]

Hi once again!
I am quickly reaching the end of my updates as I run out of notable milestones. This is my 7 and 1/2 month HRT report!!

Since my last post, I have officially gone full time! That means from work to home, I'm Sarah. However, I have had issues getting my lawyer to submit my petition for legal name change. She was at the courthouse this week getting things in order so now it's a matter of waiting for a court date. Woohoo!

The school gave me a new ID badge and changed the "Mr." to "Ms." and updated my photo. Physically and emotionally, I feel WONDERFUL! The excitement hasn't worn off yet...it just keeps getting better!

Health wise, I mentioned last time that I had some dark greenish discharge from my breasts. It continues to happen to this day. It's not a lot, but it is coming out of several places around the nipples. I don't think it's actually coming from the nipple itself. My endo took a look at it and ordered a prolactin level check. That came back fine so he sent me for a mammogram just to make sure. That came back fine too. He said he's not too concerned about it and told me to keep doing what I've been doing. If gets bad, I am to call. Hormones do some strange things!!

Outside of that, people are going through the normal slip ups while they get the pronouns and name wrong. It's to be expected but it's becoming less and less. Every day my older identity slips further into the past. My wife sent me a dozen rainbow roses this week to celebrate LGBT awareness month and also to mark the day 2 years ago I decided to transition to Sarah. Juggling two lives has now ceased and the stress of hiding is long gone.

And of course, here's a comparison photo of me this time last year pre HRT and me yesterday 7.5 months. 225 lbs vs. 190.
Ring size went from 10.5 to 8.5 : Clothing from 16 to 12

[Horizon]

Wowza!  You certainly look wonderful!  I'm glad to hear everything is going so well