hi everyone! nice to meet you!

[unicorn]

Gee, I've been living online for a while now and thought I'd be used to these intro's by now... not... well, here goes, I've been looking for TG forums, and this place just looks so friendly.  A little bit about me, i'm a bio female and have identified as a lesbian for years, even though there has always been something missing. Recently I've been asking myself a lot of questions about gender, and have found I have a lot in common w/ gay men and women who want to be gay men. I'm not sure where this journey will lead me, but, even though it scares me, I look forward to exploring this further.
In my daily life I'm a student and secretary, working for the RC church (yeah, that can complicate things, though the people here have been great so far... I'll be sure to check the spirituality thread later). Oh, and i live in the Netherlands. The only Dutch forum I felt at home in is not very active... any other Europeans here?

Oh, and, er, I didn;t realise my screenname would be so unoriginal here, lol, I saw all those unicorn avatars*, and had to choose this cutie instead. Can anyone explain how to upload my own images?

I've been very busy lately, but hope to be posting and getting to know y'all better soon.
Love,
Lisette/Alex (you can just call me unicorn)

*Edited to say: I didn't mean to imply the unicorn pictures aren't beautiful, they are... hope nobody's offended , just didn't want to make the obvious choice.

[Sophie]

Hi Unicorn, nice to meet you too!

I'm bio-female as well, so I look forward to talking to you. And everybody here is really friendly and can often give good advice... also, there's the Wiki which has useful stuff too.

So... welcome.

[Dennis]

Welcome, Unicorn. I'm FtM coming from a lesbian background, although I id as a straight guy now.

Enjoy Susan's, have a look at the rules, and browse through past posts. It's a friendly welcoming place.

Dennis

[Cassandra]

Hi Unicorn,

Welcome to Susan's. If you like we can just refer to you as Alex. You have come to the right place and you will find we are quite active. We have people from all over as a matter of fact I think there is another person here from the Netherlands all though I don't think they've posted in a while. Maybe your presence will encourage them to post more often.

Don't let all those blue stars intimidate you. We moderators are here to insure your visits here are pleasant ones and we are a very talkative bunch. So fix yourself a cup of tea or other relaxing beverage, sit down, take your shoes of and set a spell.

Good Journey,

Cassie

P.S. You can upload a picture of your choice(nothing too racy please we are strictly PG) after you have made 5 posts. But please dont post just to get 5 posts under your belt.

[unicorn]

Hi again, thanks for the welcome!
as for my name, you can call me Alex, unicorn, Lisette, it's all fine. In the place where I am now, I like to explore Alex a little more cos I haven't done that very much (though I always have liked to dress 'ambiguously' from time to time, shopped in men's stores and have often found myself put in traditionally masculine roles, eg in the workplace.).. been contemplating hormones for a few years... what would that do to me? It's quite possible that I will end up changing my gender id back and forth, that would be my ideal, if we could change at will like in SF. In many ways I do feel comfortable with the female side of me as well... I think if i had been born a man I would have ended up asking myself these questions about gender, too, taking the same journey but starting at the other end.

... now I'll make myself some coffee and start reading your posts!
Alex

[Cassandra]

Hey Alex,

Sounds like your a candidate to talk to DebTV I'll give her a nudge, although she would probably find you on her own anyway.

Cassie

[Dennis]

With respect to what hormones will do, some of the effects are:
voice change (irreversible)
increased body hair (irreversible)
redistribution of body fat (reversible when T stops)
male pattern baldness (if in your genes) (irreversible)
zits (possibly) (reversible)
clitoral growth (irreversible)
facial hair growth (irreversible)
estrogen suppression/cessation of periods (reversible)
muscle growth (reversible)

It's not something to enter into lightly, given the number of irreversible effects. Some FtM's do not opt for hormones or surgery.

Therapy to determine your wishes and medical supervision are absolutely essential. Also, there are health risks with stopping and starting, like an increased risk of osteoporosis. Other possible risks of taking T include increased blood pressure, and increased risk of cardiac problems, and possibly liver damage.

Dennis

[Cassandra]

increased body hair (irreversible)

Except through many painful sessions of electrolysis costing several thousand dollars.

Cassie

[unicorn]

very true, Dennis, thanks for the list and caution, that's why i'm thinking about this a lot, and also why i can't see myself going there in the near future...
(as for therapy, have yet to find a good therapist that i feel at all comfortable with....)
Alex

[beth]

Hello Alex,

             
              You are most welcome here. Keep searching for that therapist you feel comfortable with, talking with someone with lots of experience is very helpful and is the first step toward hormone therapy if needed. I hope you have time to stay and join in/start conversations. Your perspective will be interesting and welcomed.


beth


               

[stephanie_craxford]

Hello Alex,

Welcome, welcome,

I see that you have met a lot of other members here at Susan's.  As mentioned earlier, we're a pretty friendly bunch and it seems as though you are going to fit in rather well.  Be sure to read the rules, and there's lots of other information to read though so take your time and browse around.

As far as therapists go, many find themselves in the same situation that you do.  The problem is that there is just not enough with experience in our issues.  But keep searching, I'm sure there is one out there for you.  Don't be afraid to take part in the discussions, as new ideas and views are always welcome here, and they add variety and a little spice to the forums.  So don't be a stranger, and join in where you can.

Chat later,

Steph

[Miss Placed]

Hi Unicorn!

Welcome to Susan's.

I am a fellow European, a M2F, living in the UK.

I have been to the Netherlands many times, was there in March and was supposed to be going there in November, but it seems to have fallen through.

A great country, very friendly and welcoming people, very open and understanding (I have found) and I have wondered if it would be a great place to transition.

Chat soon!

[Debtv]

Hello Alex/Lisette,

It's quite possible that I will end up changing my gender id back and forth, that would be my ideal, if we could change at will like in SF. In many ways I do feel comfortable with the female side of me as well... I think if i had been born a man I would have ended up asking myself these questions about gender, too, taking the same journey but starting at the other end.

That sounds like me. I'm a 48 yr old cd/tv and I am both genders. It's pretty cool really I can have my man power or my woman sweetness, depending on my mood and the circumstances.

I have thought; If I was born a woman, I would be a lipstick lesbian...wishing I had man 'parts' for my girlfriend. LOL My self-term is a transvesbian.

It has not been easy for me to find this middle ground...but I have and I am very happy!

Welcome to Susans!
Love
Deb/Don

[unicorn]

... I am both genders. It's pretty cool really I can have my man power or my woman sweetness, depending on my mood and the circumstances.

I have thought; If I was born a woman, I would be a lipstick lesbian...wishing I had man 'parts' for my girlfriend. LOL

the more I think about this, reading through old diaries etc, the more the idea of being two (or more?) genders begins to make sense to me. The freedom ...

My self-term is a transvesbian.

It has not been easy for me to find this middle ground...but I have and I am very happy! ...

I have a long way to go, and a lot of learning to do ... on how to get there, and where "there" is, exactly... So it's good to know that there are people who have actually achieved this. That my SF/Fantasy dream can exist. Gives me hope.

Glad to meet you, Deb/Don!

Love,
Alex/Lisette

[Debtv]

Well, here is my path,

My Path to Happiness

#1 Accept yourself!
I accept my transgender wish,
a wish that can never truly be.
I know that between both genders is a niche,
a middle place for me.

#2 Overcome those bad feelings!
I can overcome my jealousy of women,
by recognizing those feelings they cease to be.
I can overcome my frustration to be femm,
by living honest and free.

#3 Become honest with yourself and others
My honesty will set me free,
with myself and others.
Honesty will take strength to be,
to balance my true genders.

#4 Grow & show your self-pride
Self-pride will grow in me,
as I honestly live my life and have fun.
Self-pride will show the true me,
as I blend my genders back into one.

#5 Realize your special
I am lucky to be both genders,
this took me 30 years to see.
I am special to be both genders
I am thrilled to be me.

Love
DebTV

[unicorn]

 

*prints Deb's post and sticks it on the bathroom mirror*

[gina_taylor]

Hi and welcome to Susan's Place. I'm sure that you'll enjoy the fine colletion of topics here as well as the fine collection of people.  I'm sure that you'll get to know them all in time as well as I have and I consider them all very close friends. 

Gina