transitioning as a senior

[Tessa James]

Hello,

This is my first post ever regarding my private mtf world.  I am 61 years old and have repressed/closeted my cross dressing and feelings of being feminine for way too long.  Now working with a therapist and local support group I am starting to transition again and am interested in your mtf experiences as a senior citizen.  If there is any lesson I can share it is that these feelings can be denied but they never have gone away.  I only wish I would have had the courage, like so many of you, to come out and get into transition decades ago.   I did come out as bisexual to myself as a teenager as that was as close a definition as I could find then for how I felt and behaved.
Like so many of us, I knew before age 5 and relished in the attention my big sister gave me as a "girl."   She gave me my girl name and she and my older brother assured me if I acted like and played with girls I would BE a girl.  I was profoundly disappointed that they were wrong and I became more masculine in puberty and never felt like a real boy or man.  Years of being a closeted genderqueer are OVER and I know I can never go back.  But where is forward going to?
Now I worry it is too late for me to work thru any meaningful change even though I am thrilled at the possibilities before me.

Your thoughts, ideas and experience are solicited,

Tessa

Tessa

[V M]

Hi Tessa 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, we have several senior members here so jump right in and join the fun

Please be sure to review

• Site Terms of Service and rules to live by
  
• Standard Terms and Definitions
  
• Post Ranks ( including when you can upload an avatar)
  
• Age and the Forum
  
• Reputation rules
  
• Photo, avatars, and signature images policy
  

Hugs

V M

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Hi Tessa,

Welcome to our little family. Over 9707 strong. That would be one heck of a family reunion.

Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister.

As a member of the senior set, I can say that it is totally possible to transition.  Begin with a good gender therapist and go forward from there.


Janet 

[Jamie D]

Tessa, welcome from southern California.  We have a number of older TG/TS members, including several "late transitioners."

I think our Global Moderator Cindy James would strenuously argue 61 is too late!  I will alert her to your post.

[Cindy]

Hi Tessa,

Jamie D is a dear friend and jealous bitch

It's the Cali sun, melted her bird like brain. 

Sorry a sort of private joke from yesterday.

Well unlike Jamie I'm a stunningly gorgeous Australian who has just turned 60. I went FT mid last year. Again like many others I have known my condition since childhood and I intended to have SRS in my early 20's when I emigrated to Australia, just for that purpose. Well life happened and although I lived as me in private I couldn't go FT. Well in my late 50's I eventually started to see my psychiatrist, who judged me perfectly sane and totally gender disordered. I started hormone and I e with much fear and hesitancy went FT.

I'm a full time professional who is very well known in my career,  I was scared I would lose everything but signs were happening. I was looking way to female to pretend anymore and to be honest I'd had enough of hiding.

I have not had a single negative reaction. I feel totally loved and respected by my colleagues, my male professional colleagues have been complete gentlemen and my female colleagues are my friends and family outside of here. I have been totally accepted.

I have had good responses to hormones, my face has feminised, my skin has feminised I have cute boobs, still too small but give them time, and I am blissfully happy.

I own not an item of male clothing, so many people know me and about me that there is no way I can ever go back, even if I wanted too, and I can assure you I don't.

It has been a strange journey, not easy at times but easier with every step.

I am, as you will find out a very confident woman, I lecture to Uni students and I address medical conferences. I do so with no hesitation and no apologises to anyone.

So yes Tessa it is possible to transition and have a wonderful life at 'our' age.

Cindy

[Joelene9]

Tessa,

  Welcome!  I'm another senior on this list and started 2 years ago.  Just another old broad here.

  Joelene

[janis]

    Hi Tessa,
       I am a senior to, I just turn 68 young and I been fighting my feelings since I
    been very young. I started going to a therapist 2 years ago, and was told
    I was transgender, it made me very happy. I received a letter to a will know
    doctor, and was put on a low dose of hormones, I am starting to see some breast growth
    which I am very happy.  So your never to old.
   
    janis

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi Tessa,
I too would join the ranks of seniors here like my wonderful sister, Cindy; albeit for the fact it appears HRT has made me dyslexic. I am now 26, and loving it.

Think of the advantages, you too can be 16.

Huggs (as dementia sets in  )
Catherine

[gennee]

Welcome to Susan's, Tessa. I was 56 when I discovered that I was transgender.
I started cross dressing, then realized that my feeling ran much deeper. I'm 64 now
and am a happy and content transgender woman. It's better late than never I always say.

[Samantha Stone]

Hello Tessa

I am also struggling with age as it appears you are.  It is encouraging to me there are seniors that are transitioning.  I am in my mid 60's and like you, finally coming to grips with my life long feelings.  Therapy is essential as I have have been talking to my therapist about starting HRT.  It is both exciting and scary at the same time.  For me small steps forward is best.

Good luck to you in your journey.

Samantha

[Sarah Louise]

I'm 68, although I did transition in my 50's, it is possible at any age.

[Devlyn]

Hi Tessa, welcome to Susan's Place! I'm 51 and live near Boston. Glad you found the site. See you around, hugs, Devlyn

[Felix]

Hi Tessa. It is never too late. Transition is a lot of work and takes courage but it can feel like a miracle to finally take action and be who you are. I think it's really awesome that you've decided to do this after so many years of struggle and self-denial.

I'm not a senior or mtf, of course, but like a lot of people I wish I'd been strong enough to come out a long time ago. You'll find a lot of good info and support here.

[Tessa James]

Tessa here and loving the warm and personal welcome from you all.  It is especially encouraging to hear from Cindy James and others about such positive experiences in their personal development and professional worlds.  I live on the Oregon coast and am involved in local politics as an elected commissioner and trustee.  It is important to me that I can be taken seriously during and after transition.  I agree that it is essential to have a gender therapist and I am fortunate that even in our rural area that we have a trans support group. 
Once I let my flood gates open I have had a dynamic and oscillating ride.  One moment ready to tell the world and the next back in the tears and fears.
I understand that many of you must hear these classic comments all the time.  I would love to throw my old boy clothes away saving some for garden fairy work.   It is a thrill to now allow myself the simple pleasures of buying and wearing women's clothing and living in them all day.  The biggest thrill so far though, is how much better I feel letting myself be Tessa.  I did not fully appreciate how much effort was going in to the act of manning up and the constant fear I was failing at it. 
So thank you all so much for sharing and caring.  You are already a fun family for me.

[Cindy]

To be honest, after a while, and when you accept yourself, life is a total blast.