Early planning for FT...

[KabitTarah]

My plans are in a lot of flux - a lot will come from HRT, but I'm planning on being partly FT before I'm FT at work too. Even if it's only a few weeks or a month...

Really, though... I have no idea how long I can keep up the whole "male" charade. Other than dressing androgynously (for now), I'm not actively presenting as male. In fact, I'm changing a lot of my presentation in all areas of my life. Summer will be an extreme challenge for me to keep any amount of male presentation and I may want to address some of that now (regarding HRT and Laser).

The biggest problem is that I need to decide now regarding my HRT schedule - I'm on Spiro and low E now, (day 8 ). If I decide I can't make it through the summer as I am (assuming my looks stay masculine enough *anyway*), I'd like to increase my HRT to normal levels more quickly.

My previous plan was to stay low on E until May/June... then ride E through the summer until cool weather (and sweaters) and come out next January.

EDIT: I also do have family concerns with this... but this part is more about what I think I can handle myself. I'm sure more time would be nice for family, wardrobe, learning to be female, etc...

[Allie]

Congratulations on the next step in your transition.

I am struggling with the same thing "timing"

Initially when I first began this process I wanted a methodical transition and was thinking that I didn't want to get to FT until after the summer. My daughter is graduating high school this June and I was afraid that I would embarrass her, so I wanted to hold out. Well that was the initial plan, today I just want to be me. The HRT has made some changes but no where near enough for me to be comfortable enough to go FT.

I totally agree with your statement "about what I think I can handle myself". Although I want everything to happen this second, I know that the time it takes to transistion is important to coming to terms and handling all these situations. I find it very easy to dress and be androgynous, most likely because that is where I feel my appearance is but really I feel like I want shrink my timeline against my better judgement.

[MaryXYX]

It is recommended to start on a low dose of E and build up gradually.

There is a big difference between "not actively presenting as male" but everybody "knows" you are male, and actively presenting as female.  Perhaps the day will come sooner rather than later when you say "I just can't take it any more" and come out.  That's what I did.

[Joan]

I've been kind of thinking about this one quite a lot too.

I'm wondering which of my 4 jobs HRT's effects is going to get me fired from. I'm thinking how I'm going to hide my breasts when the hot summer days come and wearing anything is a nightmare. I've been thinking about these things and I find that they bother me less and less.

I guess this means I'm making progress on the self acceptance thing and that has to be good.

I don't plan on being FT for a good while yet, but I'm much more flexible about the when of that than I was even a month ago.

[FalseHybridPrincess]

I too have been thinking about this...

I didnt , but after getting wierd looks all the time as a guy I ve been wandering which one I preffer more,,,wierd looks as a guy or wierd looks as a girl...
when I go out as myself I feel so calm nice and free...

So Ill propably go to my japanese class in two weeks as a girl...see how it goes and plan ahead...