My transition so far

[Incarlina]

I thought I'd share a condensed version of my transition story and my year of RLE. My transition has gone smoothly, so I think I count as a success story. And there can never be too many success stories

These are some dates I gathered from facebook and my phone calendar:
New (secret) facebook account: may 18 2011
Came out on FB / started full time/RLE: june 23 2013
Received name certificate: june 25 2013
First electrolysis: july 8th 2013
Started HRT: september 3 2013
Started voice therapy: september 4 2013
Done with voice therapy: october 30 2013

Positive things during the last year:
To my female friends I'm just one of the girls now.
No one stares at me anymore.
Booblets.
Electrolysis is almost done.
I'm happy with my voice.
My mind is (usually) at peace.
People always refer to me as "her" or "lady".
Women are nicer to me, and their smiles are friendlier.
Men open doors for me.
Booblets. They're jiggly.
I have self confdence for the first time.
My step sister and her daughters have practically adopted me.
A close friend can't remember what my old name was.
I like the word "booblets".
Booblets.

To me it feels like my transition is over. I'm no longer travelling towards "the other side", I have already arrived at my destination. I have found my new metaphorical home and I like it here. There are still things to do and look forward to, but as a person I am at the end of the journey.

Thanks to all of you for helping me get to where I am today.

*Hugs and/or high fives*

[Allyda]

Thank you for sharing your journey through transition. I myself have had a fairly smooth transition so far beginning when I went full time a few years ago. My biggest problems have been finding a gender therapist and an ENT surgeon in the state I live in to evaluate my voice. I already know we have surgeons here that do SRS so that won't be an issue. In addition, I have a super wonderful Endo that isn't afraid to stand up for his transgender patients. I've been full time since August 2009. I was able to do this before starting hrt because I'm intersexed, and always looked feminine and had a feminine shape. Anyway, I started my hrt on December 27th, 2013, I got my gender changed on my license May 4th, 2014 (My first and middle names are gender neutral and given to me by my biological Mom whom I lost at age 6, so I will keep them in her honor). My Endo and I have worked out a transition plan and if I can find a surgeon my voice surgery is set for fall of this year, and my SRS during the fall of 2015. I just hope things remain as smooth as they have been so far.

Again, I very much thank you for sharig your story. Knowing a transition can proceed almost trouble free gives me great hope for the same through and beyond my SRS.

Best wishes!

Allie

[Incarlina]

Congratulations on the license update

In retrospect I feel like I could have gone full time a couple of years ago if I'd had the confidence for it. Other than all of us having different noses, my sister and my step sister could be my identical twins (born 22 years apart). Other than that you and I have similar time lines Next week I have officially done my required 365 days of RLE, so next month my counsellor and I will fill out an application for surgery and changing the gender marker. The application will be processed sometime during the winter, with a possible surgery date in about a year, I hope

[Allyda]

I just got my gender marker changed on my Driver's License to female two weeks ago from yesterday. I may push for my SRS sooner than is currently planned as I'm experiencing more severe dysphoria really bad over that repulsive horrible thing between my legs that shouldn't be there now that my face has changed so much toward the feminine. My nose actually shrank considerably and is still remodeling as is the rest of my face. I'm actually both very surprised and pleased with the changes so far. I went full time 5 years ago when I bought my current home. I'm intersexed, and 5 years ago even before hrt I could no longer pass for male no matter how baggy or butch my clothes were. I actually had wanted to transition and have my birth defect, as I call that repulsive thing, corrected long ago, but every time something cropped up and got in the way. I've had a reasonably smooth transition so far though beginning 5 years ago and considering the literal hell I'd been through living in between genders all my life, to get to this point I'm happy things are now going well for me.

My voice right now though is a big issue. Due to the injuries I suffered in my 91 accident it's very hard for me to make a female voice. So VFS is my only option. The problem with that is, though there are plenty of surgeons here in Florida USA who do SRS, there aren't many who do VFS, and I'm having a hard time finding one. My being on a low fixed income does not allow me to go to Yeson and have it done by Dr. Kim. I have to have it done here where it's covered by my insurance. I'm soooooo frustrated over it I'm seriously considering learning sign and becoming mute. Even if I can find a surgeon in Tampa or Orlando it's a $70. round trip for me in gas.

I see my Endo again on the 3rd of this coming month and plan to see about having mt E increased and also seeing if he can help me find a surgeon to do my voice. Oh well, the troubles we go through.

Sorry for the rant.

I do hope everything goes well for you and with your SRS with no hiccups.

Allie