What aspect of transition were you least prepared for?

[Naturally Blonde]

Another aspect of transition I was least prepared for was being delayed GRS because I have high blood pressure which is hereditary. I am not overweight, so it isn't related to that and I have found it difficult to reduce my blood pressure with blood pressure tablets and change of diet, more excercise etc. I wasn't prepared for the barriers put in front of me by the medical profession over the last 10 years.

[witchypixy]

I was very surprised when I developed a regular PMS cycle every 26 days that included just about every symptom a ciswoman has except acne.  I panicked and called my doctor but apparently my body was already set up for hormone cycles and combined with an apparant sensitivity to said cycle, I get cursed/blessed with everything except severe uterine cramping (we don't have a functioning one of course) and bleeding, so for six days I get to have mood swings, anxiety, saddness, bloating, backaches, sour stomache, abdominal cramps, sensitive breasts, constipation, and irritation.  Then after seven to eight days I'm back to normal...till 26 days passs and I get to play again.   Its nice for my dysphoria but sucks otherwise, but its part of being female I guess so I'm cool with it.   Any other girls have this much fun ?

[Evelyn K]

Buttons on women's shirts being on the opposite sides.

[Ms Grace]

Buttons on women's shirts being on the opposite sides.

Yeah, I know, what's that about, right?? Plus the buttons and associated button holes are usually much smaller than on men's shirts. Lucky I have nimble fingers or I'd really be stuffed buttoning them up.

When I ask women why the different side most of them didn't even realise!

[Rose City Rose]

Which one was I least prepared for?  That's a tough one.

I'd have to say off the top of my head it's the fact that so much emphasis is placed on a woman's hair, and not just length.  It has to look fabulous or you're looked down on as less than the woman you want to be.

If I don't keep my hair obsessively clean, I get read with lots of dirty looks which is a HUGE downer.  If I shampoo and condition it twice each time I shower, I not only pass but I get compliments from cis women about my hair which is a HUGE ego boost!

It's the one concession to cosmetic changes, aside from padding my bra with (cheap but effective) silicone inserts, that I've had to make.  I don't wear makeup and my jewelry is minimal, but if I let my hair go, it's going to be a bad day.

Go figure.  Now I understand why a "bad hair day" is no laughing matter.

[katiej]

Buttons on women's shirts being on the opposite sides.

It makes me feel like a 5 year old fumbling around trying my hardest to just put on a shirt.

[Sydney_NYC]

Buttons on women's shirts being on the opposite sides.

Yeah, I know, what's that about, right??

I've read somewhere that the reason the buttons on women's tops are the opposite goes back to victorian times when upper class women would have servants that dressed them and it made it easier for the servants to dress them with the buttons the other way. Since they were facing the opposite direction, it would be easier for someone that is right handed. (Which most people were.)

[katiej]

Sydney, that's fascinating.  I love tidbits of historical information like that.

I've noticed that it varies by clothing brands for both blouses and pants.  For instance, Ann Taylor is always lefty, but I have a couple pairs of pants by Calvin Klein that are both righty.

[immortal gypsy]

Because I take my 2nd dose at the same time every day. I've started to know when it is time to take them without the need for a clock. I go from nice calm and happy, to pressing this button that will destroy the known universe would be a very good and fun idea

[RosieD]

Everything didn't go completely, horribly, totally wrong, at least not yet. That has been a huge surprise.

Rosie

[Rose City Rose]

Everything didn't go completely, horribly, totally wrong, at least not yet. That has been a huge surprise.

Rosie

That's up there on the "top 10" for me.

[Swayallday]

The cost
My excuses

Being kicked out by family
Homelessness
Making a friend and her family basically took me in

Becoming more approachable, girls come sit next to me on bus and train and suddenly start chatting
Losing all of my anger
Being VERY emotional... What happened two days ago was the most intense moment ive had in a while, today I reflect on it and go all lol girl what are you even making a fuzz about

Wanting to build a future
Kicking addiction,
Relapsing,
Kicking addictions some more
Dresses over drugs

Being so vain I even think sometimes I will be ugly for life due to my facial skin

Really, really loving mascara *flap flap*

Being able to fall in love again
Not being able to carry a grocerybag up the stairs without worrying you will drop it halfway

I never wanted children but not too long ago a gf asked me to babysit, that was a first

Not hearing from a gf for three days and believing she mustve died so you cry, you cry a lot

Girlfriend is crying, you start crying, its bonding

When a woman wants something, she will alsays get it -> this saying feels pretty relevant to transitioning, im the living proof haha!

Becoming more loose, I dance even cooler then before and im not even fulltime yet. Im now with more sway!

People saying im cute already (ugh, they just say that) but even some say I suddenly shine and look lively.

Physical dysphoria related to,sex drive is gone:-)

I now want to eat candy, and lots of it, preferably m&ms (I never eat candy)

PAINFUL BUDDING BEWBIES AAAAHHHHHH

[FreyasRedemption]

Definitely the body language. I've never understood how that stuff works in the first place, and my own body language has been said to more closer resemble that of a people-shy carnivorous animal than that of your average person of either binary gender. And I don't pick up subtle visual cues from others, and involuntarily make ones that make people come to the wrong conclusions about me.

[Anastasija]

ok girls, I have two questions.
First is the hair on the head, the point is that I have a problem with their falling out, not in the sense like a guy, but when combing is a lot of them on the brush, just when you wash a lot of them rinse. I swear to God, nothing helps, no shampoo, no damn masks. I just do not know what's going on.

And my second question hormones'm five months, a homosexual orientation, but recently began to like the guys, not in the sense that behind them watching the street, but as I see on the internet (I'm not talking about any porn) guy with a bare muscular cage, and those muscular shoulders and hands and biceps and the six-pack, just makes me hot. I have a question, what is hell. Relationship with a guy I can not imagine they are very tiring and absorbing, just those of their body

The pain from not transitioning sooner, the lost years as I like to call them.

omg, how good i understand that, from few days i have terrible mood, couse i realised, i lose fu 13 years not decide to hrt, its fu bad, i lost my fu best year of live, live in fu male body, and worst, live like man, its drive me to crazy

[Dena]

First is the hair on the head, the point is that I have a problem with their falling out, not in the sense like a guy, but when combing is a lot of them on the brush, just when you wash a lot of them rinse. I swear to God, nothing helps, no shampoo, no damn masks. I just do not know what's going on.

Head hair is lost all the time and I suspect you lose 20-30 hairs a day. If this is your first exposure to long hair, long hair is just far more noticeable in a brush than short hair. My hair isn't that long and I find it on the floor, on my bath robe and in my hair brush but yet my hair shows no sigh of thinning. It's the reason regular brushing is a requirement if you want to keep it looking good and to keep it from getting knotted up with lose hair.

[Anastasija]

i brushing them 3 times per day, yes i think they pretty long think 20cm. Only i last time i think, couse im the girl who believes that you have something sometimes reset, so maybe i should cut it, and start from 0? And i read normal you can lost even 100 hair and its ok, ofcourse im not specialist in this field

[Dena]

i brushing them 3 times per day, yes i think they pretty long think 20cm. Only i last time i think, couse im the girl who believes that you have something sometimes reset, so maybe i should cut it, and start from 0? And i read normal you can lost even 100 hair and its ok, ofcourse im not specialist in this field

Women lose hair like this all the time so it's normal. I don't recommend starting from zero because when it grows out, you will still have the same daily loss. All hair goes through a regular death and rebirth cycle and it's why facial hair removal doesn't get them all on the first path. The one thing to watch out for is breakage and split ends. These can be controlled with regular brushing and occasional cutting to remove the split ends.

[Anastasija]

thx, its really help me. I really try care I really try to take care of them, they are like my children. That's why it hurts me so much of their loss

[KarynMcD]

My guy friends who knew me from before, treating me like a girl, holding doors open, etc...

Not having enough clothes and what I did have not fitting right anymore.
As a guy, I could wear the same pants with different shirts and get away with it. Heck, it could have been the same shirt and no one would have said anything. Now, only 5 dresses for work? Hell no! You can't wear the same thing too often, it is always noticed.
And I didn't take into account my now much larger breasts when buying before. Many things I got are too tight up top.

[Anastasija]

and what to do when you have to fly somewhere for example, for 2 weeks? how to take suitcases. And the worst that sometimes there are days that do not fit in anything does not look good