Having an orchiectomy, want to know who decides which hormones i am to take...

[calico]

i  stand  firm  on  the  first  step  being  get  into  see  a  counsler.    jump  a  hoop  or  two  and  get  your  hormones in  order  before  you  cut  away.
  then,  before  letting  anyone  cut  you,  at  least  speak  to  a grs / srs  surgeon. 
  decisions you  make  now,  will  affect  you  for  the  rest  of  your  life.
  if  it  was  a  botched  vasectomey,  why not  have  them  go back  in  a  see  what  the  heck  is  wrong?  simple  enough  to  do,  not  like  its  open  heart  or  brain  surgery.
  I  cant  help  but to  get  the  feeling  either  you  are  pushing  them  for  the  orchi,  or  they  are just  making  poor  decisions  as  medical  doctors.   " just  cut  them  off"  is  not  a  typical  medical  solution..........

I totally agree with going to a proper counselor instead and following the WPATH standards than skipping g steps,  I understand of informed consent, but still believe I following the steps.  But on another note about orchiectomy (orchi)  I had a friend who had a vasectomy, because he didn't want children,  but something also went wrong and left him in severe pain,  and essentially had killed his testes entirely he explained it to me as the reason he was in pain was because his testes were dying/were dead and there wasn't a way to save them.  This person was not trans and didn't know about me but was a very close friend and pretty much talked to me about everything and we were pretty much there for each other's emotional troubles at times.  He really didn't want to lose them but more than one Dr had gave him the bad news,  so inevitably he had to go on HRT (testosterone)

[Cindy]

Just a comment. A vasectomy is pretty easy surgery. I'm concerned that men are being mutilated by such a basic procedure.

It seems at odds with audits  I have seen on medical units.

Just wondering if other factors are in play.

[eve1974]

I totally agree with going to a proper counselor instead and following the WPATH standards than skipping g steps,  I understand of informed consent, but still believe I following the steps.  But on another note about orchiectomy (orchi)  I had a friend who had a vasectomy, because he didn't want children,  but something also went wrong and left him in severe pain,  and essentially had killed his testes entirely he explained it to me as the reason he was in pain was because his testes were dying/were dead and there wasn't a way to save them.  This person was not trans and didn't know about me but was a very close friend and pretty much talked to me about everything and we were pretty much there for each other's emotional troubles at times.  He really didn't want to lose them but more than one Dr had gave him the bad news,  so inevitably he had to go on HRT (testosterone)

that's pretty much my story in a "Nut"shell. (sorry, have to joke. eases my tension over my troubles) the dr agreed that after examining me, and seeing the pain I am constantly in...it is the best course of action. I signed a letter of consent confirming I understand what is to be done. gave me a pile of literature to go over. had a battery of tests done for levels and such. I may be shortening shaving down all the info so i'm not typing for days as to what is going to happen to me. but I feel this is best for me. the dr agrees. I understand where everyone here is coming from. there are steps to take and laws and such...But in the end if I can do this and be the person I want to be (comfortable with myself) so I can be a father, a GOOD FATHER, to my son. I'm gonna do it.
I never thought I would be where I am now or where i'm going to be. but onward and upward. new me, here I come.

[sam1234]

Regardless of which way a person is going, hormones should be started by an endocrinologist. Once levels have evened out and there are no problems, you can switch to a regular physician. Having been to several Dr.s over the years, for issues both related and unrelated to transitioning, there are some Dr.s who either don't understand what a transgender is, aren't sure of how to treat one or have a big problem with transgenders. I actually had the Dr. who did my OVH tell me that he didn't think surgery was the answer for a mental illness, but the hospital was making him do it.

At any rate, its best to start with someone who is familiar with hormone replacement and levels that are appropriate for the patient's age. Hormones go down as a person ages, and keeping them within the norm of what a "normal" person at a certain age is helps make hormone related diseases in check.

sam1234

[SorchaC]

Having had an orchie myself I can testify that you will need some sex hormone prescribing. In view of the fact that you're not currently transitioning you will in all likelihood be prescribed Testosterone unless you find a gender psychiatrist who is willing to work with you and organise some E. The surgeon is only interested in doing a successful operation after which he won't be monitoring your hormones unless asked to.

No matter what medical procedures you undertake you won't be outed so you can be assured that if you see a psyche it will not mean you are going to be labelled as anything different than you are now. Definitely don't consider self medication as that is highly dangerous and not certain you will get any better results than what you have now as the pain currently felt isn't anything like the side effects of self medicating.

I wish you luck and hope you're pain free soon

Hugs

Sorcha 

[Allison Wunderland]

That would be your endo - the person who looks after your hormones now. And I'm pretty sure we know what an orchi is..

And a link to Wiki just in case --

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchiectomy#Inguinal_orchiectomy

Not interested here in vaginoplasty. Comfortable being me, authentic, integrated. But then I'm 67 and have been me a long time, not willing to change my ID.

Looking at Finasteride to address body hair issues. So entirely tired shaving nose to toes every day or looking scruffy and to me threatening. (Childhood sexual abuse by a male. My body reminds me of my abuser.)

Just wanting to step off the testosterone train, the bucking horse. Not sexually active (with others) and so those sorts of functions are entirely moot. I just want to be with my sisters instead of being a a "stalker" (male sexuality seems intrusive/invasive to me)

Finasteride is an anti-androgen, and I've read up. My experience w/ tweaking hormones is that it gets complicated and out of balance. Seems much more pragmatic to simply remove the glands producing the testosterone.

Not looking to "pass" as female so much as simply becoming entirely comfortable with the concept of being "middle people" -- part of both but not exclusively male/female (binary). I do that now, no hormones, no meds, no surgery.

Have arranged for the VA to take care of all this, service connected 100% for everything. No "cosmetic" surgery, but orchi and electrolysis on the face are covered, meds, etc.

I feel good! Was thinking about moving my F wardrobe to the closet in the guest bedroom down stairs. But then realized that I need to move the M stuff I don't wear downstairs, or Goodwill . . . LMAO

Authenticity, Integrity, Me -- not a disguise.