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Keri:
You are a good writer and story-teller. You commented that you have a career as a motivational speaker. Keep going in that direction if that remains your target.
Using a literary sense, I tell people to think of GCS / SRS as the period at the end of a sentence in the middle of a paragraph in one chapter in the middle of the story of your life. Our life did not end at surgery, it brought forth its own new beginning.
Yes, we who seek and attain that cherished post-op status must know - whether on our own or through pre-op counselling - that there is life after the knife. We are a limited collection of Earthly humanity to have lived a past that is quite different than our future. Few outside our circle can understand our experiences going M-F or F-M in every way physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, conceptually.
For some, travelling our path was quick and that can be its own problem. For others, our road was extended and that, too, can be its own complication. No matter where we fit, it was our unique journey, it was what fit our own self, and likely it would have not been suitable for any other.
When we complete our GCS / SRS we are no longer transsexual, we simply are who we always are. It can be semantics with your primary or endo or gyn whether they continue putting your diagnosis as 'transsexual' at every office visit. As you wrote, we're post-op - that 'transsexual' or 'gender dysphoria' moniker is done and gone.
Some no longer participate in the pre-op activities now in post-op; they leave life behind and move on. Others remain in the community and act as mentors. I was gone so long in a life of stealth that I am having fun getting to know all the new people in support groups - me the old-timer. I want to attend every meeting and get to know everyone; we can learn from each other. Wherever you fit, find your path in that road.
Yes, I was in a deep, dark suicidal mood post-op 1983. Mine was not depression but rather a quirky, unreal euphoria - a kinda 'I told you so!' childish mentality. I passed that and moved back to reality. I am now trying to help a dear friend who is approximately two years post-op who hit that wall of suicidal ideation. Why do we even have to know such concepts?
Some of us are in good stead to remain at the same employ from start of transition through post-op; lucky you. My course has been the pits - fired from two different employers (1983 and 2008) for being transsexual; top performance reviews made no difference. They wanted me gone; there are no laws protecting my status. AGH! But I knew that I had to continue. I picked myself up and started new careers. I did what I had to do same as anyone else will determine what they must do for their own.
I continued attending to counselling over these post-op years - whether I need it or not. One counsellor told me that I was the only transsexual in Utah (1980 - 1985); I'm still waiting for anyone to prove they were with me there during my time so that we can start a new club. I had an old school counsellor (1990s); he frequently chastised me if I thought I could have a Lesbian girlfriend - 'You had the operation to be female and have sex with a male' - so I never told him about my Lesbian girlfriend. Last year I had four counsellors, one who is F-M - he is neat-o and I hope to see him again this year as the need may arise.
I have not had time to look here at this site. Yes, it will be nice to read more of others in our own post-op forum. That connects why I am floating the idea of a post-op re-union. I have corresponded with Dr. Chettawut since last June and have come to know him. I have also developed correspondences with many who are post-op - most have gone to Thailand. It would be quite a gathering of us all at one time to meet at Thailand and compare notes - seeing people we have known only reading their posts.
Okay, yes there are many who either choose to not continue to surgery, some who are medically or fiscally limited, others find their own reasons to cease at one stage or another pre-op. You will not know what it is to be post-op same as we will not comprehend what it is to end our journey at pre-op. For each of us it is our own personal decision and deserves recognition for reaching our goal; I can look at my own history and see that had any one event changed the slightest, then who knows where I'd be today. I read many people who post here and at other boards their complications. I cheer them on to succeed to their best ability; we are with you in spirit to ease your pain. Cindy, you are quite correct; we give thanks that we made our destination and we pray for others that they achieve theirs in peace and love of this community.
Yep, there is no more transition once you are post-op.
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