Thanks to you all for the kind words of support. The bracelet was a highlight for sure. Unfortunately there has been a change on the hip front.
I emailed my GCS surgeon to find out any special requirements he may have if I am having a hip replacement. He came back saying my hips need to be at 90 degrees for 3 hours and the operation was considered a "dirty" op. I did mention it too the nurse at the time of the interview after being scheduling, saying I was having major surgery in November. She was not overly concerned.
I ended up speaking to an admission nurse yesterday and explaining that my November Surgery could not be changed. She spoke to the surgeon and it was decided by them that I would have to wait until after my GCS to have my hip done. The arrangement being that when I have complete skin integrity again I can then go back on the waiting list to have my hip done. So not a great outcome but not a terrible one either. They very very nice and it was about not risking the new hip so soon after it being fixed as there is a period where they are prone to dislocation.
At the request of my father I had a very controlled conversation with him over skype. My mother was absent again. I managed to get through it with only a little misgendering or misnaming. I did not ask nor did I draw him out on anything to heavy and as soon as the "fluffy stuff" had been talked about I found an excuse to end the call. He suggested we do it again soon, I smiled and wished him goodnight. I was only upset for a short period of time and rallied again by 7 or 8 last night. Today I am fine unlike other times when it would drag me down for days...I guess you call that progress
So today is my 2 year
TRANIVERSARY I started my HRT 2 years today. Wow what a ride!!! I never realised how much crap the average Trans man/woman has to put up with on a daily basis, there are examples everywhere I look, along with sexism and racism. However in amongst this there are pockets of great people and I have been blessed to find many of them here. Susan's has been one of the great constants in my life since the beginning of my Transition. I have met some wonderful people here and forged some lifelong friendships.
I have had a few losses along the way, but the gains I have made for the peace of my own spirit have been enormous. My daily nagging dysphoria has on most days disappeared, it no longer consumes my every thought. I feel much happier as me and free of many of the hang-ups I had.
I look back and think about the first time I met Cindy at the Glenelg for coffee. Still so very unsure and jumping at my own shadows. I am now learning to embrace my newly found "femaleness" just wanting to blend in as a another female in the crowd. I think I manage that most of the time. I am mostly gendered correctly or not at all. I tend to be "othered" a lot but on those rare occasions where I am treated as a female it makes me so stupidly happy. I think as my transition progresses and I get older I will blend in more and more as I naturally fall in the social roll more easily and HRT continues to work its subtleties.
Only 201 days 17 hours 27 mintues till GCS day...not that I am counting LOL You really know its going to happen when you start appopriating items needed for recovery...the reality is sinking in and the excitement may be sitting just under the surface somewhere....its many many years in the making. Both my Daughters found out on the weekend I was having surgery and both were so supportive with one telling me its "my time" to look after me and another telling me she doesn't care about the surgery and just wants me to be happy. I love them both so much.
I am going to try and catch up on everyones threads whilst I am here and I am pretty sure that it won't be too much longer until I able to once again spend more time here with you all.
Take care
Liz
