Beginning a Journey, Learning the Way

[Ayla Grant]

Hello all, this is Ayla. Though I am posting this in introductions as this is my first post on the site, I have hopes that the questions and topics I raise here may help it find a more fitting home.

I would first off like to take a moment of reflection. Here we are in the internet age where like never before people like us may find supportive communities where we may both gain and give a sense of belonging, even when often the world at large presents in contrast. I will always have respect and admiration in my heart for those of us that came before, before the attempt of the publics understanding, before the there was any sort of plan laid out, before the development of discrimination laws. I can not help but pause in wonder at the courage and strength of identity these early transgender people met daily life with. How many today would have it within themselves to live authentic to themselves under such conditions?

I am coming up on twenty seven years of age and today was my first day of MtF HRT. In an ideal world I would have been able to go through puberty only once yet as I am sure many of you are well aware, circumstances are not often idea for us. As was my case life wanted nothing less than to crush my soul, and though I have had my set backs, things are looking up. Here is too being positive and optimistic around you all.

Prescriptions: They currently have me on estrace(pill) and spiro.(pill) and am told this is a good place to start. Should I be asking for a more efficient method for HRT? Also when is a wise time to switch up the method and/or dose? I assume blood work is month to month basis at the start and when dosage is changed.

Diet: Is there a set of foods(not plant estrogens) that work harmoniously with diet and workout to make the most of HRT?

Facial hair: For me facial hair is a large contributing factor to my dysphoria. As far as I am to know electrolysis is the more definitive method, though due to price am curious if laser removal can be considered comparable if only more immediately positive. Would it be wise or a waste of money to start with laser removal then switch to electrolysis a year later for clean up? it would be REALLY great if any of you had a success story with having an medicaid insurance company cover the cost of facial hair removal on the premise of alleviating dysphoria.

Surgery: Depending on how HRT treats me over the years maybe other procedures will be in my future. For now the only one I am certain I want is a bilateral orchiectomy. I am very curious to hear what any of you have to say about your own experience or how best I might go about making this happen. As like above, any tips with insurance on this?

Not sure if I can edit my post on this site yet but will add to the post as it comes to me.

Also of worthy note is that I am a student, and thus I am playing the long game with this so to speak. 

      < Dosages removed by moderator >

[PollyQMcLovely]

Dosage details aren't allowed around here. You might wanna edit that out real quick. I'm not a mod or anything just a nobody.

That said your dosages are perfectly in line with what is generally agreed upon as a good starting point, though I'd ask if the E could go up, not that it'll do much the first month but then the 2nd month the Endo could raise you again and they might be reluctant to go up by anything but small steps so you'd be ahead of the game. As it looks now after a month they'll do blood work and then prolly double both. Then it'll most likely be three months or so until you see the endocrinologist next.

Diet doesn't play a much different roll for MTF's on HRT than for cis guys. Just try to lose any excess weight early because it'll get harder to shed it later.

For exercises you'll probably want to minimize or eliminate any upper body gains. I'd personally advise waiting to try and manually increase your thighs and butt until later to avoid male fails too early. But eventually you'll want to check out routines to widen the hips and butt, they're all over YouTube, you can just look at the ones cis women make.

Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal option. If you can start knocking that out early you'd be doing yourself a huge favor. Medicaid and Medicare won't help you there, at least not if they're anything like NY's.

An orchiectomy will require a year of HRT before they'll grant you the surgery so you have some time to prepare.

Most importantly, welcome. That first day of HRT is a good one right? I nearly opened the bottles at the pharmacy counter and dry swallowed my day's worth of pills on my first day.

[Jessica]

Hi Ayla 🙋‍♀️ Welcome to Susan's Place!  I'm Jessica, a transgender woman.  I love your name!  I first heard it in the book Clan of the Cave bear.  Just a word of caution.  Dosages are not allowed as it could promote self dosing which can be very dangerous.
I see your new here, so I'll post some links that may help you get better acquainted with the site.

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[V M]

Hi Ayla 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M