Allie's Blog IV: Revenge of Allie's Blog

[imallie]

What an affirming encounter, Allie. Happy for you!

When I see my name updated in the system and get my new insurance card I will too. I find the whole thing far too bizarre and convoluted to be affirming at this point, though, to be honest. But maybe I'm just tired! 😂

[Lori Dee]

Things are happening for you...

At the speed of government. 

[imallie]

Aarrrgh. As expected, my well-meaning, but butinski PCP, wrote a lovely and completely missing the point letter of support for bottom surgery.  I needed a very specific and nuts and bolts referral letter - dates, meds, etc.

He instead wrote about how great a person I am, and how well-thought out this is, blah blah blah 😂. I felt awful replying "Thanks so much for the LOVELY note... now could you actually do the thing I need?"

*sigh*

[Oldandcreaky]

After such a lovely letter, I'd hate to remind him of what is needed, but alas, ya needed to do just that.

[Jenn104]

Programs often have template letters or guidance for what they specifically need in a support letter. You might ask the program or look over their materials.

My endo was and is well known to where I had surgery. Every place I did a consult accepted my endo as a substitute for my personal doctor. If you think about it, very logical. Endo's that do a lot of transcare are more qualified to write letters anyway.

Keep at it, paperwork is the worst but it's worth it in the end.

~Jenn

[imallie]

Programs often have template letters or guidance for what they specifically need in a support letter. You might ask the program or look over their materials.

My endo was and is well known to where I had surgery. Every place I did a consult accepted my endo as a substitute for my personal doctor. If you think about it, very logical. Endo's that do a lot of transcare are more qualified to write letters anyway.

Keep at it, paperwork is the worst but it's worth it in the end.

~Jenn

Yeah they wanted things like how long he's known me. Med list, allergies, etc  a lot of easy PCP stuff. By accident he hit on like 3 of 8 requirements. But I sent the list to his nurse this time- figured why not go right to the source? 😂

[Jenn104]

The paperwork doesn't get easier. Stay focused. Stay patient. Get it done.

It'll all be worth it.

Jenn

[imallie]

So today's mixed bag updated:

The "SS lady who said she'd fixed all the Medicare stuff?" — well my name is still decidedly UNfixed in the Medicare system. *sigh* But she said she'd be sending me a new card, so if she does that... that's all I care about. So I'll give it a few more days.

——
Checking USPS informed delivery (if you don't do this, it's really a great feature) I was SHOCKED to see I've go a package coming tomorrow - it's my new passport! It was supposed to be a minimum of 6-8 weeks, even expedited... and I only did it not two weeks ago.

Of course something this quick COULD be an issue, rather than the new passport itself... so hopefully it's not that.

—-
Heard from my PCP's nurse. She revised my doc's letter to make it actually what it was supposed to be in the first place as a bottom surgery referral, and she's sending it my way..


—
Got a draft from my therapist of HER letter (the 2nd and final thing I will need as my toll to use the on-ramp to Beavertown (i.e. intial bottom surgery consultation).  So hopefully I can connect with my hospital of choice next week and see what I can set up!

—-

Tomorrow morning now starts a five (or nine really) stretch of chaos. Some good, some not as, some very challenging.

THURSDAY: tomorrow morning I have my first-ever "stab me, burn me" double header - Botox at 8:30 and then straight to electrolysis at 10 am. I'm going to be rocking a real human pincushion vibe around lunch time.

Normally, I get hit with the "Botox flu"... in that I feel pretty awful for 24-48 hours after Botox. Like a flu without a feaver.

Well, I have no luxury of that this time.

Tomorrow night my wife's cousin and his wife are coming up and we're taking them to a ballgame, so I have to at least fake feeling ok to be a gracious host.

FRIDAY: and no sleeping late on Friday to feel better, we have an 8:30 am appt at the local bank branch to get all our bank accounts and retirement savings plans transferred into my new name. So that's great but... like I said, a lot.

SATURDAY: Salon day. Yah! I enjoy this.  11 am - noon (so, a bit challenging for me with my migraine) but well worth it Normally we'd grab a quick lunch after ... but this time we are meeting my wife's ex boss/friend for lunch who lives up there. She's very sweet. But she is the kind of person you need to start saying "well, I think I need to get going" right upon seeing her, if you have any chance of getting free from her in under two hours. She can TALK.  So that will A LOT.

SUNDAY: Lunch with a dear friend from college and her wife, and another college friend. They've not met the new me yet but are all looking forward to it.  That should be fun

MONDAY: My wife leaves for a business trip through Thursday evening...and we think this will be the first time I'd been alone in the house for an extended period since our last cat - my buddy — passed. Not only missing my wife, but just the alone-ness... that's going to a bit rough.

I think that's it.  But... enough, right?

[imallie]

On an unrelated note:

Probably my dearest friend (other than my wife) today said "Hey I have a question for you - how come you're always wearing something on your head, ever since you've got your hair? Either hairbands or a hat - I never see you with just your hair."

I explained the whys and wherefore of putting my hair up and asked him why he cared and he said "I don't, just curious."

Ok, fine.

But about a week ago, another friend asked "How come in all your pics you're always wearing that same pink Mets hat? Don't you have any other hats now?"

I explained that the pics he was talking about were our hiking pics... and that was my outdoor hat since it got sprayed with bug spray a lot.

—-

So tonight I asked my wife: Why do my male friends all of a sudden give any kind of damn about what I'm wearing or doing with my hair since I've transitioned? It's weird, right? 😂

She had no answer... other than it was, indeed, weird.

Go figure, right?

[Lori Dee]

Wow, Allie. You have a really busy schedule.

You might have to use your alone time for some ME time. Relax. Take a bubble bath. Spend a day in your PJs sipping tea. Watch cartoons or peruse the comic collection.

All roads lead to Beavertown!

[davina61]

Talking of comics I must see if the ones I have from the 60s are worth anything, not in great condition after years in a box in damp shed and attic . DC and Marvel ones, Superman, Batman, Justice League to name a few with some 80 page ones. 

[imallie]

Talking of comics I must see if the ones I have from the 60s are worth anything, not in great condition after years in a box in damp shed and attic . DC and Marvel ones, Superman, Batman, Justice League to name a few with some 80 page ones. 

Happy to help. If they're easily accessible, shoot me a couple of pics and I can give you a sense of value pretty quickly.

[imallie]

Wow, Allie. You have a really busy schedule.

You might have to use your alone time for some ME time. Relax. Take a bubble bath. Spend a day in your PJs sipping tea. Watch cartoons or peruse the comic collection.

All roads lead to Beavertown!

😂
All sounds good except baths. I've always found the concept of baths — distasteful.

[Lori Dee]

😂
All sounds good except baths. I've always found the concept of baths — distasteful.

It's a lot less distasteful if you don't drink the bath water. The bubbles are not seasoning.

I get it. I'm not into being human soup. I prefer a shower, but sometimes I'll soak in the tub if I feel a little feverish. I get the water as hot as I can without burning me and stay in for 30 minutes. Do a quick rinse with the shower, then bundle up in warm PJs and fuzzy socks, maybe even a blanket.

[ChrissyRyan]

I love a warm lavender scented bath.

[Oldandcreaky]

Here's my guess: A few of your guy pals might be feeling sheepish about missing something as fundamental as your gender identity for decades. They don't want to overlook again, so now they're on red alert for anything that might suggest something. Thus, they look at your headwear and try to infer the meaning.

[imallie]

Here's my guess: A few of your guy pals might be feeling sheepish about missing something as fundamental as your gender identity for decades. They don't want to overlook again, so now they're on red alert for anything that might suggest something. Thus, they look at your headwear and try to infer the meaning.

Hmmm. Could be. OR they're looking for a new, gender-appropriate way to give me affectionate crap.

That also has validity.

Heck, both can be true at the same time.

[Oldandcreaky]

Heck, both can be true at the same time.

You betcha!

[imallie]

Survived being zapped and skewered in the same day... although I'm being hit with the "Botox flu" something fierce. Even so, that should pass by tomorrow or tomorrow evening at the worst. Just have to weather it.

We had guests at the baseball game tonight otherwise I would certainly have had us stay home... but when you have company, you have to put on the happy face, right? No matter how much it hurts? That version of me long pre-dates transition.

Speaking of which... some progress today.

Passport arrived (not passport card though. Surprisingly, that will come under separate cover, and in as long as 4-6 additional weeks. No rush here, just a surprising fact.)

Also my therapist finished her referral letter and is sending to my preferred surgical team, and my PCP's is done as well -- and I think he's sent to me, so I should be able to send that along probably on Monday. So looks like if everything goes smoothly, as soon as next week I could have a date on the calendar for an initial consult.

Rough night ahead with how I feel... but in the morning I'll get my new names on all our bank accounts, plus all new credit cards (other than Amex which I already have). So... that's something.

Love,
Allie

[Lori Dee]

Go, Allie. Gittin' it done.