the real life experience, when should it start?

[Dennis]

For me, it was timed for after chest surgery and I'd been on T for 8 months by that time. If I could've waited longer, I would've, because it was agonizing looking like such a young guy, but my voice meant that I had to do it then. If I'd been younger it wouldn't have been such a problem, but looking 15 at 42 was difficult.

Because of my job I had to pick a moment well ahead of time, before I knew what I'd look like or how I'd present. As it turned out, my voice had changed, but my face hadn't changed much by the time I went full time. It worked out ok given my age and circumstances, but it would have been nice to be able to do what Tink and Cindi did - just change locale and job and start a new life.

Dennis

[Ms Bev]

It should start when you know its your real life.

Wow, what a perfect, succinct statement.  wish I'd said it myself.

Bev

[Christo]

I lived as a girl until I was 11.  Then I said "no more of this sh#t" I shaved my head, bought dude's clothes & thats when my real life exprerience started.

[shanetastic]

I lived as a girl until I was 11.  Then I said "no more of this sh#t" I shaved my head, bought dude's clothes & thats when my real life exprerience started.

Chris, did I ever tell you how good of a way you have with words   You seriously make me laugh at almost close to all your posts for some random reason.

[Berliegh]

What I meant was try living as a female before any physical enhancements......but I think HRT is a confidence booster and helps people when they first start out..

That's a definite. When I started HRT I went from no confience at all in my self or otherwise to "Hell yeah I'm the motherf**cking princess and I do what I want when I want!" or in other terms very confident... almost too confident. Lol.

I think a lot of it is psychological and at the start HRT isn't doing a lot but it can boost confidence making the person feel like they look better even if in reality they look exectely the same..

In the U.K we are expected to live as female in role before hormones in order to access hormones which I think is a bit cruel.....I lived RLE before HRT to a certain extent but not everyone can do that and get away with it...

[shanetastic]

hey Berliegh,

If people choose to go to a personal doctor and pay for it out of their pockets are they still expected to do that in order to receive hormones?

[Hypatia]

In the U.K we are expected to live as female in role before hormones in order to access hormones which I think is a bit cruel.....I lived RLE before HRT to a certain extent but not everyone can do that and get away with it...

Cruel certainly is the word for it. Even downright senselessly, insanely, idiotically cruel. In my case, I never had the least success presenting before I got on HRT. I was a total washout in those days! And it took me a year and a half on HRT before I became successful enough for fulltime. I shudder to think how horrible my life would have been if I hadn't had that hormonal boost well before starting RLE. Now I'm doing fine, but that year and a half HRT was crucial before beginning this. Seriously!

[Jeannette]

A lot depends on where you live, and the interpretation of the Standards of care that your therapists use. Some recommend that you should at least start hormone therapy first, while others (particularly in the UK & France) insist that you should start the RLE before they will prescribe hormones to you.

[soldierjane]

As soon as possible, so it will all become normal sooner and you will conquer your fears sooner.
Be not afraid