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For what I'm sure is the billionth time: Monthly Torture... How do you deal?

Started by GnomeKid, July 13, 2009, 01:06:07 PM

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Mister

That's what i call it.  It's actually called Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers by Nick Gorton (i.e. the doctor i moved across the country to be treated by) Free PDF download at nickgorton.org

Post Merge: July 23, 2009, 11:24:53 PM

Quote from: tekla on July 23, 2009, 11:23:19 PM
Straight out of the FTM healthcare bible*...


*Source: Author's imagination


There, fixed it for all of you.

not so much, but thanks for giving it a shot.
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GamerJames

Quote from: Mister on July 23, 2009, 11:24:09 PM
That's what i call it.  It's actually called Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers by Nick Gorton (i.e. the doctor i moved across the country to be treated by) Free PDF download at nickgorton.org

Post Merge: July 24, 2009, 12:24:53 AM

not so much, but thanks for giving it a shot.
Well I knew it wasn't actually *called* the FTM healthcare bible, lol. Thanks for the title, I'll add it to my list for calling bookstores tomorrow. You really are a great resource in and of yourself. Thanks!
♫ Oh give me a home, where the trans people roam, and the queers and the androgynes play... ♫

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Mister

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GamerJames

Ah yes, you did mention that. Sorry, it's late here and I'm apparently too tired to be up "internetting". lol
♫ Oh give me a home, where the trans people roam, and the queers and the androgynes play... ♫

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Miniar

... I need to learn to notice when I haven't read the whole thread before replying.. nvm my previous comment.



"Everyone who has ever built anywhere a new heaven first found the power thereto in his own hell" - Nietzsche
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Khrist

Wear the fattest most comfortable clothing I own, get a bucket of Ben & Jerry's, and watch horror movies.
I use pads myself. It's gross but tampons leak for me...

Fortunately I have an extremely irregular cycle. Sometimes I can go up to a year without a single period, it runs in my family. Weird, huh?
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Vancha

Quote from: Khrist on July 26, 2009, 12:32:53 AM
Wear the fattest most comfortable clothing I own, get a bucket of Ben & Jerry's, and watch horror movies.
I use pads myself. It's gross but tampons leak for me...

Fortunately I have an extremely irregular cycle. Sometimes I can go up to a year without a single period, it runs in my family. Weird, huh?

Weird, or lucky.  ;D
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Khrist

Quote from: Adrian on July 26, 2009, 03:00:46 AM
Weird, or lucky.  ;D

LOL. My mother actually tried to take me to the doctor, concerned. Wanted to start me on the pill to get it "evened out" and I'm just like "Why?!"
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CodyJess

Ha ha ha... I wake up, possibly in a screaming fit or a panic attack; and take about 6 ibuprofin (not a good idea) and curl up with an electric heating pad on high (yes, I've gotten burns from it before). I can't use tampons, they've always made the pain noticeably worse; and I stay away from caffeine entirely for about three days (caffeine headaches. unyay). I use cloth cycle pads, because the store brand disposable ones always gave me terrible rashes. After the first three days, I use a diva-cup (cycle cup) for the next 4 or 5 to prevent ruined clothes. Sometimes I can't get myself to use it, in which case I just wear black and trash some undergarments.

Usually don't eat anything at all the first day, and stay at home from work the first two. Usually by the third day I can eat pretty normally and go to work again, so long as I don't have to look at anyone or move much. (I get nasty and violent, it seriously sucks.)

I also have endometriosis, which I really worry about when I do someday try to get a 'scrip for T; but for now usually results in explosive bloody diarrhea on the first two days (TMI, I know). I did try to take birth control for awhile to help with the pain because it's supposed to lessen symptoms; and ended up having a TIA (stroke) when I was 19. Not cool. (It is a rather rare side effect, but still. Not touching the stuff again.)

Now I just suffer and live through it. Ibuprofin, potassium, no caffeine, and a good heating pad. Sometimes dramamine or ny-quil so I can get to sleep.
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LordKAT

I am much like you are, cody. burns from heating pad and all. Bowel probs too. I wish docs would just cut the stuff out and end the pain but they are idiots.
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Khrist

Quote from: LordKAT on July 26, 2009, 10:38:54 AM
I am much like you are, cody. burns from heating pad and all. Bowel probs too. I wish docs would just cut the stuff out and end the pain but they are idiots.

I hear you. I asked a doctor how much a hysterectomy might be, and he laughed in my face! He says to me, "You might change your mind later!" Says, "What if you decide to have children?" Says, "You'll just end up regretting it."
Frankly I can't stand it when a doctor who has never owned a uterus is telling me what I want to do with mine.
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LordKAT

they didn't use that since i have 4 kids and 1 grandchild. Their reasoning is we don't remove anything til we do anything to get your  insurance money first like multiple D&C's and ultrasounds and the one in a doughnut with magnets.  I gave up after the hundredth time of another test.
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CodyJess

Ugh. I remember asking about a hysto when I was like 14, and I got laughed at too. Laughed at! The nerve, honestly. I was also told that they wouldn't even consider taking out an organ there wasn't something wrong with. Tell me something that causes debilitating pain has nothing wrong with it  >:(

It's like being a werewolf without the chance to grow claws to maul people with.
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LordKAT

when I asked as a kid, they said have 2 kids and be over 25 first. I did that and still no surgery. they said the pain was "all in my head". I can't help it if the brain is what registers the pain, it still hurts. My dad said it was because I didn't do enuff hard work. Funny because until I was 20, I was stronger than most guys I knew.
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Ender

One would like to think that severe and debilitating endometriosis is a legitimate reason to have one's uterus and ovaries removed.  However, most people (and doctors) seem convinced that a woman will be 'absolutely devastated' if she cannot bear children and they will not take a statement of 'Yes, I have thought about it and no, I do not wish to bear children. Ever.' at face value.  I'm sure there's something in there about them not wanting to get sued if the patient does change their mind, but...  really, isn't that what medical release forms are for?

I also had issues with severe pain (when pain killers fail to even take the edge off and a heating pad actually makes the pain more acute and stabbing, there's probably an issue...) and bowel problems.  Endometriosis runs in the family.  Unfortunately, I also found that being taken seriously by medical professionals can be absurdly difficult, and even in the case of endometriosis they will fight tooth and nail to preserve those damnable organs.  (It was recommended that I take birth control and undergo laparoscopic surgery to remove only the endometrial adhesions, a surgery that will have to be repeated over one's lifetime because it cannot cure endometriosis, only prune back the offending growths.)  Fortunately, most of that bother has been taken care of by the T, with the exception of the occasional sharp twinge (where the ovaries should be... it's odd) and round of mild cramping. 
"Be it life or death, we crave only reality"  -Thoreau
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Vancha

It's difficult to say why doctors, women and men alike, are adamant to think that a woman will be devastated without her reproductive organs.  It may be simply that, under normal circumstances, most cisgendered women would be devastated by the loss, should they have "perfectly good" organs removed before they bear any children.  This would likely put the doctors in danger of being sued.  In this case, it should be possible for the doctors to distinguish between a woman who will be unable to live without the organs and those who won't.  And at that, they should be able to distinguish between trans men and cisgendered women, but most simply aren't trained in that respect.  Oddly, even those who are still want to make sure, over a given amount of time, that the patient is absolutely sure.

It may just be that men sometimes envy the female ability to give birth, consider it almost sacred, and can hardly imagine why any woman would give it up.  All of this considered, they never try to understand how they would feel if they had the very same organs.  ;)

Nonetheless, just as removing a tumor, an infected, painful limb, is not only legitimate but encouraged, so should be removing a uterus and ovaries when they cause extreme pain that persists year after year.
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Christian

Seriously, I hate it more than anything. I know when it's coming and I dread it. I have endometriosis too and it sucks. Luckily, the extreme pain only lasts for 2-3 days and then it's light and easy to deal with. Usually the only thing that helps is sleep.

Just like anything else when it comes to being trans, we're constantly tested it seems. Usually for endometriosis, a hysto is recommended, but it's harder to get when it's what you want. I look forward to the day when being trans is at least understood, if not accepted. 
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Jamie-o

Just a thought:  Have you tried consulting an OBGYN who frequently works with trans people?  You might have to travel, which is a pain in the butt, and may not be possible for you, but it's a thought.  I attended a lecture by Dr. Marcie Bowers a while back, and she indicated that she was quite willing to offer Hysto and go through insurance for those who have medical reasons to remove the organs. (And she hinted that she could be fairly liberal in assigning medical necessity.)  Another Gyno who comes to mind is Dr. Deborah Thorpe in Minneapolis.  I know she's booked several months out with local trans guys (which is the only reason I didn't go to her for hormones) but she does make a point of putting aside time for the trans community, understands our issues, and is highly regarded.
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Ender

Quote from: Jamie-o on July 27, 2009, 11:03:22 PM
Just a thought:  Have you tried consulting an OBGYN who frequently works with trans people?

A good idea--trouble is finding the ones who are trans-aware (to those who have gender therapists: it's possible they may know of someone).  I don't believe any of the gynos I went to were trans-aware.  I probably should have brought it up, might have found one of them to be understanding and saved myself some pain.

Thanks for the heads-up on Dr. Thorpe in Minneapolis, Jamie-o.  I'm hoping I'll be able to find a job in Minneapolis (graduating in 5 months, civil engineering); I've visited before with some friends and it seems like a great place to live.
"Be it life or death, we crave only reality"  -Thoreau
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Jamie-o

Quote from: Eryk on July 28, 2009, 12:32:00 AM
Thanks for the heads-up on Dr. Thorpe in Minneapolis, Jamie-o.  I'm hoping I'll be able to find a job in Minneapolis (graduating in 5 months, civil engineering); I've visited before with some friends and it seems like a great place to live.

I like it out here.  If you do end up in the Twin Cities contact me and I can send you some really helpful links.  (Other trans-friendly providers, and such.)
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