Work starting to notice already!?

[Sadie]

Oh boy. Well I was at work today and my cube-mate says to me "What have you done?" I said "What?" He says "You look different, you look 10 years younger, has anyone told you that?" I was like "Uhh no not lately."

So I explained to him I have been dieting and lost a lot of weight.  He says" You must be using a new razor or something too." I say "Yeah I got a new razor and have been shaving more often."

Yikes, I haven't even started hormones yet. I have lost 35 lbs, been growing my hair out, started laser on the beard. They are already noticing, I wonder what I will say when things progress more and I start HRT.

I don't really want to come out at work until I get hired from contractor to full-time, which I am hoping will be by next May. How have others handled this at work?

[Randi]

Some will notice little things but most don't even care. I had one fellow ask me if I had been working out more than usual when my breasts starting budding. I told him I had been dieting and doing the same ole workout I always do. He seemed satisfied with the answer. Some will look quizzingly but don't say anything-works for me too. If you don't wear tight shirts any growth you get wont show for a while so don't worry about it-yet. When you're past an A cup then you may have to think about it again. Most days I wear an undershirt and something over that and it hides me pretty well. When it's cold I can wear a jacket and never have to worry at all-even with a bra on. I work in an office setting where most everybody keeps to themselves which makes it easy to wear what I want-as long as it meets business casual standard.
Randi

[Debra]

haha on one hand it's scary but on another it's gotta feel good =)

Only one lady took notice of me at work, noticed my nails painted clear and little things like that.

One time though, I asked a coworker something in my girl voice on accident and the look on his face was like "what the?" and I was like oh crap . lol

[Epigania]

Oddly, when I started taking propecia for hair loss (prior to HRT) I started getting some of the effects of HRT like my skin softened and stuff.   I had one rather expressive co-worker flat out ask me if I was wearing makeup and I had to think for a couple seconds and tell her no.

I'm thinking she's not gonna be surprised when I go full time.   I am fairly androgynous at work, though.  I wear men's clothing but a long cropped hairstyle and longish nails that I get manicured and painted translucent colors.  I also have been known to wear my breast forms to work too, though I've stopped since starting HRT.  (I find my boobies ache after wearing them all day. )

Ahh, Washington State, how I love you and your laws.

[marissak]

I don't really want to come out at work until I get hired from contractor to full-time, which I am hoping will be by next May. How have others handled this at work?

People started noticing that I looked younger, more relaxed, happier, etc. I told them that I was getting a lot of sleep and that my stress levels had dropped considerably, making me look and feel great!

[Jillieann Rose]

A sport bra works for me and I am a size 36B.
Jillieann

[Janet_Girl]

When I started HRT and laser, many of my co-workers would notice that I was happier.  Many thought is was because my ex and I had separated, which did surprise people.

I think my ex separated the word that I was "changing my sex" as a means to sabotage me,  But no one really paid much attention.  One of those bad breakup things.  Until I was about 3 or 4 months into HRT, one of the gals I worked with happen to mention I was looking younger, and then she ask if I was having a 'sex change".  I did explain the whole process, and her only response was that it was looking good on me.

[Cindy]

I get the odd look, I wear quite large hoop ear rings, lost most of the beard, face is so softer, wear 'female' trousers on occasions.

Doesn't worry me anymore.

I think I'm sort of slowly going FT without just walking in as Cindy. Some sort of weird expectation that people will just look at me one day and treat and accept me as female.

I had coffee with a friend today, as Cindy, my friend was commenting on how far I had gone, and considering the angst I had how was I coping. I really had to try and think of the past feelings. Here I was in a coffee shop, sitting outdoors and people walking past and me not even thinking about it. What was so terrifying before  is now so natural. And due to a large part by the support of people at Susan's. Do we grow into ourselves or regress that past fear?

Cindy

[Michael Joseph]

One time though, I asked a coworker something in my girl voice on accident and the look on his face was like "what the?" and I was like oh crap . lol

haha that cracked me up

[Epigania]

I've done that too ... I've also used female pronouns in E-mails before and now have to be very conscious about what I type at work.

[cynthialee]

I do not work but I do have home health care workers that come and help me 4 days a week at home. After about 3 months on HRT I started to show improvement.
For a couple months I told folks that getting old wasnt working for me and that I had started ussing oil of olay and actively worrying about what I ate and my sleep paterns.
It worked well until I barely bumped my newly developing boobie and screamed about it. My health care worker looked at me with one of those looks that demand explaination. So I had to come clean.

[Valerie]

Hey you know, I'm a GG and I'm just loving hearing these stories & experiences.  I've dealt with people at work who are insensitive to the transgender experience, and when I was sharing this with another coworker, she said, "They have no idea who they're working with that might be trans."  And it makes me think, you know, not necessarily about colleagues, but out in public, in the world...  More recently on the bus I noticed just the most beautiful college boy....I think...I mean, I don't think he wears makeup, but he's got his eyes made up so pretty and just has a gorgeous face--and you kow, I have no idea what his aim is-- is he a boy who likes certain female elements & so has adopted them?  Does he present as female at night?  Does he have plans for more?  Who knows....and really it doesn't matter....I really admire the comfort level with with he carries himself--maybe its moreso that way in a college town....but I was thinking what if he worked where I do? How would he be treated?  Would the gossip-hounds quiet down after awhile?  How would the HR department respond?  On the one hand, I'd love for there to be out trans-people at work, if only to challenge the status-quo....not that I'd want to incur on them any ill-effect of certain of my colleagues....   anyway, just a few thoughts....   Thanks so much for sharing your stories....

--Valerie

[iris1469]

My explanation made perfect sense to them. They bought my explanation. No further questions. I gradually stopped meeting these people over several months. I cannot pass as male now. I have not come out to them. I will not come out to them until I feel ready, and I may never come out to some of them.

I can relate somewhat. All the  way through my BSBA i pretended to be male then after I left I decided that I was going to live in a prison no longer and began living as female fulltime. This has been about 6-7 years ago. Now I am on my 11th month of hrt asnd the results are absolultely amazing!!! There is no way I could pass either male or female. And I have sdeen none of my old college friends, it would be intresting though wouldnt it.