Quote from: LoriDee on Today at 04:23:43 PMJessica, my wigs cover my ears too, so I wear hoop earrings. They stick out a little, just enough to be visible. But I prefer the larger hoops that show better. You can always sweep your hair back just behind your ears to show them off if you are comfortable with that.

I tried it a few months ago as in my updated avatar, i am not sure about it..

LoriDee I'm glad you have had good experiences with the VA. I will have to look into the VA for possible care in the future. I do have a service connected rating of 100% PNT. however most of my experiences with the VA have not been all that great. However compared to some vets I guess my experience is no where near the horror stories of some.

I will def have to look into the VA for gender affirming care once I get set up here in Phoenix area. Do you have insurance through the VA like tri care? And if so is it covered or are you paying for it like reg insurance that one would have through their employer.

Robby,

I think you might have some misconceptions about the VA.

All of my healthcare is through the VA, including all of my transitioning. Mental Health Eval, HRT, voice training, and hair removal are all covered, but I have no one in the area who does electrolysis. My mental health eval was in 2019 and I started HRT in Jan 2020. All through the VA.

The VA covers all pre-op care, including hair removal, pre-op physical exams, surgeon letters, etc. They also cover all post-op aftercare. The only thing they will not do is the actual surgery. But everything the surgeon requires before and after surgery is covered. If there is a problem post-op and a revision is needed to correct the problem, revision surgery is covered.

The lawsuit mentioned above was filed by TAVA (Transgender American Veterans Association) to force the VA to change its regulations concerning Gender Affirming Surgery. The Secretary of the VA has been promising that he would since 2016.

The lawsuit was filed in Jan 2024. In March 2024, the VA Secretary denied the petition saying he is "not ready to change the regulations at this time". TAVA then filed a second lawsuit against the VA charging them with discrimination against transgender veterans. That lawsuit is still pending.

Quote from: Jessica_K on Today at 03:33:34 PMI currently do not have ear piercings as my current wig hides my ears. My next one I want them more exposed so then earrings.

Jessica, my wigs cover my ears too, so I wear hoop earrings. They stick out a little, just enough to be visible. But I prefer the larger hoops that show better. You can always sweep your hair back just behind your ears to show them off if you are comfortable with that.

I had an Endo tell me that a patient came to an appointment with her and announced that she was no longer transgender, and left without explanation. I assumed she meant she had completed her transition, but the Endo said sometimes people change their minds.

The whole purpose of the mental health evaluation is to determine if you are experiencing Gender Dysphoria. To what extent a transition one might pursue, is definitely a personal matter. But I don't understand how someone could be misdiagnosed and the "cause" is some other condition. How is that possible? Was the diagnoser incompetent?

I can understand someone changing their mind for a variety of reasons. Pressure from family or friends that they do not want to alienate. Or maybe, as CosmicJoke stated, maybe it is easier for them to not transition. In either case, the individual decided that any dysphoria was tolerable. Again, that is their personal decision, but does that make the diagnosis wrong?

As Chrissy stated, either way, a mental health evaluation should still be in order to determine the why behind their decision, and then to offer support to help them carry out their wishes.

I like "new" potatoes because they are yummy bite-size chunks. Not too potatoey, but maybe that's because they are dripping with butter. 

My Endo wants me to stop Progesterone 30 days before surgery. So I call the surgeon and ask if they feel the same way. Of course they say if she want you to stop you probably should but we don't require it. So no Progesterone for a month. Then I get a phone call from the hospital wanting to know if they are doing the pre op tests, to which I'm having my GP schedule them. Of course they have my surgery date wrong. Panic mode! Call to the surgeons office then the hospital calls back with, they had made a mistake. Crises averted.

This is a subject I will not comment on

Jessica

I have got to the stage of not caring. I go male mode when at home for my wife. All the rest of the time I am full stealth female. So I aim to keep all the things I like for being female, but bung on jeans and a T or polo.

So my nails are painted bright red/pink, I wear rings, bracelets and necklace (I do the wearing outside high neck T's), I wear shoes (trainers) that are female gray with a pink flash on the sides. No makeup, no bra, no wig but with boobs now rapidly reaching 38DD large T's just hang off them (hehe). I keep all my female mannerisms and walk and even my voice to some respect. It's all so normal for me.

I am doing it on purpose and I get a lot of male fails, it's more a stand against the stupidity of not being allowed to be dressed as I want and I am getting away with it. Hello Ladies lol.

I currently do not have ear piercings as my current wig hides my ears. My next one I want them more exposed so then earrings.

I have gone past the not being noticed stage but never had any problems. I am treated as male or female depending on the person viewing

Hugs
Jessica xxx

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 10:37:22 AMHave a great week Jenn!

Chrissy

Quote from: Iztaccihuatl on Yesterday at 11:02:52 PMNever give up - that's the right attitude for an athlete!

I am sure you'll do fine in the race and no hills, leg cramps or whatever else you could encounter is going to stop you.

You got this, Jenn!

Have a great race!

Hugs,

Heidemarie

Thanks to you both and all the well wishes coming with me on a grand -er- type 2 fun adventure...

~Jenn