Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi Everyone,

My name is Tiffany. I am 47 and am happily married to a wonderful woman who has known about me from the day one.

I started to transition a year ago and had some problems related to my type 1 diabetes which I have been living with since I was 14. I have been on spiro since last November 4, 2016 (a little over 9 months).

I began taking estrogen on July 31st, 2016. 10 days later I suffered a TIA (transient ischemic attack) which also left me with some permanent nerve damage on my left side which I know isn't suppose to happen from a TIA but with the length that I have been diabetic I seem to be the exception. The cardiologist, neurologist and endocrinologist along with my primary determined that the TIA was not caused by estrogen based on what was affected. In the days and tests that followed my doctors found out that I had had a non-event stroke at some point in the past 20 years. All of this led me to the decision, after much consideration and heart-ache, to stop hormone therapy. My endocrinologist has been wonderful through it all. he has given me options and hope for continuing my transition.

I started presenting female full-time 22 days ago and have had the support of friends, most of my family, employers  and coworkers. I am an art director for a manufacturing company and I deal with many clients all of whom, to this point, have accepted the change. A week from today I have a consultation with Dr. Toby Mayer for FFS.

I am inspired by those of you whom have posted your stories and your information. I hope that I can contribute in the same manner as I continue my journey.

Thanks,
Tiff

Hi Tiff from Milwaukee, I'm Devlyn from Boston! Welcome to Susan's Place! Sorry to hear about your medical issues. I  hope you can find a spot where you're comfortable. See you around the site!

Hugs, Devlyn

Hello Tiffany, and welcome!

Wow - what an unfortunate medical situation you have experienced.  But you are proof of what an individual can accomplish through determination in spite of any barriers. 

I am MTF in the Seattle area, not full time yet and what you wrote provides me an additional incentive to move forward with what I know I should do - be myself full time.  I actually considered and initially ruled out HRT in my transition.  Until this year my plans were to fully transition by relying on other methods including various surgeries and with some soft tissue work in addition to FFS.  After collecting information on my own health including bone density loss and existing hormone levels, I decided in May of this year to seek an HRT prescription and accelerate other parts of my transition. 

At a time like this I'm sure you know the irreplaceable value of things you are fortunate to have.  Your wife and majority of your family, friends and work situation.  And your persistence and determination.

We always provide some information to new members and I will add it here for you.  This is to help keep Susan's running smoothly and to save you time with initial navigation.

A Cautionary Note:
This is a public forum so please remember when posting that The Internet Never Forgets, and the various web crawlers and archival sites out there may retain information that you post.

We cannot ensure that any information you share on the site will be protected from public view and/or copying or reproduction. This warning is also listed in the Terms of Service listed below.

If you give out personal information on Susan's you are responsible for any consequence.,kn

I also want to share some links with you. They include helpful information and the rules that govern the site.  It is important for your enjoyment of the site to take a moment to go through them

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)	Standard Terms & Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar) (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
Reputation rules (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,18960.0.html)	News posting & quoting guidelines (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,174951.0.html)	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,59974.msg383866.html#msg383866)

Tiffany I am very glad you joined Susan's.  Your story is a mixture of both extremes, fortunate and unfortunate, and I applaud you for turning every possible aspect into good.

Kendra

Thanks Kendra,

Your insight, direction and guidance is greatly appreciated! I am so glad to have found Susan's and I want to make sure to adhere to the guidelines in order to keep it and myself an invaluable resource for those in need.

I hope that your journey is filled with progress and success every step of the way!

Tiff

Quote from: Kendra on August 15, 2017, 02:51:42 PM
Hello Tiffany, and welcome!

Wow - what an unfortunate medical situation you have experienced.  But you are proof of what an individual can accomplish through determination in spite of any barriers. 

I am MTF in the Seattle area, not full time yet and what you wrote provides me an additional incentive to move forward with what I know I should do - be myself full time.  I actually considered and initially ruled out HRT in my transition.  Until this year my plans were to fully transition by relying on other methods including various surgeries and with some soft tissue work in addition to FFS.  After collecting information on my own health including bone density loss and existing hormone levels, I decided in May of this year to seek an HRT prescription and accelerate other parts of my transition. 

At a time like this I'm sure you know the irreplaceable value of things you are fortunate to have.  Your wife and majority of your family, friends and work situation.  And your persistence and determination.

We always provide some information to new members and I will add it here for you.  This is to help keep Susan's running smoothly and to save you time with initial navigation.

A Cautionary Note:
This is a public forum so please remember when posting that The Internet Never Forgets, and the various web crawlers and archival sites out there may retain information that you post.

We cannot ensure that any information you share on the site will be protected from public view and/or copying or reproduction. This warning is also listed in the Terms of Service listed below.

If you give out personal information on Susan's you are responsible for any consequence.,kn

I also want to share some links with you. They include helpful information and the rules that govern the site.  It is important for your enjoyment of the site to take a moment to go through them

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)	Standard Terms & Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar) (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
Reputation rules (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,18960.0.html)	News posting & quoting guidelines (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,174951.0.html)	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,59974.msg383866.html#msg383866)

Tiffany I am very glad you joined Susan's.  Your story is a mixture of both extremes, fortunate and unfortunate, and I applaud you for turning every possible aspect into good.

Kendra

Welcome to Susan's Place. I was also born in Milwaukee however we left there when I was 10 years old. We were living off capital drive back when it was still a two lane street. I looked at some google pictures of the old neighborhood and it has really changed.

I don't know if low dose estrogen would be safe for you but it is a consideration. I am about half the normal transition dosage and I am seeing changes after all these years. I suspect even a quarter dose would produce results however at a much slower rate.

Should there be anything I can help you with, let me know.

Hi Tiff  :icon_wave:

Welcome to Susan's Place  :)  Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

 Hi Tiffany,

  I'm Laurie, mtf, 64. Let me also welcome you to Susan's Place. Come on in and take a look around. Get yourself something to drink and make yourself comfortable. There are a lot of friendly folk here and quite a bit of information. You find help and friendly encouragement here as well as some utter nonsense being tossed back and forth among friends. Feel free to ask your questions and join in.
  I have also been told I may have had a mini stroke several years ago after waking up on morning so dizzy I couldn't sit upright in bed let alone stand up. Tests were administered and that was the best they could come up with. I get a bit of mild positional vertigo to this day that I hadn't experienced before.  Recently I've noticed a very slight droop on the right side of my face and was going to ask my doctor about it today but it was another thing I forgot once I got there. *sigh* Oh well it isn't anything serious.
  Any way listen to your endo and consider the safe options for HRT they give you. HRT is a wonderful ride for me so far. I could be for you also.
  Congrats on the full time. We have that in common as I just started in late June. It sound like you have good support surrounding you and you'll be fine.

  Hugs,
   Laurie

Welcome Tiff!! I am so happy everyone around you has been accepting and supportive! I wish you luck on continued/restarted HRT!  ;D

Thanks everyone. It's nice to be part of a global community. Thank you all for your encouragement.
My mantra has been 'day-to-day and breath deeply'.
I have my consultation tomorrow on FFS. I am excited and nervous.

<3
Tiff

Welcome aboard Tiff!!!... Hope the consult went well... I've had a lot of facial stuff done so feel free to ask anything!!!

Onward we go brave sister!!!

Ashley :)