Susan's Place Transgender Resources

How to introduce myself?
My name is Jessica, born male I have self identified as transgender the majority of my adult life.
Not yet 40 years old I have started my medical transition in mid life. Married to a wonderful women over 15 years, we have a son and daughter both in high school. My wife learned I dressed in women's clothes early in our relationship before we where married, she is very understanding and continues to build a relationship with me as I transition.

Out to many important members of my family, friends and in-laws. My employer is great, very supportive with an excellent medical plan. In addition the health plan from my wife's work gives me have enough coverage in order to not have to pay for HRT prescriptions. At work Human Resources has already looked into and confirmed I would qualify for shot term disability when it comes time for surgeries(Provided the are cover by Canadian Medical Services Plan). The fact I am Canadian means I am fortunate that many costs will be covered by MSP if I respect the medical process. I already have one psychiatrist ready to write my first letter and refer me to another therapist when I am ready for surgery. I still have at least another six months of HRT and living out full time before I can plan a surgery.

My MD is great, I was referred to him after I starting seeing a counselor. After a couple of visits with my DR and base line blood testing he started me on low dose HRT and has been slowly increasing it each visit. Once my hormone levels are in a normal female range he will then stop increasing the dose. Physically the changes I am noticing excite me and I look forward to my future. Emotionally I have never felt better, I look forward to every day. Some days I feel less dysphoric the others but I am comfortable knowing the changes are coming and I am on a path to living the rest of my life as me and free.

So that is my introduction, there is much more to me then just the fact I am transitioning but since this a TG forum I guess that intro will have to do.

Hi Jessica,

I'm Laurie, mtf also like you. Welcome to Susan's Place. The door is open so come on in. We have coffee and hot water for tea on the counter, water in the tap, and you might find a soda in the fridge.  Take a good look around the place then grab a seat and get comfy. We have a lot of info here and a lot of folk that only want to share their experiences in an effort to help someone else.
  Your story almost sounds like a storybook tale that many of us wish could have been our story. Alas not many of us are able to deal with our gender difference in life and are able to retain those thing we hold dear. You wife sounds very supportive and I hope your children are too. And you even have work and medical support on top of it all. I am sure your adventure have not always been so positive but that's a different story we have yet to hear.
  We are glad you have found your way to us and look forward to hearing more from you.

  I'll add some links and information below that can help you get more out of our site.

Laurie
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Hello Jessica, welcome to Susan's!

I am MtF but had a much slower start than you.  My transition was like a boomerang - definite thoughts and some exploration at an early age and then I stopped.  A few decades went by and then it all came back really fast.  So here I am. 

I agree we are defined by much more than transition but I have found this has solved many things that had bugged me for years without knowing why.  I had memories of seeing and enjoying the world a certain way before puberty and found much of that resumed with HRT - right now I wouldn't trade that for anything. 

You have so many things going for you and have made careful decisions.  Having a supportive partner and great family is awesome.  You have an exciting future ahead.  I'm very glad you joined - see you around!

Kendra

Quote from: Laurie on September 12, 2017, 08:53:58 PM
Hi Jessica,

I'm Laurie, mtf also like you. Welcome to Susan's Place. The door is open so come on in. We have coffee and hot water for tea on the counter, water in the tap, and you might find a soda in the fridge.  Take a good look around the place then grab a seat and get comfy. We have a lot of info here and a lot of folk that only want to share their experiences in an effort to help someone else.
  Your story almost sounds like a storybook tale that many of us wish could have been our story. Alas not many of us are able to deal with our gender difference in life and are able to retain those thing we hold dear. You wife sounds very supportive and I hope your children are too. And you even have work and medical support on top of it all. I am sure your adventure have not always been so positive but that's a different story we have yet to hear.
  We are glad you have found your way to us and look forward to hearing more from you.

  I'll add some links and information below that can help you get more out of our site.

Laurie
Global Moderator

Thank you for the warm welcome. Although my experiences are far from storybook I understand I am very fortunate. I wish I could have transitioned earlier in life but I do not regret that I did not. I have two awesome, understanding children. Once they both knew I was transgender I no longer had to hide my clothes, change out of a nighty in the morning, get changed before they get home or remove make-up again. They were involved in the conversation before I started HRT and we keep an open and honest dialogue with them through this process.

I just want to say unfortunately growing up the only visible transgender role models for me were in pornography or prostitution. Thankfully today there is a greater understanding of what being transgender is all about and there is a number of women in the public eye who advocate and represent the transgender community very well.

Happy to join this community.
Thank you

Quote from: Kendra on September 12, 2017, 09:53:25 PM
Hello Jessica, welcome to Susan's!

I am MtF but had a much slower start than you.  My transition was like a boomerang - definite thoughts and some exploration at an early age and then I stopped.  A few decades went by and then it all came back really fast.  So here I am. 

I agree we are defined by much more than transition but I have found this has solved many things that had bugged me for years without knowing why.  I had memories of seeing and enjoying the world a certain way before puberty and found much of that resumed with HRT - right now I wouldn't trade that for anything. 

You have so many things going for you and have made careful decisions.  Having a supportive partner and great family is awesome.  You have an exciting future ahead.  I'm very glad you joined - see you around!

Kendra

I understand everyone's journey is different. It is important we are comfortable with ourselves and can live happy lives. Before HRT I certainly felt very unhappy. It made me sad as every passing day I was stuck. I talked to my family DR about three years ago about being transgender. He had no experience with trans patience and did not want to prescribe me hormones because in his words "it would be the end of my marriage" He could not have been more wrong. My wife has had some tough days dealing with this but she is there for me and I for her.

She asked me if after all the surgeries would I leave her for a man? I feel that if she is supporting me through all of this and stays with me through my transition, I have no reason to leave her. Why would I leave someone who loves me that much? At the end of the day even though I am transitioning we still have life to live, kids to raise, responsibilities, pets to take care of, bills to pay, ect. Life goes on but it is much better when you are happier. That is for sure.

Quote from: Ajessica250 on September 13, 2017, 12:31:36 AM

She asked me if after all the surgeries would I leave her for a man? I feel that if she is supporting me through all of this and stays with me through my transition, I have no reason to leave her. Why would I leave someone who loves me that much? At the end of the day even though I am transitioning we still have life to live, kids to raise, responsibilities, pets to take care of, bills to pay, ect. Life goes on but it is much better when you are happier. That is for sure.

You two just keep the love and attitude going and you'll both be okay. I loved reading it.

Hugs,
Laurie

Hello Jessica


You seem to have a great support system and great attitude.

Stay shiny


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Jessica!!!
      Funny fact about me my ex-wife who is very supportive of me now is Jessica! I am also similar situation as you. I am not yet 40 and my ex found out about my crossdressing before we married but, she was not supportive then. So I had to end up burying my GD deep down, so our divorce was liberating for me to come out and be me!!!! It is great you are getting help and assistance. You are going in a great direction for your journey and it sounds like you're in a great place for yourself!!! It's great to meet you here and feel free to ask whatever and meet all of us!!!!
Jailyn

Hi Jessica  :icon_wave:

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

Hugs

V M

Thank you everyone for the replies, it is wonderful to find a venue like this and meet caring and understanding people.