Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I just got approval from my insurance for GRS funding, so it is time to start a thread to document that process.  Do not expect a lot of activity right away, the initial steps take months.  But it is going to happen!!

Congrats!  Every journey begins with a single step.  Time will fly!

Congratulations!
This is cause for a SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!

@JudiBlueEyes, @Jessica

Thanks, ladies!

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 15, 2019, 10:07:12 AM
I just got approval from my insurance for GRS funding, so it is time to start a thread to document that process.  Do not expect a lot of activity right away, the initial steps take months.  But it is going to happen!!

@KathyLauren
Dear Kathy:
Thank you for sharing your future GRS plans.... one of the big, big steps in your journey for sure.
I hear you about the initial steps taking months, but me and your followers certainly want to follow you all the way.

I am so glad that you started your GRS thread so that we can follow you and continue to root for your success.

I will be eagerly looking for your updates as you feel free to post them.
Hugs & Well Wishes,
Danielle

That is great news!

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 15, 2019, 10:07:12 AM
I just got approval from my insurance for GRS funding, so it is time to start a thread to document that process.  Do not expect a lot of activity right away, the initial steps take months.  But it is going to happen!!

Congratulations! I know that you must be super excited. Do you have a date and surgeon picked out yet?

Congratulations!!!! How exciting! Very happy for you!

Hugs,

Sarah

Great news wool eagerly await your updates...Hope everything goes really well

Liz


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Quote from: NatalieRene on February 15, 2019, 09:18:52 PM
Congratulations! I know that you must be super excited. Do you have a date and surgeon picked out yet?

The surgeon will be Dr. Brassard.  He is the only one that my insurance will deal with.  The date will depend on his schedule.  It is a long process to get into the queue, and the queue itself is long.  Stay tuned.

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 15, 2019, 10:07:12 AM
I just got approval from my insurance for GRS funding, so it is time to start a thread to document that process.  Do not expect a lot of activity right away, the initial steps take months.  But it is going to happen!!

Congratulations Kathy! <<<Squeeeeyay>>>

Hugs!!!

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Congratulations, a very exciting adventure!

Congrats on the approval. Hugs
Mariah

Kathy,

Congratulations from me, as well!!!!

Stevi

Kathy, now that you have this thread started we are going to expect a lot of updates. Actually I am looking forward to when you get your consultation appointment set.

I have a procedure scheduled for about seven weeks from now and Deb tells me that I need to start a thread for that soon. You do your thread so well, I don't do them well at all....I will be looking for your examples to follow.

Tia

All good things to you in the days to come dear sister!!! Enjoy the feel of the ground under your feet as you journey forward!!! All shall be well 😀👍

Onward we go brave sister!!!

Ashley 🙋‍♀️💕🌻

Thanks, everyone! :)

Quote from: Anne Blake on February 16, 2019, 06:21:34 PM
Kathy, now that you have this thread started we are going to expect a lot of updates.

Tia @Anne Blake, I will definitely update this thread when I have something to update it with.  I expect to do a whole bunch of waiting between updates. 

The next thing will probably be a consultation with my doctor prior to submitting my application to Dr. Brassard's clinic.  Then, several months' wait until they respond.  Then waiting for a date, then waiting for the date to arrive.

So, I don't recommend holding your breath waiting for updates!  But I promise to update it whenever something happens!

Congratulations Kathy. Wanna race? I'd wager you will have your GCS before I can even though I have been referred and have a consult date. July30, 2019 then a wait for a date and a wait for the date after. Roughly 2 1/2 years to go. Good luck Hun.

Hugs, Laurie

Good luck Kathy, best wishes for a smooth process and a quick recovery. X

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Thanks, ladies!

@Laurie, this sure doesn't feel like a race.  I'm not going to take any bets on who gets there first.  Hopefully, we both make it.

I have an appointment March 5th with my doctor to go over my application to GRS Montréal.  I could have let her submit the application on her own on my behalf, but it is worth driving into the city to make sure everything is right.  I want to make sure that I am requesting the right procedures (vaginoplasty without vaginal cavity, and trachea shave) and that I can sign anything that needs to be signed.

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 17, 2019, 02:07:28 PM
Thanks, everyone! :)

Tia @Anne Blake, I will definitely update this thread when I have something to update it with.  I expect to do a whole bunch of waiting between updates. 

The next thing will probably be a consultation with my doctor prior to submitting my application to Dr. Brassard's clinic.  Then, several months' wait until they respond.  Then waiting for a date, then waiting for the date to arrive.

So, I don't recommend holding your breath waiting for updates!  But I promise to update it whenever something happens!

I'm watching and cheering for you from the Peanut Gal-ery!


Stephanie

Quote from: Steph2.0 on February 21, 2019, 09:36:13 AM
I'm watching and cheering for you from the Peanut Gal-ery!


Stephanie

And the pea-no-nut gal-ery too.  I'm excited for you. The time will fly by when you look back.  <<<Hugs>>>

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Today is the day I was supposed to see my doctor to go over my application to the GRS Montreal clinic.  We had a major snowstorm yesterday, and the roads were in no condition for long distance travelling, so I didn't go.  She doesn't actually need my presence to write whatever letter she needs to write, it was just an optional appointment anyway.  So I told her to go ahead and send the letter and call me if she needed any information from me.

She is pretty efficient, so I will assume that the letter will go to Montreal some time this week.

Kathy, good choice to avoid the icy and snowy road drive. Congratulations on taking the next step, how long until you expect to hear back from the Montreal clinic?

Tia Anne

Quote from: Anne Blake on March 05, 2019, 11:09:16 AMhow long until you expect to hear back from the Montreal clinic?

Thanks, Tia.  I am told that it takes them about three months to respond.  After that, I will get a date that will be at least six months in the future.

Quote from: KathyLauren on March 05, 2019, 10:21:45 AM
Today is the day I was supposed to see my doctor to go over my application to the GRS Montreal clinic.  We had a major snowstorm yesterday, and the roads were in no condition for long distance travelling, so I didn't go.  She doesn't actually need my presence to write whatever letter she needs to write, it was just an optional appointment anyway.  So I told her to go ahead and send the letter and call me if she needed any information from me.

She is pretty efficient, so I will assume that the letter will go to Montreal some time this week.

I understand wanting to be there in person, but you did the smart thing. Another step forward, regardless. Awesome!!

Stephanie

Yes I have to agree Kathy. I'm glad you didn't venture out on to those icy snow packed roads. I hope things go ok with your letter.

Hugs.

Just getting caught up. Congratulations on getting into the process, Kathy! It will be exciting for all of us to follow and support your progress.
Hugs, Randy

Congratulations. Six months will be in the fall, a nice time to have the procedure. Time will fly and before you know it, the day will be here.

So, I get back from the mailbox, and I am checking through a stack of mail.  Hmm, bills, more bills.  Oh!  Who do I know in Montreal?  ???

I got my information package from Dr. Brassard's clinic in the mail!!  ;D  Some preliminary info and some forms to be filled out by me and my doctor. 

SQUEEEEE!!!

Quote from: KathyLauren on March 26, 2019, 01:09:19 PM
So, I get back from the mailbox, and I am checking through a stack of mail.  Hmm, bills, more bills.  Oh!  Who do I know in Montreal?  ???

I got my information package from Dr. Brassard's clinic in the mail!!  ;D  Some preliminary info and some forms to be filled out by me and my doctor. 

SQUEEEEE!!!

Squeeeee indeed!! Congratulations on another step forward!

@KathyLauren
Dear Kathy:
Wonderful news for sure!!
Yes indeed.... SQUEEEEE!!!  ....
and I will add my  Wow-Whee  to that!!!

Thank you for keeping your followers and fans updated.
Hugs,
Danielle

Quote from: KathyLauren on March 26, 2019, 01:09:19 PM
So, I get back from the mailbox, and I am checking through a stack of mail.  Hmm, bills, more bills.  Oh!  Who do I know in Montreal?  ???

I got my information package from Dr. Brassard's clinic in the mail!!  ;D  Some preliminary info and some forms to be filled out by me and my doctor. 

SQUEEEEE!!!

Yay!!! It's happening girl. That deserves a SQUEEEE for sure.

Congratulations girl! It is indeed moving along. SQUEEEEEE

It's been a couple of months.  In that time, I got all the requisite forms filled in and sent off.  The basic paperwork is done and I have confirmation that I am in the queue.  The next step will hopefully be to receive a tentative surgery date.  That might take a couple of months, and then the actual date may end up being a year later.  But I'm in the queue. :icon_nervious:

Quote from: KathyLauren on May 31, 2019, 05:16:56 PM
But I'm in the queue. :icon_nervious:

I just spotted your topic Kathy, and very happy for you.

The wait, it's an event in it's self, may the planets align, when it's your time, and I have no doubt, you will do fine

Hugs

Cynthia -

Well the site crash terminated this thread at an unfortunate place in the narrative.  All the good stuff is gone.   :(

Long story short:  I had my GRS in March 2020 with Dr. Brassard.  The surgery went well.  I flew home a week later by myself.  The incisions and sutures all healed up quickly and with no problems.  Unfortunately, I was left with ongoing pain that didn't go away.  I went back to Dr. Brassard a year later, but he couldn't see anything wrong, so there was nothing for him to fix.  (That unproductive visit cost me about $100 per minute!) 

I am now, 4 years later, gradually weaning myself off anti-inflammatory meds.  The pain is no longer continuous.  Interestingly, it seems to come and go on a 26-day cycle!!  :o

Was it worth it?  Yes, I think so.  If I had to do it all over again, knowing how it would turn out, I might opt for something less invasive, like maybe an orchiectomy.  But, even with the pain, I like my new configuration.  I think I really did need it.  So maybe I'd do it the same all over again.

Good to see you are okay, I had (have) a uncomfortable spot on the right side from an infection that is still painful dilating so I have stopped. Not that it makes any difference these days.

Congratulations, and I hope waiting list and que will be short for you!

Congratulations. I'm glad everything went well with no major complications. I'm sorry to hear that you have a pain cycle every 26 days or so. I wonder if it would be too late for a second opinion with a better doctor.

I am not sure but aren't most revisions cheaper than the initial grs surgery? You might be able to have a revision by a better doctor assuming it's not something they have to do exploratory surgery for.

I feel no doctor would admit that they did something wrong or incorrectly. I feel most doctors feel they can do no wrong and are God's in their own minds...

Anyways I'm happy for you, and that you had some very good results with no complications other than the pain that you spoke of.

Quote from: Robbyv213 on June 14, 2024, 05:35:02 PMI'm sorry to hear that you have a pain cycle every 26 days or so. I wonder if it would be too late for a second opinion with a better doctor.

The pain cycle has been getting better over the last few months.  I didn't feel much of anything the last time I was expecting to, and it was very mild the time before that.  So things are improving down there.  I assume that the issue was scar tissue, and that, as the scar tissue gets absorbed over time, the pain will continue to decrease.

I can't afford to pay for a revision, and my insurance would only cover it if it was medically necessary, which the doctors agree it isn't.  And I'd hate to have it all opened up again, which would add new scar tissue to the old.  At this point, I feel no need for revision.  If I'd been offered one three years ago, I'd have jumped at the opportunity, but it is no longer necessary.

I posted about it here because it is relevant to anyone contemplating upcoming GRS.  This is not by any stretch of the imagination minor surgery.  It is major, and there can be complications even when everything goes right.  Full recovery can take a lot longer than you expect.  These are important lessons that people should be aware of up front, and they come best from someone who has been through it.

The cycle was an interesting discovery.  I think it means that a woman's cycle is not driven entirely by the ovaries and uterus.  Those who don't have those organs but who are on estrogen can still have a cycle of roughly the same duration.  I made a thread about it last year, and got some interesting feedback.  Quite a few members replied with tales of similar cycles, either of mood/emotion or of physical manifestations.  So I am pretty sure it is a real thing.  I did see one study that was being initiated to investigate it, but it would be too early to see any results.  The thread on the subject, was, unfortunately, a casualty of the system crash.

@KathyLauren

Yes one must definitely weigh the risks vs potential reward. I'm not sure what a revision would have looked like for you, but most of what I've read and researched it's mainly for Minor issues in appearance and function.

I agreed it could very well have been the scar tissue causing that and unfortunately there's nothing anyone can do for scar tissue. Like you said at this point so many years afterwards there may be very little anyone can do, and if it's getting better def not worth it to try to correct or fix anything and potentially start the cycle of pain over again.

I have read that many introduce progesterone into the HRT to simulate have a the hormonal levels that go with having a menstrual cycle. Not that one wants to have cramps and other periods symptoms every month but in order to mimic what a period does hormonally for a woman's body and the hormones produced during a menstrual cycle. Which I feel (from all the articles I've read that it does help with the overall transition and feminizing affects on ones body), but I guess that's all hear say to an extent since there aren't many studies done on trans individuals with the specific focus of incorporating progesterone into ones HRT. Hell there aren't many studies on any trans individuals using hrt and the affects they have. Only studies of what those hormones do to genetically born woman at certain points of their life ( as in pre, during and post menopause etc)

I would def like to read that thread about having a monthly cycle while being on HRT after a certain amount of time to read the responses and everyone's personal experiences. I definitely want to learn and soak up as much information as I can about transitioning from all aspects.

Thank you again for posting and sharing your story and experiences. I'm glad your pain is dying down some and getting better. I wish you a happy and healthy pain free future.

Quote from: Robbyv213 on June 15, 2024, 02:23:42 PMI have read that many introduce progesterone into the HRT to simulate have a the hormonal levels that go with having a menstrual cycle. Not that one wants to have cramps and other periods symptoms every month but in order to mimic what a period does hormonally for a woman's body and the hormones produced during a menstrual cycle.

Hi Robby,
The addition of progesterone into HRT protocol is not to mimic a menstrual cycle. It is for breast development and provides other benefits, such as better sleep at night. Estradiol develops the infrastructure of the breast: ductwork connecting to the nipple and fat distribution. This causes the breasts to project outward. Progesterone builds the mammary glands (alveoli) that will eventually produce milk. This causes increased breast volume. The ovaries and adrenal glands control the release of each: 2 weeks of increased estradiol which then drops, and progesterone increases for the second half of the cycle.

I have a few studies that were conducted that I can send you. I won't post them here in Kathy's thread without her permission.
 

@LoriDee I might not have worded my response correctly, but I also may not understand the female body and hormones as well as I thought. I know I have a tough time explaining and expressing what I'm trying to say or convey.

I have read some use progesterone in 3 week cycles to mimic hormone levels of women who have gone through puberty already and try to achieve what their bodies do in terms of the hormones they produce during the 28 day cycle. But when trying to express that I'm not sure if it came out all that well. As to if cycling progesterone like that to mimic a 28 day cycle vs just taking it consistently actually is beneficial or not I don't think I've come across many studies that showed one way or the other for trans women who use progesterone with their hrt. And again I feel I may be off or not quite expressing this in the way I'm thinking it. But I could be completely wrong on it as well lol

I'd love to read those studies you mentioned but yes I don't want to de rail this thread either.