Susan's Place Transgender Resources

But how healthy do you have to be. I read the side effects. And Blood Pressure , Diabetes strokes run in my family. I have high blood pressure already :( . I am middle ages not telling my age :P . And what other requirements are there? Thanks in advance

Even people 70 year old have done it.
If your in not good health, they can go with patches.
The health risk are relatively low.
The estrogen side effects are less than most prescription
meds people take.

Are the effects of patches the same?

Yes, it just bypasses the first pass through the liver, which causes some problems, and there's less up and down in blood level of estrogen.

Thank You have given me hope. :) I have been worried about it. I can't wait to find a psychotherapist and a doctor as soon as I can afford it. How big to the thighs and breasts grow. I am hoping for at least a B cup.

Its your genetics that decide. Wishing does change the finish result.
Look at your mother and sister.

Though, if they're overweight, they can't be used to find out your potential
size unless your of the same weight.

If you're lean and they're not,
look at how their breast were when they were leaner and younger.

But, they just give you a ballpark, you could be slightly smaller or even
bigger (rarer).

Welcome, Kimberly.

Here is a link to our known list of gender counselors/therapists.  You want a counselor that already knows transsexuals and the WPATH Standards of Care.  <https://www.susans.org/Medical/Therapists_and_Counselors/USA/>

Seeing a counselor on a monthly basis should help you both to determine whether or not you truly are TS within 3 or 4 visits.  Three months is the minimum requirement for a counselor to write an authorization letter for hormone therapy. 

With your letter in hand, you can then search for a doctor willing to prescribe hormones.  That can be a real challenge in some locales.  Your counselor should know with whom you can work.

I began my transition in the Seattle area when I was 61 and began HRT (an anti-androgen and a conjugated estrogen) after about 7 months.  Had SRS on my 63rd birthday.  I reduced my estrogen dosage when I turned 70 (we don't discuss dosage numbers here) and now take my estradiol sublingually, which reduces the amount of liver exposure.  I have my liver enzyme levels checked annually.  I began HRT with a VA endocrinologist, then my Naval Hospital primary care physician, and now my Medicare doctor.

If you are over age 50, check this link, too.  <https://www.susans.org/cgi-bin/tseek/search2.cgi>

So, find yourself an experienced gender counselor and check in here frequently.

Enjoy the journey and Rush Slowly.

Robyn

Quote from: Robyn on February 07, 2008, 02:08:42 PM
With your letter in hand, you can then search for a doctor willing to prescribe hormones.  That can be a real challenge in some locales.  Your counselor should know with whom you can work.

Before any good physician will prescribe hrt, they'll do a physical depending on your health and available record, such as the usually blood tests and maybe some specialists. They want to ensure you're physically healthy for hrt. In addtion some will prescribe hrt for short periods, often 6-12 months, with follow up tests to monitor the changes. In short, either have good health insurance or a healthy checkbook. Don't short change your health, it doesn't pay to get down the road on your transistion to be sick or unable to continue. And remember the hrt has mental and emotional effects, which is why therapy is handy.

Good luck.

I don't plan for hormones until this late summer or fall this year. I really don't have a job that I could transition on. I recently started dressing again. I have a lot issues I have to deal with still. I don't want to tell me whole personal life off the bat.  But I do have a gender dysphoria. I have known my whole life. I stopped for for 2 years since the last time I went part time.  I want to learn all I can about this and about me, I have believed I should have born a girl since I was 5 yrs or younger. I love looking like a girl and acting like a girl. I got chemical dependent on drugs because of this and struggling to fight it. And this past week I decided what I am I fighting. Something that is part of my true self? Something I enjoy being? Or keep doing something that is destroying my life. not much of a decision huh? Drugs stink and Girl Power rules  ;D

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi57.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg227%2Ftimkilpatrick%2FPicture092.jpg&hash=bafbe6fcbfb25a88508fe6bbeff04fc8d056bc5f)

Kim,

Just remember YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE... You will do amazing I have high hopes for you, if you ever need feel free to PM me..

Take care girl, and Girl power rules/drug addictions suck....

thanxs  :)

 Kim
I want you to know that you are doing a good job just by getting off the drugs  one thing is you need to have a clear head as you go through the changes I know this first hand   second is the drugs along with smoking can screw up your safty with HRT   you want to be clean and clear headed to even begin this and defently get a counsler that deals with this and make shure that they are sencere and have experience with this and you are not going to be treated as a case study for their benifet  this is your health and mental health please take it serrious  and treat it as such  again I want to congratulate you on these steps of quitting the drugs  big step for any one

kristin

Yes I have know i have to clean 6 months before i can begin. I already know this is the right thing to do for me to be happy. Staying off drugs and letting the girl in me out. The stress of living as male when I do not feel  male inside is  to much for me to bare. I am currently going through a court order drug and alcohol program now. I will not be finished until June sometime. I have been clean and serene since December, working on the 12 steps I realize what has drove me to this destructive lifestyle I was in. I am Kimberly not Timothy. I have struggled long enough. If I would have known then what i know now I would have changed at a very early age. I still haven't reached 40 yet but it's close  :'(  I appreciate all the concerns. I have to let the girl out or I will be just as miserable as I was before and I learned I don't have to ashamed of what I am . It isn't something that isn't going to happen over night or maybe next year but i am working on letting my true self shine and that's me in the sig below. I am happy to be myself and that's what i need to stay off drugs. Thank you gals again :-*

Kim
you have made a big step the first thing is exceptance   not just who you are   but what you have been doing with your life the second  and my counsler helped me with this  in my case it was programing at a early year  to be what I wasnt    dont dwell on the past except the fact that you now reconise the prolbem and work on the present and then plan for the future  and dont blame yourself for the things you have done in the past  and dont try to push things two fast take it as it comes  deal with one prolbem at a time   and to a degree it sounds like you are doing just that  and please dont ever get down on your self    take cair
Kristin

I am talking it slow. I never imagined my feelings would be deeper the older I get. And how I desire to be recognized as Kimberly. I finally realize I love myself and the world around me. I have been reading a lot and learning too. This is a great site and have found a home of people like me. It is like a dream come true  :'( .It makes me happy to know there are more people born like me. I love you all my Sisters and Brothers  :-*

Quote from: Kimberly Kilpatrick on February 07, 2008, 05:46:50 AM
But how healthy do you have to be. I read the side effects. And Blood Pressure , Diabetes strokes run in my family. I have high blood pressure already :( . I am middle ages not telling my age :P . And what other requirements are there? Thanks in advance

I have high blood pressure as well, it runs in my family, they all have it. I've been full time on HRT for 10 years and as long as you watch your diet and keep up your fitness, it shouldn't be too much of a problem no matter what age you might be...

Just to comment on the drugs...I have done almost every drug out there except meth and peyote. I was hooked on opiates like heroin and morphine in grade 10. I struggled with addiction for 7-8 years on and off. I knew it was not the life I wanted but I knew something was wrong...life was so depressing so I ran away with drugs. I almost died 3 times as I went into convulsions and O/D from injecting cocaine. I have been clean for many years now but after I got of methadone I had this overwhelming desire to transition. I find it easer over all to stay away from drugs as I'm happier now as the right gender. Its also looked down on really bad for a woman to run around doing drugs and looking like crap...and I value my friends. Transition didn't stop any ideas of cravings to do drugs, that's a life long struggle. But it did...at least in my case...give me the strength to stay away from them when I do feel a bit down. I would never get back into drugs just for the fact that I have a life now and value myself and where I'm going. I hope this helps you, I can empathize with trans persons who have done drugs prior to transition. :)

if you look at harry bengmans (sp?) standard of cair most of us have had some form of prolbem with drugs this I can relate to also I also was deep in the blue rock for thouse of you that can rember  Now that I have finaly come to except who I am  I would never go back   what I have now would never be worth the risk of loosing  I think it for me was part denile of who I am not to mention that I was on a self destructive path  from the way I was treated as a child  to any one that can fight the deamons of the drugs I have got to say congrat  and they have my respect
kristin

Quote from: Jessica G on February 11, 2008, 08:34:46 PM
Just to comment on the drugs...I have done almost every drug out there except meth and peyote. I was hooked on opiates like heroin and morphine in grade 10. I struggled with addiction for 7-8 years on and off. I knew it was not the life I wanted but I knew something was wrong...life was so depressing so I ran away with drugs. I almost died 3 times as I went into convulsions and O/D from injecting cocaine. I have been clean for many years now but after I got of methadone I had this overwhelming desire to transition. I find it easer over all to stay away from drugs as I'm happier now as the right gender. Its also looked down on really bad for a woman to run around doing drugs and looking like crap...and I value my friends. Transition didn't stop any ideas of cravings to do drugs, that's a life long struggle. But it did...at least in my case...give me the strength to stay away from them when I do feel a bit down. I would never get back into drugs just for the fact that I have a life now and value myself and where I'm going. I hope this helps you, I can empathize with trans persons who have done drugs prior to transition. :)

I know i will always be a addict. But the things that started my addiction led from my transgender issue. Unhappy with gender.

as with a few of us its a big step even when you can say you are still a addic even after you are clear   I know that is something that I have to fight for the rest of my life even though I have excepted myself for who I am  the temptation will always be there and as for me I have to constantly ask myself which do I want and need more  again I am so proud of you and others that continue to stay clear and go on with their life's dreams
keep up the good work
kristin

I've been aware of my need to be a female since the age of 5 or 6. Being born in 1950, there weren't the same resources for getting help that exist today. With minimal help/understanding coming from my home, I was left to my own devices. By the time that I was in my 30's, my GID was all but controlling my life. The only positive things at that time, were that I was involved in a loving and caring (non sexual)relationship with a gay man that continues to this day, and my holding down a job that tolerated my frequent absences. The overriding problem was that I saw and felt the world as a woman, but the world saw and felt me as a male. This situation is continuing. This resulted in a steady flow of first, alcohol, and then heroin. Not knowing where else to turn for help, drugs offered a fast and dependable way to escape much of the pain of simply being alive. During this period, thought was given as to what else I could do, and I mailed away for something called a "burdizo," or something like that. It's purpose is for castrating cattle. Fortunately, I didn't have the nerve to use it, especially since I more likely than not, would have removed EVERYTHING! AND I WOULD HAVE BLED TO DEATH! Over the years since, I've tried to fit in as a male, but it never worked. My attempts with women were disastrous. Whenever it would be time for sex, my mind would scream at me to stop, for reasons like "I'm supposed to be on the bottom with my legs spread," to "women aren't supposed to do that to other women." I'd get an erection and hide it from my partner. Penetrating her with it was just SOOOOO wrong. It wasn't even supposed to be attached to my body!

My point is this...I've had, and still have, a very lonely and unfulfilled life. The only option that I can realistically consider to truly enjoy and make the most of the remainder of my life is to transition. My basic life story is by no means unique, and many, many others have found themselves in the same situation at one point in life or another. There are many things that need to be done in order to fully transition, and there is nothing that demands that you HAVE to do anything at all! You can take whatever measures are comfortable for YOU! HRT is one of the steps that most, but not all, people will take, but there will be voice therapy, electrolysis clothing, to name just a few. Find and work closely with a qualified gender therapist. I, myself, am seeing a therapist, and have recently begun HRT. My overall plan, is to take my time and to enjoy the transitioning process all the way through SRS. Looking back at my life until now, and considering alternatives, a full transition is the right thing for ME. I make no suggestions as to what anyone else should do, aside from examining very carefully all possible options and their consequences.

April
That is almost the same story as mine  (as with many others) except I look back now as being a bathtub chemest and the lives that I had destroyed in my own misery as well as mine  the fact that I found an escape that realy wasnt that  we each search for answers as to how to deal with our prolbems  and continue to dig a deeper hole for our selfs    and yes I hate to give my age  but I can relate that in our time that there was little known about our situation  it has taken a lifetime to come to exceptance with this situation   in our time it was known but you had to have a lot of monie to deal with it  and not be considered sick or quear or etc.  as in my case I grew up in a christin home and a christin school  the counslers and pastors  the decons and the shrinks that screwed me up even worse trying to brainwash me into believing that this was wrong  and I was sick in the head the way my parrents made me out to be an embarsment to them and their situation in the church and their activities  the fact that when I finaly got busted that I was finaly outcasted by them for the rest of their lifes  the drugs that the shrinks had me on is a nightmair in its self    I have learned to quit hidding from this and to except and cherish who I am and what I am  the only reget is that I was to blinded to relise this at a younger age so I would have had a better life ( or would  I )  it took a lot to learn to love just who I realy was and am
and yes the counslers that I am currently seeing is defently been of help  I personaly am tired of all the negitivity in my life and am doing everything that I can do to change it 
any who ya all take care
Kristin