Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Well, it has been quite awhile since I posted in this area, but as of a couple of hours ago, I am now 5 months on HRT and I wanted to celebrate that a bit. It's funny when I think back on my early posts how I used to complain about things taking so long to get started. Lately I've felt like I've been strapped to a rocket!

So I am now full-time and apparently very passable. Haven't had many problems in that area. I've been told that the first time I walked into the center here in Orlando that those who didn't know me from Susan's couldn't figure out if I was FTM, MTF or an ally. I'll take that every time! My skin is now soft, my emotions all over the place, fat distribution is doing its thing (hips, but and boobs!) and I get weird cravings for high-fat foods. I have started to notice the beginnings of significant loss in strength, but I generally feel good physically.

I'm sure I will notice other things as I continue on, but I have now entered a new phase of my transition. The first is that I now no longer feel comfortable being identified with "him" at all anymore, so I have filled out my paperwork for legal name change and will be filing that shortly. The second is that mental challenges have come to the fore. I see myself more and more as female physically and in the mirror, but integrating my female mental self with masculine mental attributes and ridding myself of some aspects of my masculine socialization are the current conundrum. I am slowly working through this and integrating myself into a whole person. Until that happens, I do occasionally feel out of sorts, but these things take time.

Anyway, I guess this is a "Yay me" thread, but so be it. A close friend once told me that one of the challenges of our unique second puberty is that it isn't marked by societal milestones like our first puberty. We have to make them ourselves. The first pill or shot etc. So I have come here to celebrate this one with all of you. The people I know who will understand.  :)

Congratulations! I am so glad that you are finally beginning to feel more you, that "he" is vanishing into the distance. I wish you many more awesome milestones like this. :D

I think the undesirable male socialization will continue to disappear as you become more comfortable.

Congrats on 5 months!  ;D

It flys by so fast doesn't it.

I'm so happy for you!!!!!  ;D

Quote from: Melody Maia on March 06, 2011, 01:54:50 AMI am slowly working through this and integrating myself into a whole person. Until that happens, I do occasionally feel out of sorts, but these things take time.

Anyway, I guess this is a "Yay me" thread, but so be it. A close friend once told me that one of the challenges of our unique second puberty is that it isn't marked by societal milestones like our first puberty. We have to make them ourselves. The first pill or shot etc. So I have come here to celebrate this one with all of you. The people I know who will understand.  :)

Yay, Melody!!  I am SO happy for you.  Jealous, too, but I know my time will come.  I'm eagerly looking forward to my first endo appointment in a few weeks.  YOU GO, GIRL!!  Congratulations!

Melody congrats and way to go... You sound so happy.

Quote from: Colleen Ireland on March 06, 2011, 07:18:19 PM
Yay, Melody!!  I am SO happy for you.  Jealous, too, but I know my time will come.  I'm eagerly looking forward to my first endo appointment in a few weeks.  YOU GO, GIRL!!  Congratulations!

Hey Colleen! Haven't heard from you in awhile. I'm so glad you will get to see an endo much sooner than your original estimates and good luck on going full time!

Thanks, Melody.  Been very busy lately, settling into my new home, starting to get the old one ready to sell, etc.  The original endo I wanted to see (got a referral in Dec) gave me an appointment in late JUNE.  Luckily my therapist knew of another endo, farther away but more available.  Got the referral to him end of Feb, and already have an appointment for Mar 29.  I am SO excited!  I already got the bloodwork done, so hopefully he can get me started right away.  And 5 months from THEN, I'll be posting a thread like this one!  Can't wait!

Quote from: Colleen Ireland on March 06, 2011, 07:55:18 PM
Thanks, Melody.  Been very busy lately, settling into my new home, starting to get the old one ready to sell, etc.  The original endo I wanted to see (got a referral in Dec) gave me an appointment in late JUNE.  Luckily my therapist knew of another endo, farther away but more available.  Got the referral to him end of Feb, and already have an appointment for Mar 29.  I am SO excited!  I already got the bloodwork done, so hopefully he can get me started right away.  And 5 months from THEN, I'll be posting a thread like this one!  Can't wait!

Get ready for a roller coaster ride of emotions and changes, complete with boobs. LOL!

congrats, your story is such an inspiration. I'm 4 months behind your and hearing what is in store, from you and all the other girls is everything too me. Thankyou and I'm so happy that everything is so amazing for you! I hope the rest of your new life is so amazing and inspiring , please keep us informed!

Way to go Melody. 
Celebrate.
Could'nt happen to a nicer girl.
Hugs,
Jillieann

Hooray! Time for cake! Ice cream? Tamales... Sounds so good ;)

Soon Mel, you will be posting your surgery date.  The first year seems to fly by.  The second slows some but not a lot.  And each year we hope for some milestone celebrate.

Congratulations on 5 Months.

Thanks everyone. I'm glad others can take inspiration in my story, but I am just trying to live my life true to myself. Yes, it has amazing parts, but it also has bits that can be hard. I won't deny that it takes courage, but all of you have that same fortitude or you would not be here. It is important for us to celebrate each other and our accomplishments as frequently we are the only ones who can do it fully and without reservation. I hope to be here the day all of you reach your milestones to also tell you congratulations!

Quote from: Janet Lynn on March 06, 2011, 09:48:46 PM
Soon Mel, you will be posting your surgery date.  The first year seems to fly by.  The second slows some but not a lot.  And each year we hope for some milestone celebrate.

Congratulations on 5 Months.

Thanks Janet. Yes, as soon as I can find a therapist here, I will be contacting the offices of McGinn and Bowers. Even if it is a year out, I want that date with a pin in it on the calendar. It can always be rescheduled if need be, but god-willing, I will be in the class of 2012.

Melody! YAY FOR YOU!!!!
I'm around a month older in regards to HRT, and I can say I feel about the same as you.  Those cravings are killing me though! LOL
I too love the way my skin feels. I can't stop touching myself...hey, no jokes. ;P
And I know about those emotions as well...wow, do they hit hard or what?
I haven't been out and about like you, but, I'm soon getting there.  Because of my job in the world I am part of, I cannot make the "jump" as of yet. I'm getting there though.  So I shall (as I am sure I've said before) live vicariously through you and some of the others.  Your posts bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart.
HUGS!
Stephie

This is definitely a "Yay YOU!!" moment.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

@Caith, EmmaM, Jillean etc. Thank you!

@Stephanie: It actually looks like we are about a week apart. Get out and try being you once in awhile! It is exhilarating and addictive. Once you get your first mam or she, you won't ever want to go back. I was fortunate enough to not ever have to, but you will get there one day too.

Today I filed my name change paperwork. To do that in the state of Florida, you have to get fingerprinted and have a background check run. I did that at the Sheriff's office. The lady doing it filled out some stuff on her computer to be printed on my fingerprint card and had me ok it. Well, under "sex" it said F. I guess she didn't look closely at that section on my license  ;D I was like "Yay, I passed!" and then "crap, now I gotta out myself." I didn't want to take the chance it could pop up a red flag on my background check, so I told her and she was very nice about it. I took it as further affirmation, so it was all good.

Congratulations Melody!! Thank you for sharing!!!

Big Hugs.
from,
Roxy & Patty

Oh Melody that's great hon.
But it must have been rough to out your pass life.
Hugs,
Jillieann

Quote from: Jillieann on March 08, 2011, 05:46:35 AM
Oh Melody that's great hon.
But it must have been rough to out your pass life.
Hugs,
Jillieann

Actually, not so much. I have found that I am less self-conscious about this every day. From time-to-time it is necessary and so I live with it until the day I no longer have to.

happy 5 months Melody!

Before you know it, it will be a year.

Shelly