heh. I can't believe it's actually going to happen.
I'm a bit nervous (aka scared shirtless)
Wow, congratulations! Having my fingers crossed that it goes well :).
And I think your last line should go into LordKATs new puns-thread :)
Thanks for the congrats. And yes, I was rather pleased with my pun.
:D
Haha cute! Write down questions, as you won't remember them, at least i didn't.
--Jay
Quote from: christopher on October 16, 2014, 12:40:02 AM
heh. I can't believe it's actually going to happen.
I'm a bit nervous (aka scared shirtless)
I did like Dr Mangubat. I like his approach and how he views transgender people. I like that he is willing to do surgery for genderqueer people. I like how how he talks about it and the idea of sculpting the chest. How he's not just trying to do a mastectomy but to create a male chest. I would need a double incision and that's what I expected
There's still part of my brain that's questioning top surgery. At the same time, I just took my binder off and hate my chest so badly and thinking how great it would be to just not worry about it.
I can't really imagine me having top surgery and a couple years from now going "oh no! I want boobs!" Let me restate that, I can't imagine that at all. I hate those things :P Can I imagine myself wanting to be female? sort of, But even though I'm going the male-to-female route I really don't think I'm binary. I'm a male with female bits but I'd rather they not be physical bits. So I think the idea of wanting to be "female" a few years down the road is more about me not needing to prove I'm male and accepting my female side.
He reminded me that I really have to plan on insurance not paying. I'm going to fight like mad to get them to pay but... I know how insurance is. And I get stuck there. Is this worth going into debt over? I have been saving for a bit, so I've got a little bit set aside but if insurance pays nothing, I won't be able to pay for it up front. My attitude has always been to make do with what I got. How can I justify spending so much money on this? Except I wouldn't question it for any other transgender person.
I've heard he's very nice (and competent). I know someone (not well or anything) that went to him and was very happy with the results. Sorry re: the insurance. Remember it's almost their sworn duty to refuse this once or twice.
--Jay
Quote from: christopher on October 17, 2014, 08:51:09 PM
I did like Dr Mangubat. I like his approach and how he views transgender people. I like that he is willing to do surgery for genderqueer people. I like how how he talks about it and the idea of sculpting the chest. How he's not just trying to do a mastectomy but to create a male chest. I would need a double incision and that's what I expected
There's still part of my brain that's questioning top surgery. At the same time, I just took my binder off and hate my chest so badly and thinking how great it would be to just not worry about it.
I can't really imagine me having top surgery and a couple years from now going "oh no! I want boobs!" Let me restate that, I can't imagine that at all. I hate those things :P Can I imagine myself wanting to be female? sort of, But even though I'm going the male-to-female route I really don't think I'm binary. I'm a male with female bits but I'd rather they not be physical bits. So I think the idea of wanting to be "female" a few years down the road is more about me not needing to prove I'm male and accepting my female side.
He reminded me that I really have to plan on insurance not paying. I'm going to fight like mad to get them to pay but... I know how insurance is. And I get stuck there. Is this worth going into debt over? I have been saving for a bit, so I've got a little bit set aside but if insurance pays nothing, I won't be able to pay for it up front. My attitude has always been to make do with what I got. How can I justify spending so much money on this? Except I wouldn't question it for any other transgender person.
I went back and forth with the decision for an extraordinarily long time (ummmm, 15 years). Top surgery was THE best thing I ever did and I wasn't even planning on socially transitioning at the time.
Can I ask what made you comfortable taking hormones, but doubt top surgery? For me, the irreversible effects of T (like lowered voice) is forever (hard to go back socially to female), but a person can always get breast implants if they feel that they made a mistake by getting top surgery.
Quote from: Brett on October 18, 2014, 08:18:34 PM
I went back and forth with the decision for an extraordinarily long time (ummmm, 15 years). Top surgery was THE best thing I ever did and I wasn't even planning on socially transitioning at the time.
Can I ask what made you comfortable taking hormones, but doubt top surgery? For me, the irreversible effects of T (like lowered voice) is forever (hard to go back socially to female), but a person can always get breast implants if they feel that they made a mistake by getting top surgery.
I think it's the 'surgery" part of top surgery that makes me hesitate and the cost. The cost just from a practical point of view. The surgery... I'm just basically afraid. I've been banged up a lot in life and I just worry that I'll have a super hard and slow recovery.
On the cost, I'm totally with you -- it'll likely be years before I can afford top surgery.
But as with any surgery, there's a lot you can do ahead of time to improve your recovery: losing weight if you need to, getting fitter, making changes in your diet... and your surgeon may have specific recommendations as to foods to avoid pre-surgery and other steps she/he would like you to take.
Quote from: christopher on October 20, 2014, 09:14:31 AM
I think it's the 'surgery" part of top surgery that makes me hesitate and the cost. The cost just from a practical point of view. The surgery... I'm just basically afraid. I've been banged up a lot in life and I just worry that I'll have a super hard and slow recovery.
Ok, I get it.
I scheduled it! February 13. :o
Awesome! I'm excited for you!
Congrats, Christopher!! ;D
Quote from: christopher on October 17, 2014, 08:51:09 PM
I did like Dr Mangubat. I like his approach and how he views transgender people. I like that he is willing to do surgery for genderqueer people. I like how how he talks about it and the idea of sculpting the chest. How he's not just trying to do a mastectomy but to create a male chest. I would need a double incision and that's what I expected
There's still part of my brain that's questioning top surgery. At the same time, I just took my binder off and hate my chest so badly and thinking how great it would be to just not worry about it.
I can't really imagine me having top surgery and a couple years from now going "oh no! I want boobs!" Let me restate that, I can't imagine that at all. I hate those things :P Can I imagine myself wanting to be female? sort of, But even though I'm going the male-to-female route I really don't think I'm binary. I'm a male with female bits but I'd rather they not be physical bits. So I think the idea of wanting to be "female" a few years down the road is more about me not needing to prove I'm male and accepting my female side.
He reminded me that I really have to plan on insurance not paying. I'm going to fight like mad to get them to pay but... I know how insurance is. And I get stuck there. Is this worth going into debt over? I have been saving for a bit, so I've got a little bit set aside but if insurance pays nothing, I won't be able to pay for it up front. My attitude has always been to make do with what I got. How can I justify spending so much money on this? Except I wouldn't question it for any other transgender person.
How much is it going to cost you out of pocket? D:
Quote from: Marcellow on October 22, 2014, 12:44:58 PM
How much is it going to cost you out of pocket? D:
Well, it's still a bit vague right now but at most I should pay about $4,000. It could be as little as about $1,000
Congrats on scheduling, christopher!