In my journey to transition there is only one date that holds major significance for me, the day I stepped out the door to go to work for the first time as Grace. That was now two years ago and what a two years it has been. A great two years.
Having supportive friends and colleagues certainly helped, and having a supportive accepting mother was beyond great. My struggling father is still struggling but at least has come around to a form of tolerance that works for us both.
It sure was a learning curve, but I'm a fairly quick study. Made a few blunders along the way and had to learn things I never expected were part of the package. Had a few disappointments but they were few and I had great support, including from this site and the wonderful people here, to help me through. More than anything though I feel happy and accomplished finally being able to live my life as a woman. Hard to say if I am a better person because of it but people generally respond to me positively which has to count for something, right?
There are things which I know I can never experience - but there's not all that much I can do about that and I know there are genetic women who likewise can't or have chosen not to have children and it doesn't make them any less a woman. So I count my blessings for the things that I do have which is my identity being validated, my friendship with women as one of them, a degree of passability despite my height, the opportunity to no longer have to pretend I'm a dude.
It's been a great two years. If I had been told what was possible this time three years ago when I finally decided I couldn't deny I was transgender any longer I would have scarcely believed it. I'm so glad I didn't listen to that voice in my head screaming at me it would never work, that I'd lose everything and everyone, that I would be a pathetic joke... joke's on you doubting voice in my head.
Here's to another two years, not to be greedy but hopefully they'll be even better than the last two. ;D
:icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance: :icon_dance:
Congrats Ms. Grace! xo
Congratulations sweetie!
Congratulations from someone who's one year in!!! :)
Congrats, Grace! Your name fits you well. Here are some middle names you might consider:
Courage
Poise
Persistence (maybe not, it does sound a bit New-England-Puritanish)
Humor
You seem to get more beautiful with every passing month.
Quote from: Tysilio on March 23, 2016, 05:21:21 PM
Congrats, Grace! Your name fits you well. Here are some middle names you might consider:
Courage
Poise
Persistence (maybe not, it does sound a bit New-England-Puritanish)
Humor
You seem to get more beautiful with every passing month.
How about Hot
Congratulations Grace!!!
I am approaching my one year anniversary, and in so many ways I relate. To many more awesome years to come :)
Congratulations!
Sounds like you have had quite the journey. I'm so glad your road has been mostly positive.
You look wonderful by the way :3
Congratulations :)
I can remember your countdown. It was exciting and it had a surprise at the end. I think most people on the board followed your going full time.
Congrats! :)
Go ahead. Be greedy.
This is so great. You are such a positive force. I hope to follow in your footsteps(even if you are younger than me) :P
Enjoy and celebrate!
With warmth,
Joanna
I am so happy for you Ms. Grace. Good things can happen to nice people. I am three months from my full time journey. I will keep in mind your saying "no" to your negative voice and try to follow your example.
I'm smiling for you.
Moni
Congrats :D The two your mark of being full time is a milestone to celebrate. I should know, I just hit my 2 year mark earlier last week :)
Congrats Grace! I am in my second year and have really appreciated your positive, supportive and informative responses that you have given on this site! All the Best!
Congratulations Grace :)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Congrats Grace. I hope the next to years are even better for you. I hadn't realized you went full time just a matter of less than a handful of months before me. You have come along ways in that time though. Hugs
Mariah
Congratulations Grace. I am a fan (although quiet) of you. I wish I'd be where you are...
Congrats!
Congrats Ms. Grace!
Thank you everyone.
As many of you may know (since I go on about it all the time), I had an attempt at transition in my early 20s but it was a bit of a bomb. Two years on HRT, some successful outings in girl mode, a few unsuccessful outings too. Crazy mood swings - most likely caused by the less effective 1990s HRT regimen - which didn't help me much with my friends who were trying their hardest to be supportive. Patchy HRT results after two years. Anyway, thankfully all that is in the past. But it sits in stark contrast to what I have been able to accomplish this time.
The defining differences include much better psych support; much better HRT support, a mostly more supportive and accepting social attitude with some legislation to back it; greater self acceptance, confidence and maturity; dealing with my internalised transphobia, self loathing and shame; a supportive mother...she wasn't very thrilled about it back in the 1990s; and no doubt many other things.
I know transition was the right thing for me, after only two years I can hardly even relate to the male person I presented as before.
I'm happy that this time worked out well for you. :) I'm curious though. What was your HRT in the 1990's? What exactly did you take?
I honestly can't remember most of the names, it's all lost in the mists of time...1991 was a long time ago! I know one was Androcur, which says a lot. There was another estrogen pill, pretty sure it was the horse pee one. There was also an injection, possibly Depo Provera (??) (that could be wrong), and I can't remember the frequency...monthly or fortnightly...probably monthly. It was all a blur by the end and if I wrote it down in a journal it was all purged when I went back into denial.
I struggle when it's only a few weeks ago
Quote from: Ms Grace on March 25, 2016, 03:46:15 PM
I honestly can't remember most of the names, it's all lost in the mists of time...1991 was a long time ago! I know one was Androcur, which says a lot. There was another estrogen pill, pretty sure it was the horse pee one. There was also an injection, possibly Depo Provera (??) (that could be wrong), and I can't remember the frequency...monthly or fortnightly...probably monthly. It was all a blur by the end and if I wrote it down in a journal it was all purged when I went back into denial.
Not too surprising then as both cyproterone acetate (Androcur) and Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) have a reputation for causing depression, anxiety, irritability and even suicidal tendencies in some. Horse pee = higher risk of DVT. Too bad they didn't know better, back then. :(
Yeah, I suppose HRT wasn't really a thing even for post menopausal genetic women back then, now that it is trans women have definitely benefitted from those developments. The guy I was seeing at the time, Steinbeck, was supposedly the leading endo for trans women in Sydney. He passed away a few years ago (still practicing in his 90s), maybe he had updated his treatments but I'm glad I didn't end up back with him again.
Actually, my bad, I think the injections were Primogyn Depot. Apparently it's not sold in Australia anymore.
Quote from: Ms Grace on March 25, 2016, 05:17:51 PM
The guy I was seeing at the time, Steinbeck, was supposedly the leading endo for trans women in Sydney. He passed away a few years ago (still practicing in his 90s), maybe he had updated his treatments but I'm glad I didn't end up back with him again.
Steinbeck? I know him! OMG. But I thought it was Kate Steinbeck, a woman. I have followed many transwomen who were treated by him in the early 2000's and he was prescribing oral Progynova (estradiol valerate), a pretty high dosage compared to most other places in the world but I don't consider this dose to pose a risk, I've know women of an advanced age taking an even higher dose and do fine, no complications. But, I remember him prescribing VERY high dosages of cyproterone acetate and also sometimes medroxyprogesterone acetate and this I don't agree with and consider a risky endeavor but there was one girl in particular, she reported feeling great on this regimen and having significant breast growth but at what potential cost?
Quote from: Ms Grace on March 25, 2016, 09:38:20 PM
Actually, my bad, I think the injections were Primogyn Depot. Apparently it's not sold in Australia anymore.
Same as Progynon Depot. Contains estradiol valerate. Seems ok. I take that.
This one was Alfred Steinbeck (http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/decades-spent-giving-patients-hope-20120725-22qi7.html)... it would seem he had a daughter Kate so it is likely that she is the one you're referring to.
Congratulations, Grace!
Party time :icon_dance:! ...Hey, Where's the party ??? ? There isn't one near me :icon_yikes:! :icon_ashamed:
Congratulations on reaching 2 years!
Love, Sarina!
Congratulations, Grace! I'm so happy (and a little jealous) for you. I don't have a definite date, I just sort of drifted and one day found that I had been living as a woman. But this is about you! May your life be everything you've dreamed it would be. I know that you don't show every little ache and disappointment but I've admired you and your spirit for years! Something about OZ breeds the best trans women.