Called Monday and left a message, and she called back yesterday. We've got an appointment setup for tomorrow. I'm so excited about it! You couldn't take the smile off my face yesterday if you tried. 

I don't intend on getting laser treatments. My beard has blond and red hair in it. And thankfully it's only heavy-ish around jawline down, and around the lips - otherwise it's sparse and patchy. For now, my plan is to undergo electrolysis while I work on losing half my weight before starting HRT. Ideally, I'd like be on HRT in another 6 - 8 months. Will look into seeing a therapist soon, just have to see where the wallet approves.

I was not able to find any kind of numbing cream around today, but would tylenol or something help a bit if taken before? For further treatments, what do y'all suggest for numbing the pain?

Congratulations on starting.

A few things that help
1. Analgesic (paracetamol or ibuprofen) an hour before.
2.  Deep slow breathing.
3.  Meditate - find something to focus on, or alternatively, press hard on a pressure point in your hand.
4.  Find a sympathetic dentist - ask for an injection around the lip, you won't feel a thing over a long session.

Personally, my first session was 3 hours, had nothing before and I just bared with it.

Oh lucky red hair... They're strong little devils. The blonde ones are easier to kill according my electrologist .

For the first few sessions on my upper lip, my dentist gave me a dental blocker before hand. I felt nothing!... for two hours, even fell asleep on occasion, and then agonising pain after that wore off.   Thankfully I'm coming up to the end of my days with electrolysis.

It really is a case of YMMV in terms of pain management... The electrologist can alter the current just about any level depending on what pain level you can tolerate. With adjusting current, that changes how quickly the hair will be removed, and how effective it will be.

I'm on the more sensitive side of the spectrum, and I'm doing OK as is. So you should be fine.