Well, I finally managed to wrangle my first appointment with the endocrinologist my therapist sent my letter to.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that I have to wait until December 30th, when her first opening is.  I guess that what they mean by hurry up and wait.

Yes, 3+ months is a bit of a drag! although it will probably go quicker than you expect. Perhaps ask if you can go on a waiting list, if there's a cancellation you could get in sooner. In the meantime if you're not doing hair/beard removal maybe get started on that. The pain helps take your mind off everything else!

You're not alone on this, my appointment for the endocrinologist is October 8th and I had to book that appointment after bloodwork in July. It really does suck but what I recommend you to do is to take this time to get things ready (clothes, legal name change, coming out,etc.) so that you are making strides in your social transition while your physical transition is on hold for now.

Yes, I know how you feel.  I have to wait until just before Thanksgiving.   It does seem like a very long time.  But there is so much else to be doing in the meantime that I am sure the time will be here before we know it.   

Hang in there.   At least you know that the ride is about to begin.

I second what Grace said.  It takes like forever to get rid of a beard, so if you are a good candidate for laser, then please start right away.  Other things you can do are to work on your mannerisms and training your voice.   Look for the differences between how men and women walk, sit, speak, move and interact.  Learn to walk in heels.  Look in catalogs or online for clothes and shoes that would make you happiest to wear.  If you haven't come out yet, work on a plan for doing so. 

Transition is a marathon, not a sprint.   If you look at the big picture, three months is almost insignificant.  You will have the rest of your life to be you.

I wish you a happy transition!

Despite being 28 years old, I still live at home and as such any obvious changes I make will be, well, obvious to my parents.  So before starting electrolysis I feel like I need to come out to them.  In the meantime, I'm doing some of the things suggested, studying how genetic women walk, talk, and the like. 

Thanks for the suggestions and good wishes everyone!

Quote from: ErinOhio on September 08, 2014, 07:47:18 PM
Despite being 28 years old, I still live at home and as such any obvious changes I make will be, well, obvious to my parents.  So before starting electrolysis I feel like I need to come out to them.  In the meantime, I'm doing some of the things suggested, studying how genetic women walk, talk, and the like. 

Thanks for the suggestions and good wishes everyone!

You could easily have 2 or 3 sessions of electrolysis before it becomes noticeable, even then i don't think they would even notice unless they where holding an old photo next to your face. Go for it! But do keep in mind, for me i'm red as a tomato for about 1 hour after the appointment.

I know a cis guy who got laser just because he hated shaving and facial hair. If you said that, it wouldn't be so very far from the truth, would it?

Quote from: LordKAT on September 11, 2014, 01:54:37 AM
I know a cis guy who got laser just because he hated shaving and facial hair. If you said that, it wouldn't be so very far from the truth, would it?

True.  Hmm, I'll have to mull this one over.

My very male accountant had laser to reduce the need for shaving as it irritated his skin. He was told it was quite common for cis guys to get laser for this, so you maybe able to use this as an excuse until you are ready to come out?

Male facial laser seem to be getting more common - all the professional types need to be shaved 24/7 anyway so it's just a hassle. I had my first session a few weeks ago at a local spa & salon and no questions asked.

I'm really surprised that there are such long waits for appointments with endos. Is this in the US or other countries? I know we have a good few countries represented here (and yes, I know Ms Grace is in Oz).

Yeah, I'm in Midwestern USA, Ohio specifically.

Quote from: ImagineKate on September 17, 2014, 11:25:52 AM
I'm really surprised that there are such long waits for appointments with endos. Is this in the US or other countries? I know we have a good few countries represented here (and yes, I know Ms Grace is in Oz).

That's probably because these are specifically endocrinologists that are willing to work with transgender clients. Not all endocrinologists are willing to do this for us and so the ones that do are flooded with such clients and hence the waiting list can be pretty long. I made an appointment to see the doctor in July and I'll recently get to see him in October but that's because he's part of the informed consent LGBT center in NYC.

Yeah, it seems that sadly, getting access to the right type of endo seems to be a bit challenging everywhere.  I got the "pass the patient" treatment when I started looking, but by pass #3 I landed in the correct place.

Seriously, sister, get your facial hair removed as soon as possible, and while you still present as a boy.  Truly, nobody will care or notice, and you already have the excuse.  You have absolutely no idea how horrrrrrrrrrrendous it is to do this once you present as a girl, and these are the reasons why:

- if you do laser, you'll have 2-3 blissful hair-free weeks, then the blue top lip will return, slowly.  Urgh!
- if you need to do electrolysis (required for pale hair) this needs a few mm of hair growth.  Double urgh! 

Both of these hairy scenarios can only be partially fixed by makeup, and pretty heavy pancake makeup at that.

Are you convinced or do we need to send round the depilation squad to rough you up ? 

Hugs
Julia

Quote from: Julia-Madrid on September 19, 2014, 12:29:03 PM
Yeah, it seems that sadly, getting access to the right type of endo seems to be a bit challenging everywhere.  I got the "pass the patient" treatment when I started looking, but by pass #3 I landed in the correct place.

Seriously, sister, get your facial hair removed as soon as possible, and while you still present as a boy.  Truly, nobody will care or notice, and you already have the excuse.  You have absolutely no idea how horrrrrrrrrrrendous it is to do this once you present as a girl, and these are the reasons why:

- if you do laser, you'll have 2-3 blissful hair-free weeks, then the blue top lip will return, slowly.  Urgh!
- if you need to do electrolysis (required for pale hair) this needs a few mm of hair growth.  Double urgh! 

Both of these hairy scenarios can only be partially fixed by makeup, and pretty heavy pancake makeup at that.

Are you convinced or do we need to send round the depilation squad to rough you up ? 

Hugs
Julia

No, no you've convinced me.  I'm going to save up a bit of money and get started!  Please don't epilate my face while I sleep.   

Hey Erin,

I would start laser or electro right away. I personally told people I work with (who are very nosey) that I am getting laser because I hate to shave and I get bad ingrowns (which is true on both accounts, but not the real reason). No one said anything after that. No one in my family even asked me why I had patchy spots on my face... People are generally oblivious.

Also I whole heatedly agree with Ms Grace. I was on a waiting list expecting 12 - 18 months. Turns out there was a cancellation and I got in 2 months later. It was actually too fast for me at the time, but now I am glad it happened when it did.

Melissa