Hi everyone,

I just went for my consult with a well regarded electrolysis technician. Very informative, very pleasant and opened up for any questions I had. Then she did a very small area near my jaw to check my tolerance for pain and dial in settings to be re-created. She then mapped out how she likes to progress on the face and finally throat. She does do genital if requested by the doctor. However, she did tell me not to worry about the body hair till I had been on HRT.

Not to bring anyone down but I thought I would be more excited right now. The nearly bubbly jumping up and down kind of thing. This is my first "real step". It is a daunting amount of time and money but it is forward motion. Has anyone else had kind of a let down after something like this along the path? I have become so much more light in my mood since accepting my status and coming out to my wife. This feels more like the old me's reaction to things.

Whatever the case, it is a step. I will try to get over this blase moment. It is a beautiful day. While not great, our world as a whole is at the best spot for trans acceptance it has ever been and I believe it will only become better.

With loving thoughts,

Joanna

I have had those moments when I thought I should be more up. I try to let those 'down' moments go and keep reminding myself how much happier I am now that I can be, at times, who I really am. Progress with electrolysis is slow, if my sessions are any indication. At times I look and see little change after 10 sessions. Then another time I am happy to see where the hair is gone over thinner. Last session, yesterday, I was laying there on the table struggling to deal with the pain. I went to the place where I could her my inner girl telling me how wonderful it will be when the hair is gone.  The pain did not lessen but I was better able to deal with it.

Electrolysis is awful. It eats time, money, and hurts. Not something to be excited about. There are wonderful experiences ahead of you, but electrolysis is not one of them. Much more like a necessary evil. It's ok not to love EVERYTHING about transition.

I am glad you are making progress and electrolysis was always a pain in the face. i learned to put my mind in another place and not thing about the pain. Some people doing this can sleep but I don't know how they do it. There is no better feeling than when you no longer have to get that razor out in the morning. I admit every few weeks I get tweezers out and run down about a half dozen hair that escaped with their life, but I don't really have enough to go back for a visit.

I've had a few electrolysis sessions now and the results are getting somewhere toward tangible. I've got a bad case of the Mediterranean going on; dark hair against pale olive skin. It shows up when freshly shaved. Gah!!!!

It hurts, it's expensive. But there are positives. Loads!!! For me the most important part of transition has been the tangible movement from the male world to the female. Socially, in the physical sense and so on. Looks are important, as is physicality, but it's one of the most important confirming steps we can take. In context my poor little car got a flat tyre. Going to the garage place for a repair seemed kind of weird. When I was full-on male presenting I would have relished that; would have asked stupid questions and tried to play up  to the mechanics in some sort of macho-confirmative fantasy. In reality I would have got in their way and annoyed them. Nowadays, in andro guise, I nipped away to get a drink and let them get on with it. I rather think they appreciated it lol!!!

Yet... The tyre garage is now part of something that I no longer belong to. I like the fact that it didn't feel like somewhere I was totally comfortable. Rather different to a later visit, that day, to a hairdressing specialist supplier in search of nail boards, buffers, mousse and conditioner. That was great, plenty to talk about with the assistants, nice and clean. I felt as if I should be there. I was misconstrued as a genuine hairdresser. It's a start. I'm not.

However electro appointments are the same. Or should be. Treat it as female confirmation. You're right there, in the gender appropriate world so enjoy it! I like seeing my beautician, being in the salon, reading the magazines and the idle chit-chat. They're lovely people too. Essentially my inner girl visits beauticians. Therefore my outer self should do so as well. It pleases her. I guess think of it, not so much in terms of a far-off outcome, but as a social leap into the identity you've always wanted to have.

Or not. I could be typing complete nonsense. Hugs!

MissyD,

Thanks for sharing your experiences and perspectives.

I have just had a less than stellar week and a half. I think I was curious if others experienced the less than enthusiastic feeling after or during what I consider a major stepping stone for myself. Right now electrolysis and HRT are the next big steps I should be taking. I just thought I would be happier  about it.

With gratitude,

Joanna

You took a huge step so it is normal to have a letdown.

I am 30 hours in and have about 100 hours to go. The technicians are very nice and I love talking with them. The magazines are good in the waiting room and I am treated with respect. The only bad is the cost and the pain.

My friends,  after my allergy to pain, during my electrolysis sessions, 2x a week, every week. 1 to2 hrs ea..
I bought every topical pain cream and injection, and compounded a few of my own.  Even went in trying morphine, oxy, and medical pot (and none of them worked!)

I found some very good pain relievers.  Trust me they work, they are cheap too!

I found 1 great topical, I can pm you the name.  Its around 8 bucks a tube which ive only used less than 1/4 after last 4 sessions:)  Their trick is to adda 2nd numbing agent, and a sulfur agent which makes it absorb fast.  I used to put it 45 min before going, now only 10 min.  It has a mild tingle, but best I couldfind/make at that price. 

Now the next pain reliever is lidocaine injection.  Get it w/o eppy.  I cant tell you legally where to get it but from your dr;)  the next suggestion please try first!

Use ice!  Get the area cold.  Then stick the needle in..  this works because the heat uses the water in your to transfer to the nerve, even when desensitized!  The ice stops theheat transfer.  It just heats up and produces lye in the pour!  Best ice bag:  take a sandwich bag, pour 1 cup 75% rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water.  Seal bag and remove air.  Now dry bag and seal inside another..  (we do this, so not so cold and to keep alcohol out of pour ).  Make a few bags for a 2 hr session.  Numb area, lasts for 4 to 10 min..  while she is doing one side, numb the other side.  Just sw back and fourth!

I have a few prep things too that cut the pain in half..  gotta go now, but let me know if anyone wants more.  Im great at research, my disease gives me a great insite on pain.  Just one of my ideas may do better for you..  plus you pay for the sessions. Wait til the person hears about the ice and their reason..  ice will not hamper the hairs execution!  Since you pay, you control session! Laters

A case of the "This is getting too F'n real blues" is what I suspect. Or, As I called it the WTF am I Doing meltdowns.

Thanks JoaaneB. You may be on the money. It may be that it was such a non-event I thought it would feel bigger?
With warmth,

Joanna