Molly asked Steph a question in another topic. When I saw it I thought, great topic. so here it is.

Molly wrote

QuoteI'm wondering - how long was the process from recognition/beginning of transition to now?

Cassie

Good question Molly, some of the dates may be off a little.

As you are probably aware many TS know at a very early age that there is something different.  I was no different.  However circumstances prevented me from taking any official action until 5 years ago.  Being in the military really cramps your style so I had to wait until I retired before going forward with my life.

I think that the day after I was out of the forces, I was out of the closet   In fall of 2004 I found a doctor who would care for me, and in December of 2004 I began seeing my therapist, and I came out at work to senior management..  On March 13th, 2005 I started HRT, and that same day I started the process of my official name change.  On June 27th, 2005 the company made the official announcement at work to all employees, to all it's customers and to the school boards involved, of my situation and transition, and I also came out to my daughter.  Aug 8th, 2005 was the first day for Stephanie at work the start of my RLT, followed soon after with my Official, Name Change arriving in the mail.  It took me from September 2005 until yesterday to get all all official documents changed.

In September 2005, Gillian and I started coming out to our families (parent's brothers, sisters etc...)  and I would have to say that it went very well.  Finally in October 2005 I contacted the Menard Clinic in Montreal (4 hours away) and asked them for the forms and requirements for GRS and they arrived by email shortly afterwards.  So that's me in a nutshell. 

The next major milestone will be setting a date for a consult with the Menard Clinic which I hope will take place shortly after I complete my RLT, and from that set a date for surgery.

Did I miss anything... probably...   But I think you get the idea.

Steph

I think that some of the older girls and guys come out about the same, the younger ones are a little different as times present themselves. I know I came out to my wife in the mid 90's and had a breakdown in 98. That is when I started seeing a therapist and in 2000 went to Espirit in Port Angelas, WA. From the information I received there and all the therapy I had before that, I concluded that I difinately was female and that I could not deny it any longer. I came back from Espirit and went to my therapist and she had me go to another therapist and they both said I was Transexual, my long time therapist told me a couple of years before when I had asked her. I just had to come to terms with it. I started taking hormones and in 2001 I went full time and in 2004 had SRS. I have never felt so complete in all my life. Everything matches up and life is good. There are still the ups and downs, like paying the bills and forgeting to do something and wife gets mad at me, but I'm really happy with the way things turned out and of course my wife is very happy also, I don't know how she stayed with me for so long.
Sheila

I realized what I was in August 2004. Three weeks later, had an appointment with a therapist. Got my endo appointment in January 2005 and started testosterone on the 20th.

Then I booked chest surgery in April 2005 and had it in August 2005. From that time on, I've largely been recognized as male by strangers. Friends and family are slowly coming to that point.

So for me, it was about a year from realization to the time I switched social roles completely. I gradually masculinized my wardrobe at work and started wearing entirely men's clothing in September, 2005. So it was 8 months from starting T to switching roles.

Dennis

T'would be good to have encountered this in recent times rather than so long ago.

I knew something was wrong by age 5 (1954), I knew what it was (anatomy) by age 8, and by 13, I knew I WAS a girl and the body was wrong. There wasn't anything I could do except take HRT illegally until 21 (1970). In 1974, I discovered Dr. Biber and SRS was suddenly a possibility. "Transition" for me was the length of my hospital stay!

If I was born 15 or 20 years later with the same "revelations" at the same ages, I would have petitioned the courts to get me away from my abusive mother at age 14 and put me in an environment where I could get help. Back then everybody, including most of the medical profession, was pretty ignornat about transsexualism. Things would have been a whole lot easier in a more enlightened society!

I want to thank Cassie for making this a seperate post - wish I had thought of doing that.

I want to thank all that have answered this question, it gives me some idea of what the timelines are and what the steps are.  It is helpful to hear real life stories.

Molly

Time line, now that is a thought.

Monday, March 7th, 2005 I fell apart and refused to be male.

Sunday, April 24th, 2005 is when I introduced myself to Susan's Place as 4years.

Somewhere around June 19, 2005 -- My first name found me... Kimberly, I am.

Tuesday, July 5th, 2005 was my first therapy session.

Monday, August 8th, 2005 was my first consultation with a local electrolysis.

Friday, September 2nd, 2005 I ordered my medications for the first time.

Wednesday, September 14th, 2005, 6:16:PM HRT officially started. (9/14/05)

On October 16, 2005, 10:30:24 AM I mentioned 'I will not be around for a while.' ... sometime around this I imploded and dealt with it in the only way I know how... I hid, from everyone. I have never been able to deal with the death of those I love very well... It is harder now apparently.

Friday, December 23, 2005, 03:53:26 PM is when I said goodbye to who I was.

Monday, July 4th, 2005 saw the arrival of my first (in recent memory) jewelry box.

Tuesday, February 7th, 2006 -- Went in town earlier and finally got my ears pierced for the first time. 2 3mm platinum plated ball studs in each lobe, for a total of 4 earrings... I'm happy as a lark

Sunday, February 12th, 2006 -- Went to town and got two more piercing, my 3rd lobe and a cartilage, so now I have a total of 4 per ear. In addition in broad storelight (similar to broad daylight save well, inside in a store with their lighting) I was "ma'amed". Neat that

Monday February 27th, 2006, around 7am -- Last two earrings? Added 2 cartilage (1 to each ear, just below first cartilage. (10 total).

This is a work in progress.

[edit]Added:Monday February 27th, 2006[/edit]

Hope this helps some people

Amy

---

April 22nd, 2003 - Day that I knew I had to do something about my "feelings" eventually

April 19th, 2004 - Two girlfriends and other personal problems later, I told live-in girlfriend of my desire to transition.  By this time I had decided nothing would stop me.  Marks beginning of transition.

April 27th, 2004 - Resumed sessions with therapist whom I had seen three times in 2003

May 18th, 2004 - Started HRT

May 26th, 2004 - First electrolysis session

February 21st, 2005 - Went part-time

August 22nd, 2005 - changed my name legally

October 1st, 2005 - Went Full-time

I started to feel that there was some feminine feelings in 2002, and I started to see a therapist to discuss my feelings in 2003. I also went public in 2003 with no turning back and no regrets and I slowly proceeded with my transition. 

Haven't started HRT, but recently my GP has asked me to take a chem profile and I had noticed that he wanted to check out my liver, which I figure he wants to check out if I'm going to start HRT.

I've had my ears pierced for 15 years, and I'm thinking about getting a third piercing done. I'm planning on going full time by 2007.

Slow process but moving forward . . .

Gina 

Back in the ancient mists of time:   Knew that I was somehow different; wasn't interested in the same things as all the other boys.

Age 11 or 12:   Figured out that I was supposed to be a girl, but somebody had screwed up!

Age 14:   Early attempts at expressing who I was met with a pretty nasty response; spent the next (mumble) years in denial, interrupted by brief periods of rebellion. Learned that secrecy was a necessity. School, college, work, relationship, breakup, marriage, birth of son, breakup, relationship, breakup, etc. Intermittent depression.

June 2005:   Came to a point where I just couldn't go on. Made the decision that transition was better than dying. Began research and planning. Learned about wardrobe, makeup, etc.

July 2005:   Decided on my name; created email account.

August 2005:   Out in public (TG bar) for the first time.

September 2005:   Had ears pierced.

September 13, 2005:   Began counseling once a week.

October 2005:   Came out to 2 close friends.

November 2005:   Attended first support group meeting.

December 16, 2005:   Started HRT

January 2006:   Counseling reduced to once a month; noticeable breast development begins.

January 7, 2006:   Found Susan's Place.

February 2006:   Basically full-time, except for work.

March 4, 2006:   First session of laser hair removal.

March 13, 2006:   Got my own web domain, anniesocialgraphics.com.

March 25, 2006:   Started my blog, Trans in Transition.

March 28, 2006:   Three-month checkup. Blood work is okay; I've gotten 3/4 inch shorter, and lost another 8 pounds (for a total of almost 50 since June).

April 3-6, 2006:   Came out to sister, ex-wife, son, and friends. Wonderful responses from all!

April 8, 2006:   Second laser session.

Fall 2006:   Fulltime, coming out at work?