So yesterday was supposed to be one of the most exciting days for me in a while.  I hopped in my car and drove two hours to the nearest Planned Parenthood that has transgender services.  I went in male mode mainly but my nice shaved legs which are still peeling from my sunburn last week stood out.  I don't care.  Got there an hour early since I was driving in a city that I'm not familiar with and waited in the waiting area.  I used my male name since I'm more used to it and it's not a common name.  Well, it used to be not common.  Two other males have the same name and it was a little confusing when they were called.  Finally they called my name and I confirmed it was me.  So I went back and had a little interview with one person.  Signed the HIPPA forms, told to wait for the next person so I waited in a small room.  And waited.  And waited.  Finally I got to meet the nice woman who would talk to me more about the HRT regimen that I had drove all that way for.  We went over more forms, more questionnaires and I waited some more.  A tech came in and drew my blood.  I hate needles to say the least which people find strange because of my occupation.  Still the blood was drawn and I was done. I went to the check out and was told that my prescription was being called in and should be ready when I get back to town.  I'm like happy about this.  So I drove two hours back home.  Half way home I called my pharmacy and they hadn't received any orders for me.  Confused I just drove home.  Well I was more hungry than confused.  I shouldn't have passed up the taco restaurant that is located under Planned Parenthood.

Stomach full I made some phone calls.  Planned Parenthood wanted to talk to me about things before the prescription can be sent.  I'm thinking great, something is wrong with me.  But they said it would be sent at 5pm.  I called back later and Planned Parenthood is open till 6pm.  Cool, no problem there.  A little after five I call my pharmacy and still nothing.  So I call Planned Parenthood and their phones are set to an after hours message.  So now I'm freaking out.  One reason I wanted the HRT stuff yesterday was so I could spend at least one day on them to see how I react to them before going back to work. For some reason this broke me down into tears.  6pm came and went and no phone call.  Finally at 6:20 Planned Parenthood called me and gave me the good news.  The prescriptions were sent.  I'm starting the estrogen patch and Spiro at low doses for three months.  At that three month mark I go back in for lab draws and see how they look.  If everything looks good the dosages will be increased.  My lab values aren't in just yet but I am happy again.  Got to the pharmacy to pick them up while dreading the price that they will cost me but the good luck continued.  My insurance paid 100% for my HRT. Yay!!

So I woke up this morning with a piece of plastic stuck to my hip. 

So my emotions were up, then down with crying and back up again.  All this before I even started HRT.  This will be an interesting adventure to say the least. 

Thanks for reading my rambling.

Best of luck in your journey.

Thank you. I know it will still have it's ups and downs but I know I can handle those. Just one day at a time.

So glad it worked out. The life of trying to navigate healthcare is challenging and emotional for me too at times.

Oh I agree.  I've been lucky throughout my life and rarely needed anything for any health issues.  Usually just a few work related injuries or the such.  Mainly just little things that I patch myself up and go about my business.  So starting the transition and then the HRT has been big changes for me. The next few years will be different from anything I have experienced so far or dreamt of.

Update on myself.

Twelve days in and so far only minor changes. My face is less oily and I don't stink as bad. I had to go 36 hours without a shower due to work and my body odor was actually pleasant to me. Either that it i have some darn good deodorant.

Quote from: RobynTx on August 07, 2017, 05:57:03 PMMy face is less oily and I don't stink as bad. I had to go 36 hours without a shower due to work and my body odor was actually pleasant to me. Either that it i have some darn good deodorant.

Since taking a little testosterone post-op, my face is less dry, a tad oilier and I need to shower more frequently. For the first time in years, I have also had BO. So yea, I think what you're experiencing is due to the change in hormones.

 Hi Robyn,

  I just read this thread and  thought I would say hi and welcome you to the wonderful world of estrogen. The journey is a good ride, at least it is for me so far. I've only been at it for 8 months and I thought I was experiencing emotion swings during the first 6 months. Well I am here to tell you they get more frequent and intense as you dosage increases, Mine was increased 2 months ago and I find myself springing leaks from my eyes w/o out much provocation.
  Just the other day I found myself crying from frustration over things I cannot control. I recover from that and read about something that was happy and before I know it my eyes were leaking again. Yes emotions go haywire. You can look forward to increased pain if you haven't done electrolysis yet if you are going to. I just had a 2 hour session(my first since my E increase) and discovered my E wasn't the only thing that increased. MY session hurt significantly more. I don't think I really want to see how it is going to feel when I get my next increase.
  Yeah, Robyn it can be a wild ride for sure and most of it is good, Enjoy it all you can.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Quote from: Laurie on August 08, 2017, 01:50:21 AM
Hi Robyn,

  I just read this thread and  thought I would say hi and welcome you to the wonderful world of estrogen. The journey is a good ride, at least it is for me so far. I've only been at it for 8 months and I thought I was experiencing emotion swings during the first 6 months. Well I am here to tell you they get more frequent and intense as you dosage increases, Mine was increased 2 months ago and I find myself springing leaks from my eyes w/o out much provocation.
  Just the other day I found myself crying from frustration over things I cannot control. I recover from that and read about something that was happy and before I know it my eyes were leaking again. Yes emotions go haywire. You can look forward to increased pain if you haven't done electrolysis yet if you are going to. I just had a 2 hour session(my first since my E increase) and discovered my E wasn't the only thing that increased. MY session hurt significantly more. I don't think I really want to see how it is going to feel when I get my next increase.
  Yeah, Robyn it can be a wild ride for sure and most of it is good, Enjoy it all you can.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Thanks Laurie for the information.  I'm actually looking forward to the mood swings.  My wife I can say will not be.  I go back in October for my 3 month checkup and I'm hoping they increase my E dosage.  My T levels were low to begin with so hopefully they leave my Spiro dose the same.  Guess we'll see. 

Here's to a wonderful journey for all of us.

Well, I woke up this morning and my nipples hurt. Yay!!!

😃 One of those times when pain is good. Still waiting for that day myself...

Quote from: meganjames2 on August 25, 2017, 10:18:04 AM
😃 One of those times when pain is good. Still waiting for that day myself...

It will come for you soon enough. Have faith and be patient. 🤗

The development of those little disks of breast tissue under your areolas is likely going to happen soon. Welcome to your second puberty

Quote from: RobynD on August 25, 2017, 01:18:25 PM
The development of those little disks of breast tissue under your areolas is likely going to happen soon. Welcome to your second puberty

I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it.

Haven't posted here in a bit on my thread but here's my update.  So I've been on low dose E and Spiro for just over two months.  This week I've started to have to wear sport bras to work.  I'm at the most an AA cup.  My job can be quite chaotic.  I'm a paramedic.  So I do plenty of lifting, some running, lots of walking and other stuff.  A bra has been important this week. 

In other news I came out to more of my family members last month.  They have been very supportive.  I knew they would be.  Now I have the difficult ones to notify plus my job.  That one I'm not as worried about but I'm still leary of going forward and telling them. 

My wife is still on board.  She' still a little hesitate but she did buy me some lingerie the other day which surprised me.  She keeps wondering what my transition will make her. I tell her that labels are not important and that she call herself whatever she wants.

Later this month I have a phone or video conference with Planned Parenthood to increase my HRT meds.  I also have to go have blood work done locally as well.  This will be better since now I don't have to drive two hours to do all this at one location. 

Well that's all I can think of right now.

Hi Robyn,

  So far it sounds as though everything is going according to plan. Congrats

So far so good but you know what they say about well laid plans.  I'm keeping hopeful about everything.

Well done Robyn! Good to know that things are working out for you.

Finally managed to get a copy of my lab work that was done before I started HRT. They told me my T was low but it's different having the official paperwork in front of me.

So my T was 165ng/dL and my estradiol was 8.2pg/mL.  Sometime later this month I do my 3 month checkup and see what my levels are.  Hopefully my E will be increased.

That's about it.  I'm off today but some interesting things happened at work while I am off.  It will different to say the least when I go back on Friday.

Hope everyone else is having a good week.

Update on my journey, my HRT was doubled last week.  So instead of wearing one patch for a week I now wear two. My butt is now an envelope for overseas mail. Later this week I go in for blood work and a dentist appointment,  not the same day. Next week the wife and I are going to a concert.  I got a pair of black knee high boots to wear. I just can't decide what else to wear. This will be my first time going out as a woman.