It makes me glad to hear people had my thoughts and got good results. I cant wait to start mine. I just hope the local sperm banks arent too expensive as I want to bank before I start.

Quote from: noleen111 on April 29, 2018, 04:11:52 AM
I wished the same thing as a teenager.. I remember after my first estrogen injection, i got so excited as this meant I would finally get boobs. Today I love my 36D breasts...

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

All my life I have wanted some form of vagina but my main focus has been and still is on boobs.

My physical dysphoria revolves around both bodyhair and genitalia.

Pamela

My dysphoria has ramped up slowly since my teens, where I had the first thoughts of being female.  Very curious of my mother's things, underclothing, personal hygiene items, very curious.  After a year or so I had read a story about Christine Jorgensen and her change from man to woman.  This terrified me, because I knew I wanted this.  It was out of my grasp at the time so I "manned up" and moved on.  Between then and now there were strong desires to at least have breasts, trying various methods to no avail.  When the opportunity arose to capture my dream, I had been living a very happy life with a wife and now two grown sons.  I'm comfortable being male, but there is a strong desire to be female at times.  I would prefer to have a vagina, but at times I'm okay without one. I equate that to being GF (gender fluid).  This is different than NB (non-binary) where there is no set gender, a sliding scale, if you will, all along the spectrum, where you are where you are.
GF, is where the scale can change from one end to the other, as far, or as little as you wish.  Being on any given point at will.
I myself, on an average, feel primarily feminine.  Always had, but I have no problem being in male mode if I want.

I will admit though that I am becoming far more comfortable being feminine, that it shows more to others and emboldens me to be more feminine.  Which I may find I won't want to be the "male" inside very much.

Hugs and smiles, Jessica

What a great thread. I never had much body dysphoria, other than body hair. With my GCS surgery about 6 months away now i have thought about that. To me the decision was always about relationships/sex, do i want to have intercourse in that way or not? As i immediately started dating a guy, that seemed like an answer. He and i are still seeing one another and very close, in the interim though i have also dated women (i am poly) and at least one kinda long term, so it got me thinking of what life would be life if i remained the same.

It's not like you should base body decisions in any way, shape or form on others preferences, but i can't help asking my partners if they would prefer one or the other. Of course none of them come back with anything other than "do what works for you, i like both"

Quote from: bloo11 on May 15, 2018, 05:56:31 AM
Hi Leah,

I just caught sight of this post, and I feel compelled to say something from my own experience. First of all, I'm only 24, but I have been transitioning almost my entire adulthood. So, I really hope you'll listen to what I have to say.

First, you're doing the absolute best thing you can do for yourself, which is attending therapy. Meanwhile, you're trying to take in a variety of other opinions as well - which is great  - but I urge you to listen to your heart and brain before what anyone else has to say about the matter. That's the most important thing: that YOU are content.

But what I have to say about the matter is that SRS is in, no way, a panacea. I have two trans friends that are young, just like I am, who underwent SRS. Both of them express regret, and neither of them is functioning in a sexual way, despite one year having passed. I doubt they regret the entire decision, but as a non-op trans, I can't help but feel terrible for them and what they seem to have put themselves through.

It is completely valid to NOT undergo SRS, and I wish this were said more in the trans community. I am, and always have been, non-op. I embrace my anatomy, and I personally feel that altering it would equate to succumbing to OCD. I'm a modelesque woman, as far as society is concerned, with or without a vagina. Self-expression matters most to me, and I attract more partners than I know what to do with.

Furthermore, a friend of mine once referred me to some research that showed that only three things are proven to reduce dysphporia in trans women: long hair, breast growth, and facial hair removal. Everything else produces diminishing returns, and with something as life-altering as SRS, you cannot undergo too much therapy.

One of my friends that got SRS has been far more depressed than before the surgery, especially immediately afterwards. I promise you that I didn't feel depression after my breast augmentation. I felt elated, and I went out to eat. That's because it's far less of a commitment, and far easier to gauge its appropriateness. But do what YOU think is best.

I'd be interested in knowing who did your friends' surgeries, and I'd love to see the research about what does and does not relieve dysphoria. I am making strides to improve my overall health and will decide at a later date if SRS is right for me but because of the high monetary costs associated with it, I can't help but work towards it as if I was definitely going to get it. I've heard that some trans women get post-op depression, and some are non-orgasmic, but I've also heard about many who are completely happy with their new equipment and who have a good sexual response. Thank you for you input!

Defining dysphoria is a bit tricky, when saying; " no dysphporia = no operation"

I don´t consider much dysphoria from downstairs, but still gettting the SRS, in order to live a "normal" life, to go to swimminghalls, to sauna and to use dressing rooms without a worry.

Perhaps that is dysphoria, I don´t know, but I don´t want to worry that someone sees, what´s downstairs.

My opinion...

I don´t really care for guys or sex, I just want my body to look correct. Was considering also just cosmetic surgery downstairs, but I was warned, that even though sex hasn´t ment anything for me in this life, I´m still relatively young and sex might be something that I will get interested, when my body finally match myself.

Also, I don´t want to wear gaff for the rest of my life, just to look correct. That causes dysphoria, as it´s painful now and then and reminds me constantly, that this body is not quite like it should be.

Quote from: bloo11 on May 16, 2018, 11:47:28 AM
I sure do hope you see someone for this. That, to me, isn't dysphoria, so much as desperation to conform. That's basically OCD. Just because you perceive the rest of you as female doesn't mean you need to make the non-dysphoric parts appear female as well. By saying that you want to fit in and lead an easier life, you're externalizing that OCD.

I know people who have done it as a societal expectation, and I know those who underwent it because they couldn't look at their anatomy without feeling a visceral hatred for it. This is not something you do to simplify your life as a woman, and I'll even submit that there should be more requirements in place to undergo SRS. One of my friends' lives is ruined because she did it for other people and not herself. And long talks with me, nor professional therapy, is going to change the decision she made.

She just doesn't fit in at all. While she actually thought that she'd be able to just start dating guys without mentioning her trans status, it so turns out that they can tell. And if not, they complain about her surgery scars.

Dysphoria is a visceral, painful, intrinsic hatred of a feature - a body-image issue. It really isn't a desire to succumb to extrinsic forces, like society or stereotypes. I have dysphoria about my forehead. I ALWAYS have, as it has made me cringe and cry. I've covered it with bangs for four years. I do NOT have dysphporia about my lips, which I'm just getting augmented because it would allow me to meet society's standards of femininity even more.

That is not what dysphoria means. It literally means "unease." If Mendi is uncomfortable having a penis when she wants to do things like swim or whatever that is by definition dysphoria. I started out exclusively attracted to women but now I think I'm bi and one way or another I want someone to be able to penetrate me if I can ever be with someone. I know I'll never be petite, and I'll never be the picture of feminine beauty but I do think, often, about having a vagina instead of a penis. I think about what it will be like to pee, or to insert something into it, or to just see "nothing" down there. I think it is great that you are happy non-op and I know alot of us wish we could be. I wish I was half as pretty as you too! Anyways hun, I think we will all make our decision and I think threads like this one and all the wonderful responses only serves to help use to know what kinds of questions to ask ourselves and our doctors.

Very interesting post, bloo. Lot of things you said were very thought-provoking.

Quote from: bloo11 on May 16, 2018, 11:47:28 AM
This is not something you do to simplify your life as a woman

That's an interesting statement, for sure. For me, that was the number one benefit I got out of SRS. I feel much more congruent with my gender identity, and I don't have to worry about appearances or explain what's between my legs.

Quote from: bloo11 on May 16, 2018, 11:47:28 AM
I'll even submit that there should be more requirements in place to undergo SRS.

That's a bit heavy-handed for my taste. I found the WPATH guidelines difficult to comply with, and I have access to excellent insurance and healthcare. We shouldn't be trying to save everyone from themselves at the expense of condemning those with limited resources and ample self-awareness from getting necessary and beneficial healthcare.

Quote from: bloo11 on May 16, 2018, 11:47:28 AM
One of my friends' lives is ruined because she did it for other people and not herself. And long talks with me, nor professional therapy, is going to change the decision she made. She just doesn't fit in at all.

"Ruined" is a strong word. It sounds like a more correct assessment is "not getting what you expected", or "I can't deal with this!". For example, decades ago ago I ended up going to prison for several years because I got involved in the drug trade. I lost everything I owned, many of my friends, and I paroled with only the clothes on my back and two-hundred dollars in my my pocket.  Was my life "ruined"?  Some might say so, but it wasn't the case. I was able to claw my way back, clean and sober, and rebuild my life. As they say , life is not what happens to you, it's what you do with it.

I don't know your friend. But like me, she made some choices and had to deal with the consequences.  Unless you end up dead, your life is not ruined. It's just in a spot you didn't expect.
 

Quote from: bloo11 on May 16, 2018, 11:47:28 AM
While she actually thought that she'd be able to just start dating guys without mentioning her trans status, it so turns out that they can tell. And if not, they complain about her surgery scars.

There are so many problems evident here. Where was she during her so-called gender therapy?  Did her expectations for post-op life even come up?  First is the issue of stealth. It's personal choice, and one of my trans girlfriends does pull this off with a great degree of success, but it just seems to be fraught with risk.

I, for one, know who I am. I am a transgender woman, and I am not ashamed of that.  Why would I attempt to hide it?  To increase my chances of getting laid?  Is that really what SRS is about?  Not for me, it wasn't. I have elsewhere described the shortcomings of my own SRS results, and it was still absolutely worth it.

And that last bit, "they complain about her surgery scars", what on earth is she doing having sex with men that are so shallow that they complain about her scars? Is this before or after they have sex with her?  Maybe if your friend had cultivated meaningful personal relationships based on love and mutual respect this wouldn't even be an issue. It doesn't matter if you're cis or trans, the same basic fundamentals of human relationships still apply. BTW, Dr. Brassard is one of the best in the business, from what I hear. I'm surprised her scars are an issue. 

Quote from: bloo11 on May 16, 2018, 11:47:28 AM
Dysphoria is a visceral, painful, intrinsic hatred of a feature - a body-image issue. It really isn't a desire to succumb to extrinsic forces, like society or stereotypes. I have dysphoria about my forehead. I ALWAYS have, as it has made me cringe and cry. I've covered it with bangs for four years. I do NOT have dysphporia about my lips, which I'm just getting augmented because it would allow me to meet society's standards of femininity even more.

Well, dysphoria comes in degrees, and in fact, it can come and go. Somedays you're fine, and other days it seems like you're at the end of the earth with your problems. As you say , its not about succumbing to extrinsic forces or stereotypes, it's a very internal dissonance that ultimately cannot be ignored.

As RobynD observed, a very good thread going on here. Thanks everyone for putting so much thought and personal insight in to this!

With kindness,

Terri 

Was also thinking, that there are two types of dysphoria, one is related directly to the body, body dysphoria and the second is social dysphoria, of not getting included into social life as a woman.

I don´t know how I ever would be included socially as a woman with something extra downstairs. This is of course also a cultural thing, but here, being naked is quite common, seriously. Friends quite often go to sauna together, to cabin to hang out and swimming and sauna is part of the summer ritual here. All done mostly naked, or at least it is nothing strange.

I would be left alone from all this, go alone to sauna and do things alone. I cannot see how that would improve my quality of life. Even thinking of it makes me sad.

Yeah, of course everyone should just accept everyones elses body...but we are not there yet and I definitely would not be comfortable of going to sauna at the moment, with anybody.

So body is one thing and social one thing.

Wow...Heavy, heavy, heavy! I totally get where there needs be thought put into it..SRS is a big decision I didn't make until I had ZERO doubt left. I would simply say, "Don't do it until you have none of these feelings left, like 99% sure isn't good enough"...But, I'd stop with that.

  Now, I don't want provoke anyone, but it sounds like SOMEONE is trying to heavily push their reasoning and feelings of justification for committing to a non-OP life on to the OP. If you know who, then you know what I'm hearing. Something like,"I choose this and I know a couple people that are barely thru first year of recovery (min time for SRS recovery is 9mn-1.25yr btw )and expressed being "less than pleased", so goes to show EVERYONE should be smart and better evolved, and more self-aware like me and make the choices I did, or it's their fault for not taking my counsel when their lives are ruined!". Let's all, at least, agree that aside from having gender identity issues, we are all as different and unique in our situations and what is right for us as could possibly be. So there are NO one-decision-fits-all choices here.
    I can say, when it comes to surgery...be sure! I am a not about to go get a BA because someone here says it made them happy and "Why not?" cause you could undo it or whatever...I happen to enjoy the natural feel to my boobs and ability to lactate more than simply size...would I like to have cleavage without cutlets? Yeah...but I'm hesitant because I'm pretty happy with my round, soft, albeit a-bit-small-for-my-chest size boobs....if ever I am no longer on the fence about a BA and feel.....here's my big point BTW... 100% sure I want it, no hesitation....then I'll get my letters done and pursue that without hesitation....That is I think the best advice I can give...not that any choices that I have made about surgery is for everyone...just be SURE before you pursue it in earnest.

BTW I hope that didn't come off too critical...it goes without saying that anyone in this group as a real MTF is going to be a cluster____ of issues, so I totally sympathize with getting a bit heavy-handed in giving advice about something so personally sensitive...No hurt feelings meant,k? *hugs*

Jane

Quote from: Jane J on May 17, 2018, 04:57:33 AM
Now, I don't want provoke anyone, but it sounds like SOMEONE is trying to heavily push their reasoning and feelings of justification for committing to a non-OP life on to the OP. If you know who, then you know what I'm hearing. Something like,"I choose this and I know a couple people that are barely thru first year of recovery (min time for SRS recovery is 9mn-1.25yr btw )and expressed being "less than pleased", so goes to show EVERYONE should be smart and better evolved, and more self-aware like me and make the choices I did, or it's their fault for not taking my counsel when their lives are ruined!". Let's all, at least, agree that aside from having gender identity issues, we are all as different and unique in our situations and what is right for us as could possibly be. So there are NO one-decision-fits-all choices here.
    I can say, when it comes to surgery...be sure! I am a not about to go get a BA because someone here says it made them happy and "Why not?" cause you could undo it or whatever...I happen to enjoy the natural feel to my boobs and ability to lactate more than simply size...would I like to have cleavage without cutlets? Yeah...but I'm hesitant because I'm pretty happy with my round, soft, albeit a-bit-small-for-my-chest size boobs....if ever I am no longer on the fence about a BA and feel.....here's my big point BTW... 100% sure I want it, no hesitation....then I'll get my letters done and pursue that without hesitation....That is I think the best advice I can give...not that any choices that I have made about surgery is for everyone...just be SURE before you pursue it in earnest.

BTW I hope that didn't come off too critical...it goes without saying that anyone in this group as a real MTF is going to be a cluster____ of issues, so I totally sympathize with getting a bit heavy-handed in giving advice about something so personally sensitive...No hurt feelings meant,k? *hugs*

Jane

I don't think bloo11 is trying to "heavily push their reasoning and feelings of justification for committing to a non-OP life on to the OP.", but like you, is trying to point out to the OP that she needs to be 100% sure that she wants to have SRS before moving forward, and is also providing examples of people she knows who had the surgery, and regretted it, because either, they were not aware of, or did not accept the possible complications(any surgery may have complications, so anyone that is going to have surgery should hope for the best and plan for the worst in case you need revisional surgery; so you really need to go to a reputable well known surgeon who will do complimentary corrective surgery if you need it, and even then, you may still be responsible for operating room fees, anesthesiologist fees, hospital stay fees, hotel if traveling, etc., and it would be beneficial to have enough savings just in case this happens), or because they were not being realistic in their post surgical social and physical expectations.

I'll never be sure about having SRS and when the time is right I'll do it anyway. I like the idea and I can't see why I'd regret it. The odds are good. I'm not the kind of person who can be sure of anything, except what I decide I'm going to do.

Quote from: AnonyMs on May 17, 2018, 12:27:37 PM
I'll never be sure about having SRS and when the time is right I'll do it anyway. I like the idea and I can't see why I'd regret it. The odds are good. I'm not the kind of person who can be sure of anything, except what I decide I'm going to do.

Oh GWAD! Now you are making ME regret being so hard on "non-op for life"...there ARE very big causes ou might regret it if it's not right....OK...let me get ready to open mouth, insert foot and enjoy that familiar taste....

Quote from: MissyMay2.0 on May 17, 2018, 12:05:33 PM
I don't think bloo11 is trying to "heavily push their reasoning and feelings of justification for committing to a non-OP life on to the OP.", but like you, is trying to point out to the OP that she needs to be 100% sure that she wants to have SRS before moving forward.....

Yeah, you are probably right and... like me...may just come across like a know-it-all that thinks she has it all figurered out. I TRY...then something like this makes me realize my humility still has some trimming to be done...

Anyway, back to my original reply...putting this off cause I'm pretty much going to echo bloo11 now...here goes...

There ARE MAJOR causes for regret! Don't believe me? Just look around...I see post-op girls everywhere...especially from Suporn because his is the MOST grueling recovery...in a WORLD of pain during the first year. Saying,"OMG! What have I DONE! I NEVER would have done it if I'd known it would be THIS bad!". You see, a lot of chicks like that you can skip a year of laser with Suporn and don't read fine print compared to American docs....You know why American docs favor penile-inversion over scrotal-inversion even though the depth is compromised? Because of the RECOVERY! It. IS. A. BEAST! I just spent 10min looking for a couple of the diaries I've kept up with, but it seems after a year or two many feel like they are scaring people off, forget some of the pain, and start to actually reap some of the psychological benefits of it. Because, there ARE a lot...I'm not saying that all these women "totally regret for life"...I'm saying, if you keep up with some day-to-day diaries....and I do, because MY date is set! You will see a LOT of screaming agony and the WORST come from the suporn patients. Now, Suporn DOES do good work...but there is a cost and it's PAIN and RECOVERY and you can't even understand what those two words MEAN until you spead HOURS every. single.day. for. a. YEAR. in ungodly pain...I hear them all say at some point, "God, if I'd known it was THIS bad...I woudn't have done it!...You just can't understand until it's happening just HOW bad BAD really is! You CAN'T prepare for this kind of pain! " and this goes on for MONTHS...for over an hour a day 3x a day....It's enough to make you go pale....cause these are politically motivated regretters...these are just other women like me, like YOU, that THINK they know what they are getting into and how bad it will be...saying,"You DON'T know! You CAN'T prepare"....
     Now, that I've said that...I'll go ahead and tell the end...after this goes on...and gets a bit better month by month....eventually at about 2years...almost all the girls I've followed say...I'm glad I did it now...but if I'd have known how bad it would be...I don't know... But, they DO end happy...it's just at the end of over a year of your life and countless hours of grueling pain! Supron yield good results....but you DO pay a heavy cost...
   Now, this is why I got a bit critical of the one poster with friends there were at year mark and expressing a lot of regret, pain, and psychological torture....Because, she isn't lying....but they aren't at the end of their story either, so it's not really the complete truth either....These women, once they are TRULY recovered, not just physically, but psychologically and spiritually...will MOST LIKELY be very happy with their decision...Because, we as humans CAN'T recall pain of that caliber...It's like...even if you delivered a baby EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR....5 years later...you'd love and be glad you had all the kids, have no ability to recall that pain and probably say,"I know it was awful and probably wouldn't do over...but I'm happy now that it's done"

   Reading these recovery diaries is largely why I decided to deal with the laser and go with the usual American doc and get a good ole' fashioned penile inversion! Will I have the super-sensate wonder-clit that Supron gives? No. I hope I have done enough training at female orgams to be able to enjoy the one I have. Learning to achieve a female orgasm is a major part ( I BELIEVE ) to a successful surgery in area of achieving orgasm....If I can learn to do it with a penis, it will only be easier without. It's hard to explain until you've experienced it...But a hard penis gets in the way of a female orgasm and I want it OFF! Best I can describe it is like...instead of "pushing an orgasm OUT" it's PULLING an orgasm IN....Like putting effort into letting go of muscle control and "give in" to it...combined with good visualization the brain starts think it's happening..feel like got to pee..the the waves start coming....anyway, enough of that...different topic...

   Just...Read some recovery diarys...you will start to realize that it is a LOT more of an ordeal than you think and will make you give pause...and that's all I want....I would NEVER say DO or DO NOT....only you can decide that....but for gods sake don't be like,"Ah, I don't know...I'm sure it will all work out! I'll just jump in and play it by ear like always have!"  Cause this is unlike ANYTHING you have ANY previous reference of...

Know what I mean!  Now, here come the feelings...I really hope AGAIN this doesn't come off the wrong way...I really just want to share a lot of info I have from my experience hashing all this out, not talk you into or out of anything...Just, take good care of yourself and please take pause to really vet this decision....it's not like any other you will ever make!

Love Always,

Jane

I care about the surgeon doing a good job, and that's something I've researched a lot. There's an element of risk involved, but it can be minimised and as for the remainder, life is full of risk. My usual mistakes are not doing something; lost opportunity rather rather than doing the wrong thing.

I think it's important to work out what's important to you and what's not. I have quite different values to you. I prefer Suporn and it's true his recovery is harder, but it's not something that concerns me. It's not a problem with my lifestyle and I like the results he gets. He also doesn't get many serious problems (like fistulas). As for pain, worst case there's good drugs available. It's also not very likely to be that bad. He's retiring however and his replacement is not such a known quantity.

There's quite a range of different people here. There's no one path suits all.

Quote from: AnonyMs on May 17, 2018, 02:03:33 PM
I prefer Suporn and it's true his recovery is harder, but it's not something that concerns me. It's not a problem with my lifestyle and I like the results he gets. He also doesn't get many serious problems (like fistulas). As for pain, worst case there's good drugs available. It's also not very likely to be that bad.Just tips for going into it from a ghal who is 1yr post Suporn, simple.

Oh god Hon, you are really scaring me....Please...Here is a good account of a gal who is one year in to Suporn. Not propaganda or any unusual scenario....just a good honest account of how it usually goes...

https://dorimooneyham.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/10-tips-for-srs

...Please read? It really scares me to think that you might walk into this so unaware of what you are in for...I mean it, I have a big heart...I've been thru recovery from pain meds and not even close to this scale too and let me tell you, the "good drugs" they have are basically Pharmaceutical Heroin and relying on them too heavily for an entire year will put you down a path that will make you PRAY Gender Dysphoria was your only problem again...Also, there are some levels of constant pain that drugs can't touch!

  Now, I don't know what lifestyle you have. So not sure what we're talking about there unless you mean you have the means to lay in bed for 9months and have no problems with bills and people to take you to and from medical visits. That would be nice and it's not something I have, so that is a true consideration. I have a 6yr old child and I, personally, can't just take a year out of my life and focus on nothing but myself and my pain. So, reasonably, that is part of my consideration and maybe you are young, have rich parents, and none of these concerns.

  Still...what concerns me most is where you got the impression that...

Quote from: AnonyMs on May 17, 2018, 02:03:33 PMIt's also not very likely to be that bad.

part. I mean, you can think I'm just some troll who doesn't care or wants to seem superior or whatever....at the end of the day, you are the one who will have to endure excruciating pain every day for most of a year. I've been researching and considering this surgery for years and I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to research. So, please, trust me when I say. I have NEVER. ONCE. read a report of someone who said that GRS recovery from Supron was "Not that bad"...When you hear,"More difficult recovery" this is exactly what that means...More pain, more risk ( and yes, this includes infection and fistulas, it's right there in the papers and I have read the reports of girls getting both with his surgery and other too,no surgeon has a flawless record, but his is the most invasive )....

You know...you sound pretty young and probably aren't going to listen to "me" anyway. So, please, listen to the girls who have gone thru it and BE INFORMED....I'm not saying DON'T GO TO SUPORN or trying to "scare you away" from surgery that you may very well need to live a full and happy life...I'm not that kind of person. I genuinely care about each and every soul who has gone thru this struggle as I have. So, please just do ONE THING for me, k?

Just read the tips in that article and if you think her experience is unusual, then be discerning, and look for others. Compare Apples to Apples. Same surgeon, at least one year in not the first weeks, etc...OK? Not for me, do it for YOU! Please? Remember, I'm not some weirdo anti-trans or whatever...I'm a kindred sufferer of gender dysphoria who has really done her homework, nothing I say is to hurt, only to help, ok?

Your Friend,

Jane
 

Suporn was who I had been looking at because I have a pretty small and narrow penis (always have). Now I don't know for sure. There is great information being shared here folks! Keep it up!

Just a note, you can get inversion in PAI clinic in Bangkok if you need to do it abroad, like I need to do it. So not necessary to take Suporn and I would at least consult other clinics if and when inversion is possible if there is something "strange" downstairs.

Quote from: LeahJoFoxtrot on May 17, 2018, 07:12:10 PM
Suporn was who I had been looking at because I have a pretty small and narrow penis (always have). Now I don't know for sure. There is great information being shared here folks! Keep it up!

Suporn did my SRS back in late '03.  The results were fantastic, and I was beyond you, I was literally microphallic.

OK, to the general discussion of the thread (I'll try not to ramble ]some of you who've read my posts may have noticed that that sometimes happens  ]) - IMO, NOBODY should ever try to persuade you to either have, or not have SRS.  The decision should be your own, without excessive amounts of "helpful input" into the decision making process, and you better be damn sure about it.  You are the one who has to live with the results/consequences of having or not having the surgery, not the people trying to tell that you should or should not have SRS.  In short, have SRS for yourself, not because of the need (consciously of subconsciously) to please somebody else, by making them feel that you made what they consider to be the right choice.

In my case SRS was one of the best things I've ever done.  I feel right because of it.  Sexually, things are much better than they ever were in the before time (though don't have SRS for that reason alone - sex is great, but you can't do it 24/7 [and if you're trying to, then you have a big mental problem ]).  I hated my male genitals so much, that I started having a nervous breakdown back in 2002, when a friend of mine had her surgery, and it was looking like my worst fear was coming to fruition - that I was going to be stuck as a pre-op, due to being flat broke.  I used cry bigtime, whenever I had the misfortune of seeing my male genitals in the vanity mirror while drying off, and combing out my hair after taking a bath [it got so bad, that I had to hide block/hide my crotch from the mirror with a Kleenex box every time I stood in front of mirror naked]).  For a while in 2002, I actually considered cutting them off, despite the pain and risk of bleeding to death, that could have possibly happened as a result of it (I shocked the living daylights out of the attendees at a local gender group, when I mentioned this during the group's monthly rap session).  So for me, SRS was a no brainer.  It may sound weird but nobody really tried to influence my decision making on the issue (other than family members who were opposed to me having it done since Day 1 [I ignored them], and my post-op friend telling me that I could wait a few months to have it done, to save up some money to avoid being flat broke after my surgery [to which I responded, "oh no!!!  I'm at the end of my rope, I'm having it done NOW!!!"]).  It was also about more than just having sex (but "looking right out in society" was not at all a factor in the decision making process).

With the above being said, don't expect SRS to make your life all sweetness and light.  Life is life, it has its good moments, and its bad moments.  SRS isn't going to change that.  Be realistic.  I knew (yes knew, I drifted away from the so-called "community" a long time ago) some, who had the impression that everything would be perfect (especially sexually) after SRS, and received a rude awakening, that that was NOT the case.  How you make decisions about things, and how well you pass, are major factors in how well things go for you.  The people I alluded to, were lacking in one or both of those categories, and SRS was not going to magically fix the problems they had, or were going to have.

SRS can be a lifesaver (it was for me) if you feel that you just can't live without it, but if you have a case of the "I still am not sure it's for me(s)", back away from it.

Ellen - with just my $.50 worth

Quote from: Jane J on May 17, 2018, 07:07:54 PM
Oh god Hon, you are really scaring me....Please...Here is a good account of a gal who is one year in to Suporn. Not propaganda or any unusual scenario....just a good honest account of how it usually goes...

https://dorimooneyham.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/10-tips-for-srs

Not that it makes much difference, but that's actually Dr Chettawut. Search for the pdf SRS with Dr Suporn 2015 3rd edition for more extensive info.

Quote from: Jane J on May 17, 2018, 07:07:54 PM
...Please read? It really scares me to think that you might walk into this so unaware of what you are in for...I mean it, I have a big heart...I've been thru recovery from pain meds and not even close to this scale too and let me tell you, the "good drugs" they have are basically Pharmaceutical Heroin and relying on them too heavily for an entire year will put you down a path that will make you PRAY Gender Dysphoria was your only problem again...Also, there are some levels of constant pain that drugs can't touch!

There's some really good video's from a women who had a very difficult recovery with Suporn, and went on narcotics. The chance of this happening is really low, but I'm aware of it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/NatalieLBG/videos

Quote from: Jane J on May 17, 2018, 07:07:54 PM
Now, I don't know what lifestyle you have. So not sure what we're talking about there unless you mean you have the means to lay in bed for 9months and have no problems with bills and people to take you to and from medical visits. That would be nice and it's not something I have, so that is a true consideration. I have a 6yr old child and I, personally, can't just take a year out of my life and focus on nothing but myself and my pain. So, reasonably, that is part of my consideration and maybe you are young, have rich parents, and none of these concerns.

I'd prefer not to, but its not a problem.

Quote from: Jane J on May 17, 2018, 07:07:54 PM
Still...what concerns me most is where you got the impression that... part. I mean, you can think I'm just some troll who doesn't care or wants to seem superior or whatever....at the end of the day, you are the one who will have to endure excruciating pain every day for most of a year. I've been researching and considering this surgery for years and I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to research. So, please, trust me when I say. I have NEVER. ONCE. read a report of someone who said that GRS recovery from Supron was "Not that bad"...When you hear,"More difficult recovery" this is exactly what that means...More pain, more risk ( and yes, this includes infection and fistulas, it's right there in the papers and I have read the reports of girls getting both with his surgery and other too,no surgeon has a flawless record, but his is the most invasive )....

I don't think you're a troll or anything, but I do think you have an unrealistic expectation of how difficult the typical recovery is with Suporn. Apart from reading endless stories I know quite a number of women who've been to him personally. I don't think know anyone personally to have difficulty even at 6 months let alone a year. Some women even take just acetaminophen once they are out of hospital. I've read of a number who have long term problems, but you can find that for all surgeons so its hard to make comparisons.

I just made a post on the rate of fistula's with various surgeons, including Suporn. This is a serious complication related to the skill of the surgeon and at the bad end of recovery problems. There's some actually statistics so we can make some comparison. You can see Suporn's rate is very low. When Suporn says the recovery is twice as long as penile inversion he doesn't mean you're going to have all sorts of disasters, just that it takes longer.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,236347.msg2137699.html#msg2137699

Where I said not that bad, it was "As for pain, worst case there's good drugs available. It's also not very likely to be that bad." By that I mean its not likely to be bad enough to need strong drugs - i.e. seriously addictive ones. Tramadol is more likely but its not addictive like the other ones.

Quote from: Jane J on May 17, 2018, 07:07:54 PM
You know...you sound pretty young and probably aren't going to listen to "me" anyway.

I wish. Unfortunately I'm on the older end of things. I may sound fairly casual, but its only because I know my own mind and I'm very confident in my knowledge. There's a saying I've come to like, "life is not a dress rehearsal".

I know many don't agree with my viewpoint, but as I tried to say, there's many paths. I'm not going though all this hassle of being trans just to jump into another box and blindly follow someone else's path. How's that different to denying being trans in the first place?