My personal preference for surgery is top can be done at the beginning after 3-6 months RLT and hormones should be started at the same time. After 3 years with documented proper hormone levels bottom surgery can be done. It gives the person everything they need and enable assessment of options over time. But all I could get were TRT, hstyo, top in that order.

Nothing we do is all that easy but yeah the order is screwed up. Especially considering the health dangers.

->-bleeped-<-boy

It sucks because I've spent 6 months FOUR months (correction) trying to get a decent therapist. It's been a major waste of time. Fortunately an FtM I met at the local LGBT support group recommended me a therapist... I'll be calling in on him on Monday.

Check around and e-mail the dr's who do top surgery. I promise you don't ALWAYS need a letter. If you fit the criteria you are good to go. It's easier than you think...Some DR's don't buy that the standards are the only way to go. They can decide for themselves...and yes, it's some of the better dr's out there. Good luck

Quote from: Camden on July 28, 2008, 09:22:53 PM
Check around and e-mail the dr's who do top surgery. I promise you don't ALWAYS need a letter. If you fit the criteria you are good to go. It's easier than you think...Some DR's don't buy that the standards are the only way to go. They can decide for themselves...and yes, it's some of the better dr's out there. Good luck

It's true, I didn't need a letter.  But then again, I was in my mid-twenties, already on testosterone and wanted my breasts gone as soon as they started showing up.  He does require a letter for some folks- I think it's all dependent on how comfortable he is with your individual situation.

Personally, am not sure I could pass no matter how much do for RLT and to try to pass.  I'm not confident I could hide the large bulge on my chest well enough.

Quote from: Aiden on July 28, 2008, 10:08:00 PM
Personally, am not sure I could pass no matter how much do for RLT and to try to pass.  I'm not confident I could hide the large bulge on my chest well enough.

SOC aren't rules, they're guidelines.  I did no RLT.  I had no waiting period for testosterone, other than the 3 weeks I had to wait to see my therapist, who I saw for a grand total of one session.  Her exact words, "You can come back if you'd like, but unless you've got something else going on I have no clue what we'd continue to talk about.  You seem remarkably well-adjusted."  I figured that was a mighty large compliment from a therapist, no?

You're right, Mister. RLT is not a requirement, just a recommendation.

I shouldn't have a waiting period for testosterone, but apparently I do, because my therapist fears that testosterone could exacerbate my current conditions. Go figure. 

Quote from: Elwood on July 29, 2008, 04:48:10 PM
You're right, Mister. RLT is not a requirement, just a recommendation.

I shouldn't have a waiting period for testosterone, but apparently I do, because my therapist fears that testosterone could exacerbate my current conditions. Go figure. 

here's a thought.

find a brand spankin' new therapist, say, when you move to SoCal.  Don't tell 'em about your other 'conditions.'  Get your letter, find a doc, get your T and quit letting other people run your transition (or current lack thereof).

It's not that simple. I work with smart, qualified therapists who actually want to help me in more ways than just one.

And I will be working with a new therapist in September. I think he's transitioned over 100 people, so I think I'll have some luck with him. I'll voice my concerns to him. So I have to wait another month. Better than a few years, I say.

Oh, and I'll be up here for another year. I'm visiting SoCal a couple times between now and then, but only for small periods of time (like a week or two each).

SoCal?   Never heard of it.  But yeh, even I am slightly worried about my own possible response to T if took it.   I kind of already am tempermental lol and working on handling my temper better.

SoCal = Southern California.

I was born in Sacramento (I think, lol, somewhere around there) and I grew up near San Diego. Right now I live north of San Fransisco. I'm a California kid. I've only left the state once to go to Las Vegas (April 3rd, 2007).

I'm personally not worried with how T will effect me, because I will have a lot less anxiety. Dysphoria will be less, I'll have more confidence, I'll stop thinking, "I'll never transition," I'll start taking pride in revealing my identity, I'll feel like I have control over my own life...

Yeh well for me T might make me comfortable with body, but it will cause a lot more problems with family too