Alright, I think I'm a fool because I started everything all out of order. I should have had long hair and face zapping out of the way before I started hard core HRT, and tomorrow I double my estrogen intake. In two months I will be doubling that.

Here's to being an incredibly uncomfortable misfit until I get more money!

What a ride.

If it makes you feel any better. Laser is much more effective once T has been suppressed and my hair isn't long yet. Long enough maybe.

I started HRT a year and a quarter ago and still have yet to do any face zapping

I sound way more negative than I mean too! The short hair doesn't bother me as much as facial hair does- I'm just in a weird mood. BTW, I got my ears pierced again!

Everything will come in good time Em.   

Quote from: Rabbit on April 28, 2011, 08:01:07 PMI wouldn't consider going "full time" until hrt has been going for at LEAST a year. Muscle and fat and all the other changes take quite a while... so I don't want to jump the gun and rush into "girl mode" until I actually have the body to match.

I thought that too, just a short time ago, but look at my tickers.  It turned out to be amazingly easy.  Not saying YOU should, but it worked for me.  It's amazing the surprises this journey can bring!

Yeah, what Colleen said. Full time is definitely a YMMV thing and is very hard to place a date on. I did it after three months. You might be surprised, things can sneak up on you. When I started to get mam'ed even in boy mode, I knew that full time wasn't far away. Boy mode can quickly become awkward girl mode.

I went full time after only a couple of laser sessions.  I now am to the point I need electrolysis, and I am in school.  But I will get it done.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on April 29, 2011, 11:06:52 AM
I went full time after only a couple of laser sessions.  I now am to the point I need electrolysis, and I am in school.  But I will get it done.

This is pretty much my plan as of now. I don't know how long it will take for me to get comfortable with my face, but I don't REALLY have to wait for the hormones to shape me up to try to start livin' the dream.

Janet, have I ever told you I want to be like you when I grow up? That is, if you ever did grow up 

Maia: What is YMMV?

Edit: Rabbit, that is an understandable fear. Mine involves hair only, since I have a thin athletic build already.

Thanks Amy, I know. This can be frustrating at times.

Colleen: You are an absolute inspiration!

  Aww Thank You Emma.  And no I never have grown up.  hehe.

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary.

Sis

Quote from: Melody Maia on April 29, 2011, 08:50:31 AM
Yeah, what Colleen said. Full time is definitely a YMMV thing and is very hard to place a date on. I did it after three months. You might be surprised, things can sneak up on you. When I started to get mam'ed even in boy mode, I knew that full time wasn't far away. Boy mode can quickly become awkward girl mode.

I absolutely adore that last sentence...

But it's true that mileage may vary.  My first three months of HRT were totally ineffective and I had no changes (T levels still at 650, no fat redistribution--no fat to redistribute, more like--no breast or nipple growth, you name it).  So my doc started a different hormone regimen which didn't do much in the first month as it ramped up, but gave me enough changes in the second month that I jumped into full time.  The pic in my avatar was taken about a month ago, three months into HRT that actually worked.

I began growing out my hair two years ago and started laser last June, so had six or seven sessions before HRT.  Now the hair on my head seems to be growing a whole lot faster than before, but laser to clean up my upper lip is MUCH more problematic.  On HRT, my facial hair grows so slowly that the little bumps (shriveled-up hairs) that used to grow out in 2 or 3 days, now stick around for about 8 days.  Those burned hairballs under the skin also make my lip much darker and near-impossible to conceal.  So while HRT might help with laser's effectiveness, there are definitely drawbacks to consider.

All said, don't worry about your timing for anything you do... it's an art, not a science. 

I wish I could take credit for that sentence, but somebody from Susan's used it on Facebook and I just restated it. Fits here though!

Quote from: EmmaM on April 29, 2011, 11:26:10 AMColleen: You are an absolute inspiration!

Aww, shucks... (digs toe in sand cutely)...   

I don't know if I'll ever get used to hearing stuff like that.  A number of people at work this week said much the same thing, and one was moved almost to tears, and gave me a super hug.  The diversity consultant (who was a transwoman herself) really did a super job preparing everyone.  If you transition in the same job, I highly recommend finding someone (if you can) who can come in and do workshops for everyone, to explain the whole thing to them in terms they can understand.

On the other hand having been on HRT will mean less hair on your arms, which is a dead set give away, in my experience.
Has your Dr or Endo suggested increasing you dosage, or are you DIY? Estrogen can be converted back to T by the body if it goes too high, so there is a definite maximum before it plateaus.

I know I'm going the opposite direction and it isn't the same but if it makes you feel any better I did things a bit out of order too. I started T already but haven't gotten a name change yet so I get weird looks every day since I have to show my work ID with my legal name.

I've a doctor, and he tells me when to double up. He says I will be at my max dosage in 2 more months.

Thankfully, I have a gender neutral birth name (in America anyway), and I don't have to  worry about it giving me away. My struggle has been passing and the physical things that are required to do so.

I'm been getting severely depressed about DHT, the prospect of hair loss, and facial hair.