Yeson Voice Feminization Surgery

[HappyMoni]

Hi Sarah,
   I have this picture in my head of climbing to the top of the mountain to hear the high holy person speak after 50 years of a vow of silence. Any thoughts on a profound, earth moving statement as the first thing you will say after your  vow of silence, oh holy one? "One small step for women kind" maybe?
   We haven't chatted for a while (no pun intended), are you doing okay? It has been a pretty crazy month, I imagine. Is your throat still uncomfortable. I wondered about whispering. It would seem to be very little strain on the voice to do that. I am surprised that is off limits.
   I hope you get the result you are looking for. I would love to have my voice issues resolved, but I have an underlying issue (sorry for this grossness) of mucus on my vocal chords. It means constantly clearing my throat before I talk and I never know if the good or bad voice will be present. ENT doctor had no answers. Even did MRI and things were fine. It really makes my sense of transness in my daily thought process be front and center more than it normally would be. I go for a two day training with strangers where I will have to talk a lot next week and it is stressing me out. After my GCS I will try to pursue an answer again. Sorry for my tangent. Are you able to exercise/ skate yet?
   Talk to you later, Hon!
Moni

[Inarasarah]

Sarah,

Oh. You are already at home again. I have been too busy writing research proposals during the past 2 weeks to read your posts. Glad that you had no serious problem during the surgery. Hoping that your voice will recover soon with dramatic changes.

barbie~~

Thanks Barbie,

Only thing that occurred was nauseousness following surgery.  Most likely from the anesthesia.

All is good now, I still miss Seoul, so much fun there. 

-Sarah

[Inarasarah]

Hi Sarah,
   I have this picture in my head of climbing to the top of the mountain to hear the high holy person speak after 50 years of a vow of silence. Any thoughts on a profound, earth moving statement as the first thing you will say after your  vow of silence, oh holy one? "One small step for women kind" maybe?
   We haven't chatted for a while (no pun intended), are you doing okay? It has been a pretty crazy month, I imagine. Is your throat still uncomfortable. I wondered about whispering. It would seem to be very little strain on the voice to do that. I am surprised that is off limits.
   I hope you get the result you are looking for. I would love to have my voice issues resolved, but I have an underlying issue (sorry for this grossness) of mucus on my vocal chords. It means constantly clearing my throat before I talk and I never know if the good or bad voice will be present. ENT doctor had no answers. Even did MRI and things were fine. It really makes my sense of transness in my daily thought process be front and center more than it normally would be. I go for a two day training with strangers where I will have to talk a lot next week and it is stressing me out. After my GCS I will try to pursue an answer again. Sorry for my tangent. Are you able to exercise/ skate yet?
   Talk to you later, Hon!
Moni

Heya Moni,

My first two words have been determined for months--Valar Morghulis.  The geek in me cannot wait to udder these words. 

The past few weeks have been full of work and clearing things off my to do list.  I am making progress on both, but there's still so much to do.  Not being able to talk has been frustrating.  I am still debating going to watch wrestling tonight or just stay home and read.  There are many people there I know and I hate that I cannot talk to them.  Oh well, I am sure I will figure it out...

I am going to skate a little this weekend.  I ran a little today, nothing too strenuous, I just wanted to do a little more than just walk.

Thanks for the post Moni, you are super sweet

-Sarah

[HappyMoni]

Sarah,
   Wow I love your choice. I am sad to report that I had to look it up, but I love the symbolism. Maybe I should think of  some first words for waking up after GCS. I thought of yelling, "Hey anyone seen my penis?" lol I think the gravity of that event will not lend itself to humor, but to other very strong emotions.
   It is so nice to talk to you. I think you will feel less frustrated as soon as you can be more active. Have they given you any cautions as to whether or not your voice will take some time to see the final result once you start talking?
   Your  friend,
   Moni

[Inarasarah]

Given that I am no spring chicken, I am expecting a lot of work ahead of me.  Fortunately, I have had voice training my whole life.  So I think it will take me a few months of hard work to get my voice into the range where I want it. 

11 more days and I roll up my sleeves and get to work.  Voice training in still another month away, but I am fully committed to make this work.

Next on my list is finding a way to make more money, all this Sh*t is expensive

[Inarasarah]

Hey everyone,  sorry to have been a stranger on here.  Work has been busy, and not being able to talk has not helped.  But I am nearing the end of my 1 month of silence.  I have said the sporadic one or two words here and there, but really nothing major.  Moni you would be proud, my fist two official words were Valar Morghulis

I have asked my Amazon Echo to play music for me and she responds, so that is nice.  Still waiting a few more days before starting full on conversations.  I can say that it is hard to talk if you haven't said anything for a month.  The time for rebuilding has begun. 

I spent this weekend at Emerald City Comic-con.  It was great seeing close friends and a few authors and artists I only see once a year.  Kinda rough not being able to talk with them, but my trusty iPad and pen were a life saver. Of course I spent more money than I had planned, but it was worth it.

Then on Friday whilst having lunch in an overly crowded bar, a guy came over to hang out. I offered the other seat at my table, he ordered a beer and we enjoyed a lovely lunch.  This was totally random and very unexpected.  Turns out he is a writer and a local.  Throughout lunch he kept hitting on me and throwing out the compliments.  I must admit it was flattering, as that really never happens to me.  Well we did exchange numbers and have texted a few times.  I have to say that was pretty cool.  Especially for a mute.   

Once I am fully talking I will post a voice sample, probably not until the two month mark since that is when the voice exercises start.

-Sarah

[barbie]

It sounds great. Yes. Patience and patience.
Wishing to hear your new voice!

barbie~~

[Inarasarah]

I just called and had a short conversation with my Mom, she said my voice sounded good.  I am going to reserve judgement until I can hear it myself.   I figured that since I was almost at a month and we have not talked for over a month, it would be best to call her first.  I am happy with this...

[Inarasarah]

Quick update:  I read the rainbow passage yesterday and the average pitch was 167Hz just below my trained voice pitch pre-VFS.  For reference, my un-trained voice pitch pre-VFS was 148Hz.  This is the 1 month update, which I will continue throughout the year.

I cannot lower the pitch right now, this is just what comes out.  So I am happy, even though I sounds like I have laryngitis.  I try to speak a little each day without straining my voice.  Water is still my friend and I drink copious amounts.  That's all for now...

[yashika_1989]

Sarah, am so happy for you! All the best, keep us updated

[Inarasarah]

Thanks.  I am 2 weeks away from starting vocal training.  I am read to start, but I will follow the Doc's directions

Stay Tuned!!