Courtney's life begins here, redux

[Courtney G]

Happy Juneteenth, everyone. It's a really important holiday for America - a truly American one - and I'm happy to celebrate it.

[Stottie Girl]

Huh, had to look that one up! I have never heard of it before. A truly worthy holiday yes, I agree.

The UK doesn't have a day to celebrate the abolishing of slavery. We did it on 1st August 1834. The British Empire then set about abolishing the world wide slave trade by force using the Royal Navy. It is something our empire can be really proud of and frankly we should celbrate the 1st of August but it is like our country is ashamed of our imperial past. Yes we did some bad stuff but on balance the empire did a lot more good than bad.

[Courtney G]

The Germans go out of their way to study and understand the mistakes of their past so they (hopefully) won't repeat them again. Here we pass laws (lately) making it illegal to teach that history in school. It's stunning.

[Devlyn ✅]

... I'll probably get ticked off by that comment but it's how I feel...

The phrase "ticked off" has three distinct meanings, depending on the context:

1. Annoyed or Angry

In informal English—especially in North America—it means to be irritated, mad, or frustrated.  Example: "I was really ticked off when my flight got delayed."

2. To Reprimand or Scold

In British English, it often means to criticize or speak severely to someone for doing something wrong. Example: "The teacher ticked him off for being late."

3. Checked or Marked on a List

This meaning is common worldwide. It refers to putting a checkmark (✓) next to an item on a list to show it has been completed or addressed. Example: "I've ticked all the items off my to-do list."

I know you're in the UK, and I know a lot of us are from the US. Two countries separated by a common language! 🤣

[Stottie Girl]

The phrase "ticked off" has three distinct meanings, depending on the context:

1. Annoyed or Angry

In informal English—especially in North America—it means to be irritated, mad, or frustrated.  Example: "I was really ticked off when my flight got delayed."

2. To Reprimand or Scold

In British English, it often means to criticize or speak severely to someone for doing something wrong. Example: "The teacher ticked him off for being late."

3. Checked or Marked on a List

This meaning is common worldwide. It refers to putting a checkmark (✓) next to an item on a list to show it has been completed or addressed. Example: "I've ticked all the items off my to-do list."

I know you're in the UK, and I know a lot of us are from the US. Two countries separated by a common language! 🤣

In fairness Dev we have those exact 3 definitions over here. They are interchangeable.

PS, I'm probably being pedantic here but in my opinion there is no such thing as British English or US English for that matter. There is only English!

[Devlyn ✅]

In equal fairness, #2 is virtually unheard of in the US. 🙂

The thing that threw me the most when I moved there was the UK pronunciation of things like clerk, Hertfordshire, Berkshire...for my American friends those sound like Clark, Hartfordshire, and Barkshire.

[Devlyn ✅]

Happy Juneteenth, everyone. It's a really important holiday for America - a truly American one - and I'm happy to celebrate it.

You too. I feel like this is appropriately inappropriate:

[Stottie Girl]

In equal fairness, #2 is virtually unheard of in the US. 🙂

The thing that threw me the most when I moved there was the UK pronunciation of things like clerk, Hertfordshire, Berkshire...for my American friends those sound like Clark, Hartfordshire, and Barkshire.

Hmmm well I can't really  argue with that can I ha ha!

I shall counter with erbs (where did the h go?) or Baysil🤣🤣

[Lori Dee ✅]

The thing that threw me the most when I moved there was the UK pronunciation of things like clerk, Hertfordshire, Berkshire...for my American friends those sound like Clark, Hartfordshire, and Barkshire.

Coming from someone who used to pahk her cah in the yahd?

🤣

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Some of us in the UK know the correct way to say Bath and Grass too 😉😆

[Devlyn ✅]

Do you dance in France?

[Stottie Girl]

Some of us in the UK know the correct way to say Bath and Grass too 😉😆

I'm glad you agree Charlotte, there is no r in bath it's clearly not barth!

[Courtney G]

While we're on the topic of being off topic:

Aluminum - aluMINium?
Saw - sawR?
Lieutenant - lüftenant?
Schedule - SHEDule?

And back on topic: a similar kind of enforced ignorance happens with regard to trans people. Like, the powers that be are terrified of children learning that we exist because they think it will make them trans. If we educated the public about us, there would be a lot less confusion, fear and hate.

For example, I go into public bathrooms to do my business (eliminate waste). If I'm in girl mode, I might touch up my lipstick. In no way does sitting one stall over from another person who is using the facilities "thrill" me. Lol.

[Courtney G]

Oh, and back on topic for my blog:

I just found out that my estradiol valerate script is ready at the local pharmacy. I saw my practitioner early this week, we sorted out the blood clot concern (she was happy that I'm on anticoagulant therapy) and she wrote a new script for estradiol, needles, syringes, spironolactone and progesterone. We agreed that lowering my dose was a good idea since the recent blood test showed a whopper number for estradiol. I have to say that seeing the numbers so high/low made me very happy, though. Proof of concept.

I've been getting my scripts from Amazon, which is super discreet and convenient but my insurance will only cover 30 day refills instead of 84 days, which is the amount covered if I use the chain pharmacy that's partnered with my insurance. So Amazon is basically 3 times the cost, minus the cost of gas (petrol!) used to pick up my scripts. I went yesterday but the EV and one of the needle sizes were out of stock. I was just notified that the EV is ready for pickup, so back to the pharmacy (70 minute round trip) I go. I suspect the needles will be in in two days or something.

What's unfortunate about the local pharmacy is that even though the web portal allows my chosen name for everything, the scripts/paperwork all have my (not yet) deadname on them. Kind of a bummer to be standing there with my breasts sticking out through my cami and having the pharmacy yell out that my script is ready so that the cashier knows. Oh, well...exposure therapy.

[Petunia]

What does the anti coagulant therapy consist of?

[Courtney G]

What does the anti coagulant therapy consist of?

An ongoing low-dose blood thinner.

[Pema]

Happy Juneteenth, everyone. It's a really important holiday for America - a truly American one - and I'm happy to celebrate it.

Thank you, Courtney. Right there with you.

[Petunia]

An ongoing low-dose blood thinner.

This is something that I'm really concerned about.

I'm on low dose aspirin along with statin and blood pressure medication.

If the risks are too high I'd like to know now so I can stop thinking about hrt

[Lori Dee ✅]

I think you should talk to an endocrinologist or at least your primary physician. It is very important that you be honest with them about your goals, history, and concerns so those things can be discussed.

None of these means you cannot start HRT. It might mean you are limited to the type and dose. I would rule out oral medications outright. Oral estradiol affects coagulation after liver metabolism, so a higher dose is needed. Patches and injections are safer but may still require a lower dose because anything in your blood will eventually reach the liver.

I take a statin daily and have had no issues with aspirin. But when you throw BP meds into the mix, it changes things. You need a medical professional to guide you through this, but you can still do it.

[Petunia]

Thank you Lori.

I have already ruled out oral estradiol and I think patches are the way to go for me.

I have a good gp and I think he already susoects who I am, but I don't want to completely out myself to him only to find I shouldn't move forward with hrt.

I probably need to go and see my psych and see who she recommends for her referrals and maybe consult with them prior to speaking to my gp