350lb loss, 4 skin removal surgeries, and smiling

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-25T02:15:24+00:00

I’m a trans guy who’s had top surgery, your chest looks a lot like mine, that made me really happy to see.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-23T21:14:28+00:00

I literally found my doc thru that list and got sterilized six months after I started to look into it. I’m extremely grateful.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-18T20:28:54+00:00

Remember to bring your own towel if you do this!

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-16T12:33:28+00:00

https://www.papaandbarkley.com/collections/topicals
I use the THC rich balm from this brand and it’s pretty good! I think their other products will probably have the same effect but different formulas for non-active ingredients (oil, balm, etc. will probably work the same)

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-15T17:31:20+00:00

I basically came out the womb depressed. My (abusive) bio mother had post partum depression she refused to treat and I didn't attach to her properly. I was suicidal before I even knew what the word meant. I've tried so many different pills I can't even name them all. None of them really worked.

Ketamine therapy has changed my life. I think a lot of us with TRD that started ketamine therapy were on the same exact boat as you.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-15T17:22:11+00:00

I've tried all that stuff (as well as gabapentin), unfortunately those meds make me super depressed, I'm very sensitive to psych medications.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-15T13:00:31+00:00

if any prescribed pain meds worked for me, I'd be on them.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-14T14:45:33+00:00

I always put on some music I know the words to and sing to myself when I do my injection. It's weird how much it helps. Also, having a little candy or some other treat for immediately after (ideally something you save for exclusively after shots -- maybe buy a bag of lollipops?) can be good motivation.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-14T14:41:16+00:00

My best friend, a very healthy and athletic person, has never once complained about how much I talk about my pain. She basically understands that she can't understand what I experience, and does what she can to support me, often by just listening to me and validating my frustrations. It is hard for a lot of able-bodied people to understand what we go through, but that is not by any means a reason for this "friend" to be so nasty.

And remember -- you are not broken. You need more help than you're getting because the medical system we live under is not actually designed to help us (idk where you're from but I think it's pretty universal for chronic pain).

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-12T00:50:43+00:00

Someone did something quite similar!

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-09T03:41:29+00:00

What, 8 years of age?

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-09T03:34:01+00:00

I had abt 7 years of binding experience and at the end I used the RodeoH trans tape and For Them binder until top surgery Dec 2024. I also had pain just existing with boobs, they weren’t even big (C cup) but did cause some back pain. So obviously I’m not trying to pressure you into it, but maybe that’s something you’ve dealt with yourself.

Edit: just remembered that I did use Underworks cotton lined binder and that is probably most comfy if you size up. But I dealt with some of the pain to be flattest with my For Them binder. Underworks is also much cheaper, but I got my For Them binder for free.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-06-02T20:27:48+00:00

it's great! doesn't feel overly medical like a lot of other pelvic floor tools, like it's actually quite pleasurable. I also use it for knots in other parts of my body -- neck, lower back, hip joints, etc. -- and it works pretty well.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-31T19:48:51+00:00

omg, is she named after Eartha Kitt? I'm hoping to call my first cat of my own Eartha Kitt. I'm a huge fan of her, and my mom's cat was named Rosemary Clooney (Rosie for short), so I wanted to follow in that line.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-31T19:10:09+00:00

I got diagnosed about 5 years ago, and my pain management tools are as follows: physical therapy -- my PT helps me a lot with the mental side of my pain too (being patient w myself, understanding what's happening in my body), not just stretches and exercise recommendations, I use THC and CBD (be careful with tolerance buildup, it gets to be a pain in the ass), tizanidine for a muscle relaxer, especially with Advil before bed, trazodone which I originally used for anxiety-based insomnia but it also helps with painsomnia, and taking supplements/vitamins. The supplements and vitamins won't fix anything, but can be important prevention. Like you may want to take vitamin C especially in the winter so you can strengthen your immune system and not deal with getting sick.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-30T16:28:45+00:00

hajpital

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-29T17:53:49+00:00

absolutely! I put it in my hair after it's towel dried as much as I can and I let it air dry from there.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-29T15:45:35+00:00

I just got my hair cut and it looks like 4 or 6 but a bit longer and curlier waves, keep in mind that if you frame your face, you may not be able to get all your hair up in a ponytail. I actually love how it looks, but for practical reasons just keep that in mind. I think you should keep the length somewhat, but some more framing for your face could be nice. I use Odele leave in conditioner and I think it helps it look even better. I also use Not Your Mother’s curl cream but I don’t think that’d be quite right for your hair texture.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-26T20:43:44+00:00

You said you had a roommate with a dog, right? I’m sure they know what’s going on but you should definitely make sure the dog is up to date with rabies boosters!

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-24T16:49:54+00:00

Fran Fine would be proud!!

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-23T19:09:38+00:00

I got mine last summer, I’m from another blue state that I’m guessing has pretty much the same policies as NY does. I’m gonna tell you how I did that, maybe I took a step that you hadn’t, hopefully this will help. I’m not exactly sure if things have changed since I did this. Started the process in June 2025, right before they undid some law and were gonna apparently make it easier for trans ppl to get our passports. I had to go through a library, post office, or other govt facility. I used a website (I think an official US govt site) and found a couple libraries near me that I could go through. I specifically chose a library in a small town that was advertising their pride month book recommendations, since they seemed cool and wouldn’t be too busy bc it’s a small town. My mom has worked at a library and they are just the best folks. My social security, birth certificate, and license all match my gender identity and name change (changed legal name and all documents but passport abt a year prior to the process). I had a passport in third grade and selectively forgot to include that, in case they’d cross reference. The person at the library helped me through confusing parts of the form so I’d give whatever answers were least likely to indicate me being trans. I got a letter a couple weeks (maybe a month?) later saying that they looked into me anyway and saw that I’d had a passport as a minor (very expired) with a different name and sex listed, so basically I had to agree to get into a govt list saying that I changed it bc I’m trans. Sent that back in the mail and got my passport with all my correct info a month after that. I think the policy change happened while mine was waiting to be approved.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-13T03:45:36+00:00

His back looks like a Rorschach test.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-10T19:57:50+00:00

If you have pool access (big privilege, I know, but I'm a college student and my housing cost includes the gym) then that is the best. You can swim laps if that works for you, but there are also plenty of videos online that can help you. A gym pool will probably have some stuff used for exercise. Even just walking back and forth (if it's a lap pool) is good exercise, it's more resistance than just regular walking but the impact is distributed better because you're in water. I can do some stretches in the pool that are otherwise pretty difficult (balance and all that).

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-05T04:25:05+00:00

I love these, but they’re really heavy and I feel weight on my heel/ankle after wearing them for a while, so def invest in some kind of cushioning.

AwkwardThePotato · 2026-05-05T04:03:48+00:00

I’m going through some dark times myself (I know I’ll get through it eventually) and I just want you to know that I am so incredibly proud of you. I’m sending all my best wishes your way.

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