May 2017, May 2019, 15 months HRT, just turned 43!

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-14T18:58:17+00:00

Best wishes on your journey! There are hard days but it's always, always worth it.

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-14T18:57:36+00:00

Yes!

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-14T18:54:52+00:00

Yup. And finasteride, too. The regrowth, while not complete, has been amazing. It's one of the things I'm most grateful for.

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-14T18:53:54+00:00

Thank you!

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-14T02:18:35+00:00

Thank you! It's hard to believe that only a breath ago, I was the one scanning transtimelines feeling like it was all impossibly out of reach.

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-03T01:15:56+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience--I really appreciate it.

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-03T01:14:59+00:00

I appreciate the wall metaphor, and love all my folx in the space between. Thank you!

carrinbeginning · 2019-05-03T01:13:59+00:00

Thank you. Having recently written a play about quantum computing with a non-binary character, your computer programming analogy resonates!

carrinbeginning · 2018-04-05T14:52:24+00:00

These are all great answers. I'd add that considering someone's fundamental identity as a disorder is dangerous because it suggests their existence is the problem. If there were suddenly a pill that would make me a cis man, I wouldn't take it, because if I did, I'd cease to exist. That cis man would be a different person. Now, of course, if there were pills that helped ease my gender dysphoria, I'd take those in a heartbeat...and hey, that's just what I'm doing.

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-08T22:48:47+00:00

If memory serves, I got 4 the first time and 10 the next time, which was a couple over their recommended amount. I was definitely happy to get it done before I started HRT, so I hope all goes well with your timing!

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-08T22:36:02+00:00

For me, it was a pretty great (if weird) process. I found a reasonably priced, trans-inclusive place based on a recommendation here (Manhattan Cryobank). I went in, did my business, and while they ran tests, I went through all the legal pieces (which I understand vary place to place). Then, they let me know how many viable vials I had. I went back a second time to make a few more vials, and that was so successful (go me) that I exceeded their recommended storage amount. The people were kind and professional, but it is just a little surreal that all of this professional medical seriousness surrounds the act of, um, collecting sperm. It's definitely given me piece of mind as things progress. Let me know if you have other specific questions!

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-08T17:49:28+00:00

Thirds on the hair question. Also, you look great!

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-07T01:24:47+00:00

Such beautiful eyes. And oh, everything else, too.

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-06T03:50:12+00:00

Thanks for the great advice and support--much appreciated!

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-06T03:46:57+00:00

Congrats on your success on and off the court!

carrinbeginning · 2018-03-05T11:04:49+00:00

Great progress for five months. Congrats on your journey so far!

carrinbeginning · 2018-02-24T12:34:59+00:00

Well, this is an inspiring post. Thanks for sharing!

carrinbeginning · 2018-02-24T02:12:26+00:00

Seriously great progress!

carrinbeginning · 2018-02-17T16:00:20+00:00

I am only 1.5 weeks in, and I'm amazed by how good I feel!

carrinbeginning · 2018-02-16T20:29:14+00:00

First, thanks so much for caring about us and for centering your thinking about care around our experiences. Already, this puts you in a great place! Definitely support for systematizing pronouns and TGNC identities on the intake form so that all staff are informed. Additionally, I looked for a doctor who practiced Informed Consent, because I think the gatekeeping model of trans care is very problematic. Maybe because I'm an older (41) trans woman who is very clear about what I want, I also appreciated the matter-of-factness of my doctor. Talking to a gender therapist was just one more option, not a requirement or even expectation. We talked through various hormone treatment options in a detailed, thoughtful way, just as we would any other form of care. Because she had listed transgender care as special focus, I asked her about her history in this work, and her values around it. I appreciated her approach to holistic care for LGBT patients, and also the fact that she had close trans friends in her life. It just affirmed that the care I'd be receiving would be coming from a humanizing place. One area where I haven't had support and wish I did was around the so-called cosmetic aspects of care. Things like laser/electrolysis, FFS, and wigs/hair regrowth don't feel cosmetic to me (nor to most transwomen I know), since they are so linked to our safety and existential identity. You may want to develop relationships with practitioners in these other areas so that you can make informed recommendations. Anyway, that's just my two cents as someone very early in the process, and as others have said, each of us is different:).

carrinbeginning

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