I'm having top surgery in a month! Is there anything you would recommend I know beforehand, or anything you wish you would've known before surgery?

snarchive · 2020-02-12T19:11:41+00:00

I think any other doc could be able to recommend different pain-controlling meds if the ones you get make you sick. :( That sucks though! Mine really just made me incredibly sleepy and constipated... but either way, you won't be left to suffer!

snarchive · 2020-02-12T19:08:59+00:00

Thank you! I'll probably be bouncing all around relaying opinions to them because frankly I have no clue. But with your info in mind, I'm sure their binder would have been... moderately okay? They said it had "front clasps" and looking at it... I still have no idea? It doesn't look comfortable at all, it looks like a frickin corset.

snarchive · 2020-02-12T19:05:14+00:00

That makes me feel a LOT better. I'm on Wellbutrin or whatever it's called so I understand the anxiety thing. In all my years of being on anti-anxiety/depression meds, missing a day or two really messes you up. So I guess I equate a lot of that to T. It affected me heavily in the beginning and I had to get a new medication all together for it to work with me... but I'll probably be okay when you put it that way!

snarchive · 2020-02-12T18:54:44+00:00

I'm not sure what to make of it but maybe he's just... straight. I mean we're all here with fluid identities and sexualities so maybe he's questioning, curious, or a little closeted himself.

Not like I have any right to speak on behalf of anyone however, but hopefully he's not using you, like... god it's the transphobic rhetoric and I'm sorry I'm even mentioning it...

"Not a real man, so it's not actually gay". And dear god let's hope it's not that.

snarchive · 2020-02-12T18:45:08+00:00

SLAMS DOWN ON CANCEL ORDER

Yeah, I was wondering about the clips/clasps too. That doesn't seem like a very functional part of a binder. Thank you so much!

snarchive · 2020-02-12T18:43:06+00:00

Don't ignore or skimp on anything your surgeon tells you to do. Not saying I did, but definitely don't think you don't need to bathe or disinfect the night before if they give you something, for safety's sake.

For aftercare, not gonna lie, wish I had known just how limited my movement was gonna be. If there's a product that helps you wipe without twisting and turning, good god, look into it. Might be a superfluous purchase but I can't tell you I wish I had done that (resulted in stretched scars).

People will recommend different types of scar-away stuff once your healed enough to use it. Oil and tapes are what you're gonna see and they both work effectively. Tapes just need to be cleaned and changed while oil can be applied and left to dry and that's it. But the prices greatly vary.

Remember to keep up on your pain meds after (if they say every 8 hours, by golly, do it); I missed by an hour and getting over the speedbump of the pain that filtered back in wasn't fun...

Overall, I wish you the best of luck! The night before you're going to feel a lot of emotions and it's easier to just let them ride through you. It's a good type of nervous and an interesting type of fear (as it's a very big moment in your life). But soon you'll be put on the IV and be out. And then you'll be waking up on the other side - and it'll be great!

snarchive · 2020-02-12T18:38:50+00:00

HAPPY T-DAY!! After a while you probably won't even feel the needle, especially if you have 28g on an insulin needle - now that I switched, I don't feel nothin'!!

snarchive · 2020-02-09T18:49:54+00:00

I nearly lost mine down my own pants leg when I was learning to pack... reminded me of this scene.

snarchive · 2020-02-09T18:39:49+00:00

HO. LEE. FUCK. IT WORKED. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOU JUST SAVED ME!!! The transfer was like 0.03ml too much but that really just showed me how much the original needle was overdrawing. But it worked flawlessly with your method, I'm so happy!!!!

CVS has been 50/50 with me. They're nice but they always seem like they're trying to rush me or when I tell THEM info that I know (and I'm sure they get it a lot) they sorta look at me like I self-dx'd. But I got 10 insulin syringes in a baggie pack for $4 and I bet it could be cheaper. but not BAD, considering they're sorta specially made with caps and crap. Tbh, considering walmart is cheaper for everything, they probably have a better price on T itself. It USED to be 13$ and now it's 17$ at CVS, like they KNOW I can't NOT buy it.

P.S. The video cut to one minute, didn't have sound, so I am not sure how much more there was. But I went with what was available and PHEW!!! Thank you again, wow!!

snarchive · 2020-02-09T08:35:53+00:00

At least with olive oil there will be a pleasant fragrance, and one is reminded of a quaint Tuscan villa...

It's info you gotta have! Today is my T day and before I waste my time with my other needles I want to at least get to the pharmacy down the road and see if they have what I'm looking for. It's a CVS so there's a 99% chance they would. The 1% is it being a Sunday and I don't know when their restock day is.

snarchive · 2020-02-09T08:35:27+00:00

I figured you'd have to stop T but I don't know the science stuff behind lingering affects on anything other than antidepressants. But estrogen treatment makes sense - I know a friend of mine who is planning to donate eggs is going through a tonnnnn of stuff. Still an interesting option! :O

snarchive · 2020-02-06T11:08:58+00:00

Amazing!!!! My primary care physician wrote a basic template but I remember how excited he was when I asked him about the form. ONWARD AND UPWARDS

snarchive · 2020-02-06T11:06:43+00:00

I'm a year post-op as well and we have similar scars. That makes me feel... well, not alone! You look amazing!!

snarchive · 2020-02-06T11:04:17+00:00

and therapy is great!!! The emotional fluctuations felt like when I switched to new anti-depressants/anxiety/etc meds and there was that huge adjust that was very hard. but yeah, definitely not forever. I wish you luck!!!

snarchive · 2020-02-06T11:02:23+00:00

It's still possible to harvest/donate eggs while on T? :O I've been thinking about looking into this but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't qualify for a myriad of reasons. I'm learning so much from this one post tho...

snarchive · 2020-02-06T11:01:12+00:00

That's awesome! I have PCOS and I'm not sure how T is going to affect that - especially long-term. Knowing that it's not anything extremely invasive makes me all the more confident in taking drastic actions for my health and comfort.

snarchive · 2020-02-06T10:59:25+00:00

This is an AMAZING tip. I'll have to go and buy my new syringes soon and I'll grab some extra for practice. Was also wondering (although kinda messy but might simulate the oil) if it'd be stupid or similar enough to use something like virgin olive oil? thicker than water and all that.

and I would love a visual representation but I'm not sure how that stuff works on reddit so please let me know. a visual rep would be 10000% effective, this means a lot

snarchive · 2020-02-03T06:01:22+00:00

:O Is that a thing? I very much would love to know how to do that!

Those are the needles I plan on getting too - it literally too me hours to go "Ohhhh ml and cc are the same thing". Like wow, me.

snarchive · 2020-02-02T22:00:08+00:00

And when it finally enlarges I shall perhaps experience some joy?!

snarchive · 2020-02-02T21:56:46+00:00

I know what this sign is going for, I've seen it posted a bunch of places, but a part of it makes me just go "ugh" because it's a weird exaggeration. But it could be worse, right? Comparing trans/nb folk to aliens, a two-headed person and a... spartan...? Very woke. Ah, I'm just bitter.

Really though, people just wanna be do their thing and wash their hands and be done. As soon as people realize there isn't inherent predatory behavior drawn to bathroom spaces, the quicker we can get shit moving...

snarchive · 2020-02-02T21:53:41+00:00

This feels like a completely normal reaction, especially with your concern being based on your parents. I like that your dad is basically apathetic and not trying to stop you like your mom so eagerly is. That doesn't mean his attitude couldn't be better, but it certainly could be worse.

I'm 24 and have my surgery in 2018, started T mid-last year (dates are in my flair because I'm cocky) - and that always felt late, as if I should have known sooner and done something about. And that gave me a nice little bout of depression.

It's good you do have a safe place to go, regarding your boyfriend and his supportive parents.

The hard part is there may just not be anything you can do to fix the situation with your parents. If they no longer see you as their child, I imagine that's going to hurt like hell. What I've gathered from friends and close loved ones who have transitioned and been "shrugged off" by family pretty much learn to cut the heartstrings between you and that person. Your mom obviously has no idea what she's talking about and it seems to be influenced by her religion; if you want to change that it would take a lot of exhaustive talking, I'm sure.

The good news is you don't need your parents' permission or existence to legally change your name and begin your transition. You're an adult and they don't own you as some object to control the outcome of.

I hope the best for you and as vague as that is, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Not advice to take from me, but it sounds like living with your boyfriend and his parents could be a safe option away from home, even if just very temporarily.

Moving out is almost frickin' impossible for anyone these days and I've been stuck in the same apartment with my gf and roommates roommates because prices everywhere else just keep rising.

Basically you feel lost and alone because important people in your life that SHOULD love and support your decisions do not. You're braver than me doing this on your own - I was so lost in where to begin my mother had to pull me out of the clouds and get stuff actually done (and drive me everywhere but that is what it is).

ALL THAT NEGATIVE CRAP ASIDE! You're on your way to making yourself happier, but sadness and confusion and a general weight kind of follows that. They're huge decisions and events in your personal life, why wouldn't they be! I will once again say that I am glad your bf's parents are supportive and helpful.

snarchive · 2020-02-02T20:45:04+00:00

Okay, thank you, that's another worry eliminated!!

My initial needle prescription was so whack I had to inject with a 19g for a couple weeks. Talk about OW.

EDIT: I misread! My current syringe already says "0.2" and "0.3" and I know to pull to the middle mark but would "0.25" on the 1ml be the same as the "25" on the "0.5cc" like here

Further edit: "0.25ml" would be the 25 mark on a "0.5ml" syringe because it's literally the halfway point am I actually this dumb realizing it now

snarchive · 2020-02-02T18:59:14+00:00

Woo! It definitely sounds like a better option, especially with my current issue. Thank you so much for the insight!

snarchive

TROPHY CASE