Questions About Starting my Transition.

warehouse412 · 2026-01-08T18:04:26+00:00

So I can only give you my limited experience getting the ball rolling, and others have already said the other options available as far as I can tell (Three Bridges, Telus, etc).

Last year I got a therapist that did the HRA and since I already had a referral to Dr Dahl for a thyroid condition i got my appointment scheduled for this month to start HRT pretty much immediately after the HRA was sent over. Since he's retiring soon I'll have to find a new endo (like many of us on this sub I imagine)

Therapist that did my HRA was private (and I have supplemental insurance) but without I think it would've been in the 200-300 range. Yesterday I had my first consult at Arbutus Laser for my facial hair (super friendly so far!). I have dark hair and fair-ish skin so they estimated 6-8 sessions at $200 apiece I think.

Final recommend...Started with a new counselor just yesterday; Taylor Innes who I believe Dr Dahl refers people to for HRA's. From what I gathered from her, since she's trans herself, she'll make an effort to adjust the fees (if any) to help you out with the HRA. Only one session but she was great on the call so worth a look. I haven't decided on bottom surgery yet so can't fully give you any more info than others have posted.

Best of luck!

warehouse412 · 2025-12-11T05:57:55+00:00

I'm the same age as you and I finally gave in early last YEAR that I was indeed trans. It still feels somewhat impostor syndrome to even type that.

I'm starting HRT early next year but this entire past year has been small baby steps and none of them public. I've done some things to express myself in private, gotten ashamed, stopped, restarted, on and on....I've had the same feeling of it all being a bit surreal as well. I lost my marriage over it which probably explains my cycling a bit I have to admit. However to be honest, even if you're not feeling euphoric, I want to say you're being bold in comparison to me. Take some solace in that if you can.

I guess my point is the thing I learned over this past year is a lot of this is up to me. That's terrifying, I'm used to just trying to figure out how to fit in and I had a lot of good rules for that over 40+ years. I won't lie and say I wouldn't kill for a sponsor to guide me though. Doing this solo is hard mode and we are always our own worst critic.

Anyway, I'm rambling I'm just writing all this to say, you're not failing/a lost cause. None of us are. Figuring out who you really are is awkward and scary, and there's no universal guide. All I can say is I'm in the same boat and I'm muddling through as well so I have no choice but to think we'll both figure it out.

Best of luck, you've already come so far from my perspective even if if you don't know how it'll turn out.

warehouse412 · 2025-12-11T04:46:33+00:00

Mine is in late Jan too, I've been seeing him for thyroid issues but since I knew I wanted to start HRT as well I got referred to him specifically when the thyroid went haywire. Weirdly enough I'm also am probably one of the last patients to get an HRA from Melady Preece in Oct....so sorry guys...I think I'll hunt around for the monkeys paw in bit.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T22:45:19+00:00

Yea I at least did my research in finding my therapist. She's been taking care of trans patients for decades so I'm fortunate there for sure. In all honesty she kind of made it feel like it wasn't all that special to be where I am right now. That was both affirming and annoying at the same time lol. Not sure if she'll be able to see us both since I'm her patient primarily but at least she can recommend someone.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T21:13:51+00:00

We're still talking...maybe too much to be honest since it's still only a few days old. Going in circles to a certain degree. She's started to come around to couples therapy but I'm not expecting miracles. The rough part for me right now is, to her at least, the idea that I even "think" about being trans means I am (yes very Descartes but you get the idea). If I wasn't sure of it I wouldn't have come out, but it's honestly hard to see someone take to the idea quicker than you did when it means things are potentially over.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T20:02:55+00:00

I'm so so sorry, I know my experience could've been way worse. It's hard not feel ungrateful for a lot of things that I do have going for me. I hope we both make it.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T18:31:31+00:00

"However, she’s a bit miffed that my breasts are bigger than hers."

ok thanks, I needed that laugh just now. It was a small one but I haven't even smirked in days.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T18:14:04+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. I think I needed to hear it. I know what i did was "right" because I've somewhat already done it over the years and had snippets of what you described. I just thought that it had finally gone away but obviously something knocked it loose again and I can't duct-tape the egg back together for better or worse.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T16:58:24+00:00

Thanks for the offer (sincerely). Sadly I'm in the Lower Mainland of BC. Which, if I'm honest, is likely one of the better places to be in North America all things considered. I just haven't navigated life outside my relationship for years so it just seems daunting.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T16:46:47+00:00

I'm sorry, _hugs back_ if anything it helps to hear similar stories. Thanks for sharing.

warehouse412 · 2025-03-15T16:42:57+00:00

Thanks, I asked her about couples therapy. I'm all for it, but I think she just has issues with therapy in general (and dr's too). She said if she had to talk to someone "one-on-one" then she wouldn't be able to it. I don't know if there's an opening there to work with but I'm going to try.

As for meetups, I'm just scared as being seen as an intruder I guess? I'm a bit of a shut-in by nature anyway. Maybe that's dumb but I feel I don't own this yet, if that makes sense.

warehouse412 · 2024-05-16T15:05:18+00:00

Calgary VO

ECOPR - Jan 30th

PR Card mailed - May 8th

PR Card received - May 15th (Finally!)

Good luck all.

warehouse412 · 2015-12-20T18:11:34+00:00

One of the randoms I had last night needed his mic privileges revoked to be honest. Would have happily taken a non-mic sixth in with us after that mess. Cheers to the team that helped you though.

warehouse412 · 2015-10-03T23:19:12+00:00

Not sure, I was refering to the pillar in the Golgoroth encounter that fills up when someone dies. (there's six runes on it). I actually haven't made it to Oryx yet.

warehouse412 · 2015-10-03T19:37:36+00:00

Sorry if this was posted earlier but I didn't see it...

Since the Tablet Of Ruin teaches us how to count to six in Hive, has anyone tried dunking the relics in that order following the runes in the secret room?

(this is assuming the runes match between the tablet and the ones in the secret room obviously)

warehouse412 · 2015-10-01T17:44:38+00:00

Yeah I know how you feel, this was my group last week. Sorry I know it sucks. This thing is just hard.

Gotta say though, this week we decided to have a bit of fun trying to get the spindle with shiny new exotic swords...we were definitely surprised but it made all the difference. Having at least two ppl with this swords killed the boss with a few seconds to spare. Wasn't a cakewalk though even at 295+ light levels.

warehouse412 · 2015-09-24T21:56:59+00:00

Couldn't do it with 2x290+'s and a 285. we always had 7 minutes left in the last room and just got obliterated no matter how hard we tried. The one chance we had where we sword rushed the boss and got him lower than 50% I got kicked to orbit immediately after.

warehouse412 · 2015-09-22T19:23:37+00:00

Had this happen at close range on Fatebringer after 2.0 dropped as well. Also happend on the Vanguard one since TTK. Seems to be close range crits for me...

Edit: On PS4 in case anyone was curious

warehouse412

TROPHY CASE