Transitioning at work and in all of my life

[kennath7 (imported)]

Its really good that your doing so great

I wish you all the good in life ( your new life )

[dancinggizmos (imported)]

I wish you the best in your transaition process.

I hope that all works out for you, however you want to keep in mind you want to watch your health and make sure you keep your bones and joints in shape. You may want to talk with your Physician about trying to keep things up a Family Practioner should be able to adequatley help you.

Just want to wish you luck and remember to keep up and stay positive, you can sometimes run into rough roads.

[Danya (imported)]

Its really good that your doing so great

I wish you all the good in life ( your new life )

Hi kennath7,

Thanks for the good wishes.. I am gl

ad to learn you are doing well, too, in your new life.

I wish you the best in your transaition process.

I hope that all works out for you, however you want to keep in mind you want to watch your health and make sure you keep your bones and joints in shape. You may want to talk with your Physician about trying to keep things up a Family Practioner should be able to adequatley help you.

Just want to wish you luck and remember to keep up an

d stay positive, you can sometimes run into rough roads.

Hi dancinggizmos,

I appreciate the good wishes. I should get more exercise and I am gradually working back into a regular routine. Last December, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. The prednisone I have had to take over the last 8 years, although intermittently but at high doses, is the likely cause. I am on medication to help reverse the bone loss.

My personal physician is an internist, not technically a family practitioner as you point out. He is very capable, listens to my concerns and is proactive in testing and treatment. Next week is my annual physical. Then there are my other two physicians I see several times a year. Some of my health problems require specialists.

There can, and likely will be, some rough periods ahead. So far, my positive attitude has helped me navigate a few difficult periods with relatviely little problem.

Thanks for writing!

[mrt (imported)]

I'll join the choir in singing our praises for you and your continued success. I think it all seems like the pieces are fitting so perfectly into place that its just amazing... And must be an 11 (on the 1 to 10 scale) for personal relief for you.

I think its great that your starting to think about SRS in a positive way. I agree thats not "all" there is to transition but its a nice kind of the Icing on the cake I think. The hard work for so many people is what your doing now and your doing so great. I think surgery while never "fun" will be a piece of cake for you. As to SRS in general? I think for some Transgender people its of value to help "others" get it as well. Ok, your plumbing is female so NOW we accept this is not just a stage your going through or whatever. *As dumb as that might sound. I think for potential relationships in the future being hooked up with Female Plumbing is going to make things much less drama filled! The alternative would be a tough sell.

Surgery, medical stuff have always been kind of high drama for me. I think I'm doing better. I don't dread my physical worrying about the DRE or what my doctor might suddenly discover and so on. Now, its more of a check the fluids, kick the tires and talk about what things I can do to make my health better and maybe chart out what I've done that worked and what didn't.

By all means make your good health a part of this transition. I want friends who will be around!!! and healthy ones!

[drew28 (imported)]

That sounds exciting if breast development happened to me

That first breast development, along with the pain/sensitivity is an awesome time - enjoy it as it is short lived!!!

I'm kind of between an AA and A cup, if I ever go the T-blocker route again I will go all out, B cup perhaps...

Another pleasure I hope you will enjoy is having some suckle on them.....that is a VERY pleasurable sensual feeling!!!!!

I wish you well with your brother too!

[Danya (imported)]

That sounds exciting if breast development happened to me

Hey drew28,

Breast development is an exciting part of transitioning. So far, I have had no volunteers to suckle on them.

Maybe I hang out at work too much!

Best wishes,

Danya

[Danya (imported)]

I'll join the choir in singing our praises for you and your continued success. I think it all seems like the pieces are fitting so perfectly into place that its just amazing... And must be an 11 (on the 1 to 10 scale) for personal relief for you.

Hi MrT,

This is likely to be a long response as I am feeling VERY emotional, in a good way, this evening.

So many people on the Archive have been very supportive whether it has been encouraging words, compliments, requests for information (that make me feel I can offer something to someone else) or even an occasional boost to my self-confidence. In the several weeks before I transitioned, I needed critical, confidence-building support that was offered by a number of people here. Since transitioning, my self-confidence has remained high with only very minor perturbations.

In early May, I was like 'Oh My Gawd - what am I doing?'. It was the magnitude of the change that initially had me a little spooked. Many, although certainly not all, people about to embark on the adventure of transition have some last minute doubts. Several people here, including you MrT, Kristoff, Erica Ann and Jesus among others, were there for me during this time. Others have played a part in easing my way before I transitioned. I hesitate to list any because I will likely leave some out. So please forgive me if I have left someone out of this additional list: talula, River, tugon, plix, tanglog. I know there are others but I would have to search through so many wonderfully supportive posts to find them all. Sometime I want to do that.

That support made a huge difference. By the time my big day at work came around on May 19, I was totally calm.

The day I really transitioned to living full-time as a woman was several days before I appeared at work as myself. On Friday, May 16, I gently let go of my male self. I think that's how I phrased it in an earlier post . Anyway, I had the day off from work and did a number of fun things as a woman for all the world to see. The feeling of freedom on that day, May 16, and relief was almost overwhelming. That is also when I first felt "at last, I know I fit in, I know who I am and life is so very good". This was one of the most profound moments of my life. To feel I belonged after a lifetime of feeling apart.

A week before that, on Friday May 9, a company-wide email was sent announcing what I would be doing. It also unambiguously stated the full backing and support of upper management. There were also resources provided, by me, included to educate people. The following week, mandatory training was held for people in my division. I doubt many at my company needed it. A repeat of the training session was held later, for others outside my division who wanted to attend. From what I hear, it was packed.

Early Friday afternoon, May 9, before the announcement was made I was in the office. My initial plan was to be at home when the announcement was made. In fact, the initial plan was not to make the announcement until Monday, May 11. It was only at the last minute I was told of the date switch. I could have insisted it be postponed but decided to let it fly on Friday.

Now I am overwhelmed with emotions over the next part - I am crying, I admit it! - this is part of what estrogen does. I spoke with Jesus (our Jesus on the Archive) to get his advice on whether to leave the office or stay when the company-wide email went out

to hundreds of employees in several states.

MANY of whom know me.

I rather lamely said to Jesus, 'but I've never done anything like this before'. His response was something like 'you're never likely to again either!'. To which I replied, 'yeah, for my next act I will change into an orangutan.' He suggested I remain in the office and see how people would respond to the announcement. I could always duck out if things were uncomfortable.

So I stayed and I am glad I did. I got nearly 40 emails of support that day, after the late afternoon announcement. Of course, I was in tears again after reading and responding to every single one of those heartfelt messages. A few told stories of TG people in their own lives. One or two of those stories were heart-wrenching.

Nearly everything that has happened since I transitioned has been very positive. I am so fortunate and I am very thankful not only that I am doing well but that I have the continuing friendship of many here, on the Archive. As an added bonus, I am making terrific new friends on the Archive and in the non-virtual world. This place, the Archive, is a very supportive place for many. Others have said this, too. We can all thank the volunteers who keep this site going.

Just yesterday, two coworkers stopped me in the hall. I have known one, in passing and for short conversations, for years. I said 'hi' to him a number of times since May 19. It was only yesterday he recognized who I am! He, the young woman with him and I had a great conversation of 10 - 15 minutes. Like others, they commented on how well I am doing. The woman recently had breast cancer and a mastectomy. She is fine but she has certainly had a lot on her mind. She recounted the story of the birth of her child. When she and her husband were lovingly holding their newborn, a nurse came up to them and asked what the child's gender was. This sweet woman wanted to point out to me that they didn't care what their child's gender was. They hadn't even considered that until the nurse asked. They were loving their child simply for being itself, whatever its gender. She told me she felt I was in a similar situation and I should be loved just for who I am. Their child was a girl, btw.

I can't write anymore on this now because, of course, I am in tears again. I am still blown away by the fact that I have arrived at my real life, the real me.

Hugs to everyone,

Danya

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi Danya,

As we have discussed in the past, GRS or SRS, is the finishing touch or the "icing on the cake" in our journey.

At first I thought is was the be all the end all, the most important thing. What I came to find was that going full time, living your life every day 24/7 as your real self and finally being acknowledged and accepted as the person you really are was by far and away the most important part of the transition process.

The GRS procedure will be the final completion, the last step of the project we have both have imparted on.

Keep going, it only get better from here.

[Danya (imported)]

What I came to find was that going full time, living your life every day 24/7 as your real self and finally being acknowledged and accepted as the person you really are was by far and away the most important part of the transition process.

The GRS procedure will be the final completion, the last step of the project we have both have imparted on.

Keep going, it only get better from here.

Hi Erica Ann,

Over the last several weeks, it has been clear to me that many, and maybe most, people who know me are at last truly accepting me as a woman. There had to be an initial period of adjustment for coworkers and friends. It seems many have moved beyond that and now simply take me for who I am, a woman. This has allowed me to feel even more relaxed about my transition. I agree, living 24/7 as a woman and being accepted as one, besides, are the most important parts of transitioning.

Thanks, as always, for the words of encouragement.

Hugs,

Danya

[mrt (imported)]

I've pondered the positive nature of the Archive. When you made the statement "Oh my God what am I doing" It dawned on me that a fair number of men on this site probably said the same things to themselves before they had their Orchiectomy. For as much as some embrace it and others resist it the nature of it is probably way up there on the list of things that men don't really do in great numbers. Anyway maybe partly because of that there is a bit more open minded thought to what others go through even if SRS is a bit more complicated then an orchiectomy (Surgery wise) and a ton more complicated when it involves changing that letter on the Gender part of the Drivers license. Anyway, I'm truly pleased that things ARE going well for you and Erica Ann. It gives me hope that our society is a little less dense.

But then I watch cartoons with my kid and see a whole show devoted to Sponge Bob trying to (re)learn how to tie his shoes.... SIGH