Congratulations on your name change. One more hurdle behind you (and many more to come). It's an important step in letting the world know who you really are.

I wish I could have been there to help you celebrate!

I really appreciate everyone's congratulations on my name change. This afternoon, I signed something semi-official with my new name and it seemed entirely natural. For a while now, I have felt very much at home with my new name.

Monday at court, I had to state my former legal name to the judge. This was the first time in years that I have referred to myself by my legal first name, always having gone by another name. It felt very strange!

So it is really good to have my new name officially recognized. I can't wait to get my first checks with my new name printed on the top.

I foolishly thought I would be exempt from any weight gain as a result of estrogen treatment. Until a few weeks ago, my weight has held steady. Now I am up five pounds! I know this doesn't sound like much but it does make a difference in how comfortable I am in some of my clothes.

This situation will never do. I am starting to eat smarter with healthier foods in less quantity. I am finding this difficult because I feel hungry all the time. For these hungry times between meals, I will try eating healthy, fairly low calorie foods like apples. Today I wimped out and went for some chocolate-covered pretzels. At least it was dark chocolate, the healthier kind. Really, now, dark chocolate is practically a health food!

As soon as I finish writing this (maybe I can make this REALLY long! ), I'll hop on the exercise bike for 45 minutes or so. I really do need to increase my exercise. It will help reduce the stress I feel from work and help control my weight.

I will be attending a party this weekend and really want to wear this 'little black dress' I have been saving for a special occasion. With the mere five pounds of weight I have gained, though, I'd have to walk around the party holding in my stomach the whole time. Otherwise I would certainly look like I'm about 5 months pregnant!

This afternoon, I stopped at Macy's and picked up what used to be called a girdle. What I purchased is euphemistically called a Miraclesuit. The advertising claims that the wearer will look like she's lost ten pounds in 10 seconds. I was doubtful of this claim but desperate. Anyway, the 'miracle' was on sale.

So I bought the thing. I just tried it on and it works! It's even fairly comfortable. Of course, the long term solution is to lose weight, eat better and exercise. I have started working on all three of those but I needed a temporary solution for the weekend's party. I found it!

My gender therapist said I should wear something 'revealing'. Things have been growing in that area but I still don't have much to reveal. Not yet, anyway. I have high hopes for major developments down the road.

Oh yes...that "little black dress." The staple of ever women's wardrobe. You just have to have at least one.

Body shapers or girdles can be a girl's best friend.

Keep the estrogen coming sweetheart, though I'm not a big fan of the patch. What is your current estrogen level? If it's below 400 your development is going to be very slow and keep in mind that we T girls only have about 3-5 years to develop after we start our HRT. After that...it's pretty much all over.

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:01 pm Oh yes...that "little black dress." The staple of ever women's wardrobe. You just have to have at least one.

Hi Erica Ann,

I've actually got two "little black dresses" but this weekend will be my first chance to wear one. Both seem too dressy for work, although I may wear one to the office, too!

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:01 pm Body shapers or girdles can be a girl's best friend.

I already had one of these which didn't work well at all. I realized I needed a smaller size. The one I got today is absolutely fabulous. It fits snugly and has no tendancy to roll-up at the top as the first one did. I am truly amazed by the change this makes in my figure. Best of all is that no one need know I have it on.

BTW, if any local non-female person reads this, sees me and asks about it at any time henceforth...well, you may find yourself wishing you had never been born! Of course, I am teasing. I think! There are some things one simply does not ask a woman. Of course, I will freely discuss this with close women friends.

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:01 pm Keep the estrogen coming sweetheart, though I'm not a big fan of the patch. What is your current estrogen level? If it's below 400 your development is going to be very slow and keep in mind that we T girls only have about 3-5 years to develop after we start our HRT. After that...it's pretty much all over.

I've only been on estrogen 3 1/2 months now and we're still in the process of ramping up the dose. I have been tested for estrogen level once, after the first seven weeks. The results were not encouraging then. I'm too embarrassed to repeat the E level here! Anyone who really needs to know can hunt back through my posts on this thread. Erica Ann, I will let you in on this when I speak with you next.

My next E level check is in two weeks. I see the doctor a week after that and we should double the dose at that point. I will talk with her about going with injections instead of the patch. I know Marci Bowers believes that estrogen treatment for trans women is a lot less risky than some reports suggest. I'll do some research on it, too, and go armed to the appointment with data on injections.

I'm also going to email Marci and see if she can provide me references to back up the suggestion of going with injections.

Hugs,

Danya

I am very happy that Erica Ann's experience with Dr. Marci Bowers has been so positive overall. Learning about her experience has gotten my really excited about GRS and I've pretty much decided to go to Marci myself. That time is still a way off, though, but it gives me something to work toward.

I think practice makes perfect and Dr Bowers has a lot of practice! Plus she has to have more empathy for a person who has had the same procedure? Well maybe doctors don't think that way.

Injections vs Patches? I think the goal is proper levels and hormonal balance. And if the patches work? To my thinking it doesn't matter how you get it into your body. Shots with long lasting esters are ok to a point. Someone in Europe is making a Testosterone injections thats supposed to last months. The only problem is that many men don't seem to respond to it. Even the shorter term ones (that I use) had been sold as lasting 4 weeks. Anyone trying that was on a roller coaster to hell and back. NOT fun. Smaller doses weekly seem to do the trick for me.

One idea that I think might be of value it to talk to your hormone doctor about compounded creams. I know the last thing TS women want to hear about it testosterone but after your GRS being able to make that female balance of Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone would be good if I know my hormones. And compounded drugs are fairly inexpensive. Like $35 a month which is probably your current copay? What I really like is that they are bio identical. *Not that some HRT isn't in fact I think the one your using IS bioidentical. Synthetic is not proven to be bad but if there is a choice between human hormones and synthetic creations that mimic them?

mrt (imported) wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:09 am I think practice makes perfect and Dr Bowers has a lot of practice! Plus she has to have more empathy for a person who has had the same procedure? Well maybe doctors don't think that way.

Erica Ann has told me that Marci Bowers is very kind and a terrific doctor.

BTW, a young friend at work told me there is going to be a series on the We network called something like "Sex Change Hospital (http://www.wetv.com/sex-change-hospital/)", staring Marci Bowers as herself! I suspect this may be a repeat of a six-part documentary produced in 2007. The first segment airs October 14.

mrt (imported) wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:09 am Injections vs Patches? I think the goal is proper levels and hormonal balance. And if the patches work? To my thinking it doesn't matter how you get it into your body.

I agree, the proper level of estrogen is the crucial thing. So far, I have not seen the patch even approaching that. Of course, I haven't been on it very long yet. I'll know more with my next blood test. I will also talk with my physician about the compounded creams you mentioned.

I totally agree on the importance of a low level of testosterone for any woman who wants an active sex drive.

I was thrilled when I got home to find the court order legally changing my name had arrived. I have had a migraine all day which a prescription narcotic didn't cure. My migraine disappeared when I saw the court order. Now I can move on with the work of making my name change have some practical consequences. Tomorrow, I will go to t

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:22 pm he local Social Security Administration office

to apply for a new SS card. I need that so my employer will change my name in their records and for payroll.