Congrats on the name change, and I am glad to hear the paperwork arrived today

Keep in mind that I am no expert, so the rest of what I say should be ignored, but what most doctors do not realize is that TS women need E levels far above the "normal" ranges given by labs. If your levels are below 200, you may as well not be taking it at all. Girls in puberty have very high levels, with levels over 500 not being uncommon or inappropriate for a TS women who has no contraindications to such levels. Age over 40 can be one of these contraindications.

Also keep in mind that I am speaking of TS women on average, and the right E level for the individual will be determined by her genetic response to E. Some will have significant feminization on just lack of T, while others will hardly respond to those very high E levels I mentioned above.

Patches are not very effective for transition because they do not get the E levels high enough. You would need to wear a very inconvenient number of the highest dose patch to reach optimal levels.

Injections are best to reach those levels, but pills (preferably human E pills - not Premarin) can do it too if you are willing to take enough.

Keep in mind that most pharmaceutical E is designed for postmenopausal women. These women only need a much lower E level to relieve menopausal symptoms. The exception is injections, which were meant primarily for delayed puberty.

The reports that claim E is harmful for TS women, or any women, use Premarin as the E of choice. This is horse E and is not natural to the human body. To date there has not been a single study that has conclusively proven taking human estradiol causes health problems (though I hear they are in the midst of a study to determine if human estradiol carries the same risks as Premarin).

You and your doctor will together need to determine an E level for you that is effective and safe.

Some people just don't absorb Hormones through the skin well. Many in fact. If your levels are not up to a healthy level I say full speed ahead on injections. I was never keen on having shots but I have to say that after the first couple of times its not bad at all. I "think" its easier because I'm doing them. Why? I have NO idea... If you told me that one day I would be giving myself weekly injections and happy to do so? Well? I would be very surprised.

I will dig up my female homone books and try to read up in injectables. I think its "similar" to depo Testosterone but.... Who knows...

YEAH on the paper showing up! Bravo! and Congrats! Your "official" When you figure out how to do the SS card TELL ME!

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.

I am very impressed with what Erica Ann has told me about Marci Bowers. I already knew she was one of the top GRS surgeons in the US. She certainly sounds likes she has lots of empathy. There's the added factor that she does a one-step GRS procedure, which means you don't have to return to get the job finished.

mrt (imported) wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:09 am 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?

Unfortunately, I have numerous prescriptions. By late July, I had already exceeded my insurance maximum yearly out-of-pocket expense for prescriptions. So for roughly the final half of the year, I have no copay for prescriptions. This happens every year. So in a sense, it doesn't matter how much individual prescriptions cost. I will always

plix (imported) wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:32 pm wind up paying the maximum out-of-pocket expense.

Congrats on the name change, an

d I am glad to hear the paperwork arrived today

Thanks, Plix. Friday I applied for a new social security card and filed paperwork with the county so my real estate taxes are properly handled. So starts the long process of document changes.

Starting late yesterday afternoon, I was in a bad mood that lifted this morning about about 10 AM. That's when I figured out what was going on in my head. Once I knew what was happening, I could deal with it.

I decided I am going to go roller-blading in a little bit. This will further improve my mood. I need to be cautious. After all

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:08 am , [quote="Danya (imported)" time=12

20155020]
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in
[/quote]
late December of 2007. My bone fracture risk at that time was listed as 'extreme'. After nine months on a drug that promotes remineralization of bones, though, I am hopeful my fracture risk is now lower. I'll have another bone density scan in January to check things out.

Even my doctor says that skating would be useful (as long as I don't fall! ) since it is a weight-bearing exercise. I love to skate and I am good at it. I rarely fall and when I do it is almost always because someone else runs into me. So I'll go to a place that is uncrowded. I love to skate really fast, too, but will keep my speed down. Of course, since this will be my first time out this year I will skate no more than 3 miles. Last year, I typically did 25.

Later in the day, or tomorrow, I will make some comments on the estrogen issue. Several people have taken the time to post comments on this, which I appreciate very much. I have done significant research into this myself, over several months, but it is always good to get different perspectives.

I really need to get to bed because Sunday will be a long, although fun, day for me. I want to be rested for it!

I mentioned earlier that I am planning my own web site. Having my own space will enable me to do some things I cannot do on the Archive. For instance, it will partly be devoted to selling my photos. It may enable me to form even more friendships locally.

As I am preparing for the new site, I have been going back and reading many of my posts. I am also saving everything I have written to my own computer and ultimately DVDs so I have a permanent record.

Tonight, I was reading and copying my blog posts. Going over material I wrote months ago brings back many happy memories. The responses I have gotten to both blog and thread posts have helped keep me going on my journey. What I have written also serves as a history of my life over the last year. Much of what I read tonight are things that are important but I had forgotten. It really does help to have all this written down.

It also reminded me of how very far I have come in a relatively short period of time. Then there are the many relationships that have developed with friends on the Archive.

I was also reminded of what a supportive site the Archive is. For that reason alone, I expect I will always continue to post here.

Hi Danya!

You mentioned you go rollerskating, please be cautious, we don´t want a girlfriend of ours hospitalised because of broken bones!

Greetings

John

John (imported) wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:08 am Hi Danya!

You mentioned you go rollerskating, please be cautious, we don´t want a girlfriend of ours hospitalised because of broken bones!

Greetings

John

Hi John,

It's good to hear from you. Turns out I didn't go skating. I checked the weather report and the humidity was very high. That's not good for my asthma.

One dry day soon, though, I will go skating. I appreciate your concern and I will certainly be cautious. Even if I skate no more than I few hundred feet and walk the rest of the way, I'll be happy. At least I will have skated this year.

Hugs,

Danya

Sometimes small things can bring me a lot of happiness and I'm sure this is the case for many people. I had a party at my place yesterday to celebrate my name change. I live in a relatively small townhouse and there is limited parking. I had wanted to invite more people but there wasn't space.

At the party, I had the sense of having family around me and I found this extremely comforting. The people there, and others from the Archive, my church and work have in a very real way been my family for many months now. Everyone of these folks has been accepting of me for who I am and supportive besides.

It's been a month since I let my two brothers and sister-in-law know about my legal name change. In that time I have heard nothing back, despite my sister-in-law's promise to write a 'sensitive email' in mid-April. I have not heard one word from my younger brother since I first told them that I am transgender, back in mid-February.

Of course, I am still dealing with some grief over my family situation, but that is lessening with time and it has never been overwhelming. In fact, I hardly ever think of my family these days. Anyway, the important thing is, I am moving on with my life very well without their support. Part of the reason I am able to do that is because of the kind words from Archive members.

In a way, I hope I never hear from my family. I have a strong suspicion that the most I could ever get from them would be a grudging tolerance for who I am. For me, that isn't enough. I don't want to be tolerated. To me, this is too much like 'We love you but...'. I don't want to hear words from my middle brother like 'I disapprove of what you are doing in transitioning but I love you anyway'. How very condescending. We could then spend the rest of our lives dancing around the issue of who I really am. I do not want a relationship like that.

What I have been feeling lately is an emptiness from the lack of any real family connectedness. It's not that I want that from my biological family because, realistically, I doubt they will ever be able to provide it. The party was very good for me, then, in that I felt connected to people who care about me.

I am very glad I have a family here and elsewhere, made up of caring people who love and accept me just the way I am.

I am working through the many changes to documents that I must complete now that I have a new legal name. I have called several places (e.g., home insurance agent, auto insurance, American Automobile Association, etc.) and I have got to say I get a kick out of these calls.

Of course, I have to give them my former name when I start the conversation. Inevitably, they then address my as Sir or Mr. 'former name'. Then I tell them that I am changing my name, that I am transsexual and the my new name is 'new name'. Everyone has been very polite and by the end of the conversation they have segued effortlessly, and with no sign of strain, from Sir or Mr. to Ms.

Interestingly, the woman at the American Automobile Association said she had a uncle who transitioned, had SRS and is now her aunt. Very nice!

I was excited this morning to get my bank account changed to my new name. I have a few checks the bank printed, with my new name, to hold me over until the boxed checks arrive in about ten days.

Now, I am going to change from the slacks and cute top I wore to work into a nice dress, nylons and heels. Then it's off to get a new driver's license. I am hoping they will simply change my gender on the license to 'F' without question. Perhaps if I smile in a slightly suggestive way at the clerk, who I hope will be a man! This will cost me $43.

Otherwise, I will need to go a second time and pay another $43. Turns out my HRT doctor is on vacation for two weeks. She will write a letter to the state verifying I am on estrogen. I will then be able to change my gender on the license. The problem is, there is no way she can do this, since she is away for a while, in time for me to meet the deadline for getting a new license within 30 days of the court ordered name change.