Update on coming out to family

As I noted before, my wife and I sent out letters to family and friends regarding my upcoming transition.  I said I got a lukewarm response from my wife's sister but that only lasted a day.  After that, she was fine which I thought would happen since her grandchild is transitioning female to male.  I also said I got a lukewarm response from my brother.  Well, the text message was actually from my brothers wife.  I have since found out my brother will not acknowledge me or talk about it at all.  To be honest, knowing my brother, this is exactly what I expected.  My sister-in-law said it may take him a long time to come around if he ever does.  Oh well, time will tell.

HRT Approved

I had an appointment yesterday, May 20, with a second endocrinologist.  Earlier this year, I was turned down by another doctor who gave me a bunch of BS reasons she wouldn't approve it.  I came home that day and was laying on the bed with a pillow over my head screaming and crying.  After that, I just laid and stared at the wall for three or four hours.  It was a very dark time for a week or two.  That changed yesterday.  I had a 2:30 appointment and was called back exactly at 2:30!  Yeah, I know.  Amazing, right?  The nurse took my vitals and very shortly, a younger doctor came in.  She told me she worked with the doctor I was seeing and she wanted to get some background.  She was looking through my file, mentioned the letter from my therapist also recommended an orchiectomy.  I told her it was already done on 4/26.  So she did some evaluation of my health, then went and talked to the main endocrinologist.  I told my wife I wasn't happy she didn't mention blood tests and didn't have a good feeling.  My wife simply said a prayer.  So the older doctor comes in with the one who had evaluated me.  He sits and talks for a couple of moments and says he sees no reason I shouldn't start HRT.  When I was turned down by the other doctor, I started crying in her office and when he said he was approving me, I started crying again although for a totally different reason.  We also talked about my therapist and he seems to have a very high opinion of her plus we talked about Southern Comfort Conference which he went to last year.  So anyway I had to go down stairs to the clinic for them to draw blood to check baseline hormone levels, check kidney and liver functions.  If everything comes back ok, he will send a prescription for estrogen to my pharmacy, probably the middle of next week.  I have had both kidney and liver function tests in the last six months so I know they will be ok.  So next week, God willing, I will be on a starting low dose HRT.  I see the endo again in four months and we will up the dosage.  Look out world!

Two Week Orchiectomy Update - Hot Flashes Are A Bitch!

Yes, the hot flashes have started and OMG!  I had one just before the start of church Sunday and one of my friends was laughing at me when she realized why I was fanning myself with the bulletin.  Anyway, I had my two week checkup yesterday and the doctor says I'm doing fine.  I have been so impressed with him.  He actually called and talked to Dr. Christine McGinn who is a GRS surgeon regarding how to do the incision.  He must have talked with her a while or done a lot of research because he talked about how the surgery is done.  Not many doctors would have done that for a patient.  I told him that I appreciated the fact he has treated me with dignity and respect, something transgender people don't always get.

Five Day Update On Orchiectomy

Five days and still almost no pain.   This evening I've had just a slight ache in the abdomen but no more than a 1.  Still a little watery leakage showing in the pad and I have to admit one thing I never thought I would hear my wife ask me is, "Have you checked your maxi pad and changed it?"  I don't know what the timing is but I'm pretty sure I had a testosterone crash on Friday.  I felt like a vampire had bit me in the neck sucking every bit of energy from my body and last night had a major hot flash.  I haven't noticed any emotional changes yet but I'm sure there will be because there are side effects with castration just like with anything else.