Transtastic ||Support for the proud Trans Population||

Remy is back again....

Please don't kill me. D:	13.8%	[ 185 ]
I'll be nice, I promise.	23.2%	[ 310 ]
I'm back for now, we're all good right?	14.2%	[ 190 ]
Wait... What are you doing with that knife?	48.8%	[ 652 ]
Total Votes:			[ 1337 ]

[Minak0]

DINGLEH0PPER

Minak0

So I am expecting a call from a clinic today that I signed up to on their website. They called me at work a few days ago, and I told them to call me back today. Anxiously awaiting it, but there's a few things on my mind:

-> I am mtf, and I don't dress everyday like a female. My work requires all males and females to pretty much dress the same, and I do what the girls do since I have long hair, I tie it back, so I guess that is out, In public, I still haven't really went out like a female, and the only person in my family that knows is my mother, and she totally supports me no matter what I do she said. I am already sure if I see a doctor, this is going to be a negative thing for me, since I am not out. Does your doctor expect you to be in mtf or ftm mode upon first meeting, even if you aren't out just yet?

-> Insurance. I have no idea the average out-of-pocket cash a TG person pays. I don't know who to ask, how much to expect for a session, and when they call today, I have to tell them my insurance switches from Cigna to Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2013, which is a few days from now.



I dunno what to say or do when I get this call. ):.... Geez, I am so nervous, I in the back of my mind think it would be easier if the doctor talks to me, then I can say to my family "Hey, this doctor has claimed that this is why I am how and who I am" and it would be easier being out and about with it that way, but geez.... I wish I lived alone. This would be so much easier.... ):

((omg I just had this huge thing written out for you and I accidentally went away from the page. Dl )) Hi, I'm Stefan, Stef for short, and I'm FTM. I'm so happy that your mother knows and supports you, it's wonderful to have someone important there for you through it all. C:
In response to the therapist and insurance, I haven't seen a therapist yet either and I currently don't have insurance so I don't know about that subject. Though, I'm sure it would only mean you would have to see your therapist for a while until you have been out as trans and go out normally as female. But it doesn't sound too bad since you will have the therapists help to get the courage up to tell your family and go out dressed as your 'inner-self.'

Awe. >=...

And that's a good point. A therapist WOULD help that along kind of too, huh? I just fear a therapist trying to say I am not what I claim to be, and them trying to "show me the light" and if they fail, they then try to help. I dunno, I know enough I want to be female, and after 13 years of realizing it, I finally contacted these people, and just want to talk to someone.

As for going out as a female, I rarely ever "go out" anyways, since all my friends work. It seems kind of useless. ):.... Going out for the sake of going out kind of does too, but geez, I dunno. D:... I definitely need that courage. Thanks for those words of wisdom.

Still curious of the insurance if someone could talk to me about that too. I mean, I never have had any experience with the insurance, and am on my parents insurance right now, so yeah, it would be great to know how much to NORMALLY expect going with.

[grinningjester]

Desideraht

grinningjester

Howdy folks. Just wondering if anyone knows what is "normal" for FTM free testosterone. I've been crazy dizzy since November and I just got my testosterone results back. My free testosterone is 297.4pg/mL when the normal male range is 35.0 - 155.0pg/mL. I'm just not sure male range and FTM range are the same.

...FtM "free" testosterone? I think you need to explain what this "free" thing means before anyone can answer this, lol. If this is a common term, can someone explain it to me?

Testosterone in the blood can be found in bound and free forms. You can read about it here:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5554736_testosterone.html

[Atavist]

Desideraht

Atavistically

I'll ask him when he's online. Don't worry about upsetting him, he's really very relaxed and a real sweetie. He's usually online by now too, so I'll send you a PM later. biggrin

His situation doesn't sound easy.

I work in several hours and I'm going to take a powernap, so there's a chance I might not run into him until much later, just so ya know. xD

I sent you a PM. smile

[Umbral_Necropolitan]

Minak0

DINGLEH0PPER

Minak0

So I am expecting a call from a clinic today that I signed up to on their website. They called me at work a few days ago, and I told them to call me back today. Anxiously awaiting it, but there's a few things on my mind:

-> I am mtf, and I don't dress everyday like a female. My work requires all males and females to pretty much dress the same, and I do what the girls do since I have long hair, I tie it back, so I guess that is out, In public, I still haven't really went out like a female, and the only person in my family that knows is my mother, and she totally supports me no matter what I do she said. I am already sure if I see a doctor, this is going to be a negative thing for me, since I am not out. Does your doctor expect you to be in mtf or ftm mode upon first meeting, even if you aren't out just yet?

-> Insurance. I have no idea the average out-of-pocket cash a TG person pays. I don't know who to ask, how much to expect for a session, and when they call today, I have to tell them my insurance switches from Cigna to Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2013, which is a few days from now.



I dunno what to say or do when I get this call. ):.... Geez, I am so nervous, I in the back of my mind think it would be easier if the doctor talks to me, then I can say to my family "Hey, this doctor has claimed that this is why I am how and who I am" and it would be easier being out and about with it that way, but geez.... I wish I lived alone. This would be so much easier.... ):

((omg I just had this huge thing written out for you and I accidentally went away from the page. Dl )) Hi, I'm Stefan, Stef for short, and I'm FTM. I'm so happy that your mother knows and supports you, it's wonderful to have someone important there for you through it all. C:
In response to the therapist and insurance, I haven't seen a therapist yet either and I currently don't have insurance so I don't know about that subject. Though, I'm sure it would only mean you would have to see your therapist for a while until you have been out as trans and go out normally as female. But it doesn't sound too bad since you will have the therapists help to get the courage up to tell your family and go out dressed as your 'inner-self.'

Awe. >=...

And that's a good point. A therapist WOULD help that along kind of too, huh? I just fear a therapist trying to say I am not what I claim to be, and them trying to "show me the light" and if they fail, they then try to help. I dunno, I know enough I want to be female, and after 13 years of realizing it, I finally contacted these people, and just want to talk to someone.

As for going out as a female, I rarely ever "go out" anyways, since all my friends work. It seems kind of useless. ):.... Going out for the sake of going out kind of does too, but geez, I dunno. D:... I definitely need that courage. Thanks for those words of wisdom.

Still curious of the insurance if someone could talk to me about that too. I mean, I never have had any experience with the insurance, and am on my parents insurance right now, so yeah, it would be great to know how much to NORMALLY expect going with.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, I didn't cross live or dress before getting HRT. Only a social retarded doctor would insist that you do that before you have any chance of blending in. All that going out before you "pass" is going to do is get you harassed/mocked/assaulted which might make you afraid to continue. Unless you are really young or very lucky(either genetics or someone to help you do your hair/makeup/clothes) you are going to need estrogen's softening effect to help, also hair removal will do wonders for passing.

For insurance expect to pay for therapy out of pocket with blue cross / blue shield, I had to with their PPO. They paid for about 1/2 of my doctor visits, not sure how the doctor's office billed them though since it depends on the the medical billing codes they send to your insurance. They paid for my blood work once my deductible was met, also the negotiated rates are worth it when it comes to the blood work since it dropped the price from around 300 to 180 the one time I compared the price. If it matters I am in California which might make a difference since insurance companies differ state to state.

[Minak0]

Umbral_Necropolitan

Minak0

DINGLEH0PPER

Minak0

So I am expecting a call from a clinic today that I signed up to on their website. They called me at work a few days ago, and I told them to call me back today. Anxiously awaiting it, but there's a few things on my mind:

-> I am mtf, and I don't dress everyday like a female. My work requires all males and females to pretty much dress the same, and I do what the girls do since I have long hair, I tie it back, so I guess that is out, In public, I still haven't really went out like a female, and the only person in my family that knows is my mother, and she totally supports me no matter what I do she said. I am already sure if I see a doctor, this is going to be a negative thing for me, since I am not out. Does your doctor expect you to be in mtf or ftm mode upon first meeting, even if you aren't out just yet?

-> Insurance. I have no idea the average out-of-pocket cash a TG person pays. I don't know who to ask, how much to expect for a session, and when they call today, I have to tell them my insurance switches from Cigna to Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2013, which is a few days from now.



I dunno what to say or do when I get this call. ):.... Geez, I am so nervous, I in the back of my mind think it would be easier if the doctor talks to me, then I can say to my family "Hey, this doctor has claimed that this is why I am how and who I am" and it would be easier being out and about with it that way, but geez.... I wish I lived alone. This would be so much easier.... ):

((omg I just had this huge thing written out for you and I accidentally went away from the page. Dl )) Hi, I'm Stefan, Stef for short, and I'm FTM. I'm so happy that your mother knows and supports you, it's wonderful to have someone important there for you through it all. C:
In response to the therapist and insurance, I haven't seen a therapist yet either and I currently don't have insurance so I don't know about that subject. Though, I'm sure it would only mean you would have to see your therapist for a while until you have been out as trans and go out normally as female. But it doesn't sound too bad since you will have the therapists help to get the courage up to tell your family and go out dressed as your 'inner-self.'

Awe. >=...

And that's a good point. A therapist WOULD help that along kind of too, huh? I just fear a therapist trying to say I am not what I claim to be, and them trying to "show me the light" and if they fail, they then try to help. I dunno, I know enough I want to be female, and after 13 years of realizing it, I finally contacted these people, and just want to talk to someone.

As for going out as a female, I rarely ever "go out" anyways, since all my friends work. It seems kind of useless. ):.... Going out for the sake of going out kind of does too, but geez, I dunno. D:... I definitely need that courage. Thanks for those words of wisdom.

Still curious of the insurance if someone could talk to me about that too. I mean, I never have had any experience with the insurance, and am on my parents insurance right now, so yeah, it would be great to know how much to NORMALLY expect going with.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, I didn't cross live or dress before getting HRT. Only a social retarded doctor would insist that you do that before you have any chance of blending in. All that going out before you "pass" is going to do is get you harassed/mocked/assaulted which might make you afraid to continue. Unless you are really young or very lucky(either genetics or someone to help you do your hair/makeup/clothes) you are going to need estrogen's softening effect to help, also hair removal will do wonders for passing.

For insurance expect to pay for therapy out of pocket with blue cross / blue shield, I had to with their PPO. They paid for about 1/2 of my doctor visits, not sure how the doctor's office billed them though since it depends on the the medical billing codes they send to your insurance. They paid for my blood work once my deductible was met, also the negotiated rates are worth it when it comes to the blood work since it dropped the price from around 300 to 180 the one time I compared the price. If it matters I am in California which might make a difference since insurance companies differ state to state.

Eww. :/.... Massachusetts here, so here's hoping. >_>;.... and good to hear about all that. I didn't get that call today, so I MIGHT call them up my next day off. As for now, I am trying to learn a few things. Still not passing, but learning is key!

http://imgur.com/BL5Zn

Did this today, and who knows, by the time I visit the doctor and am told to live as a female, maybe I can cloak myself somewhat better. It isn't the public I am afraid of, it is my family.

[Desideraht]

Minak0

[make uuuup]

May I give you some polite make up tips/recommendations? emotion_kirakira I'm a guy but I actually know a fair bit about make up.

[Minak0]

Desideraht

Minak0

[make uuuup]

May I give you some polite make up tips/recommendations? emotion_kirakira I'm a guy but I actually know a fair bit about make up.

Always looking. I am not there yet, but working towards getting there. Still reading advice as I go along, and to be honest, waiting on my concealers, highlighter, moisturizers and stuff to ship, thennnnnn I hope to work fully out and see how I can do. If you have any tips, please, do tell. I don't look at constructive criticism as a bad thing if it works in my favor. I want to be the best I can be, and if you think you can help, please, help.



Also, I love it either way, I am definitely improving from before.


Anywho, a true story about that pic too. Last night, I shown it to one of my female friends, and it opened up a chat that made both of us really happy. See, there is 6 of us in our tight-knit group, however, though three of us are male, and three of us are female, she is the ONLY one in the group into makeup and all of that. She told me last night that she even joined forums to talk to people and her threads get ignored. God, the stuff we talked about, I don't think she expected of me.... epilators, BB cream, and all of that, I have alot of stuff. Told her I am just now starting to use it and plan for mastery by Anime Boston 2013. She loved how the eyebrows came out and another picture I shown her, she said I fit the outfit I was wearing. She even recommended I get my eyebrows threaded. xD....

In the end, this picture made a terrific and happy night for us both. I really hope to progress more and more with it. I appreciate all the tips so far. Never felt as happy as I did last night. smile Gave me confidence in myself, and her, being lonely and always depressed, it made her happy too. 2X a win. smile

[Vardoger]

grinningjester

Howdy folks. Just wondering if anyone knows what is "normal" for FTM free testosterone. I've been crazy dizzy since November and I just got my testosterone results back. My free testosterone is 297.4pg/mL when the normal male range is 35.0 - 155.0pg/mL. I'm just not sure male range and FTM range are the same.

Have you told your doc you're dizzy all the time?
Are there any other symptoms? Confusion? The shakes? When you eat a big meal does it temporarily go away?
Could be hypoglycemia, if so. I had that. Not fun. =(

[grinningjester]

Bornes

grinningjester

Howdy folks. Just wondering if anyone knows what is "normal" for FTM free testosterone. I've been crazy dizzy since November and I just got my testosterone results back. My free testosterone is 297.4pg/mL when the normal male range is 35.0 - 155.0pg/mL. I'm just not sure male range and FTM range are the same.

Have you told your doc you're dizzy all the time?
Are there any other symptoms? Confusion? The shakes? When you eat a big meal does it temporarily go away?
Could be hypoglycemia, if so. I had that. Not fun. =(

Yes, I've told my regular doctor. We've been doing tests like mad since November, MRI, EKG, diabetes, blood pressure, etc. Nothing came back until my specialist for hormones randomly decided to test my testosterone levels, first time since March 2011. I'm not sure that's entirely safe, testing that infrequently. Do you know?

My regular doctor is out until mid January and the specialist can't see me until late January. Cry. I'm seeing a random doctor today to see if there is anything they can do.

As for hypoglycemia, when I was running female hormones only, I was hypoglycemic. Soon after I started testosterone, I stopped being hypoglycemic. This dizziness doesn't change with meals. It's constant. The only other symptom is that occasionally it becomes a severe headache instead of just plain dizziness. My regular doctor put me on topamax, which is a daily migraine medicine, and imitrex, which is a migraine medicine you take while you're having one. Neither helps.

[DINGLEH0PPER]

Bornes

grinningjester

Howdy folks. Just wondering if anyone knows what is "normal" for FTM free testosterone. I've been crazy dizzy since November and I just got my testosterone results back. My free testosterone is 297.4pg/mL when the normal male range is 35.0 - 155.0pg/mL. I'm just not sure male range and FTM range are the same.

Have you told your doc you're dizzy all the time?
Are there any other symptoms? Confusion? The shakes? When you eat a big meal does it temporarily go away?
Could be hypoglycemia, if so. I had that. Not fun. =(

I'm hypoglycemic. Well not really diagnosed, but ever since I was little it would happen, but it's only when I get hungry. The symptoms start out as hungry->shaking-> weakness-> can't move until I get food. Usually I have to eat every few hours or I will start feeling the symptoms start up. @_@;

[Vardoger]

grinningjester

If your doc doesn't know what's wrong, I'm not sure how we can help. Dx

Other than that, could be stress...

[a real noob]

Hey everyone, I only posted in here a few times and haven't since because I didn't feel like I had much to add so I don't really know if anyone remembers me. I've been working with my therapist on figuring out how I should move forward with things and right now it seems the best move is to start coming out to people about who I am. I was planning on coming out to my mother a few days ago at therapy but the appointment got canceled because my therapist was sick. I am actually kind of glad that happened because I think I still need more time to plan how I will tell her. I think my mother will be pretty accepting of this news I mean shes always told me things like "As long as I'm alive you'll never be without a home." and that I need to find people who like me for exactly who I am.
I guess what I am getting at is, Does anyone have some advice on coming out? Or that can help me on what I should say? I know thats kind of a broad question but any help would be appreciated!

[a real noob]

Minak0

Awe. >=...

And that's a good point. A therapist WOULD help that along kind of too, huh? I just fear a therapist trying to say I am not what I claim to be, and them trying to "show me the light" and if they fail, they then try to help. I dunno, I know enough I want to be female, and after 13 years of realizing it, I finally contacted these people, and just want to talk to someone.

As for going out as a female, I rarely ever "go out" anyways, since all my friends work. It seems kind of useless. ):.... Going out for the sake of going out kind of does too, but geez, I dunno. D:... I definitely need that courage. Thanks for those words of wisdom.

Still curious of the insurance if someone could talk to me about that too. I mean, I never have had any experience with the insurance, and am on my parents insurance right now, so yeah, it would be great to know how much to NORMALLY expect going with.

I'm pretty new to this and young so I don't know much about insurance and all that stuff. But I would like to say I don't think a therapist would try to say you are not who you are. It is their job to help you so if you explain about who you are and what you want to do about it in the future I think they would listen and help to the best of their ability. Going against what you tell them about yourself and putting effort into changing you, something that would not get either of you anywhere seems like a plan that would just be futile so I doubt they would try that. Just be honest with yourself and the therapist, if you're not honest the process of it all will just take longer.

[Robot Giny]

feverz

Hey everyone, I only posted in here a few times and haven't since because I didn't feel like I had much to add so I don't really know if anyone remembers me. I've been working with my therapist on figuring out how I should move forward with things and right now it seems the best move is to start coming out to people about who I am. I was planning on coming out to my mother a few days ago at therapy but the appointment got canceled because my therapist was sick. I am actually kind of glad that happened because I think I still need more time to plan how I will tell her. I think my mother will be pretty accepting of this news I mean shes always told me things like "As long as I'm alive you'll never be without a home." and that I need to find people who like me for exactly who I am.
I guess what I am getting at is, Does anyone have some advice on coming out? Or that can help me on what I should say? I know thats kind of a broad question but any help would be appreciated!

When I came out to my mom, I made sure to butter her up for awhile, always talking about gender and sexuality, trans* authors or celebrities I had run across in the news...anything to keep the concept in the front of her mind. Then when I told her, she understood (at least the basics, anyway) and I think it was easier for her to cope with it.

But something I wish I had braced myself for with my family was their pathetic, whiny bitching. I know that sounds bad, I do, and in a lot of ways they're all entitled to their complaining, because it's not like we live in a society that normalizes trans* people. But it really upset me, because almost immediately after I told everyone, the "issue" immediately became about their feelings, and the support system that I thought was my family immediately dissolved. This all ended up righting itself in a couple of months, but it was a tough time to go through, and I wouldn't have gotten through it at all if I hadn't made sure to build other support systems; I regularly went to weekly peer support groups, and there was my therapy, so I was able to let my family freak out for a while, while I concentrated on my own wellness.

I have a few siblings that still won't talk to me, and my dad is all butthurt, but my mom has come around. With my mom, it's helped that I've tried to involve her in lots of stuff about this. She's doing my injections now, she went with me to the store when I bought my face shaving stuff, and I've been pretty open with her about physical changes, we've talked about hormones and stuff, and I just make sure that I'm open with her about it, so it doesn't feel like a secret or anything.

Also, Facebook. I used Facebook to tell some family members that I don't see very often (my other seven siblings that I never see) and that was really convenient. I didn't have to see their stupid reactions, I just put it out there, changed my name and my gender marker...and they haven't talked to me, but it was a really safe way for me to get the information out there to the people that I felt deserved to know. So now they know. And if they don't want to reach out, it's no skin off my back, and any freak out they may have experienced, I didn't have to see it. So if Facebook is a way you communicate with people, you might want to think about using it as a coming out tool; not for everybody, but maybe for some people it would be appropriate.

[Glasya]

G'day everyone, I have a question for the thread.

I figured Id post this here, instead of making a thread in LI, is because you all have firsthand experience with my dilemma, or at least the other side of it.

During this recent holiday season I was able to touchbase with an old friend from High School, We'll call him Harry for the sake of anonymity. In High School, Harry told me that he was gay, a fact that I accepted [it was funny, we both had a crush on my best friend at the time, but that's another story]

When I saw Harry a few weeks ago, he looked like he was taking the hormones to go from MtF, but I couldn't be sure. Harry was wearing a lacy cami under a half-unzipped jacket, makeup, and had his hair in a kind of half-ponytail, along with what looked like a budding chest, but I cant be sure.

Now, my dilemma is this. I want to ask Harry if he is in fact going for a transgender route, and what name/pronoun he would prefer me use when I talk to him. No matter what his answer is, he'll still be my friend, and I'll be supportive of his choices, I just want to be sure that when I ask him, that I don't do anything offensive.

Would ay of you be so kind as to share any tips on how to ask such a delicate question without hurting my friends feelings?