physical transition

To say that I was excited would have been an understatement. Breanna says that I was grinning from ear to ear. My physical transition begins NOW. I recently found a good doctor thanks to my friend who highly recommended her. I loved my old doc but she had to retire after some health issues of her own. My new doc (hey there Dr. Gromko!) has many trans clients and is extremely knowledgeable about the health issues of trans patients. She and her staff are incredibly respectful and know how to put us at ease in what is often an anxiety-laden environment.

Now, in most cases, care providers tend to follow what is called the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care (SoC). These SoC help care providers discern how to provide optimal treatment for clients with GID. Usually, the process can take over a year to be able to start physical transition. A letter from a qualified gender specialist is required by many doctors before they will prescribe hormone replacements because many of the changes associated with hormone therapy are permanent. For instance, I could lose my hair and stopping T won't make it grow back (please gods, no hair loss *sniff*). My voice will stay in a lower register because T will thicken my vocal cords. There are other changes I will not go into here but recommend Hudson's FTMGuide for more information. I had received my letter from my therapist several weeks earlier and was just awaiting my doctor's appointment to get started.

That morning, I felt like a kid at Christmas staring at all the presents under the tree and knowing it was too early to wake the parents. downtown Seattle until it was time to pick up Breanna and head to the doctor (Breanna wanted to be there since this is a life-changing event). The medical assistant came in and did all the medical assistant stuff and then we awaited the doctor. She came in and asked me what I thought the testosterone would do for me and I told her it would help masculinize my body. She then listed the changes and had me sign a consent form stating that I realized and accepted that some of the changes caused by hormone therapy are permanent. Then, she had her medical assistant call the prescription in to the pharmacy and said that he would give me my first injection once I go to pick it up. YAY! It is HAPPENING! OMG!

Luckily, the pharmacy is just a few blocks away so off we headed. We got to the counter and explained that my doctor's office just called in a prescription for me. Since only minutes had passed, it took them awhile to find it. Not only that, but, as usual, it was extremely busy so I was afraid I had another 30 minutes' wait in front of me and Breanna's time for this was coming to an end (she took time off from work to be with me). The gal at the counter asked for my insurance card and as I was getting it out of my billfold, I heard a familiar voice say that insurance probably won't cover it but she'll check anyway. Standing in front of me was none other than the best friend of one of the guys in my support group! What a treat to see a friendly face as I start a whole new chapter in my transition. She then took the card and prescription from the first gal and went off the do her pharmacy tech magic. No more than 10 minutes later, back she comes with my magic vial and the pharmacist to go over the details. She also informed me that my insurance was VERY good and I only had to pay $17 for the testosterone and syringes, which, at my current dose, will see me through several months.

Off we go BACK to the doctor's office. We waited a few minutes for them to clear a room. I had a few butterflies thinking WOW! This is showing some serious commitment to the path I am on. Then the butterflies dispersed and I was ready. The medical assistant went thru all the steps of correctly filling the syringe with my dose and then called "the expert" in because he needed to learn how to teach people to shoot up in the thigh as well. In walks the woman who is an utter master with the needle who gives me more tips for a successful injection (squeeze quad hard, then fast in and fast out!). She asked if I was ready and as soon as I said yes, she was in and out in a flash. WOW! My first shot of T was now coursing thru my system.

My dose is 100mg/ml every 2 weeks. This will probably change over time but it is a good starting point.