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Step Softly, Walk Carefully – The Path Here Is Narrow and Untrodden

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(@vanessa)
Reputable Member     United States of America, Washington, Seattle
Joined: 6 years ago
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This is my final post in the series 'Am I Transsexual' - it marks the point where I went from questioning and exploring to beginning my journey in earnest. In all likelihood I'm still recovering from SRS, and won't feel like doing much besides resting right now - so I offer you this brief trip back in my life:

I am sitting outside the local Walgreens in my car holding the pill in my hands. The sun is gently breaking through the clouds as if to create a boundary around which my world would pivot. My heart is beating a nervous tune infused with melodies of contentment.  As I swallow the pill the next stage of my journey to womanhood begins. Thursday September 9th 2010 at 4:30pm.

Coincidentally it was many years ago at this same store I had begun an earlier leg of my journey. I made my first admission to a checkout clerk that the feminine paraphernalia I had gathered for purchase were mine. But today the questions and consequences were different.

Then I had feared rejection, embarrassment and ridicule. Today my thoughts lingered on the fuller consequences of gender transition, and the irreversible changes that will be created.

One month on testosterone blockers. Slowly ramping up to give my body a chance to adapt. They will allow the estrogen I start taking next month to work to it’s fullest potential. I’ll take testosterone blockers until bottom surgery is complete. I’ll take estrogen for the rest of my life. [Ed: As it turned out I had an adverse reaction to the testosterone blockers, so ended up taking a higher dose of estrogen to compensate - of course, that's not really a problem for me any more 🙂 ]

Over time my body hair growth will slow, fat will redistribute throughout my body and I’ll lose muscle mass. Breasts will grow, skin will soften and I’ll become infertile. I won’t dwell on any unintended side effects – I’ve long pondered what could go wrong physically and chemically. The risks cannot compare to the interminable pain of spending the rest of my life as the wrong gender.

Step Softly

As I pill disappears inside to work it’s magic I’m left with a deep sense of contentment. It’s impossibly soon for even a thought of physical changes, but my emotional changes have already begun. ‘Will do’ has been replaced by ‘doing’. Intention has been replaced with reality. The world around me moved on as if nothing happened – at most someone spied a woman taking a water bottle from her lips and thought nothing of it. Softly she took her first step.

Walk Carefully

Getting to this point in my life has itself been a marathon journey of self discovery. Regular readers have shared in my journey through acceptance and first steps, mishaps and learnings. Yet my inner journey was only part of my careful travel. Before hormone therapy can begin you need to see a counselor for at least three months. Once they write a recommendation letter your doctor then runs a battery of tests – blood work, physicals  and anything else needed to satisfy safety’s caution. Blood tests and regular monitoring will become a regular diet.

I feel blessed that this portion of the ‘standards of care‘ has gone so smoothly for me. My counselor and doctor have been partners to help me, not gatekeepers to stop me. I know that others are not as lucky. Despite all my years of working through being transgendered, I am happy so far with the pace prescribed. 3 months seemed like an eternity, yet the decision is so large that it will affect my eternity. 3 months is a small price to pay.

The Narrow, Untrodden Path

I’m not the first transgendered woman to walk this path. So few have traveled it I can barely see the trail through the overgrowth.  Yet I am grateful to those who forged ahead before me – transgender care is light years ahead of where it was just fifty years ago. Despite all this progress, and even though optimistically we number in the hundreds of thousands, drug treatments for transgender woman are still classified as experimental. And health insurance benefits to cover surgery are still few and far between.

To you, my dear reader, I thank you for reading this far and for sharing my journey. It feels like I’m just started, but when I look back I can see how far I’ve come. I pray that your journey is fulfilling, and leads to the destination which is right for you.

Hugs and blessings,
Vanessa

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(@Julie Higgins)
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Joined: 1 second ago

How well I remember buying and taking that first pill. I knew the pills were working when the nurse taking a blood sample asked when my last period was. May blessings continue to rain on your path.

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Posts: 718
(@cloe-anne-webb)
Honorable Member     United States of America, Virginia, Fairfax
Joined: 6 years ago

I remember my first day of the bodily journey only a few short months ago. January 17 I filled my prescription of blockers and estrogen, but I wanted to see myself in a full mirror as I took that first step. They had prescribed a patch for the estrogen that looked the size of Texas. I spent that Saturday on reading the instructions and figuring out my anatomical movements for skin flexing and stretching, Then I gave one more pause overnight. On Sunday morning January 21, 2018 at 8:30AM, freshly showered, skin alcohol cleaned and dried I applied the estradiol patch to the back of my left shoulder. As I looked in the mirror a calm came over me, but also that sense of taking a step down a path that no one else could take for me and without someone to walk with me. Little red riding hood passing through a strange and frequently scary forest, but knowing the warmth and love I would find at the end of that path.
I've read most of your articles, but never commented as I knew I needed my journey to be my own. Thank you my sister for having penned your thoughts as an encouragement to others like ourselves.

Love,
Cloe

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Admin
(@vanessa)
Joined: 6 years ago

Reputable Member     United States of America, Washington, Seattle
Posts: 199

<3 It's a pleasure dear. I'm glad you were able to honor your journey!

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(@casseyn)
New Member     Mexico, GTO
Joined: 6 years ago

Vanessa. After reading all the articles in the series, I’ve noticed that even each of us have a unique and individual way, maybe we all have something in common.

As I was reading, I found myself identified with several of your life experiences.

Thanks for sharing. 🙂

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Posts: 219
Silver
(@charee)
Reputable Member     Canada, Hawarden, SK, Canada
Joined: 6 years ago

What an Adventure hey Vanessa omg. The strangest part of this adventure for me is the honesty of the naivety of it all.

During my youthful days I remember such shows as the ones you mentioned, Springer, Silence of the lambs and so on; all portraying me/us, as the psycho serial murdering rapist bla bla bla.

The idea of ever telling even "myself" that I enjoyed dressing was just not there; It was like this part of me was sooo buried, sooo taboo, that even I didn't dare look too closely. Every time I dressed, even just a little, guilt and shame flooded my mind and heart like black sludge.

I Am grateful for all those who have gone before me creating this trail I can follow and I know that this site and others like it, are saving lives, creating lives and helping people move from self hatred to self acceptance...we're still trail blazing dear, Keep On Vanessa, and Thaaaank You for being exactly who you are!
Namaste'
n hugles always dear
Char

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