Taking the plunge in wanting to be a woman

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:46 am

The other day I went to my GP, amongst other things, requesting an orchidectomy, and HTR, for MTF. My gender problems have been running for a few years, anyway he referred me to a psychiatrist for an updated assessment, and suggested that the urologists that I am going see about another procedure could possibly do the orch. at the same time, hears hoping.

Requesting HRT, he said that health wise it would be more efficient wait for the orch. to be completed as the hormone doses would not have to be as grate, reducing the stress no my liver.

My appointments cannot come soon enough

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:09 pm

Hi Pat--
I hope your operation will go well. I will assume that you will living fulltime at some point. In an earlier post, you said you have a very masculine appearance, and would not pass well. I was wondering what your thoughts are on this, now that you've decided to go ahead.

Post by **DonnaT** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:04 pm

I hope things go well with your appointments.

Note that if you are planning on GRS some time in the future, having an orchiectomy may be detrimental to the outcome. And may even put some surgeons off.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:00 pm

Thanks for your comments, I know there are some problems, but because of my age (70) I plan on being a very fem male??. What am saying is that I don't plan on having the full female surgical reconstruction, but having the orchidectomy + HRT should make my life very interesting and it can not come soon enough.

Robyn Katie · Post by **Robyn Katie** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:44 pm

Hi Pat,

Being 71, you can imagine I am following your journey with a great deal of interest. Because of my life circumstances I don't regard such changes as possible or desirable for me, but the fem part of me feels a real yearning in that direction.

I admire you for taking this bold step and wish you every felicity and all success. I'll certainly be anxious to hear about it every step of the way.

Bon voyage ...

Love, Robyn Katie

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:10 pm

Hi Robyn,
Just to give you the timetable as it stands mid August, Psychiatrist, & mid October, Urologist, so nothing happens quickly, around here.

Just for a little on the side, the Urologist, absolutely flat out, that is why the long wait, I have a mate that goes to the same urologist, and he said that when the the Urologist introduced himself he said, " Hi I am the "dick doctor"'

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:12 pm

The next page in this slow saga, Visited psychiatrist (45min session) ask me lots questions regarding my feeling towards my masculinity, should I proceed down the path of Gender Reassignment Surgery.

He also asked about my preference towards males & females, must admit that I would probable would consider myself as a lesbian, as my relationship with males is almost Zero.

He than went through the notes that he made some three & half years ago,
and said that he had sufficient evidence for me to go down path of G.R.S.

Refer me to endocrinologist for a full review

As I said previously it is very slow process, begin rather naive about the hollow system, I was silly enough to think it may a little faster than it has been, all this will happen in about 2 weeks time (early Sept)

Robyn Katie · Post by **Robyn Katie** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:13 am

Hi Pat,

If it isn't too harrowing to talk about ... I'd be interested in knowing how you are feeling emotionally and physically as the process goes on.

Does it tend to be full of ups and downs, happy days and sad? ... Or are you kept buoyed up by the sense of relief that it's finally getting done ... or ... ?

But please don't go there unless you want to. I am sure we'll all understand if you'd rather not.

Love, Robyn Katie

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:05 pm

Hi Robyn

You are right the emotions are a little up and down, as you may have picked up that I had been through the Gender clinic cycle some 3 years previously, but at that time my life pretty much in turmoil. Divorce, selling the house, and relocating some 700 kilometers south, and it was at that time when I opted to remain a male.

Now things are more settled, the woman within said, "it is her turn". There is a fair bit riding on the endocrinologist review as to the direction that things go.

My psychiatrist said for me to ring for an appointment if needed, the point hinges on whether my testosterone is normal or low

I must share this over the past 3 years I regrew my beard, which was very off putting for the psychiatrist, anyway I shaved it off last night, and slept like a babe, it is hard to look fem with a beard

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:21 am

Update of my 23 Aug. posting,
Trip to Endocrinologist very detailed personal checkup, down to skinbare essentials, bra, panties, etc totally fully exposed.
He noted that I was not impressed with body-hair, even commenting on the fact that my name Pat, was very handy and my parents must have rather thoughtful in my naming (I said that I was suppose to have been a girl)

I must admit that I was rather cool on the idea of having a penectomy
and he agreed at my age it would be a bit pointless.

End with blood tests for Testosterone, Estrogen, PSA. & will forward results to my local GP.
Visited GP next day to bring him up to date, and we now wait to see whether the local Urologist is prepared to do the Orchiedectomy at the same time as another minor operation. About mid October, I will know what which way things will go.
Sorry about this being a little long winded, my next posting will not be until after the visit to the Urologist, unless someasks some questions

Post by **KimberlyS** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:38 pm

Thanks for the update Pat.

Robyn Katie · Post by **Robyn Katie** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:07 pm

Not long winded at all! The more, the better. Thank you, Pat, for keeping us informed. It's greatly appreciated!

Love, Robyn Katie

Caith · Post by **Caith** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:00 am

That was absolutely not long-winded at all Pat. I wish you good health and great success with your urologist visit. Please keep us informed as you prepare for your visit and some days after your surgery. We're all supporting you in whatever needs you may have.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:59 pm

Hi,This is the latest update, visited up urologist requesting to have the Orch. at the same time that I was to have a TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate), The Urologist said that he would require the all clear from the psychiatrist be for he would proceed with the Orch.
The Urologist said that the main problem is the fear of being sued, specially after a recent court-case where a M-T-F patient sued the psychiatrist and the operation had actually been done in the hospital that I was going to.

My psychiatrist declined to give the all clear for the Orch. and I was pretty annoyed, so I rang him & ask why he refused the permission to proceed with the Orch. and his answer was, that I had not being female hormones, that I need X number of visits to psychologist and that I need to live as a female for 12 months ( Other word the full Harry Benjamin criteria), and I said that it was just an Orch no more & no less and the comment came back that it was still the same requirements, to put it impolitely I was "P--s off". I must admit that I haven't been on any HRT or sessions with psychologist, but I have been living a female for the past 4 to 5 years which resulted in my divorce.
Just to finish off the TURP happened on the Dec.3 2009.
This saga should have been on Transgenders site also

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:54 pm

Thanks Pat for the update. I have been following your saga I just have not commented before. I guess you folk from "down under" have the same problems we do as far as lawyers vs. doctors, huh? I was a care giver to a very sweet lady and both her husband and daughter are personal injury, trial lawyers and very successful. You should see the actions and reactions of the entire medical community when she was either in the hospital or at any of the Dr.'s offices. Talk about the old adage "walking on egg shells."

Anyway, we wish you luck in your pursuit of your justification. You mentioned that you were aware of one lawsuit by someone transistioning and it happened at the hospital that you had planned on using, it does sort of put the "Big" fear into the medical profession.

Hope you can find a solution that will be satisfactory to you and keep us posted!

Love,

Virginia

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