January 2012
1 post
5 tags
Testosterone Shortages In Canada
There’s been lots of hub-bub about the recent testosterone shortage in Canada, with many people expressing surprise that this could happen. When I was considering testosterone therapy and weighing my options, one thing I felt sure of was that because testosterone is a common medication for men — not a “transsexual drug” — I wouldn’t be subjected to shortages. This was naive. In the 3 years and 9...
December 2010
1 post
No Shave November Results →
Here are my results for my 1st No Shave November!
Before
After
My mustache is still blond and thin, but you can see it better when I do…
November 2010
1 post
Blacked Out In Observance of Transgender Day of... →
Today is the 12th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. In observance of TDOR, Gender Outlaw has been “blacked out” for the day. Here’s more about the trans people who have been killed…
September 2010
3 posts
Why I Reduced My Testosterone Dosage →
I’ve experimented with lowering my dosage on four separate occasions now: when I had my hysterectomy, when I started using DHT cream, and twice in response to out of range (high) free…
30 Months On T →
Are trans men at higher risk for post-hysterectomy... →
At one of the follow-ups after the diagnosis of my post-hysterectomy vesico vaginal fistula (VVF) I asked my gynecologist if he thought the effects of testosterone on vaginal tissue could have…
Metoidioplasty and Scrotoplasty Surgeons, Part 5:... →
Dr. Toby Meltzer
Originally, Dr. Toby Meltzer was not on my radar as a potential surgeon for metoidioplasty. I hadn’t researched him very closely because I knew his costs were…
(Baby) Mutton Chops →
Posted in Facial Hair Tagged: beards, ftm, Testosterone, transgender, transition, transman, transmen, transsexual
17 months on T →
As of today, I’ve been on testosterone for exactly 17 months. Not too much to report since last month, though I did notice today that my skin seems better than it’s been in a long time. I’ve…
Heading to Gender Odyssey →
Tomorrow I head south for Victoria, BC, then on to Seattle, WA, USA on Friday to attend the 7th Annual Gender Odyssey Conference. This will be my first time at the conference, and I’m looking…
August 2009
2 posts
Certified male: Quebec issues corrected birth... →
Over the weekend, my GF reminded me that it was a year ago that she left for a retreat at the Ashram. It was during the time that she was away that I sunk into a place of bitterness about the…
16 months on T →
As of today, I’ve been on testosterone for 16 months and 3 days.
When I did my #36 injection today, I noted that the needle seemed extraordinarily large. Indeed, I purchased 1 1/2″ sharps on my…
July 2009
3 posts
DHT discontinued, no longer available through PCCA →
Alex tipped me off about a possible supply problem with DHT in North America. I had my pharmacy contact the PCCA yesterday and it was confirmed: the PCCA is out of stock and their supplier…
Testosterone and muscle cramps →
Is it still called a “charley horse” if the kink is under your rib cage?
I get crazy muscle cramps, sometimes in the oddest of places. Not long after starting on testosterone, I noticed an…
15 months on T →
As of today, I’ve been on testosterone for 15 months and 1 day. I haven’t done one of these transition photo posts since early March (11 months on T), and it’s been since February (10…
May 2009
4 posts
14 Days symptom-free from VVF →
I wanted to provide a quick update about how I am healing from the post-hysterectomy vesicovaginal fistula (VVF.) After the unfortunate recurrence of the fistula following application of…
Employment and transgender disclosure →
I find myself in a difficult situation regarding an employment opportunity, and I’m not certain how to proceed yet.
I’ve been offered a long term (3-5 years), lucrative position with a company….
Using DHT for FTM genital growth →
Lost in all the hubbub about my hysterectomy and resulting VVF complication, is the fact that I finally obtained DHT cream and started using it on April 29th. (Which on an unrelated…
Another attempt at healing my VVF →
I saw my gynecologist last Tuesday for my 6 1/2 week post-hysterectomy check-up. By that point, I was also 19 days symptom-free from the vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) complication I had…
April 2009
5 posts
Survey Results: Metoidioplasty and Phalloplasty →
Back in February, I came across an article in the Victoria Times Colonist that suggested that it’s discriminatory for British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan to fund MTF surgery but not FTM…
Spontaneous healing of VVF →
Acquiring an iatrogenic vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) via abdominal hysterectomy is a risk of less than 2%.
Acquiring an iatrogenic vesicovaginal fistula via laparoscopically assisted…
Top surgery revision at two months →
Yesterday marked two months since my top surgery revision, so I shot a few photos to document the results so far.
I’m very pleased.
The smaller…
One Year On Testosterone →
In stark contrast to the unhappiness of the previous post about my hysterectomy experience and complications, I am pleased to announce that last Thursday, April 2 marked my one year anniversary…
My Hysterectomy Experience →
I have been slack in updating my journal over the past month. It’s been a bit of a wild ride. Where to start?
My laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (with bilateral salpingo and…
March 2009
3 posts
Eleven months on T →
As of today, I’ve been on testosterone for 11 months and 4 days.
Not much new to report since last month.
Because I am scheduled for surgery next week, I will have to postpone my…
A pronoun win at work →
Something unexpected happened at work recently…
I rarely meet the people I work for, which in many ways has eased the whole transition process. At the same time, I have some clients who have…
Hysterectomy is booked… for next week! →
I’m scheduled for surgery, next Thursday, March 12!
Posted in Hysterectomy Tagged: ftm, Hysterectomy, transgender, transition, transman, transmen, transsexual
February 2009
9 posts
The Transman Mapping Project →
Showing my colors: My Steal Your Face tattoo on my right tricep
I used to follow the Grateful Dead around North America. Good times! Whether you were on tour or between tours, there…
Survey: Evaluating SRS Options for Transmen →
The recent Times Colonist article regarding phalloplasty coverage in BC got me thinking:
If money were no object, would I look at phalloplasty in a different light?
I’d like to ask the same…
Revision surgery successful →
My revision surgery last week went very well!
The Delta Hospital was a nice facility, small with a friendly staff. They did the little things, such as warming up the hospital issue socks for…
Upcoming top surgery revision →
I’m scheduled for a revision surgery for my chest this Friday at the Delta Hospital in Vancouver, BC with Dr. Cameron Bowman.
The goals of the surgery are to provide me with better…
My new T tattoo →
My GF and I celebrated our 12th anniversary on January 7. Several times now on our special day we’ve celebrated by getting his and hers tattoos. This tradition started on our 6th anniversary (I…
Ten months on T →
As of today, I’ve been on testosterone for 10 months, 1 week and 1 day.
I have pretty much the same comments as last month:
Acne is less than a few months back, but peaks before a T shot
…
DHT and determination →
DHT is currently being shipped to my compounding pharmacy!
After passing on the information (or lack thereof) that I sourced from Health Canada last week, my pharmacist took the reins and…
Waiting for my hysterectomy surgery date →
Yesterday, I spoke with the receptionist at the clinic where the OB/GYN who will be doing my hysterectomy works to ask her to submit my paperwork to the local hospital to get a surgery date…
The ongoing saga of obtaining DHT in Canada →
After numerous phone calls to Health Canada and getting shuttled around department to department within the Office of Controlled Substances, it’s now clear that the Canadian government doesn’t…
January 2009
9 posts
Times Colonist article about phalloplasty funding... →
The following article written by the Victoria Times Columnist’s Katherine Dedyna was forwarded to me via a mailing list this morning:
Not all transsexuals are created equal in the eyes of the…
Updating my name around the world →
Unless you’re an expert paper pusher, the process of changing your name across all various credit and utility accounts can take some time! I received my Change of Name Certificate back in July,…
FTM Sexuality Study →
This is an optional research study, which involves answering personal questions concerning your status as a transgender male. The purpose of this research study is to find different trends in the female-to-male population including surgeries, hormonal treatments, emotions, sexual orientation, and preferences. While you will not directly benefit from participation, your participation may help...
My Transition Team →
I’ve been hearing about Barack Obama’s “transition team” over the past few weeks (always cracking a grin), and in honor of America’s Big Day I thought I’d do a quick post about My…
DHT is a controlled substance in Canada →
As I recently indicated in a comment response, I still don’t have the DHT cream that I got a prescription for on December 2.
The pharmacy where I took the prescription tried obtaining DHT to…
Hysterectomy funding approval →
My appointment in Victoria went very well yesterday.
I met with BC’s SRS surgical assessors, Drs. Gail Knudsen and Oliver Robinow, for about 30 minutes. I’ve never seen a psychiatrist before so…
Nine months on T →
As of today, I have been on testosterone for 9 months, 1 week and 3 days.
Nothing remarkable to report since last month, though I’m pleased that my skin is clearing up, particularly my face. I…
Hysterectomy funding assessment booked →
Yesterday I got the news that I am now scheduled for the psychiatric and readiness assessment for hysterectomy funding. My appointment will take place in Victoria, BC next Wed Jan 14 at 10am.
…
Looking back one year, ten years →
The New Year always seems to bring with it a sense of retrospect—the desire to look back on life and assess from the fresh perspective of another January. For me, this now holds additional…
December 2008
7 posts
Testosterone cypionate vs. enanthate →
A common question for early transition FTMs and body builders alike is:
Which is better, testosterone cypionate or testosterone enanthate?
It’s a bit of a moot question since the two are so…
Testosterone maintenance dosage reached →
I have arrived! Yesterday, I injected my first 200mg dose of testosterone. This is the maintenance dosage that my endocrinologist will not exceed. I will inject this dosage every two weeks unless…
Eight months on T →
As of today, I have been on testosterone for 8 months, 1 week and 2 days.
I don’t have too many changes to report since last month, though I think my voice has dropped a little and I’m…
Metoidioplasty and Scrotoplasty Surgeons, Part 4: ... →
Dr. Miroslav Djordjevic
Dr. Miroslav Djordjevic is perhaps the best known surgeon performing metoidioplasties today. As he is often referred to simply as Dr. Miro that’s what I…