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Testosterone
- Started taking
Testosterone at 24 years old
- I take testosterone
because I was born with ovaries which
gave me the appearance of being a woman. I lived
with this problem until I discovered that I was
able to change this condition with regular
treatment of the hormone I lacked. i.e.
testosterone.
- The end result of
taking testosterone for me is when my
voice became almost how I felt it should be. I
put more muscles on my muscles. The hair on my
face got darker and permanent. People saw me who
I was.
Habits & Health
- Smoker
- Drinks socially
- Has chronic pain in thoracic region,
bilateral osteoarthritis knees, oesteo in lower
spine, and hands. Left bicep muscle severed in
half. Tear in right supraspinatus tendon and
carpal tunnel syndrome
Mental Health
- I have suffered from depression for many
years and I have recently been diagnosed with
temporal lobe epilepsy.
Life prior to Treatment
Life before transition - I
was very naive and withdrawn from society. I was
like a puppet, flopping around and being controlled
by convention. I lived as a girl/woman in the most
basic of terms. I refused relationships with men
and was afraid of relationships with woman. I was
very lonely, sad and confused.
My inner identity was as a man but my outer
persona was as a woman. I hated the physical aspect
of my being but I did not know how to change it. I
lived as a sterile woman, looking male at times,
female at others. I always felt like a man
inside.
The most common emotion
for me was Many, not one. I was frustrated,
unhappy, depressed, lonely, afraid, and most often
confused.
Yes, I had an 'exit-plan'
or had attempted suicide many times.
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Treatment & Effects
What medical
process/hormone regime —
- I was started on 250mg
Sustanon injections every 2 weeks. This was, and
as far as I know, is still the preferred method
to give "female bodies" the "kick start" for
masculinisation.
- I was on this regime
until 1989 when I had my girlie bits taken away.
- Then I became like any
other guy with hormone deficiency, I had it 3
weekly from then on.
What changes occured
that you wanted? —
I'm not sure what the term
medical treatment means, I guess this means
none surgical.
Well, hormonally I got
hair everywhere, deeper voice, more apparent
muscular distribution.
Eventually I grew some
face fuzz.
What changes occured
that you didn't want? —
Oh god nothing.
It made this vehicle that
I had been travelling around in more congruent with
the drivers feelings!
|
body
type before
|
silly
question. I had big tits, so looked like a
person with big tits
|
body
type after
|
for 3
months I still had big tits
|
|
weight
before
|
186
kg
|
weight
after
|
eventually
177kg but it has fluctuated as it always
has.
|
|
height
before
|
171cm
|
height
after
|
171cm -
Don't think this is relevant except some
of us may stand up straighter, i.e. with
more pride once the hormone enters our
bodies
|
Did testosterone or
transition change your sexuality (who you are
attracted to)? —
No change
Attitudes of HealthCare Providers
Positive aspects of
healthcare provider treatment —
I have been very lucky. My
health care providers have been very supportive. I
guess the best example I can give when my GP (who
knows my past) said that we should do a blood test
to see how my prostate was, I was that age when
cancer is an issue. Bless him. We had a good
laugh.
Negative aspects of
healthcare provider treatment
—
A few years ago I was
hospitalised for a suicide attempt, while talking
to the "shrink" he asked about the scar on my arm
(My phalloplasty site). I was at a low point and I
talked about my "past". My gender change (23 years
previous) became the focus of all aspects of
discussion. I found myself giving a "consultation".
I found myself telling these "un-informed" people
information and I got no help. I spent 5 days
locked up with nurses looking at me
differently...(and I'm a nurse).
Other Comments
Transition is a new
word for me and because the process for me was so
short, I have difficulty coming to terms with its
meaning. Back in "the old days" we, (as transmen)
weren't as visible as we are today. GP's were
willing to give "treatment" and we got on with our
lives. It seems that today, the "tried and true"
regime has been rejected and a lot of guys are
being subjected to a long drawn out "transition",
costing them a lot of money and anguish.
Back in 1994 I had to see
an endocrinologist so that I could keep getting my
Sustanon on prescription. We had an interesting
"chat" and half an hour later I was gone. Recently
I went back to him to voice my concerns about the
current trend of F/M's who were having to see an
endocrinologist many times, as part of their
treatment. He was bemused by the amount of times
some guys are having to see their "endo". He said
that he could not see the point of finding out the
"testosterone level" and "getting the level right".
He told me that every one is different any way and
he smiled at me when he said that it obviously
worked for me. (and I have seen an endo twice and
never had a test). I think that a lot of guys are
being ripped off. All these tests, for what? This
is the "tried and true"..250mg Sustanon every 2
weeks was the treatment. It stops periods, it
produce virilising symptoms to appear, such as
hairiness, deep voice etc. Why all the tests? Why
do we need to know what our bodies are doing? It is
not going to make the slightest bit of difference.
I didn't know and personally I didn't care.
All I know is that I got
my injection every 2 weeks. My periods stopped, 4
months later my voice broke and 6 months later I
started work as a man and haven't looked back. We
already know who we are! We just need to change the
silly body that we were born with to get in
step.!!...ah
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Simon
