This Blog is for YOU...

If you are/were Gender Dysphoric - so as to know some from me and share some with me, and reaffirm that none of us is alone... To acknowledge that we have a treasure of insurmountable Courage, Strength and Hope in us. I have a feeling that we were given slightly higher quantities of those special gifts :-) [If you have a question to ask me, you could write it as a Comment to one of the posts, and either I would reply to it as a Comment itself, or probably, respond in one of the future posts on this blog]

If you have never been Gender Dysphoric - so as to understand what it means to have a Gender Identity Disorder. Of course, it primarily depends on whether you want to or not. If you don't, please do make a quiet exit and try not to be a nuisance.

If you're confused - so as to realize that everybody goes through a stage of confusion - the period could be short, or sometimes, very long. What is important is to acknowledge that being unsure until you're sure is as normal and as alright as night before day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're a human being - so as to find out for yourself whether you want to try to make the world a better place to live in, for every fellow human being, irrespective of their health, wealth, colour, race, gender, religion and any and every other line of division you can think of.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, this blog is for ME - so as to be able to make some difference somewhere by sharing my experiences, and along the way, slowly grow out of those anxieties and insecurities that have inhabited my life for over 2 decades. It is time to escort them to the door now!

Come, Join me on this journey!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A Few Questions and My Answers


1. What are the long term effects of SRS?

Well, the primary and most important long-term effect of SRS is Happiness – an absolute sense of freedom that can only be felt and experienced by the one who has been captivated within his/her own flesh for decades. Besides that, as far as my knowledge goes, there are no long term effects that are worthy of deciding to not undergo SRS if one IS Gender Dysphoric.

The hormonal drugs are known to affect the liver (very) mildly, but I look at it like this. Even if those drugs make my liver’s life and hence mine shorter by 5 years, at least as long as I am alive, I would be LIVING, instead of dying every second of my life.

But yes, SRS should be performed by an expert surgeon. I have heard of women who underwent surgery in local government hospitals and had to face problems like incontinence. The decision about the surgeon is critical. In my 1.5 years post SRS, I have not faced a single problem as far as my surgery is concerned.

Besides this, a good endocrinologist would be the best person to analyze and come to a conclusion as to what drugs can be administered to you, or if you have any other medical conditions that the drugs might complicate.


2. How long should a person continue hormones after SRS?

As per theory… forever. However, I have heard that several transwomen stop taking hormones 3-5 years post surgery and have no problems. But still, personally, I think one should carry on with the hormones at least till the age around which genetic women reach menopause.


3. Did you have any augmentation mammoplasty?

As of now, no. Many transwomen are able to get satisfactory breast growth with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Those who don’t, might choose to go for artificial augmentation. However, it is advisable that one takes a call about mammoplasty after at least 3 years of HRT. It has been only 2 years since I started hormones.


4. What is the ideal age to start hormones? My brother (MTF) seems to be suffering from GID (Gender Identity Disorder). He is just 12. How can we help him?

I would have referred to your brother in the Female gender if he had already been diagnosed with GID. But apparently, that is not the case yet.

See, I would suggest – give him about 3-4 more years to figure out his self and his identity. Don’t try to push him on either side. Let his mind and his thoughts take their own course and inclination with time. If he and you feel he is Gender Dysphoric even after 3-4 years, then take him to 2-3 good psychiatrists and let them diagnose his problem independently.

If he is able to start his HRT before 16 years of age, the transition process would be much less taxing for him – both physically and emotionally, because till then, whatever signs of masculinity have started developing in his body would not be very deep-rooted and will be easily reversed with HRT in a short span of time, unlike later, when it would take much longer (minimum 2-3 years) for the hormones to have satisfactory results, or worse, even less-than-satisfactory results.

I highly appreciate your sensitivity towards your brother’s problem and your courage to face it and accept it. He is a lucky person unlike most other transpersons. Your support will mean a lot to him in the face of the hard life he is probably living. So, keep the strength – yours and his… and I’m positive that several years down the line, you’ll be proud of yourself. My Best Wishes to you, your brother and your family!

4 comments:

  1. I as well as my friends had a query in our minds from a very long time.
    Please dont mind if i ask u that if a F to M loves u {and he is ur good friend also and he is no stranger to u (I know u hate arrange marriage)} and he proposed u for marriage will u accept his proposal coz now he is legally as well as physically a male. And both of u have gone through the same trauma and miseries in your lives coz u both are transexuals.
    Or will u choose a biological male rather than F to M.
    It will be like a widower proposing a widow coz both have gone through same pain i.e. losing their spouses and dark lonliness in their lives.
    I believe this question is unique 4 u coz i guess nobody has asked u this question ever before.
    Please answer this question with pure honesty.
    Hope u will !!!
    I WILL B WAITING 4 UR REPLY.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi This is Mr. Chocolate again !!!
    Please do not mind if i ask u a very personal question.
    Are u already in a relationship if yes is that a biological man and is he and his family accepting u.
    One more question will u ever marry if yes will it b a love marriage or an arranged marriage or love cum arrange marriage AND will ur future husband be a biological male or a F to M ???
    Hope u will reply !!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gazal R U There ???
    Why r u not replying ???
    I m Sorry if I asked a very personal question to u !!!
    Please Forgive Me !!!

    Love & Respect
    Mr. Chocolate

    ReplyDelete

Civility check done? :-)