a pound of flesh

[pauraque_bk]

So, hey, my surgery is tomorrow. For those of you just joining us, I am FTM and have been seeking chest surgery for uh...... over ten years. It's been a long time since I was able to leave my home without tightly and uncomfortably binding my chest flat, just to be able to have a normal life and not be looked at strangely by other people.

There seems to be a myth in the common imagination that a "sex change" is a single event that happens to you, one visit to the hospital, all done. This is obviously not the way it really works. Medically, you've got hormones that take months/years to reach full effect, and very possibly multiple surgeries and other procedures like electrolysis and whatnot.

And then there's money. This stuff costs tens of thousands of dollars, and the majority of health plans don't cover one cent of it, though that is slowly changing. I am extremely lucky to have my hormones covered by a low-income health plan here in Vermont. But it doesn't cover my surgery.

Getting the money has been a long road. I doubt I would have ever had enough, except that seven years ago this month, my mother died of complications from her cancer treatment, and my brother and I inherited her house. I am now seeing some money from the sale of that house. Combine that with _hannelore's father very generously offering me the use of his credit, and you got yourself a surgery going on.

There is a lot of stuff surrounding this, because my mother never wanted me to transition, much less have surgery, and I am basically using her money to do it. But, well, I waited seven years after she died, which seems like a good fairy tale number, so I feel relatively absolved.

Anyway, I am kind of losing my mind from stress over this and other things, so just think nice thoughts for me. I probably won't be able to update immediately after surgery, but soon enough I will make my glorious return.

Comments

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Ohmygoodness, how exciting! I hope all goes well for you. I'll be thinking about yout tomorrow. *hugs*

[alchemine.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the surgery - hope your recovery is quick and smooth!

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! And good luck with your surgery tomorrow, hon < 3

[reddwarfer.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Being able to finally have your surgery is wonderful news. I hope everything goes according to plan.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!! Nice thoughts are flying at you...

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

A good friend of mine had chest surgery a few weeks ago, and it all went very well - I hope it does for you as well.

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

Don't stress out, just look forward to the next fabulous stage. I have everything crossed for you, looking forward to hearing how you are later xx

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I hope the surgery goes well.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I'm glad you're able to make this happen.

[wootsauce.livejournal.com]

hope everything goes well!

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with the surgery, and take good care of yourself afterwards. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you. :-)

[florahart]

How exciting! Good luck.

[maidenjedi]

Will be thinking of you. HUGE deal!!

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's a long time to have waited. I'm so glad your wait is over.

[lolaraincoat.livejournal.com]

Seven years is perfect in some ways, but such a long wait! I'll have you in my thoughts tomorrow. May the surgery be easy and every day after be comfortable than the last.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Oh wow!

Congratulations, good luck, and good healing.

[bardsmaid.livejournal.com]

Having been in a position similar to your mother's (i.e. the close relative of the one going through the change), I understand how natural it is not to want someone you love to change into someone different. It's like asking someone to throw away a longstanding relationship--accurate or not, that's how it appears when you're on this end of it. Eventually, though, you're able to accept both the process and the new reality, and I think your mom would have come around in time. Especially if she could see the strain and stress it takes off you to finally be comfortable in your own skin. I could see this at work in my daughter when she finally came out. She'd been a wound-up bundle of frustration for several years before that, and now she's loosened up so much. She seems genuinely happy for the first time in longer than I can remember. And that makes me happy and relieved for her.

All the best with your surgery. I'll have you in my thoughts.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

hugs to you (dude).

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy for you! Good luck with the actual surgery and recovery, and please let us know how you're going.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful. I hope everything turns out well and that you get exactly the sculpted Tracts of Land (TM) you were wanting!

[paean-sf.livejournal.com]

Sending you warm wishes for a good outcome and rapid recovery.

[fluffyllama.livejournal.com]

Good luck and I hope all goes well! *sends hugs*