Wow - Just Added my 1st Six Months Costs

[minding-maura.livejournal.com]

I just listed (and posted in the sidebar) a detailed account of my costs related to transitioning to date. It really adds up fast when you track everything.

Even with my Spironolactone covered by my prescription plan, it still adds up.

$545.00 before taking my first pill or shot.
$841.70 since starting the regimen.
______
$1386.70 Grand Total So Far for the first 6 months of my transition.


Realize too that since I started the regimen I have not seen the therapist. From her I got a clean bill of health so I only need to check in with her as I feel is necessary right now. Once I go full time however I will start back on a weekly basis - adding even more to the process.

This also does not include adding Finesteride to the regimen as I have not started taking that yet, and, it does not include doubling the dosage of Spiro which is coming up really soon too.

I have not started laser/electrolysis yet either. God help me when I have to start buying clothes and shoes and have to have them custom made for me. Wow!

Pre-Med's Costs
02-09-2006 - 1st Therapy Appt. - $35.00
02-16-2006 - 2nd Therapy Appt. - $35.00
02-23-2006 - 3rd Therapy Appt. - $35.00
02-28-2006 - HRT Intake Meeting - $50.00
02-28-2006 - 1st Bloodwork Taken - $200.00
03-02-2006 - 4th Therapy Appt. - $35.00
03-09-2006 - 5th Therapy Appt. - $35.00
03-16-2006 - 6th Therapy Appt. - $35.00
03-21-2006 - 1st Appt. w/Dr. - $50.00
03-23-2006 - 7th Therapy Appt. - $35.00

Costs for 1st Six Months of Regimen
03-22-2006 - Ordered Estradiol Valerate - $40.95
03-23-2006 - Picked Up Spiro - $2.00
03-28-2006 - Dr showed me how to inject - $50.00
04-05-2006 - Ordered Progesterone IM - $34.95
04-22-2006 - Refilled Spironolactone - $2.00
05-02-2006 - Dr 30 Day Follow-Up - $50.00
05-02-2006 - Dr. Take Bloodwork - $200.00
05-22-2006 - Refill Spironolactone - $2.00
06-10-2006 - Refill Estradiol Valerate IM - $40.95
06-23-2006 - Refill Spironolactone - $2.00
06-26-2006 - Refill Progesterone IM - $34.95
07-23-2006 - Refill Spironolactone - $2.00
08-16-2006 - Dr Follow Up Appt. - $50.00
08-16-2006 - Dr. Take Bloodwork - $200.00
08-22-2006 - Refill Spironolactone - $2.00
08-29-2006 - Dr Review Labs - $50.00
08-31-2006 - Refill Estradiol Valerate IM - $40.95
08-31-2006 - Refill Progesterone IM - $34.95
09-19-2006 - Refill Spironolactone - $2.00

Job interviews/inappropriate questions.

[rachelkj.livejournal.com]

So, today i interviewed at a Quizznos (presenting as female, and not looking too bad I think). It's sounding like I may not get the job because they are worried about retention (I am still seeking more skilled fulltime work). But afterward I'm suddenly finding myself really angry. During the interview he asked whether I was considering getting any operations (looking to see if there would be any big work outages within the next year, presumably). But really, is that question EVER appropriate in an interview? It strikes me as extremely unprofessional. He said that the transgender issue would not be a problem...assuming that it has no impact on my work and the business. Which seemed to imply that it was potentially a legitimate basis for discrimination, which is against local law. But if he's unaware of that, how can I inform him without sounding like a lawsuit waiting to happen? No one wants to hire a legal liability, and I need a paycheck really soon.

If I am offered a position, I am considering whether I should decline and cite my doubts as to the professionalism of the management. But other than all this he seemed really nice.

I'm just...GRRR.

EDIT: Looks like I have a job.

What I've Learned About Progesterone

[minding-maura.livejournal.com]

Hello again,

I know, for a newbie here I speak up a lot. It's just that I'm experiencing so much and learning so much that I have to talk about it and unfortunately there aren't many people where I live that can truly grasp the importance of the things I'm learning.

Anyway. This one is about the use of Progesterone. I did a lot of research about Progesterone at the very beginning of my regimen six months ago and I've been doing even more. A couple of things I learned in today's research are critically important.

1. Smoking shuts down the Progesterone Receptors in the body (and yes I'm a smoker).
2. Low blood sugar shuts down the Progesterone Receptors in the body (and yes I'm sure mine is all over the charts throughout the day - I'm not diabetic, I just have very erratic eating habits.

Ok, now add that to the other stuff for the MTF's among us:

Men have systemic progesterone and progesterone receptors. The receptors are primarily in the endothelial linings of arteries. Progesterone smooths those linings assisting in the prevention of blood clots, strokes and angina. Estrogens make these linings clumpy and bumpy so the Progesterone (not Progestins) is absolutely necessary to help counteract the negative effects of the Estrogens.

But also and just as important, by us reducing our testosterone levels so much we create a very serious risk for our prostate. Men too have estrogen, albeit much less than women. By reducing our testosterone levels so much we are at risk for enlarged prostates and prostate cancer - in a big way, just with respect to our natural low levels of estrogen. That's why most men don't have prostate problems until their mid 40's or later because that's when their testosterone starts to drop considerably. Now add much more Estrogen to that picture for feminization and the chances increase exponentially. Real progesterone can prevent this from happening too.

It is important to recognize that the receptors DO NOT activate with Progestins, only real/natural progesterone.

So what has to be done? Well from what I can tell you need to introduce high dose progesterone into the regimen. It cannot be metabolized in a pill form though. If done transdermally it has to be done a couple times a day because it's half life when introduced to the bloodstream through fat is very short. If done via intra-muscular injections its half life is about 72 hours. This is the method I chose in that you can save a lot of money this way. I'm injecting .25cc of 50mg/ml progesterone every 3 days.

The other considerations are osteoporosis, men get this sooner than women and MTF's even earlier due to the introduction of high dose estrogens. Progesterone helps here too.

Progesterone is also needed to maintain the myelin sheaths in the brain. Women because of the higher progesterone do very well recovering from trauma as compared to men, especially during menstruation.

Progesterone also minimizes water retention in the body.

What else works against us - well Stress and Adrenaline. Adrenaline blocks or neutralizes the Progesterone Receptors too.

So I have found that the keys are:

1. Get a blood sugar monitor and eat properly maintaining even blood sugars, and
2. Reduce Stress however you can - workout, laugh a lot (really works well), whatever, just reduce your stress keeping the adrenaline in check. Type A personalities pay attention here - I'm a Type A and am constantly checking myself, and
3. Get off the Progestins - they don't help and can hurt you, and
4. Take Coenzyme Q-10 for the brain functions,and
5. Don't Smoke, and
6. Keep a low body fat percentage and exercise, even just walking a lot.

This way we can more safely handle the benefits of our regimens.