Welcome to
Bethie and Sam's
Transition Diary
Sam, Connor, and Beth
February 2003
April 15 2001:Sam and Bethie attend their first meeting of KnoxBoyz, a local FTM group that is open to SOs and other SOFFAs. The meeting is held at a local counseling center.
May 21, 2001: Sam and Bethie visit their local internist and are given the prescription for Depotestosterone to be given as intramuscular injection in 200 mg. doses. Bethie as a licensed RN will give Sam his injections.
July 13, 2001: Sam receives letter from Dr. Richard Driscoll okaying him for mental status in preparation for top surgery. This letter is required by Dr. Beverly Fischer in Baltimore, MD, as reassurance that the patient understands the procedure and its' implications.
July 21, 2001: Visit from Jesse (president of NashvilleTMen) and Jodi (moderator of FTMSOS mailing list). These two wonderful folks accompanied us to another meeting of the KnoxBoyz.
July 23, 2001: Letter received from Dr. Fischer's nurse, Jayne, okaying a short stay in the Baltimore area due to Bethie's licensure as an RN and previous post-op surgical experience.
July 24, 2001: Letter from Dr. Driscoll mailed to Dr. Fischer's office. Concomitant e-mail sent requesting surgery date.
July 27. 2001: Received e-mail from Jayne confirming receipt of letter and requesting a phone call to schedule surgery. Call made, and date was set for October 5, 2001.
August 2, 2001: Received information packet from Dr. Fischer's office with consent forms, instructions, form for Dr. Harmon (family doctor).
August 11, 2001: Reservations made for lodging in Timonium, Maryland for week of surgery.
August 15, 2001: Certified check for 1/2 of remaining balance (after initial 10% down payment) sent to Dr. Fischer's office.
August 22, 2001: Bethie and Sam are part of a community education panel presented in order to raise community awareness about transpeople and their families.
August 30, 2001: Sam's pre-op visit with our family doctor clears him for surgery. Forms are completed as per Dr. Fischer's instructions.
September 14, 2001: Final payment made as per Dr. Fischer's requirements. We have now joined the rest of the folks who have gone before us and who are in major debt.
October 1, 2001: Prescriptions for antibiotics, anti-nausea, and sleep medications are filled at our local pharmacy.
October 3, 2001: Sam and Bethie leave for Maryland.
October 4, 2001: Consult w/Dr. Fischer and nurse, Jayne, at the Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery located at Roundwood Professional Center in Timonium, Maryland. Pre- and post-operative instructions were given and last minute questions answered.
October 5, 2001: Double incision chest reconstructive surgery performed by Dr. Beverly Fischer at her facility. Pre-operative visits included Dr. Fischer, Jayne, and CRNA whose name we cannot recall at present. All consent forms were fully explained, signed and witnessed. Deep anesthesia with intubation and ventilation would be employed.
Sam entered surgery a little after 9:00 AM and roused from anesthesia about 1:00 PM. Surgery went well. Anesthesia was well tolerated. Sam awoke wearing a midriff length compression vest and had an IV patent to his right forearm. He was slightly disoriented, but seemed alert. Jayne oriented Bethie to Sam's dressings covering the incisions and bilateral nipple grafts. He had two Jackson-Pratt drains patent and draining serosanguinous drainage with insertion points high on the mid-axillary lines.
Everything looked great!
October 10, 2001: Sam and Bethie leave Maryland to return to their Tennessee home, beloved family, friends, and pets.
October 14, 2001: Both Blake drains with Jackson-Pratt suction removed as ordered after 24 hour drainage totaled less than 25cc.
October 24, 2001: New round of antibiotics begun due to infection at previous drain sites. Sam reports intense burning and itching all along suture line. Treated with OTC corticosteroid cream and antihistamines.
October 29, 2001: Seen by local physician due to continued drainage at previous drain sites and burning/itching unrelieved by current meds. Antibiotic discontinued. Replaced by systemic antifungal. Received prescribed antihistamines and stronger topical corticosteroid.
November 12, 2001: Again seen by family doctor/internal medicine specialist. Allergic response and fungus nearly completely resolved. Residual swelling under armpits remains noticeable. No "dogears" or other obvious need for surgical revision.
November 14, 2001: Lab results reveal a 100 point increase in cholesterol count since beginning Hormone Replacement Therapy. (Cholesterol 266-Triglycerides 661) Test to be repeated in 2-3 months with drug therapy planned if values are not lower at that time. Diet is prudent, but doctor assures us this is a side effect of the testosterone.
December 1, 2001: Dinner with Nashville T-Men in Murfreesboro.
February 2002: Gradual move away from interaction with various "T" groups and mailing lists. Front and center in this is the tremendous misogyny in the FTM community
Tolerating "T" well. Weight gain and joint/tendon pain appear to be side effects. Cholesterol and other lipids remain elevated. Zocor prescribed by physician to counteract side hyperlipemic side effects of "T".
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March 2002: Visited by lovely FTM/SO couple from West Virginia who plan to relocate to our area.
April 2002: Weight gain stabilizing. Voice deepens. Facial hair becoming more evident. Body hair darker and thicker. Stamina increased.
May 2002: Liver function within normal limits per lab results. Lipid profile now normal/slightly below normal. (Zocor working well!)
October 2002: All laboratory parameters satisfactory while maintaining on 100 mg. Testosterone cypionate IM (intramuscularly) once weekly. Continues Zocor therapy with good results.
Body continues to masculinize with regard to musculature and fat deposition. Weight has stabilized. Facial hair now thicker with wider distribution over face.
Nipples and areas adjacent to incision still numb with some paresthesthias (feeling present but very dulled) in surrounding tissues.
June 2003: Masculinization continues to increase along with body hair. Some thinning of scalp hair at this time. Increased weight gained during initial physical adjustment to HRT has now been lost. After the original 30+ pound weight gain, there has now been a loss of nearly 20 pounds leaving a net gain of only around 10 pounds. Foot size has increased from a size 5 1/2 to size 8 men's shoe. Further changes from baseline include more outspokenness, increased assertiveness in many different social situations, heightened libido, and increased energy level along with less joint pain despite increasing age.
Click on next for top surgery photos!
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