I took my 6th shot of testosterone on March 17th, St. Patricks Day. It was my first shot at home, by myself, and I was a bit nervous to do it. I put the shot off all day because I was out and about and didn't want to feel like a drug addict, shooting up in someone's bathroom.

So finally around 10pm I went into my OWN bathroom, with my wife, to do my shot. Most of my nervousness was about my rash I had previously gotten. (Note on that: I went to the doctor, and he said there was nothing wrong. This wasn't my doctor in Boston. But I still have the rash.) So I cleaned up everything, took out my needle and got to work. The shot itself went well. It didn't hurt during or after.

I did get worried about the amount of blood after, however when I drew back the needle, there was no blood return. So here's a hint, if you rub the alcohol swab over the injection site when you pull out, it clots it and there is VERY LITTLE BLOOD. It's awesome. Thank you Antoyneo for that.

That's my update. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to check up on my anxiety meds. I'll update everyone later.

I took my 5th shot on March 3rd. I've got to say its probably the worst shot yet. First the dumbass nurse made me inject an airbubble into my thigh. I now have a rash on thigh, right on my injection site, and a big area around it. And not only that, but I have a rash where I had my 4th shot. That rash only appeared when this  new one came about. It's driving me nuts.

Other than that, everything is going alright. My facial hair is well, coming in I suppose. i have no faith that my leg hair will fill in. I haven't shaved my legs in 4 years and they are still "spotted" with hair. I have big patches that just don't grow hair. Weird. My mom says she doesn't think my voice has changed. I'm not surprised. On the 3rd my doctor went over my bloodwork with me. My levels are still SUPER LOW. The natal-males testosterone levels are between 8.8 and 27. I'm still at 2.5 which is not where I want to be. So my dose got increased to 200mg every 2 weeks.

New thought: I should call my doctor. I might be allergic to the oil my T is suspended in. Ouch.

Thanks to Mel who's been checking out my page. Check him out. I didn't think anyone was really reading this, but leave some input if you are! I got 20 views yesterday which is GREAT considering I thought this was just something to waste my time. :-) So thanks everyone. I'll be updating with pictures (of my rash lol) and maybe some videos and such. It's a work in progress. Stay tuned.

I had my fourth shot on February 18th. It was the first time that I drew up the shot and I did pretty good. I gave the shot to myself again. I go down again on March 3rd. I have to get bloodwork done again, and then my fifth shot. That should be the last time I go down for shots. I should only be down there for labs and check ups. Sounds good to me.

I have a visible mustache now. I haven't been able to catch it on the camera since it is still pretty light. However, what really matters is that its visible to the eye! My libido has been sky high, as predicted. I think my voice is getting deeper, but it seems that only I'm noticing it. Maybe its just my hopes.

Personal update: I lost my job and I couldn't be happier. I hated that place. I'm looking for a new one and enjoying the time I have spent with my son.

I completely procrastinated my post until now. And I'm uploading my "before" pictures right after this. I swear it.

So I had my third shot of Testosterone on February 3, 2009. It went great. I didn't have a prescription yet so they didn't finish my teachings. I did however get to do my shot myself. It went so smooth and so easy, I doubt I will have problems at home.  I got my dose raised to 100mg every 2 weeks and had some more bloodwork done. Dr. Raney says that if my bloodwork comes back okay I will be going up to 200mg every 2 weeks and that's likely where I will stay. This all depends on my bloodwork however.

I also did get my prescription and filled it while I was there. That was easy enough. I went up to the third floor, dropped it off, waiting about 20 minutes and left with the T and needles/syringes in hand. I was told that it would be about $55 to get it without insurance, however when I actually filled it I ended up paying $35 total. I paid $25 for the testosterone and $10 for the needles/syringes. Not bad. It was quite the experience to get it though.

I dropped off my prescription and told them I'd be back. I needed to run to the ATM because I didn't have enough cash on me to get my car out of the parking garage. So we walk around the corner to find an ATM. The girl I was with noticed the Bank of America ATM so we went inside and got my money. (Weird because I bent my ATM card and since then it doesn't work at ATMs, only at stores at the register.) Anway, I take my money and spent some time gawking at my receipt which was printed like a check. It was one of those moments that just amused me in small ways. So we leave. As the three of us left (myself, the girl and her husband) we notice someone that looks familiar. We said "Zander" and got no response. She said it again and he looked. I got the death look and we all said hi and left. That was my ex boyfriend, also trans, that completely hates me for not-so-understandable reasons. It was uncomfortable. I got my t and left.

And on a random and more personal note: My nephew was born on Monday and I'm sad that I can't see him. He is in Mississippi. That's all the detail I will go into.

I go down to Boston for my next shot on Wednesday, February 18th. I have to bring my own T and they will teach me to draw it up and I'll likely give myself my own shot again. I have another appointment on March 3rd for a check up. That should be my last appointment until I do a 3 month bloodwork and such. I could see if I can get that done in New Hampshire. We'll see.

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

I finally stopped procrastinating and took pictures last night. I documented my armpit hair, my leg hair, and my upperlip hair. I also believe my wife caught a picture of my sideburns. There haven't been any changes in those areas since I started testosterone, so I will be using those pictures as my "before" pictures. Those should be posted in the next few days, as I can't seem to find my camera right now.

I felt a bit sick after my first shot, and I found myself feeling sick to my stomach after the second shot also. This seems to be a continuous effect. I have found myself having an upset stomach if I haven't eaten in a short amount of time. I think this could be solved with a better diet and smaller meals, eaten more often.

I haven't noticed any major changes yet. I do sometimes hear myself talking and wonder if my voice has dropped a little bit, but as soon as I start thinking it, my voices sounds like it always has.

I have my next shot on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 around 2pm.

So today was the day of my second shot. I visited Fenway Community Health Center again and hopefully won't have to make too many more visits down there.

I finally asked the questions I suppose I should have asked before my first shot. So here's the information:
I am on 50mg (0.5mL) of Testosterone Cypionate by injection.
I have not found out what it is suspended in, however I have no allergies so it hasn't been a problem. I will find out next visit. I should have found out beforehand, so take the advice.

I had my shot in my right thigh this time. My nurse was amazing; I wish I had gotten her name. I told her about my traveling over an hour to get a shot and asked if she would teach me how to do it. She apologized for already drawing up the needle and said she would have someone show me that next time. She told me all about why I have to do this and that and gave me tips on injecting. She did the shot this time and it didn't hurt at all.

At the end of the appointment, I asked if it would be possible for me to try doing the shot myself next time. She said she would leave a note in my chart that I had had my "teachings" and wanted to try the shot myself. She said it wouldn't be a problem.

So in 2 weeks, on February 3rd I will try my shot for myself.

I had an appointment at Fenway Community Health Center, on January 6, 2009, to go over the blood work I had done at my previous appointment.

My appointment was at 2:10pm and due to a late client, I was waiting in my room until 3pm. My doctor, Patricia Raney, came in to go over my blood work. She said my levels of everything were right where they belonged. (I'm going to get a copy of my results and post them.)

At 2:32pm I got my shot of testosterone. (I will be editing this post to specify which KIND of testosterone and what it was suspended. I was too excited to ask.) My first shot was 50 mg. Dr. Raney said that I will have another 50mg two weeks from the first shot, and two weeks after that I will have more bloodwork to see where my levels are at. After that, my dose will be adjusted.

I will be learning how to give myself my shot and I will be having my prescription mailed to my house at Fenway's rate for patients, unless I find a better deal.

But for now, I am a new man. I am finally on testosterone. I was not expecting my shot when I got it so I did not have a chance to take pictures before my shot and note my measurements.  However, I have not seen any changes as I am only 2 days on T, so I will take pictures soon and post them.

I am planning on documenting the following:
-Facial Hair
-Voice Change
-Weight (I am trying to lose weight and gain muscle after.)
-"Other" growth (These changes will be documented under a password protected page to keep this site PG13. Anyone wanting to access this page can contact me for the password. This will not feature pictures.)

So I hope everyone is having a good time in the New Year.

It's the end of 2008. It's been a long year. I got married. My wife gave birth to our son. And finally, after4 years, I have started my medical transition.

November 7, 2008 I emailed Fenway Community Health Center requesting more information on their transgender team. I asked about the timeline in which things needed to take place, and what needed to be done to be prescribed testosterone. I got a response from Ruben Hopwood on November 11, 2008.

November 18, 2008 I had my first, and only, appointment with Ruben Hopwood for an intake at Fenway Community Health. Ruben told me that he would review my case with the trans team and recommend testosterone. He gave me some paperwork about the effects of testosterone on a female-born body. I received some release forms to start testosterone and instructions to set up a physical and bloodwork.

Ruben had told me that I could have my primary care physician (PCP) do my physical and bloodwork to save myself from having to take another trip to Boston. I called to schedule an appointment with my PCP and was told that the next opening was in January of 2009. I reserved the time, just in case.  I went on to make an appointment with a physician at Fenway and got scheduled for December 23, 2008.

I went to my appointment on December 23rd and met with Patricia Raney. She was a very nice woman and was very welcoming. We went over my medical history and talked about what is going to happen when I start testosterone. She explained everything on the testosterone consent forms and I signed them both. She told me that I did not have to have a physical that day, due to time, but said that she would give me one sometime in the next few months.  Dr. Raney said this would not stop my starting testosterone, so I had nothing to worry about.  She printed up lab work orders and sent me to the lab. I got all my bloodwork done at Fenway and was on my way home. I was instructed to call and set-up an appointment for 1-2 weeks to go over my bloodwork, and possibly get my first shot.

Tomorrow I will call to set up my next appointment. I have a lot of other things to do also, but that is definately on the top of my list.

On another note, here are just some random facts that pertain to my transition that you may, or may not, find elsewhere.
- I was put on Depo-Prevera for painful periods when I was 18.  My last shot was January 4, 2008. I have not had my period since I stopped. I have not had a period in almost 3 years.
- I started living full-time as male at age 16.
-My mother helped me pick out my name, Kaden-Mykal.

Any other questions about transition can be directed to myself through any means listed in the contacts section.