How did I celebrate my 29th?

     For my birthday this year, my present to myself was a step towards dealing with my hormone issues in regard to transition. So, for years I have struggled with using testosterone blockers on my journey to womanhood (I started hormone therapy in February of 2001). I guess I just have such stubborn testosterone (like the rest of me :-)  ) that I have been unable to properly minimize my testosterone levels into the normative range of most females. Also, the often prescribed spironolactone that is the most often used for this treatment was not a prescription that I tolerated well at high levels ( like 100 mg ). Often such high levels of spiro dehydrated me and left me coping with chronic constipation (again, not something an active woman needs in her life). About 2 years ago my endocrinologist switched me to finasteride to block testosterone. It worked, but we had to use a suitably high dosage of this drug as well.
    As such, insurance has battled with me every year about the renewal prescription for finasteride. It would go something like this.

1. Dr. would prescribe a new round of finasteride for a new year
2. Insurance would deny the insurance copay for reasons of not being a drug used for cases other than female hirustism (excessive hairiness ).
3. Dr. would write an appeal for override of the insurance denial
4. Insurance would still deny
5. I would have to get my company's HR and legal department involved to override the insurance decision.

Big mess, every year.

I have been advised again and again, "Why don't you just go get an orchiectomy?"

My reservations have been centered on two factors:

1. It was my understanding that my surgeon of choice for eventual SRS surgery - Dr Supporn in Thailand did not approve of patients who had prior orchiectomy. That the scar tissue such a procedure typically leaves on the scrotal sac is innapropriate to using such material for future labial donor material. I want healthy labia, so....I don't want scrotal scarring
2. Shrinkage. Having an orchie could cause significant enough shrinkage of donor material in the groin area that SRS results might be impaired.

This past year, as I spoke to my dear mentor Phyllis Frye during a conversation related to other business, the issue of orchie came up again - specifically as I was complaining about my finasteride trials above. She recommended a great plastic surgeon in Plano - Dr. Peter Raphael. She also commented that Dr. Raphael's procedure was purposefully respectful of patient desire to undergo later SRS and would not cause scarring of the scrotal tissue. As for the shrinkage issue, she commented that any competent surgeon could come up with solutions for that.

I took her advice to heart and asked others. My friend Kylie had also seen Dr. Raphael, and recommended him heartily. My mentor Lisa also shared with me confidences in regard to shrinkage and that competent surgeons could indeed get donor material from elsewhere on my body. She also has understood my issues and was very helpful and uplifting in me weighing the pros and cons for myself. What helped the most was the following post

http://sherrylanina.tripod.com/orchiectomytrans.htm

The other day I saw this message by Dr. Marci Bowers which helped drive home that the main concern against orchiectomy is the fund drain from SRS
http://www.marcibowers.com/grs/grs-faq.html

For a woman who cannot afford SRS for some time yet into the future, needs better hormone control (consider weight gain and multiple other health issues that may or may not be related to "competing hormones" in my body), and sees the wisdom of a stepwise approach, Dr. Bower's warning held little water.

My other main concern, no more chance to have children myself after this is done.

So, I want to be a mother - I want to be the one who gets pregnant rather than the one who impregnates. Nevertheless, the understanding of the finality of this decision in regard to offspring did weigh on me. This being said even though I am most likely already sterile from so many years of hormone blockers. It still weighed on my soul.

My good mentor and friend Lisa totally understood. She understood, and that is all I needed to go forward with a decision.

Would I like to pass my genes onto a child? Yes. Would I like to hold a baby girl in my arms who I have helped bring into this world? Yes, definitely

But, what is my most precious gift to a child?
My passion, my life work, my advocacy, and my heart.

This I can give to any child who needs to be adopted - especially one who may have lost their own family in the their journey to be themselves.

So, I am here 48 hours after orchiectomy.
The first day was hell...well, dark and painful from the effects of the anesthesia.
But, I did live, did heal well, and most of the negative effects of the anesthesia were gone by evening to the next morning.
Robin is now telling me it is time for my steroid, or was that "Get your feet in the stirrups young lady, you and I have some lovin to catch up on :-) "

I am getting better each day, will keep all of you updated.

Thanks for reading...