Thank you @Sally Stone!

@Charlize is it on NETFLIX?

@Trina I am not VA, I am retired military under Tricare (and now Medicare).  But I did come out to my military primary care provider a while back and they were able to both support and provide referral for gender therapy.  Also, if you have a Planned Parenthood in your area they sometimes offer similar services. But (for now) the community of health care providers should be able to (and required) to provide assistance in Gender Affirming Care.

That is just so Wonderful, Joanne!  Congratulations! and I'm very happy for you.  Thank you for sharing this positive and affirming experience with all of us.

This is a positive, especially considering the long history of Transgender members serving (although not openly until recently). 

We had a discussion about this topic last night in the Trans/Non-binary Zoom Support Group I facilitate.  There was a common theme for myself and others in the group -- Striving to spend time on Creative endeavors - music, art, dance, etc. - or activities where we feel our True Self as the most helpful. Also the idea that there is actually very little we can do to influence the negativity so making an effort to avoid it as much as possible. I don't read/engage in political topics on social media, and I rarely watch the news much anymore.  I much prefer all the PBS cooking shows (and Antiques Road Show)

Welcome Jake

I had one "replacement patch" for the one I normally have about a year ago, my best description of it was a heavy weight bicycle tire tube patch.  It did feel weird as the dickens to me too. I am glad I am back to my thinner and lighter ones as well. It played a bit of trouble with my water retention as well. 

I am on a new patch, never seen anything so big, thank fully only temporary but each patch lasts a week, I got a shock today whilst out on my walk i could feel fat displacement at the top of my leg and backside going toward my outer hips, it felt really odd and my face feels like i am munching a bag of sweets all at once, it really feels odd, i am not sure if its fat just moving around but i haven't felt it so pronounced as it is today. Perhaps another way to describe it is like when your trying to blow up a balloon. Normally i have little tiny patches so this was something out of the ordinary, maybe a different oestrogen type?

Reflecting back, when i was at what i call normal school, (not ballet school) a few doors down from where i lived a boy in the same year as me, but not in the same classes wanted me to be his friend, i didnt have any boys as friends so, well, thought about it. One day on the way home he took his bike chain off and snapped it around my neck, i didnt know what to think my emotions were all over the place, we ended up back at his house and he introduced me to his sisters and mum, "this is dids", my nick because i was so small, his mum said David what are you doing and quickly took the chain off, "oh just having a bit of fun"! his sisters were smirking at me. Over time my wrist and ankles ended up with marks on them and again my emotions couldn't make sense of things, on the one hand he was smarter than me, and could protect me, I started to walk a different way home, but he hid waiting near the end of our road. Over time i thought it just what boys did but one day my brother saw me and dragged me home to face my mum (dad was at work) he showed my mother the chain and marks on me, she sat me down and i burst into tears, I dont understand mum, I begged her not to tell my dad, and mum promptly went round to see davids mum, she just laughed it off and said boys will be boys, that was my first experience of being dominated or controlled, thankfully i was due back at ballet school and mum suggested that at half term i go and stay with one of my cousins

you seem to have a pretty unique family structure so im not sure what to think about your gf being gone or the language issue, but im certain that no person is worth detransitioning for—even if you did, it wouldn't change who you really are

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/22/g-s1-60584/gypsy-tiny-desk-concert Gypsy -- the musical

ouch, thank goodness for a nice hot bath, well back from the longest walk of this year 25 miles, groan! lovely weather meant i had to do this walk despite its length lovely mix of countryside mixed with city vibe plenty to stimulate and get away from the doom doom doom!! Some of the scenes on the walk. Hope you made your day special

Luckily, I live in one of two cities in WY. that have protection for transgender people. I also have quite a bit of support at my local VA hospital in Cheyenne.   Kymmie

That makes me glad that people are standing up to trump, and his hateful minions.   Kymmie

Well the HRT is doing it's job up top. That area has been sensitive for a month now, and now I'm starting to get some growth. It's minor but it's something! My doctor said to be patient as it'll take 2-4 years to finish, but as long as it's working that's all that matters to me. I'm in no rush, i have pads for my bra for now. I'm finally used to wearing it as well. It gets annoying in martial arts class and dance but I'm guessing I'll get used to that part eventually

If anyone needs a little break from all the negative news regarding our community,  I offer the following link to the GLAAD website section titled "Heroes of the Resistance."   https://glaad.org/heroes-of-the-resistance-lawmakers-activists-and-others-accelerating-acceptance-for-lgbtq-rights/    

I agree, Charlize.  The acting is terrific, the plot very interesting and the political intrigue fascinating.  I learned a lot and enjoyed the learning.   Carolyn Marie

If you don't have all the support you may need where you live, are you asking for help with that? Will you move to another state for it? Many are moving. Come to Massachusetts, if you'd like—we're pretty lucky with our leaders so far. I hope you find all the help you need wherever you are. Buen viaje.   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/24/american-refugees-escape

Hi & welcome @Jake. Thank you for sharing your story. You say you're ready, but ask if it's too soon. It sounds like your perception of others' expectations are holding you back. Is that the case? You're the one who gets to decide whether you're ready. You have every permission to hold the reigns on the narrative of your life. So, I recommend thinking deeply on why you suspect it may be too soon despite your feeling ready. Much love to you & look forward to hearing more from you.