Well you would have to go to cali anyhow. I don't remember the docs name right now, I have his info at home though. He works out of San Diego though. So still Cali, just farther south. Since i live in oregon its not horrible, just a very long drive. I don't know of anyone over on that side of the states sadly. I know Marci from my research and 4 or 5 others on the west side through my research, but nothing east. One thing to think about. Like in all things, some docs are better than others at what they do. Just because someone is close or cheap don't mean you would want to go to them. There are 2 or 3 in oregon, and i am not convinced they are all that good even though they are cheap. They do an okay job, but this one i found in cali is way better and not much more expensive. Marci is one of the highest costing surgeons but she is also one of the best in the world so its a "you get what you pay for" thing there. You just really gotta look. If you can find people reasonably close to you that are transgendered, specially if they have had SRS, you might want to ask for some recommendations.

Oh ok well thanks for sharing though. The doctor I spoke to at the medical center near me, she recommeded Marci, a doctor named Christine McGinn (Something along those lines I believe) who works out of Atlanta, GA, and she also told me about the University of Michigan that does it. But the university sounds a little iffy to me.

The benefit to me about going to Cali, is I get to go to Cali. I've always wanted to go. Like I said, I'm not too worried at this point since I still probably have months to go before I can even get the nod for hormones. After that I'll probably make a choice on a doctor. Especially since I'm unemployed right now. So I have a ways to go financially.

heheh well then the going to cali may not be a bad thing then, one thing to keep in mind though is that if possible they really don't want you to fly. You will spend a week in the hospital and when they release you, you are still bleeding a bit, which is not a good thing to be doing and then go to high altitudes. Again Marci is one of the best in the business the one i am going to is this person http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/Procedures/Procedure_genderReassignment.htm

A friend of mine went through him n she really liked him. Again he is out of San Diego so a bit further south than Marci, but Sandiego has some nice areas in it, i think you could enjoy it. You have lots of time to decide on a doctor. Once you go on hormones you have one year before you could get your first letter and thats IF you went full time the day you started them :P it is also recommended that you don't get implants untill atleast 2 years after hormones to allow the hormones to run their course. So a bit more to think about :D

Thanks that's great! Kinda makes me worry now though. Cause I thought I'd be flying. But you make a good point. Lol maybe I'll just fly out there and stay put. Though the cost of living is pretty high. I don't plan on starting full time when I start hormones, only because I'll still be in school. And I really don't mind that because it'll allow me to save up extra money. I'll probably choose a doctor depending on what type of job I'm able to get. If I can afford Marci that'd be great, but there are other options out there that are just as good.

And I didn't know that about the implants. Though I've already got some boobs myself lol. But I'll definitely keep that in mind. And I'll check into the doctor you're seeing. Thanks :)

well the thing is on the hormones breast development lasts atleast 2 years, sometimes longer depending on genetics. so if you wanted to say have C's and ater a year you had A's and got increased to C's by the time you they are done growing you are now at D's or larger :P What is more is the younger you start the more they will grow based on genetics of course. So you may say you wanna be a C and if you let them go normally you hit a C and didnt need implants in the first place. Honestly i have seen people just jump into transition, and those taking it slow. I adopted the slow method. Sure i could have cannonballed it but the waves would be huge, if i ease myself in, i create less waves and i have time to adjust to the water temperature. Each person has their own path though. Its just a matter of finding yours. I was on hormones for 2 years before even going part time, so its not like you have to just jump in right away.

I'm not really planning on jumping in head first. I'm still in school for another year, so I don't really want to be moving too fast. Though I would like to start hormones as soon as I can. Going full time might be more of a difficult transition for me. Ya know I'm 22 right now, and I keep saying that I would like to be fully transitioned by 27. So that really gives me plenty of time to think everything through. And get some money. But yeah that's good about the whole breast situation. I'll probably just let the hormones do their thing. And whatever I feel afterwards I'll go with it.

good, follow what is comfortable for you. Don't focus on the end, just focus on the step in front of you, that way you don't feel rushed or anything else and you will always be sure to see the small achievements.

Thanks :) It's sort of going along with my weight which is steadily dropping. I've got my next therapy session tomorrow night, so we'll just have to see how that goes, but I'm really looking forward to it

I am sure it will go well :D

Thanks, but I got bad news this morning from my therapist. Apparently, because I'm a student there's a deductible on my insurance that increases my cost from 40 to 60 dollars. $40 was a lot more manageable for me than $60. So I might have to leave her until I can get and keep a job. Which sucks and is a huge halt on my transitioning.

Luckily, there's a gender therapist in Indianapolis who is probably more qualified and works with an endocrinologist. And she does Skype sessions, so I wouldn't have to travel to Indy. I just emailed her asking her rates and everything, so if I have to switch therapists, at least it won't take me too far off track.

true, however you can always lessen the frequency too. Ultimatelly there are ways to shift things so they will work. Have you talked to the one you are seeing about it at all?

Well I'm already only going once a month. But I'm sure when I go tonight it's one of the things we'll be talking about.

And the therapist in Indy is actually $125 per session, and I'd have to go to my insurance on my own for reimbursement. So I may be completely screwed until I get a steady job here

well as i said there are options to get around that whole mess. Just gotta go through all the hoops. Honestly transition has a ton of hoops to go through. This is just one of them :P

Well so I went last night, and really we just sort of talked. Towards the end it came down more to my transitioning. But most of it really was her just trying to get to know me better.

And I guess there was another mix-up or something. She forgot she got a fax from my insurance and she's still waiting to hear from them. So I only had to pay the $40 last night. She even mentioned that if it comes to be lower, she'll pay me back. So my fingers are crossed that I might get to pay less than $40 next time. But at the same time I'm worried that the deductible will come into play and I'll have to pay her $100 on our next meeting and then $60 regularly.

It was funny when we were done, she mentioned how she's pretty much her own secretary, maid, and etc for her office, and I told her I was looking for a job lol. Well she knows I'm looking for one, just funny that it came up. She said she wished she could hire me, and in the back of my mind I'm thinking "I'll clean up and be your secretary and everything for free, and in return I just don't pay for my once a month sessions." Seems like a feasible option in my mind lol.

well you could always pose it. Not sure that there are any rules against that so maybe she will take it on. Not sure. Her tax books and all might get complicated in that i suppose but aside from that might be good for you both.