Been a while.
Ok, it's been a while since I last said anything here, so time for a minor update.
First,... I went through the VA's Vocational Rehab program to get financing for my Associate's Degree in Computer-Integrated Machining. After tons of red tape and wasted time waiting on them to act, they FINALLY came through,... as far as paying for my classes, books equipment, etc. goes. However, they also have said I will be getting a living stipend - an allowance - every month, but this marks the second moth of classes, and still no living stipend has arrived. I'm contacting the person in charge of my Vocational Rehab file to find out what's going on, where have they sent the money - if it's been sent out at all.
Second,.... The doctor I have as my primary through the VA has met with - and is meeting with again - a certified FTM surgeon who REALLY wants to help veterans be able to get their FtM surgeries done. She gave me TWO free vouchers for a free counseling session with the surgeon, and for up to $5,000.00 off the package deal! Granted, her "package deal" is top surgery reconstruction and some lower body liposuction to reshape the lower body to look more masculine,... but it's better than what I have been able to find previously. Hopefully, the surgeon will accept the VA's fee basis payments - and I can get things fixed to look more like they should, maybe reduce the look of the scars I have. I'm looking into it next week.
Classes thus far seem to be going well. Just had some tests this past week, waiting to see how well I did on them. Some classes, I know immediately how well I am doing, as everything is graded as soon as you turn it in, while others classes, they get back to you later. Going strictly by those classes with immediate feedback, I have a running GPA of about 3.98 or better at this point in time.
The VA made me go in for some physical therapy, to try loosening up the scar tissue and my shoulder joint. Their goal is to increase my range of motion, without injuring my shoulder or my chest, but they seem a bit puzzled how to go about it, since everything they have told me to do causes increased pain in the area. Still, I am under orders to do the exercises twice daily,... which ties up about an hour each time, for a block of two hours a day, more or less - spent in agony as I force myself to do what they have ordered. If it makes my shoulder worse, they'll end up paying me more per month in disability payments. If I don't do all this, they will refuse to treat it further in any way whatsoever, so I have to go through this daily torture until they realize it isn't helping, and order the required surgeries.
Currently, that's it for any updates on my part.
First,... I went through the VA's Vocational Rehab program to get financing for my Associate's Degree in Computer-Integrated Machining. After tons of red tape and wasted time waiting on them to act, they FINALLY came through,... as far as paying for my classes, books equipment, etc. goes. However, they also have said I will be getting a living stipend - an allowance - every month, but this marks the second moth of classes, and still no living stipend has arrived. I'm contacting the person in charge of my Vocational Rehab file to find out what's going on, where have they sent the money - if it's been sent out at all.
Second,.... The doctor I have as my primary through the VA has met with - and is meeting with again - a certified FTM surgeon who REALLY wants to help veterans be able to get their FtM surgeries done. She gave me TWO free vouchers for a free counseling session with the surgeon, and for up to $5,000.00 off the package deal! Granted, her "package deal" is top surgery reconstruction and some lower body liposuction to reshape the lower body to look more masculine,... but it's better than what I have been able to find previously. Hopefully, the surgeon will accept the VA's fee basis payments - and I can get things fixed to look more like they should, maybe reduce the look of the scars I have. I'm looking into it next week.
Classes thus far seem to be going well. Just had some tests this past week, waiting to see how well I did on them. Some classes, I know immediately how well I am doing, as everything is graded as soon as you turn it in, while others classes, they get back to you later. Going strictly by those classes with immediate feedback, I have a running GPA of about 3.98 or better at this point in time.
The VA made me go in for some physical therapy, to try loosening up the scar tissue and my shoulder joint. Their goal is to increase my range of motion, without injuring my shoulder or my chest, but they seem a bit puzzled how to go about it, since everything they have told me to do causes increased pain in the area. Still, I am under orders to do the exercises twice daily,... which ties up about an hour each time, for a block of two hours a day, more or less - spent in agony as I force myself to do what they have ordered. If it makes my shoulder worse, they'll end up paying me more per month in disability payments. If I don't do all this, they will refuse to treat it further in any way whatsoever, so I have to go through this daily torture until they realize it isn't helping, and order the required surgeries.
Currently, that's it for any updates on my part.
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