Ask a trans person!

[JDeere]

Originally Posted by theoddz

I seem to get a good shave by using Nivea for Men (Sensitive) shaving gel. I have a moderately thick beard and mostly keep my beard full and closely trimmed. I shave my neck, because if I don't, my skin gets irritated and I develop ingrown hairs. That's where the Nivea for Men (Sensitive) comes in.

I read somewhere, and I believe it was in a forum for transguys that hosted/sponsored by Chaz Bono, that shaving with multi-blade razors was not good for one's skin. At that time, I was relatively new to frequent shaving and didn't have the beard I now have. I now must shave every day, and sometimes twice a day, if I go out at night, due to an obvious "5 o'clock shadow" that I now get. Anyway, dear wife bought me an old fashioned double edged safety razor....the kind my dad shaved with when I was a kid. That gives me the best shave I've ever gotten, and though it's very easy to nick myself, if I'm careful, I get a good shave and very, very few ingrown hairs or "shaving bumps".

Oh, and if you ever want a really nice treat, go get a shave from one of the barber shops of "The Art of Shaving". I did that down at the Venetian Hotel, here in Las Vegas, where they have one of their barber shops. It was quite a wonderful experience, which dear wife treated me to, and I got the whole 9 yard treatment, complete with a hot lather shave and the skin treatment, by a professional barber.

I think it made my toes curl.

~Theo~

Now I know why I get bumps when I shave! I will probably go back to twin blades to see if that works, I am not careful enough to shave myself with the safety razor, like you use.

Thanks for the tips as well, looks like some shopping for me, soon!

[JDeere]

Okay health insurance, anyone have any tips for insurance for transfolks? Or some links that I can read over.

Thanks!

[Kelt]

Originally Posted by JDeere

Okay health insurance, anyone have any tips for insurance for transfolks? Or some links that I can read over.

Thanks!

What are you looking for when you say "for transfolks"? Are you looking for coverage of transitional procedures? (Let me know if you find that!) Or are you looking for trans-friendly healthcare providers or what?

Health Insurance here in the states has gotten a lot trickier since 2014 and you are required to carry something, the fines are going up for those who skip and the window of opportunity for signing up is a lot shorter this year.

I've learned a lot this last year but I wouldn't consider any of it to be trans specific.

[JDeere]

Right now trans friendly providers. And then for surgical procedures.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by JDeere

Right now trans friendly providers. And then for surgical procedures.

It is all very complicated. If you want to PM me I can send you in the right direction for what you want to know:

1) information on the insurance system/how to navigate your insurance
2) State laws and where to find them regarding your insurance
2) how to find a gender therapist in your area/online
3) how to find a testosterone provider and what you need to do so that they will prescribe T to you.
4) how to find a surgeon and how to find out their criteria for surgery.
5) the barriers to each of the above.

I can talk all day about the above, but I don't want to ramble on forever and give you (or fill up the thread with), needless information.

If you have specific questions and are willing to tell me what state you live in, and what insurance you have, I can save you hours of research. For a small fee.

It is impossible to discuss these things in generalities.

[JDeere]

Thank you Dapper, I will pm you when I am fully awake and can truly comprehend all of it. I just got back home from being out.

[The Oopster]

Don't know if anyone that can answer this comes on here but not really the question I want to put on my Facebook page.

I've talked to one person but would like to others experience on this.

Has anyone stopped or lowered their testosterone after chest surgery and having a complete hysterectomy?

I'm going to make an appointment in February to talk with my dr when I'm back in his area. Meanwhile I haven't take one since I think Oct. My hysterectomy was done at the end of November. I really haven't felt it necessary and am thinking of holding off till then just to see what it does to my hormone levels and blood counts. At this point I just not sure what the advantages to continuing it would be.

My energy level has been pretty damn good, frame of mind, etc. I don't really care what happens to my facial hair and I got a pretty low voice.

I actually think part of my feeling well might be because my red blood count is leveling out. That its being high was helping me feel sluggish. In fact surgery probably helped that also since I have donated for a while and they didn't have to give me any I probably lost enough to lower the count also.

any experience?