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Today is my one year anniversary of becoming a true surgical eunuch and would like to share with you some of the changes I've noticed over this time. Now granted, some of the effects of castration that others have reported don't apply to me because of my FHRT...things like depression are feelings that I have not experienced. On this topic I couldn't feel better. Being transgendered, MTF, for me I couldn't wait to be rid of them and the testosterone they produced and I don't miss the Spiro that I used to take to counteract the testosterone. According to the results of my last blood test, my testosterone level is down to 17 pg./ml. Free testosterone levels are at 75. Both are very low readings, even for a genetic female. Then again, the the great amount of estrogen I'm taking may also contribute to my low levels of testosterone.

While I would not recommend castration for anyone who would still like to enjoy a normal "male" sex life, it has certainly worked for me and has assisted me in reaching my goals of feminization. Sex is pretty much a thing of the past, but then again so are those feelings of aggression and anger that have haunted me most of life too.

Body hair growth has slowed considerably over the past year as well as the daily growth rate of my beard...all good things.

For me, it was a matter of wanting to rid myself of all things male and it was the first step of many on this long journey of transition into the person I really am.

After giving it a great deal of thought, I've taken the next big step in my transition process. Today I filed a formal petition with the County Circuit Court to officially and formally change my name to Erica Ann. My court date is set for May 30th at 9:00 AM. I can't wait! After my hearing my next stop is going to be the Secretary of State's office and have my Driver's license reissued with my new name and an updated, feminine photo. I'm real excited about this.

I feel this is the next logical step toward my goal...that being...to go full time by the end of this year.

I'm also going to be informing my employer as to my GID status sometime in June. If all goes well with that issue, it should open the door toward my earlier stated goal of full time transition. I have to be able to satisfy the requirements of Dr. Benjamin and his Standards of Care before I'm eligible for the SRS.

Salut! Here's to your success! --FLO--

Congratulations Erica!

I know how delighted you must feel taking this first major step in your journey. I felt the same way too. I hope the process goes smoothly for you. When I formally changed my name I hired a land shark....err, lawyer to do all the work and it only took a couple weeks.

P.S. Just curious, will you be able to change the gender marker on your license also? (Some states will allow it, but here I could not)

Hi Everyone,

Been awhile since I posted in my thread. Everything has been going well and I'm looking forward to the upcoming court date for my name change. I'm also looking forward to the big Be-All event coming up the end of this month.

I guess I'm just feeling a little down in the dumps today. I woke up this morning feeling pretty good, but was reading the newspaper at lunch time today and became kind of sad when there was page after page of ads for things to buy your Mom for Mother's Day. This will be my first Mother's Day that I've spent apart from my Mom and it's going to be hard.

To know that she is alive and well and just doesn't want to see me or hear from me makes it even harder than if she had passed away. It's the conscience decision on her part that makes it harder than death. :-\

Hey Erica Ann, Glad to hear from you. As Christina said above, I also am very happy to see your moving forward with your life. I became her "true friend" after she had changed her name already. I know I was so happy for her when I heard about it. Then I had emailed her and asked her if she would like to go shopping one day. From there, we became instant friends. I had a few problems with the X, but I delt with him. Anyway, I am very happy for you. Keep up with everything and I wish you the best on May 30th. Take Care, and hugss.

love always, Lilac

HI All,

It's been a tough week with many hours put in at the job, but I did have my bi-monthly appointment with my endo this past Thursday night. He's very pleased with my progress on my FHRT. I mentioned to him that I too was pleased with my recent results especially since he switched me over to the injectable form of estrogen several months ago.

He smiled and reviewed my records and announced that when I return for my next appointment in July he's gong to start me on what he termed his "hormone cocktail" which is a combination of estrogen and progesterone. He stated that if I was pleased with my current rate of development, just wait, you're really going to be excited.

OMG, I can't wait!

My court date for my official name change is less than two weeks away. My next big step into transition.

Life is really a beautiful thing when you have so much to look forward to!

Your Doctors news sounds great. I'm sure your looking forward to the new mix. I think from what I've read that progesterone will be a positive addition to your mix. I'm still trying to puzzel out if this is good for men with Hypogonadism but at least my Doctor has said she is willing to add it to my regular hormone panels. Do you check or do anything with DHEA?

BTW have you made up your mind about GRS? I think Dr Bowers is pretty good and she has the one thing going for her that other surgeons don't. She has had it done to herself!

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Sun May 20, 2007 1:05 am HI All,

It's been a tough week with many hours put in at the job, but I did have my bi-monthly appointment with my endo this past Thursday night. He's very pleased with my progress on my FHRT. I mentioned to him that I too was pleased with my recent results especially since he switched me over to the injectable form of estrogen several months ago.

He smiled and reviewed my records and announced that when I return for my next appointment in July he's gong to start me on what he termed his "hormone cocktail" which is a combination of estrogen and progesterone. He stated that if I was pleased with my current rate of development, just wait, you're really going to be excited.

OMG, I can't wait!

My court date for my official name change is less than two weeks away. My next big step into transition.

Life is really a beautiful thing when you have so much to look forward to!

aww Erica, i wish i could give you a huge hug!!! This place is full of rainbows, dont you think? how much do we all rule! huh

sorry, i wrote something-but i realised i was on page 5 and it wasnt the last page, so the thing i was referring happened a while ago..

sorry!!!

anyway i hope you are feeling super hero cool!! !! !!

Hi Everyone,

As of 9:20 AM this morning it's official. As decreed by the 19th Circuit Court of Lake County Illinois I am and will forever be Erica Ann. That birth male name that never really fit me is now retired and gone. What a relief!

I stopped by the local Secretary of State's office and had my driver's license reissued with my feminine photo and the new name.

It feels great...almost like my birthday, but better because I didn't get any older.

I stopped by my bank on the way home and had the name on my bank accounts changed and should be receiving my new checks sometime next week.

WOW, does this feel great or what!

In response to mrt, no I'm not doing anything with DHEA and am looking into Marci for my upcoming SRS. I'm going to the big Be-All conference (a big meeting for us TG girls) beginning tomorrow and will be attending her seminar on GRS/SRS. I'll keep you posted.

And thanks for the kind words and support truly committed. I do appreciate it!

Had the final big blow out with Mom a week and half ago. Stopped by her house and when she wouldn't answer the door I phoned her when I got home. She called me a fu*%#$ing creature and told me straight out that if I ever called her again she would have a restraining order issued against me and if I ever stopped by her house again, she'd slash my throat. So much for Motherly love and understanding. Next time I see that stone cold witch she'll be dead, cold and in her coffin! :-\

Congratulations!!!

(Sorry to hear about the family tension ..... as I said before, you are a brave woman).

It sounds like you have had quite a journey.

Congratulations on your progress.

I'm sure with your resolve, you'll do well in the remaining part of your journey.

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Thu May 31, 2007 6:23 am Hi Everyone,

As of 9:20 AM this morning it's official. As decreed by the 19th Circuit Court of Lake County Illinois I am and will forever be Erica Ann. That birth male name that never really fit me is now retired and gone. What a relief!

.........:-\

Congratulations = I envy you!

Hi Everyone,

It has been a fantastic

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:37 am week. The president of the company

was on vacation all week...so that means everyone had the week off even though we were in the office, if you know what I mean.

I decided to tell the vice president of marketing about myself and my GID situation on Tuesday afternoon. We must have talked for over an hour. He was very interested and asked many intelligent questions, which I did my best to answer. Since Wednesday, I have been full time, going to work as me, Erica Ann. It's such a wonderful feeling to be oneself!

I also did something last night that I'd been wanting to do for several years now. I went to a local tattoo shop and had a beautiful hearts and flowers band tattoo applied to my my left ankle. It's absolutely beautiful and I dearly love it! It's done in five colors. It took about two hours to do. It was a bit painful, but no where near the pain involved with electrolysis.

My ankle stings a bit this morning, but I guess that's to be expected.

The next big step is to inform the company's president of my situation, which I'm going to do sometime in the next six weeks. If all goes well with that, I'll be ready to start the much needed Real Life Experience of my transition, the last step I need to accomplish for the SRS.

Life just keeps on getting better all the time!

Good news all around! Transition progress and a tattoo. --FLO--

Gosh Erica, That is so great!! I wanted to tell you, I LOVE your new Hair style. It's looks very nice on you. I hope the other big guy at work, seems ok with it also. I am just so proud of you for going forward with your change. Keep up the wonderful work. I will be reading your other posts in Portugal come June 24th.

take care and hugs, Lilac

Hi Everyone,

It's been awhile since I've posted. I've been very busy between work, starting my own little computer repair company, rebuilding and upgrading my computer, playing around with loading a new operating system on my computer, Vista, and just plain old having some fun.

Just to bring everyone up to speed, I've been doing very well and things are going along just fine. I've been continuing to see my therapist on a monthly basis and she is now to the point where she is ready to issue my much needed letter for my SRS, which in itself is very exciting.

My hormone therapy continues to go well and my development continues, though at a little slower rate than when I first started.

I've made the decision that I am going to be coming out in the next two weeks to the last person in my company that doesn't know about me yet, that being the president of the firm. It has now reached a point that it's becoming much too hard to continue to live a double life coupled with an overwhelming desire to be "me" on a full time basis, so has come the time to take this last big step in my road of transition. Monday mornings have become quite depressing with the prospect of having to sink back into "boy mode" for the next five days.

I'm also now in the process of expanding the places I frequent for the purpose of having fun. I'm now going to some regular "straight" night clubs instead of hanging at strictly "TG" friendly places and I'm doing it with some pretty good success. Last night I was ma'maed by the door man and had several gentlemen open doors for me at a local straight club. While I still did garner some prolonged looks from some people, it was more "is that or isn't that a female" or "check out that tall girl" rather than "Wow, look at that guy in a dress."

I've also found a laser center that has new equipment that will work on "platinum" colored facial hair. I went for my first treatment on Friday night and had my face, chest, underarms and arms lasered for hair removal. It's going to be wonderful not have to shave these areas any more!

No new news on the family front. After what has now been a year since coming out to them, they are still not accepting of me and still will not contact me or speak with me. Oh well, so much for family. :-\ I have now accepted the fact that I have no family or never will again. I have learned to survive without them and move on with my life.

Looking forward to attending the big MOM in less than a week and seeing many of my old friends as well as making many new ones and if Kristoff is reading this post, you had better be ready to take me to some of the local haunts and do some partying next weekend my friend!

It sounds like the new mix (hormones) are doing a good job for you. Good luck at work. That will mean a lot less stress I'm sure. Otherwise your always in that "secret Identity" mode and we know how hard that was on Spiderman and Dardevil. *Who Trivia Question is the only superhero that had THREE identities!

Your family stuff is unfortunate. If nothing else remember time heals all this. And who knows maybe your family will figure this out some day when the idea is no longer a shock? I hope so.

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:46 am Looking forward to attending the big MOM in less than a week and seeing many of my old friends as well as making many new ones and if Kristoff is reading this post, you had better be ready to take me to some of the local haunts and do some partying next weekend my friend!

Figured as much! You, and probably one or two or ??? many as well. I asked Father Nelson to take up an extra collection today for missionary work on the heathen side of town!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share with all of you the wonderful news. As of today, Monday, August 13, 2007, Erica Ann is NOW FULL TIME!!!!!!!

I sat down with the president of my firm this afternoon and we discussed the entire matter quite throughly. I explained to him the whole GID matter and how I have been transitioning and after laying out my plan for transition he said to me that he thought he could help me achieve my goals.

THAT'S IT EVERYBODY!

I am now one of the only female vice presidents of commercial general contracting firm in the Chicago area and maybe in the entire country!

I've gone from hiding in the back of the closet to full time in just 20 short months. What an absolute wonderful feeling it is to finally and truly be me for the very first time in my life. It's been a long time coming...but it was worth the wait.

[Erica now exits doing cartwheels away from the computer]

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:29 am Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share with all of you the wonderful news. As of today, Monday, August 13, 2007, Erica Ann is NOW FULL TIME!!!!!!!

I sat down with the president of my firm this afternoon and we discussed the entire matter quite throughly. I explained to him the whole GID matter and how I have been transitioning and after laying out my plan for transition he said to me that he thought he could help me achieve my goals.

THAT'S IT EVERYBODY!

I am now one of the only female vice presidents of commercial general contracting firm in the Chicago area and maybe in the entire country!

I've gone from hiding in the back of the closet to full time in just 20 short months. What an absolute wonderful feeling it is to finally and truly be me for the very first time in my life. It's been a long time coming...but it was worth the wait.

[Erica now exits doing cartwheels away from the computer]

Let me kinda put it in construction worker terms.

Con-grat-u-fucking-lations, Girl!

See you real soon!!!

Erica,

This news deserves a big Woo-Hoo!



Extra-happy for you,

Terri

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:29 am Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share with all of you the wonderful news. As of today, Monday, August 13, 2007, Erica Ann is NOW FULL TIME!!!!!!! .........

Best of everything to you! Wish that i could be there too.

Some good karma for you.

I couldn't be happier about this. Congratulations! --FLO--

EricaAnn (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:29 am Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share with all of you the wonderful news. As of today, Monday, August 13, 2007, Erica Ann is NOW FULL TIME!!!!!!!

Oh, that was very wonderful news. I'm so happy for you. :):)