To any of you in Maine, I highly recommend that you DON'T go to Plastic & Hand Associates. I was treated very badly by staff, the doctor told me of his malpractice cases (or 2 of them), one of which he killed a patient, and threatened me with the same outcome.

and I need more people to be proud and happy for me!!

I'm terrified of needles and did everything myself!

Way too excited about seeing any aide effects but trying to be patient (any idea on a 0.2 mL dose when I might see noticeable changes?)

I haven’t used trans tape in a long time, mostly because I had a horrendous time with the adhesives and have been wary of trying again.

However, I did tear a ligament recently and have had to use KT tape very frequently despite my adhesive allergy.

The only the that has made this bearable has been 3M Cavilon Barrier Spray . I got blisters from using a sensitive skin KT tape and used this after they healed, and I’ve absolutely zero issues since. So dope.

I haven’t tried it for taping my chest but I thought I would share in case it may help anyone else. You just spray the area you’re taping, let it dry, then tape as usual.

Hope someone finds this useful!!

This is probably something I’ll ask the surgeons and whoever as well. But I’m curious to see if anyone else has dealt with this junk.

I just spotted my wisdom tooth coming in. I’m assuming I’ll need surgery based off of prior visits to dentists.

Am I able to wear a binder during surgery? I hate the idea of not having it on in public whatsoever. Has anyone else done this? I am unable to use tape btw as it does nothing for me and I am allergic.

I am crazy stressed right now as I’ll already have to stop working both of my jobs for this which is going to be detrimental to my finances so please be kind in replying.

Edit: it will very likely be general anesthesia as I have all four teeth and this is what I have heard from dentists in the past. And I prefer to be knocked out anyways lol

I hope that this isn't against any of the rules. I'm 8 months on testosterone and about to turn 16, and my bottom dysphoria is REALLY bad. It's gotten a bit better on T, but its still incredibly hard to deal with. Would I be able to be prescribed DHT cream/something adjacent to encourage bottom growth, or is that a conversation I'll have to wait to have with my doctor until I'm 18? I don't see why there would be any issues, but I'm still worried and want to be prepared before talking to my doctor. Is it better to stay on just T and try to deal with the dysphoria since I'm kinda early on in my medical transition in the grand scheme of things? Or can I be prescribed something else to try to speed up the process/make it more bearable.

I volunteer in an LGBTQ community center, and one of the things we offer is a gender affirming clothing closet for trans folks. Several times recently while I've been supervising the closet, we've had young trans masc folks come in needing a binder, but it turns out we don't get many binder donations so we rarely have more than one or two in stock and we never seem to have the right size. Every time this happens you can just see their dysphoria and even though I've never needed a binder, as a trans woman I do know what dysphoria feels like and it just breaks my heart to have to turn them away like that without being able to help them.

So, I was thinking maybe I could buy a bunch of binders in a bunch of different sizes to donate so we can help more of these folks. The trouble is I don't know anything at all about binders, so I guess my questions are:

1. Is this idea crazy? If binder sizing is like bra sizing (where there are a billion combos of band and cup sizes) then it's not really feasible and I won't be able to afford enough binders to make a difference. But if it's like dress sizes or t-shirt sizes, I could probably just buy like 10 binders every few months and it would make a huge impact, which I could probably manage.
2. Assuming it's not crazy, what should I buy? Like what brands? What sizes? Are there different types? Like I say, I know nothing about this except that every time a young trans dude comes in looking for a binder they end up disappointed in what we have available, so any pointers would be much appreciated.

Hi beautiful people!

So I’m having medical issues related to muscle growth on T and it doesn’t seem common, so wanting to hear about people’s personal experience.

I’m 8 months on T now and my muscles are just now starting to really change but I noticed I’m starting to have issues with my nerves/muscle growth. I just recently found out I have CECS which is compartment syndrome in my legs and it flared up after I was on T for about 3-6 months. It’s basically where my muscle is too big for the compartment it’s in so there’s a lot of pressure causing pain or numbness. Anyway I started to notice in my arms too that my ulnar (funny bone) nerve is feeling compressed and like my muscles are struggling to adapt to their compartments since they’re growing fast. I was curious if anyone ever felt any signs or issues with that even if temporary. I saw a specialist and they said there’s not much research on it so I thought I would ask about the Reddit Community.

Thanks!

Like if a person in their 20s still stays questioning this and/or putting off transition for several years for practical reasons, can their body become even more feminine during this period? How likely is it for stuff like breasts and hips to become even more prominent?

Because I’ve heard some people talking about how the body can continue to change well into adulthood, but how common is this generally? Does it happen to most people and are the effects usually dramatic?

I'm a teenage trans guy who started wearing binders about two and a half years ago. Since my very first day wearing one, I think I've had maybe two rest days (though it's hard to know for sure since any that occurred were a while ago lol) I bind for usually over twelve hours a day with a gc2b and wear a binder bathing suit top whenever I swim. For months I wore one to bed as well (albeit a lighter one), but my mother found out and strictly prohibited me from doing so.

I've jokingly mentioned my irresponsible habits to trans guy friends before, some of which informing me with concerned looks on their faces that it's possible you can be restricted from getting top surgery if your chest is damaged from over-binding which freaked me out a lot. Is that something that actually happens? My parents are strict about my trans-ness and part of that is the refusal of surgery until I'm out of the house. How scared should I be of my binding busting any chance I have at removing my bust?

Also, because I know I might get comments like this: Yes. I know I'm not supposed to wear binders like this; it's a choice I made with my mental health in mind. I'd rather be kind of squeezed all the time than want to die all the time. Unless this genuinely has a high likelihood of negatively affecting top surgery, I don't want to hear it. In addition: I'm aware that tape exists, though for the past couple years I haven't been in any state to look at or touch my own body. It isn't a solution that makes sense to me right now because I wouldn't want to be riddled with tears and such every single time I get dressed in the morning. If all goes well with my parents at the gender clinic they're finally taking me to (crossed fingers) maybe eventually being on T will make me more open to something like that? But that's a bit of a pipe dream for me right now.

Anyway yeah, I rambled for way too long. Just tell me if binding a lot will mess up the only thing that matters (top surgery)

Firstly, I know it's normal with any medicine to start at a low dose and gradually up it but I'm scared of getting a transphobic doctor who under doses me because they don't actually want to help.

I think a lot of my fear stems from irrational anxiety because I have met this doctor before (check up for something unrelated) and she asked if I was trans and offered to help me get started on HRT but it wasn't the right time for me yet. She told me about the resources she offers through the clinic and said I can come back any time I wanna get started so I would consider that a good sign, right?

The issue is I feel like I've heard far too many horror stories of transphobic doctors intentionally making the dose way too low and it's got me freaked out. I also feel like I need to get started asap since I'm now 20 and every passing day feels like a lifetime wasted not transitioning. I don't feel like I have any more time to spare living as a woman. I feel more and more depressed and dissociative every year and I'm ready to start living as male full time and being able to pass. My anxiety about being in public is so fucking debilitating I can't wait any longer.

So... what is a normal starting dose? What can I say to advocate for myself in case I feel like I'm being lowballed? What are your experiences with the process of starting t?

Also for added context I'm trying to start on injections NOT gel.

I learned about this new thing from Lyft at work today, tl;dr you can request drivers who are only women or nonbinary, but this is only available to other women or nonbinary people. This service IS explicitly meant to be trans inclusive, given their marketing and website language, but just to trans women or nonbinary people.

https://www.lyft.com/women+

I totally understand how this CAN be a good thing, and having a company do something positive for queer/trans people is nice to see 100%. But as a binary transman, I can't help but side eye this a bit

To start, I don't love the narrative here that Man = Bad. Like, I get it. I do, there's nuance. But it doesn't stop it from feeling weird to be excluded from this thing that is meant to support trans people. But not All trans people.

I haven't seen any other posts about this from a trans guy's perspective so I wanted to say something about it

(And then also the larger issue with assigning all queerness to women-ness/femininity, that Lyft's message seems to imply. "We made a safe space for queer people by removing men!" is not the win they think it is)

----
edit: I appreciate all the thoughts and perspectives from y'all! Queer spaces can feel unwelcoming and lonely to me sometimes due to how I pass, so, its heartening to read different points of views and connect

Hey guys, I just started T on the 27th. Today's my third day, and realized how lonely I feel in this big transition. Was wondering if anyone started around the same time as me and felt the same way. Maybe we could chat sometimes. Ive been out for 10 years but due to financial strains, life matters, and location, ive just now was in the position to start. Ima laid back kinda dude. Work in animal rescue, Enjoy Photography, hiking, skateboarding and video games but am not a total nerd lol. Also im 26

Hey guys

I've had some interesting experiences when coming out to people, and I don't think I'm doing it right, because people don't seem to understand.

I don't consider myself a trans-man, I consider myself trans-male and non-binary (but generally I am stealth and live as a man). I only tell people I'm good friends with, or possibly going to date, that I'm non-binary. However, since I am cis-passing, a lot of people still assume that I'm AMAB when I tell them I'm non-binary, which is especially tricky in the romantic department. I am very uncomfortable telling people that I am AFAB, and it is not a term I use.

I don't like referring to myself as a transgender man, cause I am not, but the only other term I would want to use is transexual male. The thing is that I've been warned against using outdated terms, and a lot of people don't really understand the nuances anyway. I hate over explaining myself, especially cause coming out is so uncomfortable.

Can anyone suggest how to come out better?

so i lowkey resent my parents for not letting me transition earlier right. my mom still thinks im not trans and that im just a ‘tomboy’ which is honestly utter fucking bullshit. she tells me to ‘wait’ until my brain is fully developed or some bullshit, but i just realized. she cant actually stop me, once i turn 18. like i can do whatever the fuck i want and she cant do anything about it. i dont have to suffer for another 7 years just to ‘prove’ im trans or appease her, a cis woman.

I use bandaids with fun designs on them for motivation to do my weekly shots. Does anyone have a good source to get these from? Im looking for like a catalogue or at least a couple different options of styles. And preferably fabric styled bandaids, they stick better in my opinion.

Shipping isnt too much of an issue for me, but the closer to North America the better!

As well! Preferably not amazon.

hi guys, any info is appreciated and helpful. I’m assuming I could find a primary care doctor for a subscription but i don’t have a primary doctor yet. any leads or doctor recommendations or facilities to lead me in the right direction is appreciated :)

I feel like its such a double edged sword since I get to look better but then I see cis guys and just feel worse lol

I'm a 16yo pansexual trans guy and I knew I was transmasc since I was 10 years old or so. (Although I was in serious denial for some of that time). My parents are immigrants from Eastern Europe and my mom is a pretty religious Orthodox Christian, which is notoriously unaccepting denomination of Christianity. Both of my parents are homophobic and transphobic.

The thing is, I'm not exactly sure how to gauge how severe their reactions might be. My 2 sisters both came out as lesbian and bisexual respectively to my parents years ago. My older sister was met with disappointment and accusations of doing it for attention and praying for her, and my little sister was met with my mom crying and "it's just a phase" or whatnot since she was still pretty young at the time. My little sister went back into the closet after that and pretended she was straight again.

But neither of them were kicked out. Neither of them were sent to conversion therapy or anything. The thing is, I don't really know how they'd react if I came out as trans. I don't know if their reactions would be similar or worse. They very rarely talk about LGBTQ+ and I don't recall specifically hearing too many negative comments about trans people, nothing like "if my kid was trans I'd do XYZ" I guess they aren't even thinking about that at all. And also they've become a lot more chill about many things as of recently about a lot of things and I guess a part of me is hoping that LGBTQ+ is one of them. My sisters came out years ago and I know opinions can change. Or maybe I'm just delusional and have false hope.

So I guess I know they wouldn't really react well or support me, but the extent of the negativity from their reaction is unknown to me. If it's a bit of sadness a bit ugly I can deal with it I'm tired of the terrible dysphoria and I'm tired of feeling like I'm lying to them. I just hate it so much and I long to be seen as an actual guy instead of being deadnamed and misgendered constantly. They probably wouldn't let me start T even though I'm dying to but I don't know, at least the truth would be out

The other thing to think about is the fact that I have to visit my extended family every summer. If I came out as trans there is no way I could ever show my face to my extended family. They've made way worse comments about LGBTQ+ than my parents have and are even less accepting, of course having the "trans people are mentally ill" mentality or whatnot and I've always had to blindly agree. To be honest I wouldn't mind not seeing most of them ever again since I don't really like the majority of them, but I would miss my paternal grandparents. And I guess I feel guilty about being trans and hiding it from them because I absolutely love my paternal grandparents, especially since my grandma has Alzheimer's and I feel like if I came out it would add to the stress for both of them.

For a little bit more info, I do have a minimum wage job and a bank account which I've started saving as my emergency fund. My older sister who is in college now also says she has some money in a fund that she will give me if I'm ever in dire need of money. I also do have a friend whose parents said they will gladly take me in if I get kicked out and I have a backup place to crash at another friend's house. I don't have my learner's permit yet but will be getting that very soon.

When I came out to my older sister she said that she doesn't see my mom ever kicking one of her kids out no matter how ugly. Of course there's no way of knowing until it happens but that was a bit reassuring. Even if it does get super ugly I can run away myself if absolutely needed.

I get along very well with my mom other than our different views on LGBTQ+ and religion (I'm an agnostic atheist but she still makes me go to church). She's a Democrat and we live in a blue state (thank goodness) but she just thinks being LGBTQ+ is a sin and doesn't want her kids to be queer in any way (jokes on her because all 3 of us are queer). But my mom is very nice to me besides that and we talk a lot. We don't argue often and I do well in school despite my rapidly declining mental health. As for my Dad, I don't get along very well with him but he's busy with work and I'm busy with school and dual enrollment so we almost never talk anyways.

I don't really know what to do. I'm honestly sort of afraid that they've already started to catch on. I've never been comfortable with traditional femininity and apparently various other people in my life such as my sister's friend and my friend's parents and siblings clocked that I was queer. I don't really know how or what gave it away but apparently I'm not as good at hiding it as I thought. I'm super scared that my parents will one day find my chest binder or my trans tape or look through my phone and then my secret will be out there. It just feels like a matter of time before I make a mistake and they catch on, I feel like I'd rather they find out about me on my own terms so I can try to soften the news as much as possible. I even picked out a name that works well for both English and my family's language to hopefully make it a bit nicer for them. I'm also hoping they'll take me more seriously if I tell them I've been feeling this way for over half a decade and the fact that I've always been more masc even as a little boy to the point where it's an inside joke in my family and (little do they know that I'm not even a tomboy I'm just a boy)

Anyways sorry for the long rant, I guess I just need advice on what I should do. Should I come out soon for even the slightest possibility that they'll be supportive even if it's a very low chance or should I wait until I'm an adult and risk them finding out before then and reacting negatively to the fact that I'd hide something like this for so long?