[way late] 1 Year Post Op: Photo Gallery [from July]

Just realized these had never been posted. Shouldn’t be too graphic.

Passport How-To En Route

I will soon be posting some info on the application for a U.S. passport. It should be fairly universal since the standards are set nationally, and not at a local state level.

While there are online resources to help you get the information filled out, you still have to apply in person.

From the passport instruction page there is an entire bit dedicated to Trans items. Look for “If you have undergone or are going through gender transition” under the #4 Present ID section to find the trans guidelines.

I’ll post my steps, any hiccups, and so on once I get my passport. I don’t want to post the how-to until I’m sure it worked and all went well!

Updates on Transition

As an awful blogger, I want to apologize for my lengthy periods of absence. I think I just forget to provide updates in the same manner that I forget approximately a third of all my homework assignments [the rest I am fully aware of, but procrastination is something else entirely].

I hope to make a video to provide a more audible and visual update for those that are following my progress, but yet again, this might fall in to that procrastination category. It might even fall in to the “I don’t like how my hair looks” excuse category.

I’m still on the weekly shots, same dosage of 100mg or something/week.
My scars are doing well, my chest hair is coming in seemingly with the  intention of covering them up.
I’ll do 1 year photos in July.

6 Months Post-Op: Photo Gallery

Here’s my chest after 6 months.

I still have a bit of soreness in the sides when I reach or overexert and I often feel bruising on the right side [non-visible]. I’m starting to more intensely massage out my scar tissue, as recommended by a friend’s sister who is a massage therapist. I also found information on it here.

 

Front

 

 

Front Close

 

 

 

Left

 

 

 

Left Front

 

 

 

Right Front

 

 

 

Right

 

 

 

Right Nipple

 

 

 

Left Nipple

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor: Response

This is my response submitted to the Herald Journal in response to a letter from Steven Bell. Link to the Letter is here.

Time will tell if it is published or not.

“The GLBTA office is a resource office, library and safe zone for ANY student on campus. I have never been a victim of any anti-LGBT threats, abuse or violence in Cache Valley and I hope I never will be, but there are people who have experienced these things for either real or perceived sexual and gender identities. The office and the separate, self-funded USU club LIFE [Love is for Everyone] work to be inclusive, understanding and respectful to anyone that visits or needs information. Information is not forced upon the students or community.
This office in particular has helped provide information requested by family and friends, to prevent suicides, and to make sure that discrimination and harassment are not tolerated on this campus for any reason whatsoever, one of which being homo- and transphobia. Unfortunately, sexism and racism still exist as well, and have their own programs. The Access and Diversity Center bring these groups together.
Like the work done by the Women’s Center or the MultiCultural clubs, the work done by this office deserves student funding. The office is not promoting an agenda and enforces a strict no-hate/bash zone. Everyone is welcome. EVERYONE. The Access and Diversity Center has the opportunity to do a lot of good for the campus and the community.”

Isaac Furniss

6 Weeks Post-Op: Photo Gallery

Wednesday, Aug 25 was my 6 weeks Post-Op. Here is what my chest is looking like now:

Not much to say. I healed up well, I’m really glad that I’m all done with my transition. I’ve also been released from seeing my therapist as I’ve been deemed a stable, high functioning tranny in society.

Enjoy.

Front

Left

Right

Left Side

Right Side

Left Nipple

Right Nipple

Numbness hasn’t gone down at all yet, but my scar tissue has already healed and flattened out quite a bit. I have been massaging the harder spots gently [as it can hurt quite a bit to apply pressure] and I think that has helped.

Chest hair is coming in well, as you may be able to see the bits and pieces from the pictures, but as usual it’s all growing in much lighter in color and slowly darkening. We’ll see how that goes.

Update

My chest is doing well, I am getting ready to move and I will update you soon with some photos and things.
For your entertainment:
http://fuckingklassy.blogspot.com/

Update: Post-Op Surgery Recovery

My chest is healing well. I am still applying the Xeroform bandaging, neosporin and then covering it all over my nipple graft with band-aids.
Skin irritation has decreased, but I’m keeping a close eye on it.
The fluid in my right side has drained nearly completely, the right tube hole is starting to close up now. I’m glad as it looks like I won’t need any aspiration.
I am feeling small chunks of scar tissue here and there but as I heal more I will be able to try and massage those out if they don’t break up [I don't know if they do that by themselves].

Also…the center of my chest is starting to birth sutures. I will try to get a picture when it is visible, but right now it just looks like another hair. Also my chest is becoming hairy, but mostly on the left side.

2 Weeks Post-Op: Photo Gallery [Warning: Still pretty graphic]

Here are the photos I took yesterday morning. It is the exact date for two weeks post-op. I still have some irritation here and there but I think I have a mild skin allergy to the adhesive. I have also been able to start applying ScarGuard which is a combination of silicone, hydrocortisone, vitamin E and flexible collodion. This combination is to help keep it moisturized as well as break down scar tissue buildups and keep it held together well so I don’t bleed or ooze anything throughout the day.

My experience thus far can be summarized in one word: sore. I stopped taking my prescribed pain medicine [a generic Vicodin] as it was making me nauseous and I finished up my antibiotic [generic Keflex] this latest Sunday. I wrap my chest with the ace bandage as needed to assist with swelling, which has been mild. I also wrap in ice packs to help with soreness and deep tissue bruises that I can still feel. I also have a slight buildup of liquid in my right side, so I’ve been making sure to clean and neosporin the hole where the drainage tube was so that it can continue to drain onto a bandage. I don’t want that fluid buildup to cause any problems and so I am keeping a close eye on it. I also feel a harder line of tissue beneath my scar, which I have taken as the sutures that I can still feel beneath the skin combined with scar tissue. I will follow up on that with Dr. Garramone if it does not soften over the next couple of weeks.

I still have the Xeroform bandages and have been keeping my nipple grafts as clean as I can without really rubbing or scrubbing them so that they can grow new skin underneath and flake off the dead skin on top.

I have been cautious and trying hard not to lift anything too heavy, stretch my arms to reach for anything or lift my arms above my head. Overall, healing is going well, so it’s mostly a matter of patience before I return to my regular schedule.

Now, pictures:

Right

Left

Right Nipple Graft

Left Nipple Graft

Right Side

Left Side

Tranny Beard: [27 months on T]

I haven’t spoken much on hormone changes for some time and so I thought I would take several photos for you to review my facial hair growth.

Hormone Dose: 100 mg / week
Method: Injection @ the USU Clinic [alternating to each hip]
Cost: $5 / injection or about $25 / month

I took these photos approximately 2 weeks post-shave. I didn’t jot down the date of my last shave, so it is just an estimate.

Alas, my lovely girlfriend thinks it’s gross. So it all goes under the blade…tonight!