I have severe stenosis of V4 ..so sorry this stuff is happening to you… I have history of severe menstral migraines and high Bp caused by 6cm adrenal tumor, migraines gone after adrenalectomy. Newly diagnosed with FMD of carotids and also MALS. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you! I'm much better now is the good news, still worry about it like anybody would but I've had 2 follow up scans and I'm fit as a fiddle now apparently 🙂
Thank you George 😊 tbh some people are pretty surprised to know I'm trans even after I speak to them so maybe you are right!. I think it's more on the phone it poses an issue as people can't see me then and get more masc signals than female is my worry!. 🙂
Hiya Rachael... nice to see you again, and thank you for the great updates! You look amazing! I'm working on my own voice more than usually these days, and your perspectives are quite inspiring! I wish you a lovely day! ❤
I think it is called perotoneal pull through vaginoplasty . I hear pros and cons on it . Choosing the safer option is better as friends who have had both have different stages of success on different types of operations.
That sounds more right than my attempt at pronouncing it lol 😆. And yeah much the same on what I've had people say to me too on the results side. It's defo intriguing all the same though, just wish it was around a bit longer 🙂
I really enjoy your content. It's not relevent to me, but I think it's great and informative and I love watching your journey. You look a lot happier now. Much love! <3
Love your positive outlook . But isn't it aggravating when there are so many hoops to jump through to get to where you want to be ? I keep getting stuck in the hoops unfortunately .
It's infuriating tbh lol I try to stay positive as I think I'd just cry otherwise tbh and I've done enough of that over the years.. you will get there I'm sure OK, just keep going x
My surgeon is OK performing bottom surgery at anything under a BMI of 35, above which there are some additional complications. I'm at about a BMI of 24, so no worries, and I will maintain this until after surgery, but I think women look best around a BMI of 30 - I want more curves! - and plan to gain weight after the procedure to look how want. BMI is bullshit!!! I'm 58 and disabled - skinny privilege is one of the few things I have going for me. 🏳⚧
@@RachaelRLE California. Most doctors have little training or understanding of nutrition and body composition. It's really only visceral (inter-abdominal) fat that is detrimental to overall heath. Soft, sub cutaneous adipose is not only harmless, but actually beneficial in modest amounts. And damn it can look and feel good! No bony concentration camp survivors please. When did an emaciated teenager become the standard for feminine beauty? 'Twas not always so.
Nice video! Tips on nails, make sure regular nail polish is thin enough, most are too thick. Use a little bit of nail polish to thin it. Use brands with softer brushes. No more than 2-3 coats per day as each coat will soften the coat underneath. Use 2x base coats, 2x color coats, 2 top coats. (yes, it will take 2-3 days but it is worth it). I hate the dysphoria. It all started when I finally admitted I was transgender mtf though, I could not hide my feelings anymore. A lot of fear and social anxiety with depression. Unable to get hormones for 2 years, due to waiting list. Dysphoria is getting worse the further I am in social transition.
I've done my passport with just my deed poll and supporting letters from work and my GP. New photo. Fee. Done. A lot easier than expected. I did the full court deed poll and it was a painful process but I felt it was worth it.
I think it works the same either way tbh, I've had too many horror stories on the court version to ever consider it now, but I'm glad you got through unscathed! X
Well done hun. I am waiting for my SRS but I am electing to have it done in Thailand as I think the results are so much better. UK = 300+- said procedures. Thailand = 3800+- said so you can guess where the experience is. Hope all goes well for you hun. x
aww thank you lovely :-) I hear what you are saying re Thailand but for me because of the previous history of stroke (ive had 4 due to a neck injury) I dont want to risk the pressure changes that flights can bring as it could trigger another one after surgery. Good luck to you also x
Hi Rachael, I am new to the trans youtube community (just posted my first update video of 4 months on HRT) and I truly wish you the best of luck! Continue to educate and share your experiences because we need more people like you to help others going through similar situations. I subscribed to see more! <3 E
Aww thank you that was lovely to read! needed that today! I will have a watch on yours too now and if you ever need any help or anything both channel or trans stuff then give me a shout if you like :-) x
BMI We will have to agree to disagree, I have a lot of muscle especially in my legs and this is completely disregarded with bmi, much in the same way as even elite athletes can be overweight on bmi so its just out dated imo. Even the person who invented it said it was never supposed to be used as a yard stick for over all health in the way it is now. I defo agree losing weight (body fat) is healthy though!!. As for where it works with the surgery im still early doors with understanding all of whats involved recovery wise so cant really comment but thank you for sharing with me your thoughts on that bit too! :-) x
Hey!!! Yey back for a bit hopefully!, Always said id just post when I have things to post otherwise I might stray into creating drama out of nothing and no one wants that! well I dont anyway lol.. but yeah this gives me a good years worth of vids with some interview bits mixed in which will be fun x
@@RachaelRLE I totally agree with you, and that's a cool aspect of your posts! One good video is better than 10 shallow ones, and many content creators ought to adopt your approach! I wish you good luck at your interview at the gender identity clinic in 10 days ❤🌞
Another thought, if you are getting your surgery on the NHS, and you need hair removal, all the electrolysis is paid for by the NHS. There are a number of options for managing the discomfort by the way, and it is a good idea to talk with your Electrologist about this. In my clinic, I use a variety of pharmacological and non pharmacological measures including a TENS machine and self hypnosis.
Ohhh!! so when it comes to removal for the surgery thats taken care of? thats good!! never would have thought about a tens machine for that area but I will defo take your word for that!!
@@RachaelRLE absolutely if hair removal is needed. The surgical provider contacts the centralised NHS team and arrange for you to select the hair removal provider and we do everything from there. The kicker is that if hair removal is needed, it can delay surgery fro about 18 months as that is how long it can take. Also now the surgeons are wanting a check up by the Electrologist 12 weeks after completion to check for any new hair growth.
Electrolysis for surgery is painful and expensive, but I think the peace of mind that the hair has been removed will be worth it. I've heard from others that the follicle scrape some do during surgery is not always fully successful in removing everything.
Agreed on all points there! Im hoping the numbing cream and different ways of doing electrol might help me out hopefully!. Im not super thrilled with the scrape idea but i need to do more reading up on it tbh. Hope you are well!! x
No one wants a hairy vag lol. I have elected for laser hair removal 2 months into it now -it takes about a year to do if that helps anyone as it can only be done every 4-6 weeks and you need at least 8-10 sessions.
2 года назад
Perdón si hablo español but i will try to speak your langague. I had the same problem on may 27 in this year. I was very afraid but i am almost fine. I can't run but in can walk and do everything. I am happy for your recovery.
Im sorry you had to go through this too! I hope you can run again some day too, always on here or twitter if you ever need someone to talk to that gets it. 💜
Thank you for this video 🙂. In the US planned Parenthood gives you letters to change your name, get surgery (and hrt) to change your dead name. My pain tolerance is I love electrosis (I can't spell it to save my life)
lol yes the spelling always gets me too!! Thanks for sharing the US bit too :-) I do try to put the US stuff in where I can but I get concerned at how different it is state to stage so I tend to leave it if I dont know x
Thank you for this video. I don't have any least favorite advice. The only advice i have is don't take advice. That is my dead name. Time to change it.
Something I'd add to the mannerisms and stereotypes thing. Yeah, you don't need to behave in a very narrow and traditional feminine way, not in the 21st century. You may, however, have been artificially restricting yourself for a long time, to try to conform to masculine stereotypes and expectations (prior to transition). So, you don't have to go ultra girly, but you can if you want, if it feels natural to you, if that's what happens when you free yourself to be yourself. Shake off the old conformity and behaviours, then just do what feels right and makes you happy. The important bit is to just be yourself (finally), not behave like a 1950s female deportment book (unless that actually is your thing / what feels right or the real you). It can be helpful to feminise your body language, mannerisms, etc; but it's more important to just be your true self. I know I've become much more expressive with my hands and adopted a few classic feminine mannerisms, but it's mostly been from shaking off the artificial restrictions I had learned while trying to fit into some sort of classic masculinity. The feminine mannerisms I now use are just those that come naturally for me, that feel right, that I don't have to actively force out, and evolving as I discover and explore my feminine identity and self; I'm transitioning to be my true self, not to go from one set of stereotypes to another.
Yeah i agree with everything you said, sorry but thats what i was trying to say in the video so im sad its not came across that way tbh. Ofc acting naturally is hugely important, my point is that a lot of people let that dysphoria voice kick in if they are not forcing the point of "acting girly".. ppl can and should act as they want to but the point is i dont want people beating them selves up for it and especially parting with money to force the issue 🙂
@@RachaelRLE Don't be sad, this was a good video that gave good advice and perspective. I'm just adding my own expansion/perspective to it, how I look at similar stuff. We are both looking at it quite similarly, I just used a few different words and a view from another angle. I totally get you on the dysphoria kicking in if you feel like you're not being sufficiently girly or similar; some call that part of it "imposter syndrome".
@@Murph9000 sorry my app did not show this notification!! Id of replied sooner otherwise 🙂 no i understand and defo please always do share your thoughts! 🙂. Im just a harsh critic on myself as a rule lol
To help with dysphoria I like to take photos of things I find interesting or ride my electric bike. I find they both are good for my mental health and calms me down.
I tend to travel mile away on weekend so i can be myself as in my town I quit my first job and got a new job so now my town I know loads of people so I go somewere were no one no me and feel safe I do go to brighton to yes i live in fear
Hi Rachael! I really like your idea of recording a video of yourself for both dysphoria and euphoria purposes. When it comes to a therapist, I was afraid to go see one for a long time. Twenty-two years ago the first person I ever came out to was a therapist I was seeing for depression. He apparently was the wrong person as he told me that I should never tell anyone and that it would ruin my life...then sent me to a psychiatrist at the state mental hospital to be evaluated. After giving me a bunch of written tests he told me that yes I was probably trans...but didn't prescribe hormones or do anything to help me. This all led to a period of my life that I was lucky to have lived through. Last fall however I finally got a new therapist who is knowledgeable and helpful and I look forward to our appointments. Twenty two years wasted though after going back in the closet. Sigh. Thanks for your video.
Im glad that story had a happy ending! Im just sorry you had yo go through that. I say to my wife often when she is upset at a professional for any reason, they can have quals but they can still be an Ahole.. even though it was 20 years ago empathy was still a thing then im sure!! Cross for you now!.. 💖
This is so refreshing and authentic. You’re so correct: confidence will do more than all the body-language training in the world-and it’s not like there aren’t inelegant cis women!
Thank you so much for that :-) and yeah defo there are plenty of women like that. I think it just upsets me seeing the upset caused when our dysphoria grabs hold of things like this and really its something we are holding ourselves up to like this standard that plenty of others dont! :-)
I hear that, But if I told you I work in mental health and with qualified people who are defo educated on this then hopefully that gives you some hope that there are good people out there to chat with. Yeah defo the wait times are a joke! are you on the gic waiting list?
@@RachaelRLE I've had two gic sessions and they said I have to change my name to get hormones one problem is I have to find a serlisiter which costs money to so not sure what to do
@@PhysicalMediaLife ive changed my name all using a free deed poll! Honestly just download it from the web, get two people to witness and sign it. Thats it!. Fill forms in for driving licence and passport, show the bank and other places and thats it. You do not need to pay for a name change i promise! 🙂
Hi Rachael, thanks for the video. I love your hair. I wish I could get mine to grow to that length. Been growing it for more than 10 years and won't go past my collarbones. Take care.
Ah bless ya and thank you!! My dad had stupidly long hair even when he was in his 60s and my mums is thick as anything so i think I got lucky there!. Have you thought about extensions maybe to see if you like it longer? Cost can be a bit steep but its fairly cheap now a days. 🙂💖
@@RachaelRLE I have thought about that but was scared off by the cost. Maybe sometime for a special occasion. My hair is very fine and breaks...so I've been concentrating lately on doing what I can to strengthen it. Avoiding sulfates and silicons, hydrating masks and such.
I know right!! but like it gets thrown at so many of us to do this yet we are also told not to be a character of a woman so??????? make it make sense lol
Hair removal is defo a long term thing you can do to help yourself!. I spent a fortune on laser only to realise my hairs were like 3 different colours to the root..
Hey carla!, thank you 🙂, starting hrt is super exciting well done!! Its weird but all these firsts are the bits you end up looking back fondly on which is nice when you have the negative stuff too usually.. Size C defo sounds big enough and if anything its good jusy yo get used to having the weight and feel of them being there I think!. Take Care Rach x
if it helps anyone I'm 62 and only just started my journey 4 months ago. I have the most delightful B cup boobs now pert upright and nubile -not a lot of women my age could say that!. As I tip to anyone I use nipple developers (not heavy-duty ones just the little silicon cups you can get from wish or amazon daily as in i leave them on under my bra all day) I have also vacuum pumped them daily too -hope it helps anyone . I am fascinated you say your feet get smaller I have heard that from other lovely transgender women. For me this has happened 1. my hair gets alot softer .2 Not often mentioned but your spacial awareness changes (cis women apparently have ever so slightly larger eye pupils)you have heard the comment women drivers but its something I have noticed -a good trans friend of mine used to be a bus driver as a transgered women she has certainly noticed the spacial awareness change. 3. ones boobs do get bigger.4 One of the nicest changes is the fat and weight redistribution hips larger and a butt to die for -love nothing better than wearing those lovely leggings that have a scrunchy bit at the back and being able to do a sweet girly wiggle as I walk now. 5. I was on spiro -makes you pee alot but now on fenestoride 5mg. and evoril 100 patches = no more erections and very little dribbles out of that thing between my legs but I am starting to experience full body orgasms just by playing with my nipples sometimes -what a feeling -cant wait for srs now. 6. not noticed much change in foot size but that might come. If it helps anyone I have had good results by putting castor oil on my lashes and I also derma roll and rub in minoxi 5 in the little bald patches on my head. Bless you xxx
Thank you Alex for that 🙂💖, one of the things I do love is people sharing their own observations and advice on here so please always feel free to chip in 🙂. Fat redistribution is defo a thing and its took a while but for me its defo happened now. The feet thing I am sceptical on that but like you I have seen others report on it so might have legs to it, would be nice!!. All the best Rach x
@@RachaelRLE Thank you so much hun for your comment and for allowing me and I hope others to chip in. Our journey is long and hard but we are a big sisterhood now and every little tip we can share is so helpful. Please keep up your lovely videos. God bless and stay safe and well.
@Dr. Christopher Johnson Thank you for your interest . I am diagonally across the country from you . Peabody , Ma to be exact . Good start , but you will be surprised to find out more about me .
Your voice sounds great Rachael! Please keep us up to date on your progress with your voice, so we can benefit from your experience! Thank you so much for helping to light the way.
Thank you lovely 💖 I certainly will keep posting I promise! I enjoy doing the vids and trying to offer the help that was difficult to root out when I started so i will defo be around for a while yet! 💖x
Thank you so much for leaving this comment for me! I honestly cant say enough how lovely it was to wake up to being able to read this.. Thank you and much love to you also x x
