mjsaber

The episode of Portlandia he cameos in is amazing.

To my knowledge, proteins can start to denature at 104F, depending on the protein and other factors like pH. Around 106F, proteins in the brain will start to denature, regardless of other factors.

Also, at a high enough level (104 F), the proteins in your brain start to denature, which leads to death.

Sadposts go here! This is a safe space to vent and let it out. Your experience is valid.

I can't speak much to the interpersonal stuff, but if you're able to find a good lgbtq experienced therapist, it can be really helpful. I also hate doctors and the healthcare system in general (despite being a nurse), but often queer therapists will be able to relate because of shared life experience.

https://www.outcarehealth.org/outlist/
This is a good resource to find lgbt friendly providers in your area. They require a training to be on the list - it's nothing extensive, but it does help ensure the providers listed understand the basics of problems lgbt patients face.

I hope you are able to talk to someone that can help. Good luck - you got this!

Weird, that's also the only thing my Politic Science degree has ever gotten me!

It's incredibly important to stay hydrated while practicing! Thanks for bringing this up!

Something you might benefit from is practicing with an "increased cognitive load" - basically doing something that uses your brain while also speaking. It can be difficult at first, but eventually, it helps with being able to use your voice without thinking about it.

I practiced in the shower and in the car when I did it - I wasn't out and didn't have many safe spaces.

Are you focusing on resonance at all? It's generally more important than pitch. Focus on raising your resonance, and pitch will follow.

Also, if anyone is interested in starting a discord to practice voice training, please invite me!

I started with a doctor, but I've basically been DIY for about 2 years now due to a lack of competent providers in my area.

If you can afford it, it's worth getting your blood checked at a place like Quest Diagnostics or any other non-hospital affiliated lab. Look around and compare prices. it should be a few hundred dollars. It's not something to do frequently, but you can at least get an idea of what your levels are. The one caveat is that if you're taking oral medication, it might not even be worth it unless you can time your lab right at the peak dosing time.

You aren't likely to overdo it to the point of safety unless you're taking massive doses. WPATH recommends 100-200 for your E range, but I know girls that are under the care of (less informed) doctors, and I've seen results closer to 1000s without ill effects. It's important to stay active and not smoke to prevent blood clots, but that's about it. It's good to do some weight training to help with bone strength, in case you lose access to your hormones it can help osteoporosis if you have had any testicular atrophy.

The most important thing - of your seeing results you're happy with, keep it up! E can be magic, but I've found a lot of my passing privilege comes from learning how to frame my face and pick clothes that are flattering for my body type.

Voice training is well worth it if your goal is to pass, but it's often one of the most difficult things you can do, especially without a teacher. If you're interested, DM me and I would be happy to help with resources and what not.

Glad to hear some of us are doing well, even without official support. Keep it up!

I don't really have any advice or anything, but I hope you can find some reason to keep going. It sucks feeling alone, even more so when you're with other people.

Transitioning fucking sucks. Even if you have good results, it's a mess to deal with, physically and socially, and those difficulties make it mentally taxing as well. Like a lot of social media, we tend to only see the really exceptional cases, and not the reality a lot of us will live with.

I wish I had something to say that could take your pain away, but I don't. At some point, we all have to find a reason to keep going for ourselves. For me, it's my cat. It's nothing, in the grand scheme of things, but I'm all he has, and that's enough to keep me going. At least for today.

Keep reaching out. Keep trying. In the end, that's all we can really do.

My cat is a tabby and does this exact thing with his paw. Feels like love.

I'm a nurse. Does that count as "blue collar"? Because I absolutely need to shower after 12 hours in the hospital.