lucascreation

[lucascreation]

The reason vaginal atrophy in HRT is rarely discussed isn't because some nefarious boogeyman wants to transgenderficate all your pretty lesbian crushes into chronic pelvic pain it's because people don't give a shit about transmasculine reproductive health and you hijacking the topic for your detransition propaganda will only make things worse as you discourage transmascs from researching the subject and learning that it's treatable

"You'll live with chronic pain for the rest of your life is it worth it" casual ableism aside you're saying that as if vaginal atrophy doesn't happen to half of all postmenopausal people, what makes you think you're immune

[lucascreation]

Gc2b Binders No Longer Reputable

I've been away, so y'all may already be very aware of this, but I want to make sure it's stated on this blog because it's been The Brand for yeeeaaars: the quality of gc2b binders has been going downhill the past few years. People who bought from them prior and recently can attest to how poor the quality has become. The binders are just not the same. The material isn't comfortable and, more importantly, the fit just isn't good. People who've tried recent gc2b binders, even those who've been binding for years, are suffering from back and muscle pain, stiff shoulders, soreness, etc. regardless of fit. The material just doesn't seem to be suitable for binding anymore. It is also degrading really quickly and binders are wearing out in a matter of months. It is no longer worth it to buy from gc2b.

If you want some sources on this, check out the reviews here on trustpilot with people talking about this.

You'll want to keep your eye on brands that are still doing good work: Spectrum Outfitters (UK), For Them (seems to be a hate it or love it company; I know some who swear by them and others who feel they dont' really sell actual binders - just sports bras/lighter compression tops), Shapeshifters (good custom work and larger sizing), and Underworks (best budget brand).

[lucascreation]

8 years on T documented for science 👨🏻‍🔬

Some notes and answers to FAQs:

❇️ Hormones are simply a tool some people use to alleviate dysphoria. Not everyone wants them, and many who do don’t have access. That doesn’t make them any less trans.

❇️ I came out, started my social transition, and began working out a few months prior to starting T. I couldn’t get a gym membership so I jogged and did home workouts.

❇️ My hormones are within standard male range. Dedication and hard work builds muscle, not T.

❇️ Therapy and mental healthcare have been crucial. My body and mind have gone through a lot and it’s important to care for both. It can be difficult but I’ve never doubted my choice or taken this life for granted.

Thank you all for the support and love along the way, and Happy New Year!

[lucascreation]

Calling my trans siblings that do injections (and anyone else that does regular self-injections)!

This is a ShotBlocker. It’s perfect if you have a fear of needles, injections, injection pain, or any other kind of injection anxiety. You place the plastic spikes on your skin and firmly press them down while doing your injection. Having many different points of pressure distracts you from injection pain and I’ve found it helps mentally as well.

I’ve been doing T injections for about a month now and tonight I didn’t have to work myself up to it like I’ve had to in the past. AND it wasn’t as painful as my other injections! I highly recommend getting one of these if you’re struggling to do injections. You can get them for $5-$7 online and they are reusable.

[lucascreation]

Holidays are difficult for anyone in the LGBTQ community, especially for trans folx. So, today I'm going to give some resources on dealing with family when you come home/visit.

I still struggle with going home for the holidays and sometimes even dread it due to uncomfortable topics and deadnaming. I've learned healthy coping and ways to set up boundaries. I even had to pretend I wasnt in a relationship for 7 years so that my current fiance would be safe at home. So it is a hard time for many people but, as always, remember it eventually gets better. And it is okay and valid for you to have negative thoughts and feelings about going home if your family doesnt accept your sexual and gender identity. So, first is a link to coping mechanisms that anyone can use for anytime they feel anxious, depressed, or other sorts of distress.

Remember all families are situational and some tips and tricks may not work for you. That's okay, just know you have support in other places whether it be online or in person. Hopefully these links can help.

[lucascreation]

US Helplines:

Depression Hotline: 1-630-482-9696

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-8433

LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Sexuality Support: 1-800-246-7743

Eating Disorders Hotline: 1-847-831-3438

Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673

Grief Support: 1-650-321-5272

Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000

Exhale: After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice: 1-866-4394253

Child Abuse: 1-800-422-4453

UK Helplines:

Samaritans (for any problem): 08457909090 e-mail jo@samaritans.org

Childline (for anyone under 18 with any problem): 08001111

Mind infoline (mental health information): 0300 123 3393 e-mail: info@mind.org.uk

Mind legal advice (for people who need mental-health related legal advice): 0300 466 6463 legal@mind.org.uk

b-eat eating disorder support: 0845 634 14 14 (only open Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) e-mail: help@b-eat.co.uk

b-eat youthline (for under 25’s with eating disorders): 08456347650 (open Mon-Fri 4.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm)

Cruse Bereavement Care: 08444779400 e-mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk

Frank (information and advice on drugs): 0800776600

Drinkline: 0800 9178282

Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 1(open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk

Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 every day, 6pm to midnight

India Self Harm Hotline: 00 08001006614

India Suicide Helpline: 022-27546669

Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868

FREE 24/7 suicide hotlines:

Argentina: 54-0223-493-0430

Australia: 13-11-14

Austria: 01-713-3374

Barbados: 429-9999

Belgium: 106

Botswana: 391-1270

Brazil: 21-233-9191

China: 852-2382-0000

(Hong Kong: 2389-2222)

Costa Rica: 606-253-5439

Croatia: 01-4833-888

Cyprus: 357-77-77-72-67

Czech Republic: 222-580-697, 476-701-908

Denmark: 70-201-201

Egypt: 762-1602

Estonia: 6-558-088

Finland: 040-5032199

France: 01-45-39-4000

Germany: 0800-181-0721

Greece: 1018

Guatemala: 502-234-1239

Holland: 0900-0767

Honduras: 504-237-3623

Hungary: 06-80-820-111

Iceland: 44-0-8457-90-90-90

Israel: 09-8892333

Italy: 06-705-4444

Japan: 3-5286-9090

Latvia: 6722-2922, 2772-2292

Malaysia: 03-756-8144

(Singapore: 1-800-221-4444)

Mexico: 525-510-2550

Netherlands: 0900-0767

New Zealand: 4-473-9739

New Guinea: 675-326-0011

Nicaragua: 505-268-6171

Norway: 47-815-33-300

Philippines: 02-896-9191

Poland: 52-70-000

Portugal: 239-72-10-10

Russia: 8-20-222-82-10

Spain: 91-459-00-50

South Africa: 0861-322-322

South Korea: 2-715-8600

Sweden: 031-711-2400

Switzerland: 143

Taiwan: 0800-788-995

Thailand: 02-249-9977

Trinidad and Tobago: 868-645-2800

Ukraine: 0487-327715

(Source)

[lucascreation]

Before I was born, people said gays and lesbians were just acting out for attention, that their relationships weren’t as real as marriages, that they were just choosing to act gay and could stop any time.

When I was a teenager, adults said I was making up being bisexual just for attention, that it wasn’t real because I didn’t have a girlfriend, that it was a phase I’d outgrow.

Now I’m an adult and teenagers are being accused of saying they’re trans or nonbinary just for attention, that they shouldn’t be allowed to change how they dress or are spoken about or what they do with their bodies, and also their gender isn’t real because they haven’t done these things already, and their transness is something they’ll outgrow.

When, I ask you, WHEN, are we going to STOP this bullshit nonsense?

[lucascreation]

To anyone looking for a top surgeon in Seattle: please please avoid Alexandra Schmidek at Virginia Mason.

I’m going to start with the biggest one: She wouldn’t let me ask any questions about the surgery until I booked the pre-op appointment AND the surgery. I’m going to say that again: She wouldn’t answer any of my questions until I scheduled the actual surgery. 

They require you to have all your letters in before scheduling an appointment which I thought was normal. After I decided to go get two more consultations with two other surgeons, I found out it definitely wasn’t. This dragged out the process by a few weeks, and then once they FINALLY got the paperwork processed they accidentally shredded them. It was ridiculous and obviously dragged it out another two weeks.

She would not explain why I couldn’t get keyhole. I was already 100% prepared to get double incision since I was pretty sure I didn’t qualify for keyhole, but I still wanted the surgeon themself to explain why. I also only found a few results/reviews online and it seems she makes everyone get DI without explaining it properly. Once I saw the surgeon I’ve decided to go to now, he explained exactly why I could get it but why people choose not to. Her lack of ability to explain why keyhole wasn’t an option (it was) really speaks to how much she knows of top surgery in general, in my opinion.

The office staff are extremely rude to the point that the last time I called them, one of them mocked me. Genuinely repeated the sentence I said to her back in a high pitched voice. She also wouldn’t let me say more than three or four words before she would yell over me. I’m honestly still a bit in shock from being yelled at on the phone by someone who works at the hospital I almost went to.

They told me that I was approved for surgery by my insurance so they helped me pick out my date for me. I called them yesterday to have them transfer over the approval paperwork to my other surgeon so I wouldn’t have to start the process over and they told me they had no record of my insurance being approved or the surgeon signing a pre-authorization form. They were going to give me surgery before my insurance went through while directly lying to me that it had been. 

The surgeon whose consultation I went to after deciding against her explained the surgery so thoroughly in the first appointment he answered 11/14 of the questions on my list before I even asked them. Both the surgeons I scheduled consultations with after her recommended I bring the letter to the first appointment, but afterwards was fine as to not slow down the process of first seeing the surgeon. They also provided the paperwork I could sign for them to contact my medical professionals directly to get the letters for me. At Virginia Mason, you had to get the letters yourself before you can schedule anything. The reason this doesn’t work well is because the consultation is basically an interview to see if you like the surgeon or not.

The most malicious thing I felt at Virginia Mason was that their system is set up to make you feel like they are your only choice. By not letting me get a consultation until I had the letters (which they have very specific guidelines for) and then not answering any questions until the pre-op, which you have to schedule within a month of surgery, I ended up feeling trapped into getting surgery with her because I’d already invested so much of my time.

I wanted surgery so bad I refused to see all the red flags until it was almost too late, which made me waste another 8 months. I also have found barely anything online about her (even the surgeon I’m going to go to now hasn’t heard of her) and I wanted at least post this review so people will know to avoid her.

[lucascreation]

Unexpected things/tips about top surgery:

-give yourself more than enough time off work/school/life to recover. I spent the first week in bed and couldn’t do anything on my own. I was still uncomfortable and in pain during the second week. I didn’t have full mobility until 5 weeks.

-laying down/sitting up was very hard to do by myself. And laying down is the scariest trust fall you’ve ever done. I was crying as my mom lowered me down onto my back.

-I couldn’t hold a water bottle up high enough so you need straws to help you drink.

-You’ll need help washing your hair for the first 2 weeks. And it’s probably best to not shower until your drains are removed because your chest is scary to look at. When you do shower it’s hard to wash your armpits. I used a removable shower head but I needed help getting it down because I couldn’t reach high enough to get it.

-my drains used maxi pads under the binder and my mom had to change them while I closed my eyes because the one time I looked I almost passed out after seeing the blood.

-I couldn’t walk farther than the bedroom to the bathroom for the first week. You need someone to make and bring you food.

-nerve damage. My elbow got sharp pains when I put weight on it trying to sit up/lay down and at random times.

-your incisions will really hurt if you try to lift your arms before 2 weeks. When you do lift your arms, don’t put them higher than they can go. It took until week 5 to be able to reach directly above my head with a straight arm.

-don’t let anyone/anything hit your sides/back because there is blood clots/swelling there that will hurt a lot.

-follow the instructions your doctor gives you such as wearing the binder for 2 weeks so you heal nicely.

-I had a really hard time even writing/holding a pencil/moving my arm up to the paper for the first week. And I certainly couldn’t have worn a backpack so make sure you’re well enough before going back to school.

-When you start wearing t shirts again, put your head in first and then one arm at a time, making sure your arm doesn’t go too high because it will hurt.

-don’t try to do too much, rest and sleep a lot so you’ll heal faster. Don’t lift/push/pull heavy things for 4-6 weeks because it will hurt your incisions.

[lucascreation]

Keep reading

[lucascreation]

some things I wish someone had told me about dysphoria and being trans:

1. sometimes it just feels like apathy. you look at your body and you’re like ‘meh’, or if you look at yourself in the mirror it looks like someone else

2. you can be ok with some parts of your AGAB and still have dysphoria. some ppl hate their genitals but are ok with their chest, some are the other way around, some people hate everything but how tall they are, etc.

3. wanting to be another gender is a symptom of being another gender.

4. if you find yourself overanalyzing and questioning whether or not you “look like (assigned gender)” or “how do people of (assigned gender) act?”, maybe the shoe doesn’t fit.

5. chase the happy feelings. if you feel happy and good about yourself when you bind or tuck, when you change your name, how you choose to dress yourself… those are all little clues. all the happy feelings are meant to lead you to your best self. experiment, play, and try new things. even if you’re not sure it’s right, at least you’ll know because you tried.

[lucascreation]

Welcome to dumbass Lu (me) faffing around the apartment humming O Helga Natt while doing chores. Ft. Mara the cat.

[lucascreation]

A Post About Top Surgery From Someone Who’s Currently Recovering

Yo! I’m gonna make a Trans Survival Guide sometime soon but until then I’ve had some stuff on my mind I wanted to get out here for anyone thinking about/waiting for top surgery. I’ll try to keep it reader-friendly cause i totally understand how hard it can be to read large blocks of text

So, here we go.

Pre-Op

You’ll be asked to not drink or smoke for anywhere from a month to 2 weeks prior to surgery, depending on your surgeon’s preference.

They ask that you only use Tylenol if you need to take pain meds as ibuprofen is a blood thinner and can lead to surgical complications.

If you take vitamins or supplements of any kind, get it cleared with your surgeon or stop taking them as well.

You are absolutely allowed to ask a surgeon how many surgeries they’ve done, their success-to-revision rate, their style if they haven’t already told you, and anything else. 

You won’t offend them, and even if you do, making sure you’re going with the surgery you want is waaaay more important. Put your health and your chest above their feelings.

You’re also allowed to meet up with other surgeons to make sure you’re making the best choice. Consider this “shopping”. Just because you met a surgeon, doesn’t mean you have to go with them.

The Surgery

The specific details may vary, but from my own experience, this is how it goes. 

You’re given a time to check in, then you’re called in from the waiting room to go into Pre-Op. 

For me, this meant chillin for a couple hours under a heated blanket, IV in my arm and heart monitor on my finger. 

Until you’re taken into surgery, a lot of nothing happens, and the everything happens. You meet your surgeon so he can draw on you. You meet the anesthesiology team and presiding nurses etc. 

You can absolutely ask them any question you have, express any anxiety, no judgement. The more vocal you are, the more they can help you and by extension themselves. 

I told the anesthesiologist I’d never had surgery before so I was stressed about going under, and they put something in my IV to help me relax before I was wheeled into the OR. Then they put the mask thing over my mouth and I was out. 

You’ll be chillin naked under a hospital gown for a while lol. After you wake up, if it’s an outpatient procedure, they’ll keep you until they’re sure you’re stable - oriented, no vomiting, etc - before wheeling you out to go home. 

You’ll feel kind of slow, very tired, maybe loopy, and of course whatever you tend to feel from anesthesia. For anyone who’s never had surgery, affects range from nausea to coldness to sleepiness to Total Crap.

Incisions and Types of Surgery

There are of course the two main distinctions most people know: key-hole and double incision. What many don’t know is there are vast differences in surgeons’ styles when it comes to these. I’ve seen double incisions shaped like

smiles

a straight line across the chest

two straight lines

two slightly curved lines

incisions that meet in the middle (as mine did, but only to avoid “dog ears”)

incisions that follow the pectoral muscle

This doesn��t even include botched stitching

If you can, ask to see pictures. They may or may not be allowed to show you; if they have a prior patient’s permission, they can.

Just to cover my bases: key-hole is a small incision made near the nipple which can only really be done for those with small breasts (A cups or smaller ((apparently there are smaller ones???))). 

I still recommend double incision, because you have better results and are less likely to have excess skin. The only drawback is the scarring but I believe it’s worth it.

Pain and Pain Management

Typically, from my understanding, top surgeries are outpatient surgeries if you have to travel to get to your surgeon. 

This is cause they want you numb while you’re travelling back home. 

Of course, I’m speaking as someone from Sacramento who had to travel to San Francisco to see a top surgeon so of course you should check with your surgeon about these specifics.

You’ll get prescription meds. If you stay within the guidelines set for you on the dosage label, you won’t get addicted, so don’t put yourself through pain just cause you’re scared of addiction, trust me.  

It is completely possible and probable for you to swell if you don’t have drains. 

Your chest will feel swollen, maybe spongey ((BUT STOP TOUCHING IT)) and that’s normal. 

If the skin feels heated, you get a fever, you have a hard time breathing, it’s tender to the touch (more than it should be), or makes liquid sounds, CALL YOUR SURGEON/RN.

For me, it was like this:

The first day wasn’t too bad, neither was the second day. The third and fourth hurt the worst, but the pain you feel after the first check-up is different and worse. 

You get the gauze taken off your nipples, whatever compression device they have you use is taken off for the first time and you’re moving skin for the first time in at least a week. It hurts. 

It goes from “bad bruise” pain to “oh shit my chest was cut” pain. If you’ve got a little meat on your bones and your skin tends to fold a little, that can cause irritation too. It sucks.

After about Week 2, you can switch from prescription meds to Tylenol, but not Ibuprofen just to be safe.

Surgery Aftercare

Range of Motion:

They’ll tell you not to raise your hands above your head. 

They’ll say no heavy lifting or working out. 

You absolutely cannot use your arms to sit up. 

You should not go your full reach without doctor approval. 

Try to avoid reaching out to the side or behind you. 

Bending over is also something you wanna avoid cause as your midsection bunches up it can rub/crease your incisions and that hurts.

Ideal Outfit/Clothes:

Honestly if you can avoid wearing anything but underwear and the compression garment, go for it. 

If you can’t, button-ups or tank tops with big arm holes are your best friend. 

For the first few days at least have someone else help you dress. 

I’d suggest loose, non-button/zipper pants such as sweats or gym shorts.

 No shoes with laces/velcro since you can’t bend over - sandals/flipflops are best.

Medications:

As mentioned earlier, you’ll be given prescription pain meds. Take them as prescribed and you’ll be fine. 

If you feel any of the negative side effects like hives or fever or nausea, absolutely stop taking them and contact your doctor. 

You’ll also likely be given antibiotics to prevent infection. Take ALL OF THEM, as prescribed. 

Depending on how you react to anesthesia and who your surgeon is, you may also be given stool softener. 

Bottom line: take ALL of your meds AS DIRECTED. These people know what they’re doing.

If you’re doing everything safe and nothing has set you back, typically you’re good to drive around 3 weeks after, workout lightly about 4 or 5 weeks after, and everything else about 6-8 weeks after.

*****This post was made from things I have learned and my own current experience. If I haven’t mentioned something it’s because I don’t know about it and I’d prefer you have to find information elsewhere than risk spreading false information******

[lucascreation]

“CASTING CALL TRANS BOYS & MEN FOR @netflix STOP-MOTION ANIMATED FEATURE WITH  @JordanPeele & #KeeganMichaelKey.”

-  alex schmider‏

[lucascreation]

Do NOT Support ‘Adam’ When The Film Comes Out

I’ve talked about this before on this blog but this is the most disgustingly transphobic and lesbophobic narrative I’ve ever come across. 

CWs: transphobia, homophobia, lesbophobia, corrective rape, voyeurism

The book Adam by Ariel Schrag is being turned into a movie which has been named as one of the most exciting LGBTQ films of the year. You should know before watching that the book is about a cis boy who pretends to be a trans man in order to persuade lesbians to sleep with him.

Yeah… you read that right.

Book plot summary: 

boy spies on his lesbian sister having sex

boy decides to pretend to be a trans man (gross)

i.e. pretends to have a vagina because he thinks lesbians will want him then (he literally wants to fuck lesbians because he watched his lesbian sister have sex wtf)

he does get a lesbian to sleep with him, he straps his penis down using ace bandages and uses a strap on.

all the actual trans dudes we meet identify as lesbians this basically implies that trans men are not real men (lesbians i.e. women)  

another time they have sex again only he uses his actual penis but tells her its a strap on. that’s literally rape, she didn’t consent to an actual penis.

he confesses that he’s been lying to her this whole time but she doesn’t break up with him. she even says its okay cause she fantasised about him being “a real boy"

that’s a direct quote. massive transphobia. huge. not to mention this is now the “lesbian is cured by dick trope” which is disgusting and that trope leads to real lesbians and bi women being raped to “fix” them. 

he leaves new york, they’re long distance. they get in an argument and he calls her a slut and a whore among other things and then she dumps him

eventually they get back in touch and she has a new cis boyfriend so yep, she’s been “cured” woo she’s actually straight and he helped her realise that yay (massive sarcasm)

It is deeply deeply transphobic. To imply that our identities are just costumes for other people to put on erases who we are as people. More than that, to imply it is done to trick people into sex is a dangerous lie that literally gets us killed.

It is also deeply lesbophobic. To fuel this narrative that lesbians can be “fixed” by having sex with a man leads to real corrective rapes happening. 

Here is a review of the book by a trans man. I have yet to find one by a lesbian but will edit this if I do.

This book gives out incredibly harmful notions about trans men and lesbians that are used to hurt them in real life. It’s so entrenched in the narrative that I don’t see how the film can possibly be any better.

I do not say any of this lightly. it’s very very rare for me to call out a piece of fiction or for me to decide that a story is unfixable. But this… there’s no excuse for the bigotry in this. 

I’d like to tell people to boycott it but I can’t tell you what to do. So instead I’m going to ask that you share this because it being named as an exciting new LGBTQ film is going to make LGBTQ teens want to see it. And they should know beforehand how hurtful it could be. They should be able to arm themselves with that knowledge.

Don’t make queer kids see this film believing it will represent them only to be exposed to this hatred of their identities. 

Please reblog.

[lucascreation]

Things they don’t tell you about top surgery

- Talk to the surgeon about the size you want your new areolas/nipples (don’t be afraid to ask)

- Numbness. No one talks about this for guys who are about to have surgery. You’re going to be numb all in your chest area, especially where the incisions were. They cut nerves as they pass along your chest, and it can take up to a year to regenerate those nerves. Still, feels super foreign for the first two weeks

- Make your bed into a pillow chair, body pillow, two on each side, and two for your head. 

- Sleep alone. I tried to sleep with my girlfriend and it was miserable. You really do need the entire bed for yourself

- Go on Groupon, & get yourself a 10 foot lightning cable iPhone charger, BEST THING EVER, can reach from wherever you are

- Don’t take a week off from work, take two. You will regret the one week, and love the extra time

- When they say “don’t move too much, even after the first week”. LISTEN. I moved way too much and got so sore super quickly. 

- Drink lots of water & eat if your taking the pain medication, otherwise your stomach feels super funky.

- Get stool softeners, & don’t be afraid to take those babies. Don’t wait a week to poop. you’ll surely regret it. 

- The drains are scary & they may hurt while draining or rewrapping your dressings, but once they come out, the second they do, its no more pain, its crazy. 

i hope this helps someone, because i wish i knew all of this when i was having mine a month ago. Looking back its like everyone forgets all the real negatives, its a great experience, & i healed very well & quick compared to most, but the first few days are crazy. They hurt, suck but it gets better.