And Relax!
About a month ago I had some blood come from my left nipple, I immediately typed this into Google and as you would expect, came away with pages and pages of information on breast cancer. Now, understanding that all medical symptoms are cancerous when typed into Google I wasn't overly concerned.
I couldn't feel a lump in my breast but decided to mention it to my GP at my next visit (already booked for the following week). Then it happened again and the area behind the nipple hurt. My breasts are tender anyway but this was propper ouchies. So by the time I got to my GP I was just a little worried.
My GP was very understand as usual, gave me a quick check and decided that better safe than sorry and referred me for an NHS outpatient appointment. That was yesterday afternoon. The doctor at the hospital gave me a through check, talked to me about my medication (both prescribed and self medicating) and was very understanding. Finally someone in the medical profession who is transsexual aware!
He couldn't find anything unusual and as my nipple hadn't discharged anything since before I spoke to my GP he was quite confident that all I needed to do was keep an eye on things.
The whole experience has made me realise just how important my growing breasts are to me. I've not had them long (only been self medicating for about 6 months) and already they are a very important to me both physically and physiologically. They are a concrete physical change that for the first time in my life moves my body and mind closer together.
Shall I get out and push?
Had my usual appointment with my GP this morning. As part of local jiggery pokery the surgery has moved into a brand new custom building, all very pretty looking. Why they had to call it a "Health and Wellbeing Centre" is a bit beyond me, but who cares. Once thing thats not changed is the inability to make an appointment sooner than exactly a week in advance or the time spent sweltering in the waiting room.
I've had a couple of spots of blood come from my left nipple, little worrying when all you can find on the internet about that is cancer. No lumps or bumps that either of us could find but he's referred me to a breast clinic anyway. Got a referral to the ear, nose and throat people for my snoring and sleep apnea. So far so good.
He is dropping my dose of anti-depressants (Citalopram) from 40mg to 20mg as I'm feeling generally better. It's been almost 2 years that I've been on them and I don't want to be on them any longer. Halving the dose seems a bit sharp to me, but we will see, I have lots of support.
Not so great news on the gender front, due to some technical screw up, the letter he dictated asking for an appointment with a gender specialist at charring cross hospital was eaten by his computer. He had no idea it hadn't been sent. So thats another couple of months waiting for precisely nothing. It's very disheartening especially with the 2 year anniversary of having 'the talk' and coming out to my doctor fast approaching.
*sigh*
Oh, and there is nothing wrong with my bottom!
Good Intentions
Once I made the decision that I wasn't going to wait for the NHS any longer, I also decided that as I wouldn't be having any medical supervision for the short to medium term it would be best to take things slowly.
The two weeks it took for my package to arrive was hell, and when it finally arrived I spent ages just looking at what I had bought, deciding "no time like the present" I started my daily 100mg of spironolactone (anti androgen).
The plan was to give that a month and just be sure everything was going ok, then start on 2mg of estrofem (dissolved under the tongue).
So much for the plan, the speed at which I caved and decided to start the estrogens as well was frightening! I lasted a whole day!
Ah well :P