#transpaent

Hello Tumblr,

It's been about a decade since I've last blogged on this platform. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Muaj Kooj (a.k.a. MK) Vue, originally known in the trans community as “Liam”. I started my transition in the year of 2011 with hormone therapy. In 2012, I flew to Florida to have my double incision top surgery done by Dr. Garramone. This surgery was paid out of pocket costing me about $9,000 including hotel and travel. After I healed, I decided to start Accutane treatment in 2012, as I had severe cystic acne after starting hormone therapy. This helped a lot with controlling my massive breakouts.

A couple years into healing and working out my chest, I noticed there was an imbalance in my muscles. This made me feel very dysphoric, so after many years of contemplation, I decided to go in for another consultation in April of 2018 with Dr. Gurjala to get it corrected. I am much more happy with the results now.

Between 2012 and 2013, I suffered from painful and unbearable cramps. I have not had a menstrual cycle since being on hormones. My obstetrician-gynecologist informed me that there wasn't much she could do for me as the treatment for my cramping would contradict with my testosterone, and we don't want that. In 2014, I decided to have a full hysterectomy done through Kaiser's women's health clinic. With this surgery, the pain I had been suffering from was eliminated but along came post-menopause. This means I would have low estrogen which leaves you at risk for osteoporosis, heart disease and genitourinary atrophy. After a year of healing from having a hysterectomy, I did start to feel more fatigued than normal.

If there is one thing that I regret from having a full hysterectomy, it would be that I did not opt to freeze my eggs. I was pulled back by the yearly cost of storing them. But hey, it's too late now and there's always other options for having children like In Vitro Fertilization, surrogacy, or adoption.

Bottom surgery has always been something that floated in the back of my mind. After endless research on phalloplasty, I had my first consultation with Dr. Chen in 2015. After meeting with him, I felt confident and set my date for ALT phalloplasty in October 2016. Sadly, when my surgery date nearly arrived, Dr. Chen left the practice. I was left to float around, waiting for a call to see what my options were. I decided that I would hold off on bottom surgery since I did not feel comfortable with a new surgeon.

In 2017, Kaiser no longer worked with doctors outside of their network. I was informed that Dr. Salim would be the head surgeon to perform bottom surgery for their transgender clinic. I went in for a consultation in August of 2017. Though I did not feel 100% sure of him, I decided to set a date anyway for May 2018. That would give me at 9 months to do more research on him and mentally prepare myself. Came April 2018, I received a call from a job that I applied for. I was given the great news of an attentive offer that I could not refuse. I decided to cancel my surgery date and start my career in May 2018. I was given a one year probation with this job position. It has now been 1 year and 7months and I am very happy of my decision to delay bottom surgery.

Today, I am happy to say that I'm finally in a content place in my life where I don't foresee anything that will stop me from getting bottom surgery. My job is secured, my finances are in control, and I will be finished with my degree next spring. I had my "brush-up" consultation with Dr. Salim a couple of weeks ago. I will be having ALT bottom surgery this coming summer of 2020.

Follow angiewws / annalynne for more!!