#jakesjourney

[darrengallagherauthor-blog]

Write or read.. hmm..🤔🤔 It's one of those days where I can't make up my mind..😐lol #readorwrite #amwriting #amreading #thefatherofhounds #jakesjourney #brandonsanderson #thewellofascension

[jakesjourney]

1 week

So much has happened, yet so little. haha. Full disclosure, I'm gonna get pretty detailed with my measurements/body changes because I want to make sure that it’s all documented properly for transmen that come after me and also for me to be able to look back on. I looked through as many transition blogs as possible before I started T and I know how much they helped me.

First off, my voice dropped greatly on day 2. I was so excited until the next day when I started to sound like a prepubescent frog. The majority of this week my voice has been all over the place and cracking. Must be a rite of passage.

Secondly, I was amazed at how quickly much muscle structure began to change. Within 4 days, my upper arms had already visibly grown. My thighs/quads also became more defined. This came with a lot of growing pains #growingpainsat29yearsold. I’ve lost about half a centimeter in my hips which means my more masculine figure is starting to take shape. Here are my measurements with their changes from last week.

Measurements

age = 29

height = 5′5″

weight = 160 (will update 4/27 at 2 weeks)

men’s shoe size = 6.5-7

mens shirt size = large

mens pants size = 34 x 32

bust: 99.5 cm (+3.5 cm)

chest: 89 cm (+2.5 cm)

waist: 87 cm (+3 cm)

hips: 98 cm (-.5 cm)

thighs: 65 cm (+.5 cm)

knees: 42 cm (+1 cm)

calves: 35 cm (+.5 cm)

biceps: 35 cm (+2.5 cm)

forearms 25.5 (0 cm)

Other changes that I have noticed are slightly oilier skin, more pimples, a drop in body temp for the first few days after I first got my injection. The major changes have primarily been muscular.

It has already been quite a ride and I am looking forward to every minute of the rest of it! Next time I plan on updating on less physical characteristics and more on the mental aspect of transitioning. Ask any questions you may have! I’m an open book!

[jakesjourney]

I meant to post this yesterday, but this is my Day 1 selfie. I will be taking one each day.

[jakesjourney]

April 13th, 2016 measurements

I’m putting it all out there, folks! I decided to measure/weigh myself biweekly so this is the control for the rest of the measurements. Watch me grow! haha

age = 29

height = 5′5″

weight = 160

men’s shoe size = 6.5-7 

mens shirt size = large

mens pants size = 34 x 32

bust = 96 cm (37.8 in)

chest = 86.5 (34.1 in)

waist = 84 cm (33.1 in)

hips = 98.5 cm (38.8 in)

thighs = 64.5 cm (25.4 in)

knees = 41 cm (16.1 in)

calves = 34.5 cm (13.4 in)

biceps = 32.5 cm (12.8 in)

forearms = 25.5 cm  (10.0 in)

[jakesjourney]

T-Day

Today, April 13th, 2016, is the day I start testosterone (T.) For a long time, I never thought this day would come. In fact, for most of that time, I was afraid to even admit to myself that this was my true self. I am a man. I received my degree, had my own business, lived in a great house with a house full of furbabies and was married. My life was pretty set, or so it seemed. There was still something nagging at me, something I was afraid to let out in the open, even to myself. Slowly, I started to desire being seen more masculine. I had already been strictly wearing men’s clothing for a few years, not thinking much of it. There was something much deeper inside me though that was begging to be found. The names “ma'am,” “ladies,” and even “girlie” made me cringe every time I heard them. This was not who I was, nor the way I wanted to be perceived. I come from a very well meaning conservative Christian family. Many don’t believe that this is God’s plan for my life, and therefore, don’t support me. The prospect of starting T has already driven my family away, with the physical changes to surely sever our ties. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but I have to do what is going to make me truly happy. This blog’s reason for existence is three fold: I am keeping it to document the changes that occur to share with my supportive friends and family, to hopefully gain more support, and to show those who come after me that it’s so greatly important to follow your heart and it will get better. Please follow along with me on this journey.

[jakeybakeysjourney]

Dia- What-es?

No one can ever prepare you for a disease or illness especially when you’re an animal. 

Recently, I had been feeling under the weather and I was drinking gallons of water each hour, but I didn’t understand why or how to explain myself to my family. My bladder was completely full 24/7 and I felt bad because of the 9 human years I have been alive, I experienced my first accident in the house. By the way, you read that correctly; even as a puppy, I never had an accident. This was definitely a defining moment that my family knew I wasn’t feeling well.

Not only did I have a full bladder, I also had a complete loss of appetite for dog food for about a week or so; however, I always seemed to have room for fresh cooked chicken and cold fresh cut apples my family fed me. 

My sister brought me to our local vet and the doctor said I had to do some blood work and give a urine sample. Boy, was I thrilled. 

Due to of all of my symptoms, the doctor was convinced that I had diabetes, but the results would not be in for another 24 hours. 

That night, I was mentally and physically exhausted to the point that I didn’t even want to go for my favorite daily walk. My family was worried sick, but prayed that the results would show the reasons I wasn’t feeling good so they could help me and get the medication I needed. 

Hours of anticipation, my sister, Sierra, got the phone call the next day and was informed that I was positive for diabetes and needed further tests because I also had particles in my urine. 

In layman’s terms, normal glucose (sugar) levels in a dog should be around 125 and my levels were well over 600. 

If I was left untreated, I could drop dead at any point; which was not comforting  to my family at all. I was left with no choice, but to be treated. 

How do you tell your animal that they have an illness or prepare them for all of the pain they will encounter for the rest of their life? How do owners explain to their pets that they will be in and out of the hospital? 

Car rides are not known as going to the park anymore, but for simply going to the vet, getting poked with numerous amounts of needles and being confined to a cage daily and sometimes overnight. 

Details to follow on my recovery.