Top Surgery for Arthur!
Donation protected
Hello! I’m Arthur, and I am raising money for Top Surgery.
For those of you who know me personally, I have kept very quiet until now about my transition. In some ways, I have felt embarrassed to complain about the difficulties that come with transness and the obstacles that I have faced. Now, I feel that I’m doing a disservice to myself and to you lot who are unable to really know me, until you’re aware of this part of my life. Sharing this information and opening up the conversation around my transness forms part of an emotional and mental transition - one that I wasn’t really expecting. So, for those of you who would like to know, here is my transition story so far:
Since I have come out as a trans person, I have legally transitioned (everything from changing my name, my ID cards, my bank details to smaller things like uni records and email addresses), and have begun my physical transition, which commenced in March 2019. Horray!
The first step of my physical transition is called Hormone Therapy. I now have an injection of testosterone every 12 weeks, which is responsible for all of the physical changes you can see and hear. (But are often too embarrassed to mention). For those of you who haven’t seen me in a long time : these include a much squarer head, a deeper voice, broader shoulders and a fuzzy top lip. For those of you who see me all the time, you will have seen the rather marvellous effects these physical changes have had on my mental health and the way that I am able to interact with people, work and study. I managed to fund hormone therapy with a private GP, who provides the very least amount of care possible. The practice nurse at my GP surgery agreed to administer the injection for me as well as perform my blood tests, which I am so incredibly grateful for; it is the only reason that I am able to afford the therapy.
The next stage in my transition, which I am raising money for is called chest masculinisation surgery - often called “Top Surgery”. It’s a really important part of my physical transition and would change my day to day life immeasurably. In order to flatten my chest pre surgery, I have bound it for the last 5 years with what is rather aptly called a “binder”. Binders are a nightmare. They are an incredibly tight tube like garment that while being very effective, are also responsible for a lot of physical discomfort: back pain, rashes, and greatly reduced lung function from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep.
I am really excited to have top surgery; it will give me the confidence to go to the beach, to go swimming, to the gym, and also wear a white vest à la my hero Freddie Mercury.
Why Private Healthcare?
The only reason I want to use private healthcare is because the NHS waiting lists are so very long. I imagine a lot of you might have heard about this, but I will tell you my experience so far.
Having signed up to a Gender Clinic (NHS Specialist service) in 2018, I was told my wait for a first appointment to discuss my transness would be around 16 - 18 months. Feeling some faux positivity I accepted the wait. In November 2019, I called the service and asked whether my appointment was coming soon, as my wait was nearly up. Unfortunately, the waiting list hadn’t moved since I had signed up. My new estimate was likely to be 3 years or so, putting top surgery on the shelf until about 2024.
I do hope you understand why I am trying to raise the money myself. For me, 4 years is an unthinkable wait, and I would really like to have more agency over my life and my transition.
This particular surgery costs between £5,500 - 7,000. Consultation fees as well as referrals and blood tests, recovery time and medication during recovery all add to this cost which is why my goal is around £8,500.
For those of you who are able to support me financially, no amount of money is too little, and everything received will be so appreciated.
For those who are unable to give money, please share my page and help me to reach more people.
And for everyone - This fundraiser has given me quite a unique opportunity to talk about my experience and I would like to keep the conversation going - I’m really happy to answer any questions you might have, and will update you with info as it comes. Please contact me privately if you do what to talk!
For those of you who know me personally, I have kept very quiet until now about my transition. In some ways, I have felt embarrassed to complain about the difficulties that come with transness and the obstacles that I have faced. Now, I feel that I’m doing a disservice to myself and to you lot who are unable to really know me, until you’re aware of this part of my life. Sharing this information and opening up the conversation around my transness forms part of an emotional and mental transition - one that I wasn’t really expecting. So, for those of you who would like to know, here is my transition story so far:
Since I have come out as a trans person, I have legally transitioned (everything from changing my name, my ID cards, my bank details to smaller things like uni records and email addresses), and have begun my physical transition, which commenced in March 2019. Horray!
The first step of my physical transition is called Hormone Therapy. I now have an injection of testosterone every 12 weeks, which is responsible for all of the physical changes you can see and hear. (But are often too embarrassed to mention). For those of you who haven’t seen me in a long time : these include a much squarer head, a deeper voice, broader shoulders and a fuzzy top lip. For those of you who see me all the time, you will have seen the rather marvellous effects these physical changes have had on my mental health and the way that I am able to interact with people, work and study. I managed to fund hormone therapy with a private GP, who provides the very least amount of care possible. The practice nurse at my GP surgery agreed to administer the injection for me as well as perform my blood tests, which I am so incredibly grateful for; it is the only reason that I am able to afford the therapy.
The next stage in my transition, which I am raising money for is called chest masculinisation surgery - often called “Top Surgery”. It’s a really important part of my physical transition and would change my day to day life immeasurably. In order to flatten my chest pre surgery, I have bound it for the last 5 years with what is rather aptly called a “binder”. Binders are a nightmare. They are an incredibly tight tube like garment that while being very effective, are also responsible for a lot of physical discomfort: back pain, rashes, and greatly reduced lung function from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep.
I am really excited to have top surgery; it will give me the confidence to go to the beach, to go swimming, to the gym, and also wear a white vest à la my hero Freddie Mercury.
Why Private Healthcare?
The only reason I want to use private healthcare is because the NHS waiting lists are so very long. I imagine a lot of you might have heard about this, but I will tell you my experience so far.
Having signed up to a Gender Clinic (NHS Specialist service) in 2018, I was told my wait for a first appointment to discuss my transness would be around 16 - 18 months. Feeling some faux positivity I accepted the wait. In November 2019, I called the service and asked whether my appointment was coming soon, as my wait was nearly up. Unfortunately, the waiting list hadn’t moved since I had signed up. My new estimate was likely to be 3 years or so, putting top surgery on the shelf until about 2024.
I do hope you understand why I am trying to raise the money myself. For me, 4 years is an unthinkable wait, and I would really like to have more agency over my life and my transition.
This particular surgery costs between £5,500 - 7,000. Consultation fees as well as referrals and blood tests, recovery time and medication during recovery all add to this cost which is why my goal is around £8,500.
For those of you who are able to support me financially, no amount of money is too little, and everything received will be so appreciated.
For those who are unable to give money, please share my page and help me to reach more people.
And for everyone - This fundraiser has given me quite a unique opportunity to talk about my experience and I would like to keep the conversation going - I’m really happy to answer any questions you might have, and will update you with info as it comes. Please contact me privately if you do what to talk!
Organizer
Arthur Eden MacNair II
Organizer
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