I appreciate the responses I have received here. I came seeking neither advice nor recommendations, but nonetheless appreciated the kindness and generosity of Christine and Arlene who offered such. I sought information, and feel I have received from James, Beate, and Dee what I came for. And so, James, Beate, and Dee, I offer thanks.
If my understanding is correct, when an electrologist sets the power settings too high, or leaves the power on too long during insertions, at either a level or duration that could cause tissue damage, modern computerized machines are not yet sophisticated enough to warn of the potential damage with biofeedback sensors that might warn of elevated tissue temperature or dessication. In other words, no machine will help save the client from her electrologist’s negligence.
Christine and Arlene, I appreciate the advice and the offer to help me find a new electrologist. However, I’m backing away from professional electrolysis for now. Before I started electrolysis, I did my homework. I combed the web for information about good local electrologists, asked around at local transgender support groups. Though I live in a big city, I could muster only two recommendations, and one of those, at best, was lukewarm. The electrologist I picked came with alphabet soup: CPE, AEA, LPN, etc., and she had a couple of decades of experience. She’s respected by her peers, holding an office in the state electrologists’ association. And you can find a recommendation for her on this website, as on several other websites. But “qualified,” “respected,” “recommended” electrologist though she be, she ruined the texture and contour of my face. And I since have learned she has overtreated and damaged the faces of two other women. Lord knows how many others she’s hurt. So given that she’s reputed to be one of the best around these parts, I’m really not in a mood to try other electrologists.
I had faith when I should have had doubt.
I find comfort in Arlene’s reminder that I can get peels after electrology. In the meantime, it is so incredibly painful to live with this.
When I get back around to electrolysis, I believe I might give it a go myself. I doubt I’ll go so far as to try the sewing needle attached to the gatorade-soaked onion that James so playfully told us about, but I do believe I’ll give the One Touch a try. God graced me with steady hands and solid patience, so it just might work for me.
I listened to Weekend Edition on National Public Radio on Easter Sunday. Host Liane Hansen interviewed Benedictine nun Joan Chittister about doubt and faith, and Sister Joan said this:
“Doubt is a wonderful thing, yet it is what people fear most, and what people castigate themselves about most. Doubt is that moment in the faith life when we put down everybody else’s answers and begin to find our own. We look at everything we’ve been told about what is holy and what is true, and we test it.”
I appreciate all that’s been offered me here. Community is so important. Though a blind woman be fiercely independent and newly committed to finding her own way, it’s kinda nice for her to hear a few friendly voices when she’s run herself up against an unfamiliar wall.
Springtime blessings for all. Except for you, Christine. For you, dear, it’s autumn blessings,
Kineta