Dr Oz: Brynne’s Sex Change
On today’s show, Doctor oz goes inside the life of Brynne and Tina, a married couple living with Brynne’s life altering decision to become a woman. Several years ago, Brynne was known as Bryan. She has been married for 19 years and has 2 daughters. All her life, Brynne felt like a woman. As a young girl, she dressed in her mother’s clothes when she was alone. When she looked at girls in dresses, she wanted to be one. Brynne grew up in Wyoming as a boy and tried to be macho, but it never felt right. In college as Bryan, Brynne met Tina and instantly fell in love. Bryan and Tina got married and had children, but Brynne still felt incomplete. Brynne buried herself in work to keep busy, but inside, there was a lot of anger because she felt she couldn’t be who she wanted to be. The anger would come out toward her family because her emotions were so raw. She felt she wasn’t being a good spouse or father. Brynne told Dr Oz, back then, she felt like a shell of a person.
Dr Oz: Woman Trapped in a Man’s Body
When Tina wasn’t home, Brynne would try on his wife’s clothes. One day, she asked Tina how she felt about men wearing women’s clothes. It started as a game or a fantasy, but then progressed.
Brynne felt like she was living a false life. The only way she felt she could be happy was to live as a woman. She had to have the surgery. At that point, Tina was confused, trying to figure out if she was gay because she still loved Brynne. Tina even considered leaving Brynne.
Brynne told Dr Oz that she felt free since becoming a woman. It felt more natural. As a parent, Brynne said she opened up to her children more. Tina knows that Brynne/Bryan is the person she loves. Today, the family sees themselves as normal.
Tina told Dr Oz that she stayed in the marriage because she knew nothing else. Brynne was the person she fell in love with 19 years ago and even though the outside changed, the inside was still the same.
Dr Oz: Transgender Family
Brynne had the surgery just 17 months ago. There was a piece in her heart that was filled now. Brynne felt the adjustment was like any other woman in society, she faced challenges but was able to just “roll with the punches.” Brynne felt that negative issues that arise are simply ways of adjusting.
Tina told Dr Oz that the adjustment was hard in the beginning. The night before the surgery, she and Brynne broke down in the hotel. Tina felt like it was the end of Bryan and Tina, the way it had always been for her. While it was the end for Bryan and Tina, Brynne felt it was a new beginning for her new life. Tina stated that there was a mourning, but also a happiness of something new coming. It was such a mixture of emotions.
Dr Oz: Transgendered
Tina told Dr Oz that while her family is supportive, they still needed to work on Brynne’s family, who weren’t as accepting of their son’s choice. Brynne told Dr Oz that her co-workers are 100% supportive, which completely surprised her. Her co-workers have embraced her and her choice and have been offering their support.
Dr. Michelle Angello, PhD
Dr. Angello, told Dr Oz that to the outside world, Brynne and Tina may be perceived as a girl-girl couple. The truth is, hundreds of thousands of people are living as transgendered. What we know is that transgendered people are no more likely to have been traumatized and no more likely to have experienced abuse. Dr. Angello believed that this may happen in utero. You don’t wake up just feeling uncomfortable, it’s truly medical.
Tina told Dr Oz that something like this does not ruin family values. The kids and her have built up a shield protecting Brynne. It has made them even stronger and Brynne agreed. According to Tina, they have a “strong, normal happy family.”
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