Joe_Bates_Saga________________________________________________________37__



37.  Chapter



Joe quickly drove to work, hoping Dr.  Krell would already be there.
He couldn't wait to submit himself to yet another dreaded physical exam
so that he could seek relief from the intensely irritating itch that
was bothering him since yesterday.

Entering the parking lot, Joe parked in his spot and went inside.  He
wore a dark blue denim shirt-dress, and it was actually a bit warm for
Phoenix weather.  He purchased the dress during the trip to St.  Paul,
and he liked it.  He really felt a little strange wearing a dress to
work, but by doing so, and wearing as little as possible underneath, he
felt he was attempting to follow Karen's recommendation for loose
clothing.  In addition, it did serve to make him feel more feminine,
too.  He found that to be fun, in a weird sort of way.  No one knew
that under the long, denim skirt he wore only a silky half slip and
light blue, cotton, bikini panties, those protected from the messy
medication by an undetectable Carefree Panty Shield.  He had left the
dreaded pantyhose at home.  Though he did like the wonderfully silky
feel of his legs when he wore them, they were just too hot and
inconvenient.  He wasn't wearing regular nylon stockings either, just
white sweat socks with a tiny light blue stripe along the folded over
tops.  The look might not be fashionable, but it sure was comfortable.
Instead of heels this morning, Joe chose instead the comfortable,
familiar Reeboks.  He had consulted Linda, and she agreed his selection
wouldn't look all that out of place.

Joe was glad Linda stuck around to help him.  When he informed her of
this latest malady, she tried her best to suppress a laugh.

Could it have possibly been more bizarre?  This guy, her guy, only last
week had been a fairly typical, somewhat chauvinist male, who often
argued that women generally complained too much, and how they actually
had it pretty easy.  Now, there he was, in a little blue terry romper,
amazingly firm, braless breasts bouncing with his every movement,
complaining of an intense genital itch.  Short hair was about all that
actually remained of his former masculine appearance.  And Joe tried
his best to conceal that with a more feminine sort of "page-boy" cut.

Actually Linda was quite impressed by how well Joe seemed to adapt to
his unusual predicament.  It was evident he was often embarrassed,
usually self-conscious, and sometimes he just didn't know how to act in
the new role in which he found himself.  But throughout it all, he
never complained.  She saw him depressed, and even in tears a few
times, as hormones played with his brain and emotions, but even then,
he didn't really gripe.  He seemed to face each day as a personal
challenge, and tackled each new problem with a very open mind and a
strong sense of humor.  She decided that Joe accepted looking female
much better than she would, if she woke up one morning, finding herself
inside a masculinized body.

Not that Joe found everything about the situation unpleasant.  It was
clear he often enjoyed the new characteristics his body had acquired.
Surprisingly, he actually seemed to like wearing feminine clothes.  He
even liked lingerie.  And with an unbelievably young looking, sexy,
totally female physique, he looked very attractive in them, too.

Of the two, Joe, as a woman, was easily the better looking.  Not that
Linda was in any way unattractive...  but as the strange change
continued to work its magic, Joe seemed to get younger looking, and
even prettier.  Now, it seemed he didn't appear a day over eighteen,
and when the two of them were together, Joe looked more like Linda's
younger sister, easily ten years her junior, even though he was really
a few months older.

As young as Joe now looked, his taste in clothing, at least his
outerwear, was still easily that of a thirty or maybe even forty year
old.  He was quite conservative, at least compared to Linda, but that
was probably because he was trying to adjust to his new shape as well
as find the best way to conceal it.

His conservatism didn't extend to underclothes, however.  Linda was
actually amazed at some of the things Joe bought for himself.  Though
he did buy some plain cotton underpants, he seemed to prefer silky,
colorful nylon panties, briefer the better.  He wasn't much into lace
or frilly things.  He especially liked wearing this unbelievably tiny,
black, thong bikini, with a matching bra that really emphasized that
firm bust.  Linda knew Joe had always enjoyed it whenever she wore
clothes like that, at least when he knew, but she just didn't like the
way those thongs made her hips look.  But Joe certainly didn't have
that problem, and apparently liked them enough to put up with the
uncomfortable "string-in-the-butt" feeling.

Last night however, Joe was obviously in misery.  When Linda came home,
he was sitting in the TV room, wearing only a terrycloth romper, and as
soon as he could bring it up, he started talking about yeast
infections.  He asked if she had ever experienced one.

It was not a subject they had even discussed before.  At first, she
didn't comprehend what he was getting at, but it soon became evident
that he was methodically interrogating her to find out how much first
hand knowledge she had about the malady.  It was so like him.  When Joe
encountered difficulty of any kind, he always studied the problem
tirelessly, soon becoming expert on the subject.  This latest problem
apparently was no different.

Linda carefully admitted that, yes, she had experienced a yeast
infection before, though not recently.  He then inquired how she got
it.  She said she wasn't sure about that.  Then he asked her what she
did to make it go away, and how long it took.  As he described the
symptoms, she decided he must have been reading one of her magazines.
But before long, it came out that the symptoms he described were his
own.  The discharge, the burn with urination, and the incessant
itching.  Yeah, she knew what that felt like.  She easily sympathized
with him.

Linda was about to offer a fresh tube of Gynolotramine, but when Joe
said Karen told him he would need to see Dr.  Krell in the morning, she
decided to not mention she had it.  If Joe knew that was in her
medicine cabinet, he would probably try self medication.  If there was
something else wrong, it would be better to wait till morning.
Besides, she thought he looked kind of cute, rubbing his smooth,
hairless legs together, secretly scratching his pubic area when he
figured she wasn't looking.  But she understood...the burning itch was
indeed miserable.

They spent a quiet, platonic, evening together watching television, Joe
excusing himself and going to bed early.  He was plainly in no mood for
company, so Linda slept alone once again.

The next morning, Joe dressed, but spoke very little.  Linda had wanted
to ask about the new shower fixture in her bath, but forgot.  When he
came into her room once, it was to ask her opinion of his choice of
clothes.  He was obviously trying to dress lightly, but his choice of
shoes...  Those Reeboks seemed just a little too casual for her, but
she decided that it would be OK for him.  Linda knew Joe really didn't
like women's footwear all that much, and she didn't blame him...she
didn't either.  She told him he looked acceptable in a plain, but quite
sophisticated, faded blue cotton shirt-dress.  Of course, it did seem
that Joe looked acceptable in about every thing he wore now.  Joe had
bought the dress while he and Jay were in Minnesota, and it had been
another surprise to her.  Joe seemed to suddenly acquire amazingly good
fashion taste, as well as an excellent color sense.  Sure, the Reeboks
would do for work, she told him.  Joe seemed pleased, and left for work
after downing a glass of orange juice and a slice of toast with grape
jelly.

When he arrived at work, Joe entered the main building and then went
immediately to the Avionics Lab.  As he hoped, Dr.  Krell was already
there.  He was sitting at a desk, writing on a pad.  There was only one
other person in the room, and that male lab assistant was over by the
primates, feeding them.

Joe walked over to the little doctor, who glanced up as he arrived.

"Good morning, Joe," Dr.  Krell said cheerfully.  "You're here kind of
early are you not?"

"Yeah, I guess I am." Joe said.  "I wanted to talk to you, doc."

"What's the matter Joe?"

"I...  I got a new problem, doc," Joe stammered.  "Karen said I should
see you."

"Yes?  What can I help you with?"

"Well, I...  aahh, yesterday, in the afternoon, I noticed that...
aahh, when I had to pee...urinate...it really burned there.  And then
afterward, and ever since...  Man, I...it really itches.  Bad.  And I
have this...this...discharge.  It's white and sort of creamy looking.
Karen thinks it's a yeast infection."

Dr.  Krell looked at Joe and smiled.  "Yes.  It does sound like it
might be that.  We'll need go over to the clinic.  I better take a look
at you."

"Yeah, it seems like everybody wants to do that these days."

"It's the only way we can help," Dr.  Krell said apologetically.

"When do you want to go over there?"

"My, you are anxious, aren't you?"

"God doc, you should feel this.  It's driving me absolutely nuts."

"It looks like the cage would give me that chance, assuming I would
want such an opportunity," Dr.  Krell joked.

Joe looked at the little man and smiled.  This wasn't funny.  "Try it,
you might like it," he teased seductively.

"Yes, but I hear it itches a lot," the doctor added, with a sly grin.

"Yeah.  It really does."

Dr.  Krell slowly rose from the seat.  "Well, would you like to ride
with me, or may I ride with you?"

"We can take my car," Joe said, turning to follow the little man out
the door.  He wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

They drove to Dr.  Krell's office near Hillcrest Hospital.  When they
arrived, Dr.  Krell advised him to park in his private space.  They
entered the back entrance, and were the only persons there.  Dr.
Krell's office staff wouldn't arrive for another hour.

Dr.  Krell opened one of the examining rooms and motioned Joe inside.
"Please remove your skirt and underwear, then lie on the table.  I'll
be back in a few minutes," he said, falling into his more familiar
doctor-patient manner.  He left the room and closed the door.

The shirtdress was one-piece, so Joe reluctantly decided he had to
remove the whole garment.  He stood there in bra and panties for a
moment, then slid the undies down and stepped out of them.  Leaving the
sweat socks on, Joe hopped up on the table, then waited for Dr.  Krell
to return before he "assumed the position".

When the doctor returned, Joe grudgingly lay back on the examining
table.  The gynecological examination position was hardly the most
dignified, and this was the first time he wasn't automatically given a
sheet for a drape.  But, at least, this way he could actually watch Dr.
Krell as he worked.

Dr.  Krell put on surgical gloves, then held a small plastic speculum
to warm it.

"You really have to use that thing again?" Joe asked.

"I'm afraid so, Joe.  You'll just have to get accustomed to it."

The examination only took a moment.  Dr.  Krell removed the gloves, and
spoke.  "You can get dressed again, and then come out to my desk."

Joe quickly dressed and rejoined Dr.  Krell.

Dr.  Krell was preparing a prescription when he arrived.

Joe saw his medical records open on the desk.  Dr.  Krell had entered
"Acute Vaginitis" next to today's date.

"It certainly looks like Candida Albicans," Dr.  Krell said.  "Just an
overabundance of the normal flora of the vagina.  Of course, there are
a number of over-the-counter products that would work just fine.  I
think you'll find this works even better.  Just follow these
instructions.  Use the entire prescription, even if the symptoms happen
to subside before it's gone.  Use it all.  And some of this topical
ointment will help reduce the existing irritation.  It'll probably feel
a lot better," he smiled as he handed Joe a small tube of Benadryl.

"Thanks, doc." Joe said, taking the medication and the prescription.

"One other thing.  Have you...  Joe, could it be that you have recently
become...  er...  sexually active...  with a normal male, perhaps?"

"Well, I aahh...  Why do you ask?"

"It really is none of my business, I know, but each of you guys are
very special, and I would like to be kept in the loop, if I can.  You
really don't have to tell me anything, you know," Dr.  Krell explained,
displaying uncharacteristic embarrassment.

"Yeah, I know." Joe admitted.  "You're going out of your way to help
us, I know it, and I appreciate it, I really do."

"Have you become sexually active?"

"Yeah.  Yeah, I have." Joe admitted.  "How did you know?  Is there a
problem with that?"

"Absolutely no problem," Dr.  Krell said.  "In fact, it might not be a
bad idea, if it makes you feel more comfortable with what has happened.
But you must be sure to use adequate protection if you decide to
copulate with a male.  Just don't forget what I told you.  I would hope
our research wouldn't be complicated by a pregnancy.  Not yet, anyway."
He looked at Joe and smiled.

"How did you know?

"As I'm sure you know, you had a quite intact hymen when I first
examined you.  Now you do not.  I was very careful to maintain
integrity, but either you, or maybe someone else, was apparently not so
careful." He grinned wider.

Joe just smiled and said nothing.

"Well, did you find sex to be satisfying?"

"Yes, I guess I did." Joe answered.  "It really was.  Did I get this
from doing it?"

"Oh, there's no real way to know that," Dr.  Krell answered.  "It
could, or it might just be due to the extra irritation of the new
vaginal walls.  Perhaps you might ask your partner." He smiled.

"That's a lot harder than you think." Joe said.  "I don't know how I
could even bring the subject up."

"Joe, I've been dealing with gender dysphoric patients for almost
twenty years now." Dr.  Krell leaned back in his swivel chair as he
spoke.  "I must have worked with two hundred male-to-female
individuals.  I guess almost a third to one-half of them eventually
went on to seek surgery.  Most of those are now living relatively
normal lives as women.  After a few years, it's difficult even for me
to remember that most of them once possessed male genitalia."

He put the tips of his fingers together in front of his face.  "But I
must tell you, I've never seen anyone who seemed to adjust to her new
life so quickly and easily.  By any chance, did you ever consider
gender counseling before this happened to you?"

Joe looked at the little man.  What was he saying...  Was Dr.  Krell
telling him that he suspected he might have been a closet transsexual?
No way.

"Gender counseling?" Joe repeated.  "You think I may have WANTED to be
like this?  Even before it happened to me?  Come on, doc."

"It really isn't so far fetched, you know," Dr.  Krell explained.  "I
personally suspect that two to five percent of the population may have
problems in this area."

"Five percent of the world would actually prefer to be the opposite
sex?" Joe said incredulously.

"At times, perhaps.  I've seen more variations on this than you might
expect.  Don't tell me you never considered what it would be like to
become the opposite sex, at least sometime in your life?"

"Sure, I did.  I would guess about everybody does that.  But just
wondering what it might be like is a far cry from wanting to alter your
body surgically.  You have to admit that."

"True.  True," Dr.  Krell agreed.  "But if you could try it...  change
for a definite length of time, and then change back...  Almost anyone
would probably like to try that.  Surely it would certainly change the
relationship between the sexes...  If you could selectively become
whichever gender you wished, any time you wanted."

"You're talking about the cage, aren't you?" Joe was surprised at how
easily Dr.  Krell spoke of people changing gender at will.  He knew,
from personal experience, there was a lot more to it than just deciding
which closet to get your clothes from, or which bathroom to use."

"Exactly." Dr.  Krell admitted.  "I see the Cage as the ultimate answer
to gender dysphoria."

"As long as you're a guy who want's to look like a girl," Joe
interjected.  "A young looking girl, at that."

"It's only a matter of time," Dr.  Krell continued.  "I'm sure we'll
eventually break the entire genetic code.  And when we do that, we can
fix all sorts of problems, and probably prevent or even reverse aging
too, as an added benefit.

"How long will this go on?  Will I just continue getting younger and
younger looking, until I'm an infant?"

"Well, I certainly can't know for sure.  We still don't know exactly
what's happening.  But I really doubt that you'll regress to an infant
any time soon," Dr.  Krell laughed.

"Why not?" Joe wondered.

"Look at what has happened till now," Dr.  Krell explained.  "Sure,
each one of you has experienced some reduction in the natural aging
process.  But remember, you haven't actually become younger...  You're
a mature adult, albeit, a rather young looking mature adult.  I
anticipate you will continue to maintain a post-puberty physical
appearance."

"Well, that's a relief, I guess.  But what do you base that opinion
on?"

"Of course, you know we've been closely monitoring your blood makeup.
Since the genetic changes occurred, your hormone levels have changed.
When I first examined you, your blood had testosterone levels identical
to those of a typical male.  As I'm sure you are quite aware, they've
been dropping ever since, and only now have they started to level off.
Of course, there is wide variance, even among "normal" males and
females, but now, your present testosterone-estrogen ratio is within
the typical range for genetic females.  An adult woman, not an immature
adolescent.  I think it's quite unlikely your appearance will ever
become adolescent.  Don't worry.  You'll probably be keeping that sexy
figure...for the immediate future anyway," he grinned, as he ran his
eyes down Joe's curves.

Until that moment, Joe had no reason to suspect that Dr.  Krell had
even noticed his new shape.  Joe tended to think of Dr.  Krell only as
a doctor, not as a "man".

"The changes have stabilized, then?" Joe asked, feeling embarrassment
warm his face.

"Well, perhaps not quite stabilized.  Not yet.  But close." Dr.  Krell
answered sympathetically.  "Very close.  Did you happen to notice any
regression overnight?"

Joe thought about it.  He really hadn't noticed much change since the
day before.  It was the first time there was little or no change in
that length of time.  But his breasts, they often felt sensitive, even
somewhat painful, especially in the morning...  Now he could feel
them...the nipples actually...they made every step a jolt.  Was this
the way it should feel?

Maybe he really was stabilizing.  Could it be he would soon be able to
get on with his life?  And learn to adjust to being, or at least,
looking like a teenage girl.  He realized that he no longer
continuously yearned for his male appearance to return.  Sure, he
missed his masculinity, but as he gradually became accustomed to his
still changing body, he found he was missing maleness less and less.

"Joe?" Dr.  Krell broke him away from his thoughts.

"Oh...  No.  No, I don't think there were any changes last night," Joe
stammered.  "At least not that I could tell."

"Well, No one can tell better than you, I think," Dr.  Krell smiled.

"I think everything is the same as yesterday."

"Good.  That's good." Dr.  Krell said.  "I guess we can go back to the
Honeybone Lab now."

"Yeah.  Yeah.  OK. Aahh, doc?"

"Yes, Joe?" Dr.  Krell looked at Joe.  He could tell something else was
troubling him.

"Doc, I...my boobs...  I know they're probably going to hurt a little
as they develop...  they said that in San Diego...  But the last couple
of days...  This morning especially..." Joe didn't know how to voice
his concerns.

"Are your breasts causing discomfort?"

Discomfort?  What would you think?  How would you describe the feeling
of embarrassment of suddenly, virtually overnight, developing a chest
as voluptuous as your fiance?  But he knew what the man meant.  "Yeah.
I guess they are.  It's not too bad I guess...  But now they even hurt
when I walk.  Seems I can feel every step I make."

Dr.  Krell smiled knowingly.  "Joe, your body is simply awash with
estrogens.  Every time we perform another blood group, testosterone
levels are lower, and the estrogens higher.  That's causing your glands
to make inordinate amounts of prolactin, the chemical that generates
and initiates changes in breast tissue, the milk ducts, among other
things.  I'm afraid there's nothing we can do right now but wait for
everything to stabilize.  But it seems that everything is happening
very quickly.  I think eventually you will become cyclic, and your
prostaglandin E will work to level everything off, just as a normal
female.  For now though, if it hurts too much, take some ibuprofen,
that's Advil, or Nuprin.  I'm told that running cold water over the
breasts eases the discomfort somewhat.  Maybe try an alternating hot
and cold shower.  And get yourself a good support brassier." He smiled
at the look of embarrassment on Joe's face when he mentioned the last
item.

"Great." Joe said sarcastically.  Now I'm even turning into some kind
of "earth mother," he thought to himself, gently rubbing his tender
left breast with an open palm.

As they went to the car, Dr.  Krell locked his offices.  It was still
about a half-hour till the staff would arrive.  When they reached
Honeybone, Joe drove right to the guard gate.

"If I can drop you off here, I'm going to run to the pharmacy," Joe
explained.  "I want to get that prescription right away." He grinned as
he felt his face turned red with embarrassment.

"Yes.  That's probably a good idea.  Are you coming back to the lab
later?"

"Yeah, probably," Joe said, without commitment.

"Well, I'm sure that you can do as you like.  If Jim asks, I'll tell
him you'll be away for a while."

"Thanks, doc."

The door closed and Joe drove out of the lot.  He went directly to the
Med-Ex drug store and went inside.  Handing the prescription to the
female pharmacist, Joe waited impatiently as she went to retrieve the
product.

When the young woman brought the small box containing the tube, she
placed it in a little sack and stapled it.  Then she stapled the bill
to the sack.  Joe took it to the check-out counter and quickly paid for
it.

He decided to drive to Linda's to apply the product.  He found the
Benadryl lying on the seat and put it in the bag too.  As he drove, he
reopened the bag and read the prescription and then the instructions on
the box.

The prescription ointment was meant to be inserted into the vagina.
Joe opened the box and examined the tube used place the medication
inside his body.  As always, it seemed the applicator was too large to
insert.  But he also accepted that his changed genitalia was capable of
amazing expansion.  It was probably even capable of passing a baby's
head.  He held the little tube up and grinned.  This thing could
actually fit inside of him...  He tensed the muscles of his crotch,
feeling the now familiar sensation from the area where his testicles
once had been.  "You've come a long way baby," he said aloud.

Joe put the applicator back inside the package and drove on.  When he
reached Linda's he headed straight for his room.  Linda was already at
work.  Joe was glad.  He didn't want company while he experimented with
the medication.

He decided to remove his dress and slip.  In only underpants and bra,
he went into the bathroom.  He removed everything from the package and
read over the instruction sheet very carefully.  The task was simple...
He just needed to fill the applicator from the tube, move his knees
apart, carefully insert the applicator, and push in the little stick
that would empty the medication into his vaginal canal.

His vaginal canal...  Yeah.  He looked at the simple line-art drawing,
a cutaway of the female pelvis.  So, that was what he really looked
like now.  No dangly penis hanging down.  Not anymore...  Now he had
this canal...  This hole...  Funny, it sure didn't feel like a hole...
But there it was, on the drawing, starting at the little lips, little
skin folds which felt like the base of his penis, and just below his
urethra, the vaginal "canal", practically going all the way back to his
tailbone.  From the picture, it almost looked like he was hollow.

Joe finished inserting the yeast infection medication into his body and
then took the tube of anti-itch cream and read the instructions.  As
directed, he spread a small amount of the slippery white salve on an
index finger and carefully spread it over his external vaginal area and
then internally as far as he could get with his finger.  His lubricated
finger created a pleasant sensation, and then almost immediately he
experienced relief from the horrible itching.  This was great stuff.

As the medication continued to take effect, Joe noticed the sensation
had changed to a slightly numbing feel.  He stood erect and observed
himself in the bathroom mirror, then rubbed a hand over his pubic area.
The feeling there had become very strange.  He parted the short, soft
pubic hair, feeling for his clitoris.  When he massaged the sensitive
spot, Joe was surprised how it felt.  He had become used to the intense
sensation in of little nub of skin which had formerly been the tip of
his penis.  Right now it had even less feeling than when it dangled
between his legs.

His fingers went further down, tracing along the soft moist slit of his
genitalia.  Besides causing things to feel strangely numb, the
medication also made everything quite messy down there.  He wondered if
the stuff he just placed inside his vagina would eventually run back
out while he walked.  That could be a real mess.  Joe retrieved his
underpants from the counter and examined the crotch.  Then he pulled
open a drawer under the counter and found the box of panty liners.  He
took one from the box and peeled the paper back strip, then carefully
positioned the pad in the proper location.  He stepped into the panties
and pulled them to his hips.  He absently rubbed his vulva through the
blue cotton fabric, again watching his reflection in the mirror.

Whenever he initially put on snug fitting underwear, the extra
sleekness of his changed body, the flatness of his crotch without the
male bulge, was most evident.  Finally finding relief from the terrible
itch, Joe began to feel better about his situation.  It made him feel
pleased with his feminine appearance too.  The thin pad wasn't even
noticeable.  Maybe five days or a week of this wouldn't be so bad after
all.

Joe left the bathroom and slipped the blue shirt-dress back on.  He
deftly pulled the skirt around his growing hips and buttoned it, all
the while examining himself in the dresser mirror, turning left and
right to see his profile.  The increasing prominence of his pelvic
bones really was quite evident, even with the dress on.

But one thing was sure...  Dr.  Krell's prescription was working
wonders.  He suddenly felt great.  All symptoms were gone, if only
temporarily.  He felt so good, he decided to go back to work.  Besides,
if something was going to happen, he wanted to be around when it did.

He found his little hand bag and checked inside.  There were two extra
liners in there...  probably plenty for the rest of the day.  He
couldn't feel any uncomfortable wetness right now.

Joe walked to his car and drove to Honeybone.