Got my first appointment

[TheAwesomePrussia]

So I'm set up to see gender therapist Terry Edwards (in Nashville) first week of September. I'm pretty excited. But also kinda wondering, what now?
Up until now it's been a matter of searching through therapists and finding one that took my insurance, then figuring out when I'd be able to find the time in my school schedule for appointments and public transport (no vehicle...).
I know where I want to go with this, and I know this is the big first step. But...what now? I'd like to see an endocrinologist and at least be on T before next summer. I go to Ukraine for a month, and I'd like to at least be legitimately recognized as transitioning by the program director, so there may be potential to not have to room with the girls. So, what do I do now? And what should I expect this first appointment?

[regan]

Do everything you just said, or rather tell the therapist everything you just said.  I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be on T by next summer.  Of course, now is the time to approach the program director and work out what to do about your housing situation.  Wait until the last minute and I'm sure they'll stick to whatever the policy is to the letter.

[Ann Onymous]

First appointments are as much a feeling-out period for both the patient AND the provider as they are anything else...but yeah, definitely tell them what you just posted.  Quite frankly, I don't see any reason why you couldn't be hooked up with an endo prior to Thanksgiving if you were ready to take that step...even with the controls that exist with testosterone, there are STILL providers out there who will operate on informed consent as opposed to requiring a letter from a shrink...

Do not be afraid to look outside of what people associated with the 'gender community' resources.  There are a number of gay and lesbian doctors out there in medical-land who recognize that you have a functioning brain inside of the skull and can make intelligent decisions regarding how to live life...

[TheAwesomePrussia]

Of course, now is the time to approach the program director and work out what to do about your housing situation.  Wait until the last minute and I'm sure they'll stick to whatever the policy is to the letter.

It's a study abroad institute. A few of their summer programs are still running, so they don't have the information for next summer yet. They usually get it around September/October. Also, I don't want to address it until I've been accepted into the program, if I tell them now, they may deem it a "liability".

And as far as an endo, that's another thing, I read somewhere on these forums (need to find it again) that there are two endocrinologists in Nashville that work with trans. One requires a year of therapy, but the other they weren't sure about.
Can anyone else help me get info on endocrinologists or doctors in Nashville with the certification to prescribe hormones and do the necessary bloodwork? I already looked into the price of T at my pharmacy, and even without insurance, it's affordable for me. $24 for 200ml. I'm smaller than most guys (5'0" and around 110lbs), and I also intend to start on a lower dose and raise it gradually to the recommended dose (trying to preserve singing ability). I'm under my dad's insurance, and he's agreed to support me on this financially. He's a surgical assistant, so he's got some connections and already said he can direct me to SRS surgeons when I'm ready.

[regan]

As for Endos, I mentioned in a different thread, there is at least one doctor in every city that will write a prescription for just about anything you ask of them.  Don't confine yourself to just the "gender" community.  A lot of people (myself included) see a primary care doctor for their HRT.

[TheAwesomePrussia]

As for Endos, I mentioned in a different thread, there is at least one doctor in every city that will write a prescription for just about anything you ask of them.  Don't confine yourself to just the "gender" community.  A lot of people (myself included) see a primary care doctor for their HRT.

That's what I'm saying. I just need to find someone who's capable of prescribing it, and has the certification to do proper bloodwork. Though, my current doctor said he'd consider doing it if I could get him a letter of recommendation from the therapist. The issue, is that once I'm on campus, I'll be too far away from the doctor to really get any appointments with him.
While I'm on campus, I use the MTSU Clinic. It's at the campus recreational facility and we have certified doctors there. Students get free health care and anything that the clinic covers, among other procedures for a small fee (though you can still file your insurance). But basically, doctors with no copay. But I don't know how comfortable any of the campus doctors would be with prescribing testosterone. Or even if they'd be able to do it. I figure it's worth asking though, or perhaps getting a recommendation on anyone in the Murfreesboro area who would.

[regan]

But I don't know how comfortable any of the campus doctors would be with prescribing testosterone. Or even if they'd be able to do it.

Anyone with a medical license can prescribe any drug.  Providers tend to be more selective with controlled substances since that can raise red flags with the DEA, but otherwise its fair game.

Educate yourself and ask the doctors for what you need.  They can say no, but there's nothing to say they can't do it.

[Ann Onymous]

Anyone with a medical license can prescribe any drug.  Providers tend to be more selective with controlled substances since that can raise red flags with the DEA, but otherwise its fair game.

Educate yourself and ask the doctors for what you need.  They can say no, but there's nothing to say they can't do it.

EXACTLY, which, given that T is the substance being discussed here, is why I even suggested sports therapists to the OP.  They won't be on the radar of a lot of trans-persons, but I can almost guarantee that they have a lot more experience with testosterone than many of the more traditional endos or GP's. 

[RhinoP]

I'd like to hear updates on this, Nashville is my closest chance at finding a doctor who can help me out concerning the transition I want to take. I'm personally looking for an Endo that either prescribes things right off the bat or takes a more reasonable approach like requiring three months of therapy or even just a couple therapy sessions to make sure the person isn't a complete lunatic. A year-long therapy routine is just plain malarky in my opinion, an excuse for therapists to make more money and Endo's to carry out religious restrictions. It's not that I mind there being a process to these things, it's that because of my career (and my mindset), a year of therapy simply cannot by no extent work for me. It would harm my life in all ways possible.

[TheAwesomePrussia]

I'd like to hear updates on this, Nashville is my closest chance at finding a doctor who can help me out concerning the transition I want to take. I'm personally looking for an Endo that either prescribes things right off the bat or takes a more reasonable approach like requiring three months of therapy or even just a couple therapy sessions to make sure the person isn't a complete lunatic. A year-long therapy routine is just plain malarky in my opinion, an excuse for therapists to make more money and Endo's to carry out religious restrictions. It's not that I mind there being a process to these things, it's that because of my career (and my mindset), a year of therapy simply cannot by no extent work for me. It would harm my life in all ways possible.

I understand completely. For me, I'm trying to transition completely before my graduation from college. I'd like to go into employment with my gender completely certified on all my legal documents and nothing to distract me from my career path. But T is something I really want as soon as I can get it... I know I'm afraid of the tiniest things as far as being outed...the biggest ones being my voice and my lack of adam's apple... Another is the fact that I work out, and I feel like some of the guys I work out with might be suspicious or at the least tease me for not being able to build as much muscle as them, despite doing 5x as much work... My friend and I are starting a parkour club, so being able to do parkour on campus regularly (we need to get approval as to what we can and can't use for parkour and how high we can scale) may help, but only as far as physical strength.

So far on campus I pass about 90%. But all it takes is one of the 10% to depress me and make me self-conscious for the rest of the day...

[jamiejo]

So, what do I do now? And what should I expect this first appointment?

Spill the beans - let everything out.
1. Be honest about everything
2. Take a copy of WPATH SOC (helps if you have read it too)
3. Take a copy of your Trans-Plan, should include your budget, timeline, research, etc.
4. Take an agenda for each session of topics - refer back to item #1.
5. Execute your Trans-Plan!!!

(Yes, Type A Personality - everything has to be planned and organized)

It's your money, make the most of each session.

Checkout my video
TLOG 14: Therapist or counsellor for GID / transgender MTF or FTM

Hope this helps,
Jamie

[RhinoP]

For me, I pass as female about %0.1, and look about 99.9% male. It's living in constant depression that is always induced by seeing my appearance and noticing how others react to how my personality is so different from the masculine male by face looks like. The insults I get daily are getting to be overwhelming, and I just want to start at least anti-androgen therapy as soon as possible. By all means, I have no complex emotions to get through, I want to transition and pass, I don't care anything about hiding it from anyone, I just want to get the foot in the door after years and years of trying to accomplish RLE on and off on my own...

Right now, I've been emailing Lisa Beavers, but she's about as helpful as mold on a cold boulder. I mean, I wish I could travel up to Nashville, stay a week, do a couple "intense" sessions (like 4-hour sessions?) with a therapist, get cleared, and be on my way. To do a year long RLE, I'd have to move to Nashville, and I can't do that. Every therapist in my current town is extremely Anti-Transition, and the last therapist I went to, despite having "one other Trans patient" tried to convince me that there's no need to Transition because Trans coped with being Trans back in the medieval times without having hormones and surgery at their disposal 

However, big problem with that is that I'm a both a Trans-issue and Plastic Surgery consultant; I deal with people every day who have benefited from both surgery and hormones beautifully, and it creates a lot of pressure and a lot of jealousy that these people are getting treatments because they happen to live near a liberal therapist. I'm also a professional performer, so my appearance is extremely important to me. From all around, I want my treatments now, it may sound childish to say. But then again, I have a piece of paper that says I'm one of the top 93% smartest people in the country, and I know more about psychology than most professionals do (most professionals think the DSM is satanic because of how scientifically correct it is), I have no reason to be treated like a moron who doesn't know foot from horseback. Would a Transsexual who's a licensed therapist or psychiatrist have to go through RLE?

[TheAwesomePrussia]

Well, actually, the appointment was wonderful. All she did was listen and ask me a few questions, mostly about what treatments I wanted, what brought me there, and what she could do to help me.
She actually directed me to the same doctor that my on-campus PCP recommended, Dr. Gary Smith. She says he usually prescribes hormones on informed consent, without the need for a therapist letter.
I have an appointment with him schedule for the 23rd. So wish me luck.