More waiting and a little confusion

[Mr.X]

For those who remember my rant about having to wait, it seems I have to wait yet a while longer. The diagnostic phase is over for me, and I have been given green light, which means the HRT can start. However, they did not have time until the fifth of july...So two more months of having to deal with a feminine body....More periods, training of my upper body will still be rather useless due to those damn estrogens, so yes, more blehness. Not looking forward to it, but there's an end in sight.

Now what confuses me is the reason I can not start earlier. They want a doctor of the genderteam to examine you, they want a bonescan and they want to draw blood. This is all fine to me. But I kind of expected them to do all this before HRT to check if everything is in order, and then start hormones. But this is not the case. The lady I made the appointment with told me that when come over on the fifth of July, I will meet up with a doctor, will get my shot, then will get my blood drawn and have the bonescan. ...So why do they do this? Does this mean that if they do find issues, they immediately stop HRT? Anyone has experience with this order of things?

[Farm Boy]

I know after my first appointment they tried to schedule me my next (T getting) one a month after the first one.  I said whoa, hey wait a minute, can't I get in any sooner?  They looked kind of confused as to why I would want to get in sooner (my doctor sucks), but they did have plenty of open appointments earlier.  I have no idea why they would do this, but you might try asking if you can get an appointment sooner than that.  Waiting sucks.  I hope the time passes quickly for you!

[Mr.X]

I actually did that, and the first open spot was on the fifth of July. They did apologize and said they are extremely busy. With only two specialized gender teams in my country, I would assume they are. It's a shame it ends up with such huuuuge waiting periods. I especially dread for those who are suicidal. Ah well, at least the end is neigh.

[Natkat]

Waiting do such, and i'm not sure of the test they make, it sound familiar of the goverments systems, however I am one of those who went beyond the system and seach threatment outside, so I wouldn't know.

I would hope for waiting they would put up an limit and also they would make sure your waiting is going to be "usefull" that your to do test, and diffrent things in the meanwhile or something.
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how big is the chance to get permission for you?

[Simon]

I waited many years to start T due to illnesses. Last November I had my first vial in my possession and had to hold onto it for a month until my hysto was over. Was it annoying? Of course. Did I wait and do what needed to be done? Yep.

If they're doing a bonescan on you that tells me you're quite young (don't post your age) so you have many years of sticking a needle in your butt ahead of you. I know it's hard to be patient but a year from now this waiting won't mean anything to you anymore.

Patience is a virtue (I told a priest that once. He wasn't impressed but he was rushing me and on my last nerve, lol).

[Mr.X]

I'm actually pretty old. I'm 26 (pretty sure it's legal to state my age at that age . I feel old because everybody here seems to be under 20). It's all part of the standard procedure here, as far as I have been told. I just find it odd they do all of these tests and give you T at the same time. What's the point in testing if you give T anyway?

Natkat, I don't have a clue what the chance of permission is here. I did hear of a couple of guys who were denied T, and this was usually based on the fact they had other issues. The diagnostic phase is mainly done to see if you have other issues, and to see if you and your surroundings (family and friends) will be strong enough to make it through something as hard as transition. The gender team thinks its really important you have the right backup and support.

[Natkat]

I'm actually pretty old. I'm 26 (pretty sure it's legal to state my age at that age . I feel old because everybody here seems to be under 20). It's all part of the standard procedure here, as far as I have been told. I just find it odd they do all of these tests and give you T at the same time. What's the point in testing if you give T anyway?

Natkat, I don't have a clue what the chance of permission is here. I did hear of a couple of guys who were denied T, and this was usually based on the fact they had other issues. The diagnostic phase is mainly done to see if you have other issues, and to see if you and your surroundings (family and friends) will be strong enough to make it through something as hard as transition. The gender team thinks its really important you have the right backup and support.

Okay, I just ask cause I know many people who been denyed and certain places where the risk is high, but I dont know the system of neatherland and how many who get denyed there or not, its posible something who can be found in there books.

I belive you should ask the people of your country just to check up on what to expect and not from those doctors.

[Simon]

I'm actually pretty old. I'm 26 (pretty sure it's legal to state my age at that age . I feel old because everybody here seems to be under 20). It's all part of the standard procedure here, as far as I have been told. I just find it odd they do all of these tests and give you T at the same time. What's the point in testing if you give T anyway?

Haha, I thought you were one of the kiddies on here, lol. Most people here are in their 20's or older. I think the younger ones post the most pics of themselves and that might be why it feels that way.

Not sure about the bone scan (that is why I assumed you were young). I thought that was to look at the growth plates in younger trans people? As far as blood work, I had to have a lot of those done beforehand but after T I've only been sent for one so far (I'm almost 5 months on injections). I think in my case it was because my levels were so low they upped the dose a little but aren't worried that it would sky rocket my levels or anything. Every doc/clinic seems to have a slight variation on how they go about this. You'll get there. 

[Mr.X]

Haha, fair enough! I'm definately not a kid anymore, even though I feel like one. Mentally I might reach 14 on a good day.

And I guess you're right, although I thought there were more under 20 guys due to the many topics about school and parents. But I guess most issues and difficulties arise with these topics, so it makes sense.

I do realize the systems are different between countries and even within countries, so I will try to see if I can find out here. Thanks anyway!

[ford]

I personally think the order sounds a little odd. I had to have a blood test prior to getting T to ensure mostly that my liver was functioning properly (I think?) . Only after that came back clear did I get my prescription. Not sure what the bone scan would be for...

[Jack_M]

Sometimes these things do suck but you're on the way, I still need to get my assessment (starting this Saturday) and lord knows when hormones will start.  Also the way they see it is that delaying things as you go along allows for people to reassess and be sure it's what they want to do.  It's frustrating as hell but at the same time, while I'm desperate to get hormones, I'd also be terrified if my assessment was done in one day and hormones the next.  Obviously, you have a long wait but when there's a queue, there's a queue and there's not much we can do.  I know you might have already felt like you've waited long enough and frustration will be up but if I were you, I would concentrate on the last months and just notice everything horribly feminine about myself and reflect on it in a way that makes me smile and think "not much longer and that'll be on it's way to being fixed".  I'd talk out loud in the morning counting down the days while saying, "Soon this voice will start to change".  Instead of focusing on the negatives of being female, I'd focus on how yes, they are there but this is the last 2 months I'll have to deal with that crap before it all starts to change.  Almost checking off the list of things you have to suffer to reach your goal.

Maybe that'll help, I don't know.  Good luck!

Oh and working out does help even pre-T.  I already have fairly broad shoulders and decent biceps and triceps from working out.  I'd say I have enough that looks like a boy who's gone through puberty and works out a little but not much.  In reality I do a crap load of working out (6 days a week, 2 strength training sessions a week) but I most definitely have definition in my back, shoulders and arms so you don't need to wait for T to start working out, start now and then on T you can start flying and raising the weights faster.  It's all about having the right training, nutrition and diet, and that goes for when you're on T too.  I'm pre-T and I do up to 30lbs weights for cardio and up to 45lb weights for strength training so you can work out now and have it actually do something.  50lbs is my limit on my adjustable dumbbells, once I get T I'll need the 90lb ones for sure!

[Mr.X]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'll definately ask them what the bonescan is for. I think it has something to do with osteoporosis, and they want to keep an eye on that. I also know they do a lot of trans research, so it could be related to that.

But yes, having the bloodtests at the same seems odd to me too. I'll ask about that when I get there.

And Jack, because I already had many long bouts of waiting, I have done all that and more. I feel like I'm just stuck now. I did everything I could possibly do to move forward. In the end, there's not much more you can do and its down to your body. I do train a little, but I have no time to visit a gym, so the results in a female fuelled body are saddening. I really need my T for that.

Anywho, thanks for the heads up!