1st appointment with Dr Barett,
I'd been self medicating for a few YEARS prior to that, I was full time name change and everything at the time I was unemployed having been laid off. He asked me 20 questions about my family history and about me... We then chatted about human Kidney function. I'd not even been given a blood test in the years of dealing with the NHS and my self medicating, he seemed alittle surprised but not very. I got the blood test done right away.
I heard nothing after that... I asked both the hospital and my GP about my blood test nothing came up they'd lost it apparently, My appointment 6 months later was cancelled and I had to wait, 11months.
2nd Appointment with Dr Lorimer.
First thing he asked was "how is the new Hormone regime treating you" I was baffled, he showed me what they had on file. My blood test results had been processed, Dr Barrett refereed them to the head endocrinologist who'd suggested a prescription (Noting a problem with my levels) and sent it to my GP... who did nothing... for 10 months... The second appointment was much like the first, I was now employed as a Lab Scientist. He gave forms and his contact details if I wanted him to write a referral for a GRC. He gave me a print out of the letter to give my GP. He also Showed me Dr Barrett's report, Saying he'd approved my diagnosis as transsexual and he was going to do the same. He gave me a copy of those. Afterwards A nurse also came along and took a peek at my genitals Dr Lorimer asked if I was possibly intersex, I denied this. The nurse confirmed there wasn't anything out of the ordinary with my "bits"
I showed my GP the letter she said she'd already seen it, ¬.¬ Grr I followed there prescribed regime but had an adverse reaction to it, I tried to get in contact with my GP but that took over 6 weeks, By which time I'd already lost it and attempted to vivisect my own genitals earning me a trip to A&E I took there regime for abit but I was only given 2months worth of hormones per prescription, It took so long to get appointments that I'd basically have to rebook immediately after getting them. I eventually gave up and using the information in my blood test adjusted my Hormone levels and self medicated again.
9 Months later
3rd Appointment With Dr Barrett
Much shorter, he asked 10 questions instead of 20 I mentioned my change in job since I'd last seen him, he was disappointed when I said that modern immunoassay's use Chemiluminescence these days and not radioactive emission, I said he was a typical man, if it doesn't glow or explode they arn't interested in it. He then nonchalantly approved me for surgery I asked him what it's like and a time frame, as I've never had surgery. He gave me a time frame so I can inform work, and suggested I order pizza after my surgery, and play lots of computer games and to stay up all night prior to my surgery, I said it sounded like a typical Friday night for me.
He also commented about my self harm scars, his line of questioning implied that he sort of got it, but he suggested advice that I would find difficult to follow. I said I'd consider it. And that was that. I spent the rest of the day goofing around London with my friend.
I gave my operation approval form to the front desk they said they would contact me in 4-6weeks, It's been 4months and still no contact, I keep ringing them even when they pick up they either can't find my referral or they can find my referral but say they handed it to someone else (Aka the surgical team administration and I have to wait for them)
I'm sick of there bungling ineptitude I have the money I'm seriously considering paying for my operation myself I have to do everything else related to my care myself, I've been post transition for nearly 5 years now... I'm tired of waiting.
NB: I'm okay with the actual medical staff its the appalling administration that I'm annoyed with.
