Scottish MtF transgender help

[Sandra_Dickinson]

Well you're looking fantastic and helping others. I think you're an amazingly strong person to have even recovered from that!

And sanity is entirely subjective! "Only the insane have the strength to prosper, only those who prosper can judge what is sane"

yeah a warhammer 40k quote. I am a mega nerd.

[Danniella]

Well you're looking fantastic and helping others. I think you're an amazingly strong person to have even recovered from that!

Thanks. ^^ (That reminds me...it's been months since I updated my avatar >.>)

But I guess it helped me in a round about twisted kinda way...I mean, I lost everything I had which sucked (understatement) but it meant that I had nothing to lose when I decided to go full-time etc, so without it, I would probably not be anywhere near where I am now...

-shrug-

Silver linings and all that.

And sanity is entirely subjective! "Only the insane have the strength to prosper, only those who prosper can judge what is sane"

yeah a warhammer 40k quote. I am a mega nerd.

Another 40K nerd? We trans girls can be scarily similar at times...

-cough cough-

'They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give themselves to me.
Like clay I shall mould them and in the furnace of war I shall forge them.
They will be of iron will and steely muscle.
In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest gun shall they be armed.
They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them.
They will have tactics, strategies and machines such that no foe will best them in battle.
They are my bulwark against the terror.
They are the defenders of Humanity.
They are my Space Marines...
...and they shall know no fear.'

-cough cough-

^^

[Sandra_Dickinson]

This thread could devolve into a major geek out if we continue... Adeptus Astartes! (I was a Dark Angel collector, as well as some Orks!)

I absolutely loved reading the background and world building quotes in those books, especially Rogue Trader and the 2nd Edition. Incredible artwork as well, introduced me to one of my favourites, Ian Miller.

"That which I cannot crush with words I will crush with the tanks of the Imperial Guard!"

"I don't have time to die! I'm too busy!"

"Drive me closer! I want to hit them with my sword!" (Ok that one wasn't in the books but I love it!)

It is amazing how similar Trans girls can be sometimes. I found a thread when I first joined that was entirely made up of favourite MST3K quotes. When I saw that I thought "Yes. I'm home. These are my people" :p

[Cat]

I... don't even know what to say, Danniella.  That is just horrendous.  :/  So glad to hear you are doing better now, but I'm sorry you had to go through that in the first place (anything I can say sort of seems inadequate, so I'll shut up now).

As for me:

I just got off the phone with Sandyford.  They put me on their waiting list, and the woman I spoke to explained the Tayside situation but said that it would not affect my waiting time.  She said that as long as my local assessment has been done prior to my appointment at Sandyford, that's all that matters.  So, there's some good news.  Current waiting time is 13 months, which I guess is the bad news, but not unexpected.  I'm still gonna try to bug my GP for an endo referral and/or some bridging therapies, but I'm not holding my breath. I have also made the local place promise that they'll phone me if there are any cancellations between now and the end of July.  I live pretty close, I can be there in 15 minutes, I told her.  It's only the third time me or my partner has phoned them about that.  I think they got the message?  :p

I'll have to think carefully about what to pay for.  I'm starting electrolysis next week, and that will be expensive too, but I'll think about whether I can manage a private assessment.  As for uni... hmm, I dunno.  Part of me says most people will be fine, the other part is terrified and convinced everyone will hate and ridicule me, but I suppose that's natural.  Already I feel a lot stronger.  Six weeks ago, the idea that I could tell my family about this seemed impossible, but now it's done.  If they accept me, I shouldn't really care what folk at uni think.  I'm working on that.  I'll get there... I hope.

And yup, definitely.  I would like to meet up for a coffee and a chat (same goes for you, Sandra, if you're ever up this way again).  Right now is kinda hectic, but in a couple of weeks, once I'm back from my fieldwork trip, things should settle down a bit.  Kinda.  Maybe.  :3  But even if they don't, I'm still up for it. ^^

And yes, thanks to both of you for understanding. <3

I... in no way have any kind of leanings toward fantasy, RPGs or anything of that nerdy nature, though, so I'm totally nothing like you two.  Nope nope, not at all, nothing to see here........ pls move along, k?

*cough*

;P

[Sandra_Dickinson]

Well hopefully I can pass my driving test on the 5th attempt and be able to take a drive up. I've never actually spoken face-to-face with another trans person!

I'm glad Sandyford got back to you. In my experience they were great, and they have an open day for folks on the waiting list on the 10th of July. 13 months is a long time, but its a top end figure - I got seen by Chalmers in less than that when they told me a year and a half.

Keep us updated <3

[Cat]

Oh!  I will try not to pin my hopes on it being the case, but it's nice to know things might not take as long as 13 months.  Thanks also for letting me know about the open day.  I am totally going to that! ^^

And good luck with your driving test!  I have one failed test behind me, a long time ago, and I've been trying to psych myself up for another shot at it for a couple of years.  I suspect any spare money I have will be getting funneled into other things for now, but it would be great to get over that hurdle one day.  I hope it works out for you this time.

And I will do.  Thanks again. <3

[Danniella]

Well hopefully I can pass my driving test on the 5th attempt and be able to take a drive up. I've never actually spoken face-to-face with another trans person!

We need to organise some mass gathering of Scottish Trans girls (Since there are no active support groups in the area...god knows I have looked)

I'm glad Sandyford got back to you. In my experience they were great, and they have an open day for folks on the waiting list on the 10th of July.

I can't find any information on their website about this, can you elaborate? I think I would quite like to go to an open day, get a taste to keep me looking forward to it

[Sandra_Dickinson]

Due to me strangely being on both waiting lists I started receiving letters from both. I got a letter informing me that it was an open day for people that were on the waiting list, although it does say that anyone interested in finding out more can attend.


apologies about the fuzzy pic, took with my webcam. If you need any details I'll just type it out for you X

Cat: Stay hopeful about the times, but take my info with a pinch of salt. I'm not promising it will be shorter, just that there's a chance.

Danniella: I am so up for a meetup, there's so little help outside of the clinics. When I tried to look into groups I just found dead emails and disconnected phones. If you ever make a date, I'll be there

[Danniella]

apologies about the fuzzy pic, took with my webcam. If you need any details I'll just type it out for you X

Wellp...I know the next day off from work I will be booking!

Anybody else going to go?

Danniella: I am so up for a meetup, there's so little help outside of the clinics. When I tried to look into groups I just found dead emails and disconnected phones. If you ever make a date, I'll be there

My experience was much in the same, the odd ageing website or dead e-mail but nothing else. Even the people at sandyford etc hadn't heard of any groups in this area

Maybe we should just start our own one day ^^

[Sandra_Dickinson]

I wasn't going to, seeing as I've been seen by Chalmers street now, but I could come through to meet some people? It's certainly easier for me to get to Glasgow than Dundee.

[Cat]

I will be going, I hope.  It's not too expensive to get a train, as long as I can book it in advance, so we're seriously discussing it.  It would be lovely to meet you both.  ^^

[Sandra_Dickinson]

Well you'll see me there, even just to chat! The Q&A event is on the 10th of June from 6pm to 7:30 at the Lorne Hotel, 923 Sauchiehall Street (In case you couldn't read my fuzzy photo) I'm free all day that day, and Glasgow is just a train journey away from Bathgate so just update me on the times honey and I'll be there!

Getting quite excited about meeting you guys , anyone else who can make it is more than welcome to attend - it's going to be a useful night for filling in the blanks regarding care and treatment!

[Cat]

Ok, I will be getting into Glasgow at the back of four that day!  My partner will be with me, but she's a sweetheart, so it's all good. ^^  Thanks so much for posting the details... I couldn't find specifics on their website, so that really helped.  Oh, and thanks again for flagging this up in the first place.  Looking forward to meeting you!! :3 

[Danniella]

-groan-

My work is being annoying and crunch deadlines means that I won't be able to go tomorrow

[Sandra_Dickinson]

Daniella: awww pity. Love the new avatar though, you look great!

Crunch time? I just finished a computer arts course so I can only think of game development. Please don't tell me you work in game development or I will die of jealousy from your looks and job! x

[Cat]

Oh, Christ... I might just be the biggest idiot in the world. I, um... I sort of read June as July... and I have trains booked for July, and... *sigh* >///<

Omg, I...  And tomorrow I have an electro appointment, not to mention that without advance fares the trains are extortionate, and...  and my trip away is in two days and I have a ton of packing to do, and... >.<

This is a huge disappointment (completely of my own making), I was really looking forward to it, and to meeting you!!!! ;_;  And now I have a trip to Glasgow in July for no reason that I totally don't need. >.>

Ok, at the very least, you get a taste of the real me, I guess.  Scatterbrained doesn't even begin to cover it...  But I am soooo sorry about this.  I can't even explain the levels of idiocy to which I am capable of descending.  I hope we get another chance to meet up soon, but this is totally my bad, and I'm just gonna have to wear it.  Sorry. 

[Sandra_Dickinson]

Cat: Oh tonight is disappointing... I start my new job on the 7th of July... It's unlikely I'll get time off and I'm not sure of my shifts yet as it's the training. I'll keep you updated, the job is in Edinburgh park and about ten minutes away from a train station so I may make it a bit later - if I can.

I was looking forward to meeting you as well... I'm sure I'll still get the chance to meet up with you lovely ladies though - at some point!

[Sandra_Dickinson]

I suppose I should clarify that it is definitely tomorrow. If you're going to be in Glasgow on the 10th of July I can still try to organise something X

[Danniella]

Daniella: awww pity. Love the new avatar though, you look great!

Crunch time? I just finished a computer arts course so I can only think of game development. Please don't tell me you work in game development or I will die of jealousy from your looks and job! x

Thanks ^^; Still got a ways to go, but starting to get to that point where my before and after pictures are becoming more than just "Look I have longer hair!" xD

I am a digital artist too. I worked in the games industry for a short time (Studied computer arts and game design at abertay uni) but I very quickly switched to something more...stable, after the realities of the games industry hit me. D: (I have major issues with the state of the games industry right now, that could fill a whole thread of their own so not going into it now ^^)

Now I do pretty much the same job I did in the games industry, but the hours are stable, we actually get paid overtime and the pay is almost double what it was in the games industry...so what if I really only do things for the likes of the oil and gas industry, NHS or other businesses. It's a damned sight less stressful than the games industry was ^^ (Aside from the rare crunch ofc)

Oh, Christ... I might just be the biggest idiot in the world. I, um... I sort of read June as July... and I have trains booked for July, and... *sigh* >///<

This is a huge disappointment (completely of my own making), I was really looking forward to it, and to meeting you!!!! ;_;  And now I have a trip to Glasgow in July for no reason that I totally don't need. >.>

Ok, at the very least, you get a taste of the real me, I guess.  Scatterbrained doesn't even begin to cover it...  But I am soooo sorry about this.  I can't even explain the levels of idiocy to which I am capable of descending.  I hope we get another chance to meet up soon, but this is totally my bad, and I'm just gonna have to wear it.  Sorry. 

Don't feel too bad! I did the same thing! xD I got confused because in Sandra's first post she said the 10th of July, not June ^^ Just hoping that there may be other similar opportunities in the future

[Danniella]

I just checked with Sandyford, apparently they only have these events once a year

Looks like we shall have to meet under our own steam now then.