My Previous doctor is suggesting Testosterone to my therapist!

[calico]

what a quack, is there no other option? I saw informed consent up there recommended, just reading that email makes me want to be violent towards the sender. seriously ridiculous. I am sorry you are having to deal with this

[JLT1]

Shawn,

That sounds about right.  From my personal experience and from what others have said, if a person is IS and has been male, the first thing they do is prescribe T.   I was in therapy with a well respected therapist (PhD) who supported my going on E and I could not get it.  At endo #5,I did what I knew was wrong and I tried T.  It was a very unpleasant experience.  So, I stopped.  Then, they had me do it again, which produced the same results.  Eighteen days later I was on E.   

You can try another doctor or another psych.  I don't believe that in your case T would cause a serious physical problem.  Mentally, it wouldn't be good.  But could be a means to an end.  The last resort means to an end.  I'd try everything else first.

Hugs,

Jen       

[Shawn Sunshine]

  well ok now things have changed a bit, I sent her an email and she said this was what was sent to my current therapist. She is a good doctor, had nothing but good sessions with her and such.

I have attached a letter for you to take to your therapist or any of your other medical doctors who need to have information about your condition and my clinical opinion. I determined to NOT discourage nor endorse you getting HRT, but rather left it up to your current treating clinicians. I merely gave my clinical assessment and recommendations based on certain criteria that I feel would need to be addressed.

[JordanBlue]

The effects of estrogen on the psyche are relatively fast-acting. If it's not right, then you'll know really, really soon. That said, if you're on T, you'll know faster.

Ok, with that being said...
I've been on HRT, Spiro & E, for a full week now.  I feel more alert, have more mental clarity and focus than I have in many years.  I feel awesome.  Does that mean it's right for me? 

[Shawn Sunshine]

I would think so,I was looking for that inner peace I don't have now. I can tell when my testosterone spikes, i get angry and irritable fast. I hate that feeling of testosterone raged emotion, it fights against my gentle nature.

[Tori]

"they can do it" ?  I disagree with this 100%.  No doctor can force a patient to do anything.  This is a simple matter of the patient knowing what's going on better than anyone else.  If you're absolutely certain you're a M2F TS, why in God's name would you take T?

While I like to pontificate, I also agree with the above.

[Katie]

What you did not mention was something very important. You did not tell us how you are presenting to the doctor. I am going to take a shot in the dark guess and say your going there presenting a guy..............
Can you really expect the doctor to take the female thing seriously when your there as a boy??

Hell I have been for a year now telling people I am trans species and that I am actually a zebra. Strangely not one person believes me and not one person has gotten me any zebra presents either.

My point to you is if I was the doctor with a guy sitting in front of me asking for female hormones I would be suspicious just the same as your doctor is.

Katie

[Heather]

I have to agree with Katie on this one. When I started therapy I knew I wanted her to know I was serious about this so I started presenting as myself even though I totally completely couldn't pass. Sure it was embarrassing but every time I went out I told myself maybe this will be the time I get my letter. So if your not presenting perhaps you should give it a shot it couldn't hurt to try.

[Shawn Sunshine]

I presented as female every time I went to that Doctor, I don't present here in this small town at all,and I am not going to, its just too dangerous. My Therapist here knows why though, she even told me to just be careful. I got to read the letter my previous Doctor said, this has nothing at all to do with wearing or not wearing female considered clothing. Theres no rule really about what is exactly male and female when it comes to what to wear. Clothing doesn't make you who you are.

[Jessika Lin]

What you did not mention was something very important. You did not tell us how you are presenting to the doctor. I am going to take a shot in the dark guess and say your going there presenting a guy..............
Can you really expect the doctor to take the female thing seriously when your there as a boy??

Hell I have been for a year now telling people I am trans species and that I am actually a zebra. Strangely not one person believes me and not one person has gotten me any zebra presents either.

My point to you is if I was the doctor with a guy sitting in front of me asking for female hormones I would be suspicious just the same as your doctor is.

Katie

What a pile of opinionated and insulting drivel! For all of my appointments with my therapist I presented as male (albeit with my ears pierced and nails painted) and told her I have no intention of presenting as female until I can pass, I had zero issues with getting my letter. Requiring anyone to 'prove' they are trans* with their presentation is total bull->-bleeped-<- and smacks of gatekeeping, not to mention potential issues with safety.

[carrie359]

What a pile of opinionated and insulting drivel! For all of my appointments with my therapist I presented as male (albeit with my ears pierced and nails painted) and told her I have no intention of presenting as female until I can pass, I had zero issues with getting my letter. Requiring anyone to 'prove' they are trans* with their presentation is total bull->-bleeped-<- and smacks of gatekeeping, not to mention potential issues with safety.

Exactly Seeking Myself I totally agree and my therapist would have it no other way... I lived male as long as I could and I can't just put a dress on and walk out the door to see my customers and family and say here i am...
I think therapist that do that to us are cruel...and heartless..
My therapist wants me to take it slow and transition has many options...as far as how we present..
I must admit though that I never liked my guy clothing and now that I started HRT I hate to get manned up and go out but I have to.. I just don't look in the mirror or i get upset ...sometimes..
Carrie

[Allyda]

What a load! Did someone say "gatekeeping?" Well, that's what that first letter in your first post sounded like to me. If you know your a transgender woman you shouldn't be forced to take T. I actually can't believe I'm hearing this in this day and age. I live out in the sticks on an island in a chain of lakes here in Florida and my choices for Endo's and trans friendly doctors is slim to none.

In addition, I don't believe you should be forced to present as female if it could potentially open the door for you to be physically harmed just so you could possibly get a favorable letter. If I were in your position I know what I'd do. But I'll leave that there. Since I've been on hrt I've had a more stable peice of mind and sense of well being. No more mood swings, etc., and more energy than I've ever had.

I recommend you follow advice other have given you about finding another doctor. If your current therapist isn't the one who wrote that garbage then he/she might be OK to stay with. However I would definately discontinue seeing the one who wrote that letter. Such nonsense will do you more harm than good in the long run. Just my 2 cents.

[JordanBlue]

What you did not mention was something very important. You did not tell us how you are presenting to the doctor. I am going to take a shot in the dark guess and say your going there presenting a guy..............Can you really expect the doctor to take the female thing seriously when your there as a boy??
My point to you is if I was the doctor with a guy sitting in front of me asking for female hormones I would be suspicious just the same as your doctor is.
Katie

That's not necessarily true.  I presented as a guy when I got my scripts for M2F HRT.  Of course, I had a therapist letter, etc.  There are no set rules on 'How To Present As A Proper Transperson'.  Each individual should do what they feel comfortable with.

[Jamie D]

Ok here is what is now happening. My therapist is on board again with trying to get me HRT ,we worked some issues out and she told me she is not trying to procrastinate. So she says that the endocrinologist that I have seen 3 times wants a letter from her and a Doctor (Psychologist). But now guess what my previous Doctor (Psych) said to me in an email as to what she is sending to the therapist?



So now I am really worried that all this effort and time spent with my therapist may not mean much of anything if the endocrinologist still needs another doctors letter. I thought that an LCSW by themselves could write a letter of recommendation for HRT.  What my previous doctor fails to see is that I have been struggling internally on a spiritual and emotional level about my gender. But THE LAST thing I want to do is take TESTOSTERONE! Why in the world would this be recommended for me to try.

You notice that in the email it suggests that taking testosterone will change my internal gender,that I will feel more male and correct. No that would make me feel sick and loose whatever feminine traits I already have.

So not sure what to do now.  

Shawn, you are never obligated to take a medication you are prescribed if you feel that it would work contrary to your physical and mental health.  All medications carry with them certain risks, and you have the final say.

You have found that you have an intersex condition.  That condition must be considered by your doctors, and under the new Standards of Care, the hormone regime is left largely up to you.

[Tori]

Shawn, you are never obligated to take a medication you are prescribed if you feel that it would work contrary to your physical and mental health.  All medications carry with them certain risks, and you have the final say.

You have found that you have an intersex condition.  That condition must be considered by your doctors, and under the new Standards of Care, the hormone regime is left largely up to you.

Yup.

Often, we know more than our doctors.

You are not at their mercy, they are at yours. Do they want your business or not?

[JordanBlue]

What a pile of opinionated and insulting drivel! For all of my appointments with my therapist I presented as male (albeit with my ears pierced and nails painted) and told her I have no intention of presenting as female until I can pass, I had zero issues with getting my letter. Requiring anyone to 'prove' they are trans* with their presentation is total bull->-bleeped-<- and smacks of gatekeeping, not to mention potential issues with safety.

Agreed 100%.  I also have no intention of presenting as female until I can pass comfortably.  My therapist believes the exact same thing.  It's up to the individual person. No rules on 'being trans'.

[calico]

I wish we could sue dr's who don't do their job correctly, or specifically make it harder for the t-community, like said earlier what a bogus dr, you have access to an informed consent dr.? I have another option but I'm not going to post it here if you want to pm me you can.

[Thylacin]

Can you really expect the doctor to take the female thing seriously when your there as a boy??

Um, yes, yes he should take her seriously.

That is not at all an important question, and your comparison to thinking you're an animal is so extremely insulting.

[Allyda]

Um, yes, yes he should take her seriously.

Agreed. That email is actually the worse attempt at gatekeeping I've seen in a while. I thought in this day and age our society was past that.

[Shawn Sunshine]

Well see,one thing that is happening, is that I am being told that because I am Bi Polar, I could be experiencing temporary dysphoria due to manic episodes. However I know that is not the case.

I have always felt gentle and feminine, even before when I didn't accept myself. Honestly I do feel both male and female,but I do not want to keep looking more male. It makes sense that I am intersexed and feel in between. I am most certainly genderfluid but have never really been comfortable or have been scared to express it. I am sure I am not alone in my fears.