Oh wow! So much information and helpful posts
Susan's is like the CIA or Mi5 of transgender Intelligence gathering!
Maybe the mods should be issued with official cards and certain powers, by the government.
Anywho, Stephaniec - I'm happy to tick certain boxes and checklists to safeguard my own health, sanity and also to safeguard the NHS. I have no problem with gate-keeping, so long as its not needlessly troublesome. I see your point about basically seeing how to best convey my legitimacy and playing the game though. Thanks for your comment, worth remembering.
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Lxndr - (that's an intriguing handle!) Some very good points there, I had heard that it is illegal to withold records, but I've also been told that it is legal in certain circumstances... Worth a shot though, asking them. Though, I'd hate to annoy them, and I don't want them thinking that I don't trust them, etc. Its really not the case, I'm just concerned as it feels like this is going nowhere and time is evaporating.
As for the new-financial year comment - that's an excellent thought! And might well be a major factor in delaying the date. It would make perfect sense, if their budget has run out, and naturally they wouldn't straight-up tell me this, hence the lack of information passed to me. This has re-assured me a bit, thank you! Yes, my appointment is after the new financial year.
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Tori - thanks. Yep, a friend of mine who transitioned successfully, went private, and frequently extols the virtues to me. And I should imagine that would look favourable on the NHS, if I had already started, as it would show commitment etc. What holds me back from going private (and not just the money issue) is that private doctors are pretty much only interested in taking your cash. And I'd be concerned that they'd not be interested in any checks or analysis. I hear that one can get hormones after just one trip to a private clinic, but I think this is quite scary. I do like having the reassurance that there are gatekeepers who are spending more time looking into my case, rather than just taking my money. It seems very much that its either all-or-nothing in the world of transexual treatment - there's either too many hoops to jump through, or too little. I'd like some middle ground where there was an emphasis on spending time on making the right choice, yet also not making it harder and more problematic at the same time.
Lots to think about.
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Nikkit72 - that quote "Dont wait for your ship to come in, swim out and meet the bloody thing", is very apt! That's a good mantra, thank ye!
Yes, that was a major topic of conversation - what is my true identity considering that I identify as androgyne, and therefore what's the best form to go after. Through elimination I'm confident that I'm far closer in identity to female, than male, however I'm definitely a non-binary, hence why androgyne as an identity fits me. But yet a female form would be more practical vehicle for that androgyne identity to live in. If I were a cis-woman, I'd be a major tomboy, but prefer ultimately being female.
I may well have to do more to be certain and convince them, and this would be fine, as ultimately I want to preserve my health and I don't want to make a mistake for my sake and the NHS'. I don't have a problem with investigating more and waiting for any treatment, but when it's 6 months between each appointment and I don't get much information in return, then I start to feel that its all half-arsed on their part. Grrrr and arggghhhh :p
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H, H, H, Honeypot! (another amazing handle name, haha, that's brilliant) The "NHS is like an elderly elephant" comment, is spot on! That's a great analogy. Poor elephant I say. As for work legislation, its great that the government has put this legislation into place, but ultimately it won't do diddly squat t stop you getting the sack. And there's always a hundred reasons why you can sack someone, and give those reasons instead of the real reasons.
Basically I work in a close-knit office, which is part of a factory complex filled with working-men. Right now, they just think I'm an eccentric and possibly gay due to my wearing a mixed wardrobe of girly clothes and guy clothes. However, if I were to have to change my name to a female one and change my gender marker - then that would be crossing the magical mystical line in society whereby you're suddenly a freak. And men don't like freaks that pretend to be ladies. And so management would slowly find a way to sack me, in order to keep the peace. There's one of me and 1,500 of them.
Everyone makes mistakes or arrives late at work from time to time, and I do too, so they'd just use any old tiny incident to fire me. Therefore the whole issue of trans discrimination would never even make it to court. And that's what happens all the time I guess. I read on this site about people getting sacked for something apparently unrelated, but it just so happens that they transitioned just x months previously. That's not a coincidence. Management simply found a legal way to sack them for being trans so they'd get away with it. That's what HR departments are for sadly. But, hey ho, best to be positive.
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ConfusedHumanUK - The new NHS changes sound exactly what is needed. That's far more grown-up, pragmatic outlook. Good to see that the 6-year-old child's logic that most adults in authority have, has been kicked a bit. Ahh yes! I miss other appointments for things all the time, but I've always arrived at all the gender appointments, right from the start at least an hour early to mentally prepare and ensure I'm not late. My gender meetings really are the only things in life (apart from work) that I'm absolutely cast-iron scared of arriving to late.
I must head off to comfy Bedfordshire now (IE sleep), but its been great reading all the replies. Clarified a few things and such. Thanks everyone!
