Daughter is not moving forward.

[bunnymom]

Ok we've taken a week to fall back and regroup. That's the one step back after each 2 steps forward.  The blood work is done, been waiting for Dr. to call in Rx. No nagging.  Gentle reminders are the course. She did take charge and call the doc for a status. (She hadn't reviewed the results yet) Then today she gets call from doc to hear they want a more comprehensive letter from a therapist that specializes in GD. Really? A set of professional clinical notes stating patient's depression is being treated and stable and patient is capable of providing informed consent from a therapist that has known her for 15 years is not sufficient to provide initial prescription?
*vent, vent, vent*  <deep breath>
So, made another appointment for next week to meet a therapist in an office that specializes  in counseling trans* folk.
She's frustrated enough to take the sample estradiol patches and put them on NOW for the week in advance. (Without anti-androgen,  not sure if would do anything)
This really sucks for her.
Blue Bunny- you could be my daughter talking some sense into me... except she's not real close to Dad and has yet to find one thing that will get her going each day. I'm unsure how to help her find that with no outside ventures.
This is very frustrating for her, making anything else I lay on her salt in the wounds.
Depression runs rampant in our genes. I have 3 half-siblings all alcoholic. Dad is being treated. I have been treated for well over a decade, with (dare I say...) an incident (or 2) of involuntary hospitalization more than a handful of years ago. So, I truly can be empathetic to my kiddo's struggle with depression and motivation.
I really thought our lovely house bunnies would be a factor,  but she knows that I will come behind and care for them if she slacks. Anyway,  this is one winding road with more than it's share of detours and wrecks along the way.
I think we'll try to continue forward and keep our sense of humor close by.
Your replies and thoughts are not rude or mean. At least I choose not to take them that way. Yes, we can only provide counsel based upon our own experiences be they first, second or third hand.
I'm glad my kid chooses to put up with my quirks.  We know the feelings are mutual.

[Miyuki]

Ok we've taken a week to fall back and regroup. That's the one step back after each 2 steps forward.  The blood work is done, been waiting for Dr. to call in Rx. No nagging.  Gentle reminders are the course. She did take charge and call the doc for a status. (She hadn't reviewed the results yet) Then today she gets call from doc to hear they want a more comprehensive letter from a therapist that specializes in GD. Really? A set of professional clinical notes stating patient's depression is being treated and stable and patient is capable of providing informed consent from a therapist that has known her for 15 years is not sufficient to provide initial prescription?
*vent, vent, vent*  <deep breath>

Yup, this is pretty much what we have to deal with. It's a big part of the reason so many of us choose to self medicate, despite the risks.

So, made another appointment for next week to meet a therapist in an office that specializes  in counseling trans* folk.
She's frustrated enough to take the sample estradiol patches and put them on NOW for the week in advance. (Without anti-androgen,  not sure if would do anything)
This really sucks for her.

It's hard to say what the patches might do for her by themselves. Everyone is different, but often just the knowledge you are finally doing something can be enough to bring about positive mental changes. And if the therapist you are seeing is letting your daughter try estrogen patches already, then they probably aren't the gate-keeping type. It sounds to me like you are on the right track.

Depression runs rampant in our genes. I have 3 half-siblings all alcoholic. Dad is being treated. I have been treated for well over a decade, with (dare I say...) an incident (or 2) of involuntary hospitalization more than a handful of years ago. So, I truly can be empathetic to my kiddo's struggle with depression and motivation.

I'm really sorry to hear that. I've seen my brother through two psychiatric hospitalizations, so I know how that goes. Things just keep building until you reach the point of desperation, and you realize you either need to get help or there will be a real chance of something horrible happening. I hope things have been better for you since then...

I really thought our lovely house bunnies would be a factor,  but she knows that I will come behind and care for them if she slacks. Anyway,  this is one winding road with more than it's share of detours and wrecks along the way.
I think we'll try to continue forward and keep our sense of humor close by.
Your replies and thoughts are not rude or mean. At least I choose not to take them that way. Yes, we can only provide counsel based upon our own experiences be they first, second or third hand.
I'm glad my kid chooses to put up with my quirks.  We know the feelings are mutual.

Dealing with something like this is never easy. But it's a lot harder if you have to fight the people you love the entire way through the process. It seems like that is not something your daughter is going to have to worry about, and I'm very glad to know that is the case.

[LordKAT]

You don't need a special therapist as a rule, neither should her doctor. Sometimes doctors need education, too. It is usually easier to just find the right therapist or a new doctor.

[bunnymom]

Kat, I agree.
But my daughter is tired of "jumping through hoops" and doesn't want to fight the 'system'.
She went into the new therapist with her strong will on display.  She was focused and clear. She told the therapist that she had no intention of going through amy more sessions.  Either write the HRT letter and we pay the fee, or she would walk out and find a new Dr.
This is exactly what the therapist needed to see.
The letter is paid for and should be on the way.
Now to wait for the prescription.

[Hikari]

Kat, I agree.
But my daughter is tired of "jumping through hoops" and doesn't want to fight the 'system'.
She went into the new therapist with her strong will on display.  She was focused and clear. She told the therapist that she had no intention of going through amy more sessions.  Either write the HRT letter and we pay the fee, or she would walk out and find a new Dr.
This is exactly what the therapist needed to see.
The letter is paid for and should be on the way.
Now to wait for the prescription.

That is great, it demonstrates the power of being assertive about what you want. I can also totally sympathize with not wanting to jump thru hoops or fight the system, I know I have bent over backwards to do almost everything on my own terms and I don't regret that. Though, I am nearing the limit of what is practical without at least doing some things to appease the WPATH SOC.