Facing the road head

[SophiaW]

Hi everyone at Susan's!

Found this forum through browsing on the net, and it looks really good.
Well, I'm Sophia, and mtf.
Have been on hormones for over 2 years, and had breast enlargement surgery recently.
Have an appointment for srs with a surgeon and psychiatrist in about 6 months, but my greatest fear is that they could say no, you are not good enough, or whatever.
So, no point in making it totally official with everything concerned until they do....what do you think?
Do people wait until the srs is over usually?

Anyway, seems like this is a friendly place, where people are not judgmental and hurtful as they can be in the real world.

Sophia

[Mariah]

Hi Sophia, welcome to Susan's. I look forward to seeing you around the site. Good luck and hugs
Mariah

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[V M]

Hi Sophia 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

[gennee]

Welcome to Susan's,  Sophia.

[Jacqueline]

Sophia,

Welcome here. Wow, you are so much further on your process than when I became active less than a week ago. Yet the doubts remain.

You are safe here. The people are friendly and supportive. Try not to let your doubts and fears overtake something you have little to no control over (trying so hard to live by this advice myself, I know it is not easy). You have already come a long way it must be exciting and frightening. But stay the course.

I imagine you are looking for stories from others about when they made it "official". I am so early on I couldn't possibly comment, sorry.

I have found that prejudice, strong judgements and being hurtful seem to exist in all communities. However, since most of the people on this site will go/are going/have gone through many of your experiences, there is a bond that helps us to be better. Since most of us have been the targets of(sometimes perceived and then it is targeted from within) judgement, hatred, physical abuse and people who just know better than we do; it makes us especially adept at embracing those in pain.  I think even those who are being hurtful. I have been thinking in the past day about people like this, what a cold, dark, insecure tiny place they must live in.

So sorry, I don't know where that soapbox came from. Anyway, loving thoughts and wishes for a bright, smooth path as you continue.

Joanna

[Rachel]

Welcome to Susan's.

[SophiaW]

Hi everyone and thanks for the kind words.

Can someone tell me if I'm missing something here?
Like I said, I've been on hormones for 2 years, and seeing an srs surgeon and psychiatrist in 6 months.
Just had breast augmentation surgery, and having laser and electrolysis.
My GP Doctor said there is nothing else, and I don't need to see any other psychiatrist or anything.

Has anyone had any similar experience; I thought there would be many more steps than this?

[Julia-Madrid]

Hello Sophia

For SRS, many surgeons adhere to the WPATH guidelines, which require two letters - one from a psychologist who diagnosed gender dysphoria and who will vouch for your readiness for SRS,  and a letter from a second psychologist verifying the diagnosis of the first professional.  You should confirm the requirements documentation that your SRS surgeon generally requests. 

It is also a good idea to review the current WPATH guidelines, since they are sensible, practical and worth following.

Good luck
Julia

[katrinaw]

Hi there Sophia, a bit belated, but Welcome to Susan's so happy you've found us.

Glad that you are happy with you progress, as to whether coming out to the world before or after SRS is purely your choice, if you are happy with yourself thus far and there are no issue with taking time out for SRS, then tell the world 

Generally for SRS there is a requirement for therapists reports etc. As Julia stated...

Not quite there yet myself though 

Welcome and look forward to seeing you around.

L Katy 

[SophiaW]

Thanks girls! 

However, now I am confused.
My Doctor said only to see a psychiatrist if I was confused or unhappy about the change, and as they saw I clearly was neither, they said there was no need.

My surgeon does follow the WPATH guidelines, but wrote to me that he doesn't require to bring him any paperwork, but I will be seeing psychologists at the same meeting.

So people are telling me to see and not see psychologists right now!

I am guessing that the two letters can be written if they see me at the same time as the surgeon?
Has anyone else gone down this route, or experienced anything like this?
I just dont want to have to wait another few months when I could have my op soon, you know.

Hope you all understand this, and maybe can help someone else who experiences this...

[Julia-Madrid]

Sophia, I too am confused by how this is proceeding.  To be honest, an immediate alarm bell is  about your surgeon.  The lack of requirements seems a little concerning to me.

It's not necessarily a question of seeing a psychologst because you are unhappy.  I was perfectly happy, had no dysphoria or issues.  However, it is necessary to be really sure about the permanence of SRS and your expectations, both from the surgery, and for your life after SRS.  They want to see that you are adjusted to the upcoming changes.

Regards
Julia

[SophiaW]

Hi again,

Thanks Julia for your comments.

Well, my surgeon has done many srs operations in Europe, and was recommended to me by my BA surgeon.
This is a first meeting with the srs surgeon, and I'm not sure what to expect.

My Doctor too said I only need to see the surgeon. Maybe it's because I've been on hormones for about 3 years now, so they think I am totally sure about the srs surgery?
How many appointments with your surgeon do you have?
For the BA, it was only one...

[Julia-Madrid]

Hi Sophia

I expect to have one pre-op appointment with my surgeon (Dr Chettawut) to discuss any specifics of the SRS and agree things like BA size.  He asks for two letters from separate psychologists agreeing that I would be a good candidate for SRS.

My recommendation to you is to obtain some testimonials regarding the work of your surgeon.  Dr Chett is well known as a skilled surgeon.  By contrast, the surgeon I was recommended in Madrid... girl, nobody was able to give me a testimonial.  I did meet him; he appears to be a serious and successful plastic surgeon; but he only does around 16 MTF operations a year, and since my gender clinic could not give me any testimonials I was not convinced.

As long as you are sure about who's going to be fixing you, you will be fine!

Julia

[SophiaW]

Thanks again, Julia,

Well, my surgeon is Professor Monstrey, in Belgium, and he has been given high ratings, but haven't found any testimonials yet. However, my BA surgeon recommended him, and that guy did a great job, and couldn't of asked for more.
Well, I am seeing some psychiatrists just after the appointment with my surgeon, so maybe they make the decision then? I just haven't seen it done this way round before...has anyone else?
Just can't wait to see if they approve (that is the worst part, not knowing if they will) and to get the surgery over with.

Hope yours goes well.

[Julia-Madrid]

Thanks Sophia

I am counting down the days much more actively than I expected.  I just want to get it done and finished.  No nerves or anything, just looking forward to waking up with some things fixed.

Good luck with your surgeon too! 

Julia