Got My letter for HRT... Not a hoop in sight

[LizK]

Saw my Psych today and had been waiting 2 months for this appointment. Had spent the last 24 hours going through all sorts of scenarios preparing myself for having to jump through "hoops" to get my letter.

At the last support meeting I went too, a number of the girls warned me that I would have to do this and one stated categorically I would not get my letter on my second visit and would spend the next 6 months jumping through hoops for the Psychiatrist.

One of the only two people I spoke to that gave me the right information about the way the system works here was our own Admin Cindi. She made it fairly clear about the path I need to to take and she was absolutely spot on..Thanks Cindy

So now I have my letter and my appointment in three weeks to get my HRT script. I have already had two appointments in preparation for this so may even try and get an appointment sooner as all we are waiting on is the letter I now have recommending HRT and transition as an appropriate course of treatment for my Gender Dysphoria

To be honest I still feel a bit numb...I cried to myself most of the way home in the car and again when my wife asked how I went...she is amazingly supportive, I asked how she was feeling and she said she had mixed feeling and was feeling a bit sad to see my male self go, but also really happy that I will now start the physical part of the transition and have a real shot at happiness. My girls were both over the moon for me and are now really excited that I can now move forward. I wasn't able to keep it together when speaking to them either.

I can't wipe the smile off my face  roll on the 31st May

Liz K

[kaitylynn]

My therapist made it clear that she saw me as already having worked through most of my issues.  They can see when someone is ready to start HRT, if that is a goal.  The others that you speak of might have still be questioning themselves in such a way that required more time for their therapists to be comfortable giving the letters.

I was given the green light at my second visit and letters were waiting.  My Endo appointment had already been scheduled, but even there...they never even asked to see any information other than contact info for my therapist before setting up my scripts.

Each one of us is an individual at different places upon our paths.  Even when those paths seem similar, we have our own unique perspectives and experiences.  Congratulations on getting yourself to where you are.  While it may seem that you have accomplished a huge step, it is actually more of just a current hurdle.  The big steps, the ones that REALLY make the difference, you accomplished some time ago.  Your therapist simply affirmed your already arrived at conclusion.

[BeverlyAnn]

Elizabeth, I'm so happy for you.  I know driving home from my therapists office when we wrote my letter, I was over the moon.

[islandgirl]

That is marvellous Elizabeth! I remember the day I left my therapist with the knowledge that she was writing to my endo recommending HRT. Although I had to wait a month for my endo appointment, a great wait was lifted off my shoulders as if I was able to crawl from under a very heavy old coat. All the Best as you continue the your journey. For me, HRT has had as much of a emotional impact as it has physical.

[LizK]

My therapist made it clear that she saw me as already having worked through most of my issues.  They can see when someone is ready to start HRT, if that is a goal.  The others that you speak of might have still be questioning themselves in such a way that required more time for their therapists to be comfortable giving the letters.

I was given the green light at my second visit and letters were waiting.  My Endo appointment had already been scheduled, but even there...they never even asked to see any information other than contact info for my therapist before setting up my scripts.

Each one of us is an individual at different places upon our paths.  Even when those paths seem similar, we have our own unique perspectives and experiences.  Congratulations on getting yourself to where you are.  While it may seem that you have accomplished a huge step, it is actually more of just a current hurdle.  The big steps, the ones that REALLY make the difference, you accomplished some time ago.  Your therapist simply affirmed your already arrived at conclusion.

Without going into to many details, one of the girls was complaining she didn't have her letters so she is self-medicating. I asked her why the same Dr as I had seen had refused to write the letter. She claimed she didn't really know however after talking a bit more I find out she is not out to most her family, in fact she has her late teens son living at home with her who she has not even told and dresses occasionally at home when she is able. I have to say I am not surprised she can't get her letter. After talking with  he Dr yesterday he made it really clear that getting support was one of his biggest concerns.

He said to me "This is going to be tough even with all the support you have" "You should try and develop a personal relationship with a few Trans girls" So I am

Accepting myself for who I am was one of the hardest things I had to do but once I did this then many other things seems to make sense and feel right. I had to learn to stop beating myself up for being Trans...first part of that was learning to recognise when I was doing it.

Thank you

Liz K

[LizK]

Elizabeth, I'm so happy for you.  I know driving home from my therapists office when we wrote my letter, I was over the moon.

I think I was just numb last night...I have been waiting since I was 19 when I first tried to do this and the last 33 years have all lead to this point in my life where I feel genuinely happy...I have a real sense of hope for a peaceful future...and there is also a fairly large part of me that is really excited about the prospect of such a bright future and all the changes I have to look forward too over the next number fo years.

Liz K

PS I can't seem to take this stupid grin off my face

[Dena]

I would have been in deep trouble under those rules. My family didn't kick me out but they weren't exactly supportable and they were 400 miles away. Nobody other than work contacts were in my life and I saw other transsexual about 3 hours a week at my therapy group after I was already on HRT. The only real support I had for a while was my therapist and when I left him for my third therapist, he told my I was to masculine to pass as a woman.

[LizK]

I would have been in deep trouble under those rules. My family didn't kick me out but they weren't exactly supportable and they were 400 miles away. Nobody other than work contacts were in my life and I saw other transsexual about 3 hours a week at my therapy group after I was already on HRT. The only real support I had for a while was my therapist and when I left him for my third therapist, he told my I was to masculine to pass as a woman.

Dena you really have run the gauntlet of asxhxxes over the years. Sometimes these medicos and Therapists get carried away with themselves, I had a one Dr tell me I couldn't get HRT because I was taking narcotic medication and not as a contraindication of the hormone treatment either...some of them only open their mouths to change feet!!

Liz K

[Dena]

The price you pay when you are one of the first and you can't wait for things to improve. Now I consider it training for this site. I know the problems one can come up again and most of the time I know how to deal with it. Over all, I am glad I was able to find treatment when time ran out on keeping it bottled up. When I first knew I was transsexual, there wasn't any treatment in the country.

[AnonyMs]

Congratulations.

Without going into to many details, one of the girls was complaining she didn't have her letters so she is self-medicating. I asked her why the same Dr as I had seen had refused to write the letter. She claimed she didn't really know however after talking a bit more I find out she is not out to most her family, in fact she has her late teens son living at home with her who she has not even told and dresses occasionally at home when she is able. I have to say I am not surprised she can't get her letter. After talking with  he Dr yesterday he made it really clear that getting support was one of his biggest concerns.

Not to detract from your achievement, but I will point out that that by refusing her letter she is now in more danger than before. It doesn't help anyone when doctors do that. I'd not get a letter from your psych either.

[LizK]

Congratulations.

Not to detract from your achievement, but I will point out that that by refusing her letter she is now in more danger than before. It doesn't help anyone when doctors do that. I'd not get a letter from your psych either.

I think you are right about her being in more danger than she was before, what I was trying to say is that Psych's intention is good and based around ensuring she will have adequate support (ie trying to look out for her best interests) so she can be successful in her transition as opposed to throwing up obstacles just for the sake of it...which in my book amounts to nothing more than making people jump through hoops.

Liz K

[AnonyMs]

I think you are right about her being in more danger than she was before, what I was trying to say is that Psych's intention is good and based around ensuring she will have adequate support (ie trying to look out for her best interests) so she can be successful in her transition as opposed to throwing up obstacles just for the sake of it...which in my book amounts to nothing more than making people jump through hoops.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1150 AD

[Dena]

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1150 AD

So that's where the quote came from. I always thought it came from my dad! 

[Jacqueline]

Elizabeth,

I have not been on in a few days and only just saw this post.

Congratulations. I know this has been along time coming for you.

I hope things pick up for you now.

With warmth,

Joanna