Dr Hayes, the Sydney endo.

[roxie rudi]

Do any girls know if Dr Hayes ALWAYS requires a psych letter to commence HRT? If so I had better organise one.

[SamKelley]

I'd love to know also...

[roxie rudi]

Girls?
Anyone?
Please?.......

[Ms Grace]

Yawn. Sorry, it's only 8.30 Sunday morning, hon. Still waking up...

To be honest, I don't know. You will require a referral to access the Medicare rebate for treatments, but that can come from a GP.

He's a very above the board kind of guy, extremely professional and supportive of trans people but in order to do things properly (for what's medically expected in NSW) I believe you will need a letter. Whether that can come from a counsellor with a GP referral I couldn't say.

[roxie rudi]

Thanks Grace. I am due to see Dr Hayes in mid Feb so I will contact both my counseller and GP immediately. I must also say that I have been swapping messages with another girl on this site and she has been tremendously informative about this. Anyway I had better let you get back to your coffee and brekkie!
Ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

As an aside I have to let this out; the closer I get to realising my decision to commence HRT the easier it's becoming to get abjectly sad about having a man's body. I need to be a woman now more than ever and it's getting more pressing! Unbelievale stuff. I hope that other girl who I have mentioned above can forgive my endless worries from last night.

[Ms Grace]

If you have already booked to see him you should definitely check with his office ASAP for what is required and if a psych letter/referral is needed.

[roxie rudi]

Big thanks again Grace, I will do that tomorrow but I have to admit this was messaged to me last night. So big thanks to all my helpful sisters on this site.

[SamKelley]

As an aside I have to let this out; the closer I get to realising my decision to commence HRT the easier it's becoming to get abjectly sad about having a man's body. I need to be a woman now more than ever and it's getting more pressing! Unbelievale stuff. I hope that other girl who I have mentioned above can forgive my endless worries from last night.

I'm feeling pretty similar, now I've made the decision to proceed - let's get going already!! Time is ticking on
It's not just you... xox

[Catherine Sarah]

For your initial appointment with dear Dr. Jon, yes, you need a Psych referral. He likes to do things by "the book"

He is a very experienced clinician and knows his stuff backwards.

A good Endocronoligist needs at least 8 years training to understand the complexities of the endocrine system. He is well beyond that.

Speak to you as soon as I fix the fence.

Huggs
Catherine

[roxie rudi]

But Dr Jon Hayes' office has already okayed my initial appointment. Did you mean his initial HRT prescriptions (or whatever they're called)?
On this subject does it have to be a psychiatrist's letter or can I make do with either a counseller's or a psychologist's letter? Remembering that I already obviously have a referral from a gp (who coincidentally has already had regular dealings with Dr Hayes while being experienced with transitioning too) to see him for starting HRT which might add to the spych requirements as far as Medicare is concerned. I'm only asking this because I am being rather impatient and I haven't forgotten the advice about contacting Dr Hayes' office for this ASAP. Sorry can't help myself. I'm with you on this Sam.

Hurry Hurry Hurry before I go Loco,
Can't control my fingers
and I can't control my toes,
Oh No Oh Oh Oh! 
(sorry just being a Ramones fan).

[luna nyan]

When I saw him for the first time I had my gp referral and somewhat old psych letter that had recommendation for hrt.

[roxie rudi]

Thanks Luna, do you remember what type of psych practitioner it was from? Psychiatrist? Psychologist? Counseller? Me being damned impatient again because I can ring his office tomorrow to find out.

[roxie rudi]

I have realised that you guys might be thinking that I'm being overly fastidious in my requests for the definitions of the psych practitioners involved in this. Sorry, I'll back off and call Dr Hayes' office as has been suggested to me. It's Sunday, a day to relax after all.
Ciao,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Ms Grace]

Yes, especially since it just started raining. 
Think I might watch a video or something.
Anyway, his office will know for sure - hope they are actually open tomorrow and not taking a few days off due to the silly season. Good luck!

[Ms Grace]

...any word...?

[roxie rudi]

Hi Grace.
No, not yet because his office is closed until Wednesday because of the Xmas hols according to a recorded message.
I tried for an appointment with a psychiatrist, Dr Carlson Loke today while I was using the the phone today but I couldn't make ANY appointment. ANYTIME. His appointments were all filled till who knows when. Sheesh!
I have however left a recorded message on Dr Michael Scott's answering service but I will keep trying until either I'm called back or someone answers.
I'm also awaiting a reply from Dr Suporn's Clinic regarding a birth defect of mine called "dextra (or dexter) Cardia." It's reasonably common and just means that I was born with my heart pointing towards the right side of my chest instead of normally pointing towards the left side of my chest. I also had a "hole in the heart" when I was born and this was surgically rectified when I was seven. These are both common congenital mix ups and neither has stopped me living a fit and healthy life. Indeed I still lead a very fit and healthy life, I don't smoke, I rarely drink and I don't take drugs. In fact I went to the gym today but I hope Dr Suporn and the anaestheologist are okay with performing FFS. I have promised to obtain any info from a cardiologist that he may require too.
And on Wednesday I'm going to get some dental work done as part of repairing my gap toothed grin.
But by all that's holy I'm getting sick of chasing medical matters and if I strike any psychological health providers that are merely after profit I'll....truly go nuts!
At least I'm on a break till the 11th.
Anyway Grace enough medical drivel, sorry for my long winded explanation and thank you for caring.

Ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne

[Ms Grace]

Good luck on Wednesday! Yeah, it's always a hassle getting onto any waiting list, not sure what they expect us to do with our mental health in the meantime...

[roxie rudi]

I forgot to mention that I'm chasing psychiatrists because I'm trying to get my SRS requirements underway ASAP and not to deal with any further depression/anxiety/madness/craziness/fear/hatred caused by a lifelong "freakout". It's like I have mentioned; now the gates are open this little horse is bolting for the finish! I've made a decision and it's been way too long in coming!

[Ms Grace]

I dunno if it is still a requirement in NSW/Australia but I presume so - as i understand it you need to have 12 months "Real Life Experience" (RLE) living as your identified gender before they'll write a letter of recommendation for SRS. RLE is generally meant to mean from when you start living full time as female though, not from when you start HRT or seeing a psyche.

[roxie rudi]

Thanks again Grace but I have been told by my counseller that I might be able to expect some dispensation in regards to RLE. I live in one of Sydney's less than salubrious, working class, "tough" and somewhat declasse areas (albeit in a quiet suburb), I work in an industry that is as yet undeniably VERY masculine (and terrible towards female equality in the workplace, let alone transgender equality in the workplace), in the past I have been very naughty towards the laws of our nation and I have been hospitalised for some crazy stunts involving both motorcycles and motorcyclists. I am hoping that I might be able to avoid RLE because of these things, to a degree, because it might get me "bashed" and certainly sacked. But if not then I'm hoping that I can be cunning enough to avoid it when I have to.
However when I get HRT and FFS (which will be happening beforehand) I cannot see any problem whatsoever with RLE. To be honest I am crying for just this to become my reality!