How do I kickstart my transition?

[Confetti]

Hi All, long time no see!

I'm finally ready to kickstart my transition and go for it,
My main goal right now is to start the pathway to get on hormones.
I'm in the UK.. do I go see my doctor and then ask for a referral to a gic?
Is a referral to a gic required?

Sorry i'm not too sure how it all goes down.

[Alison-Rose]

As someone who is financially dependent on the NHS to achieve my transition, I first asked my GP to write a referral letter. Rather than complain about the waiting list (which I've been told could be somewhere in the region of four years for the gender identity clinic my case has now been confirmed as being on the system of!), I'm hoping the time will help my partner, family and friends to better adjust, since I'd much rather have my support network relatively intact through all of this if possible. Also, I'd like to concentrate on reducing my weight, plus I have a few other problems caused by a lifetime of denial that still need addressing. My plan is to let more people know about my transgender status, then in a few months I'll be going full time and changing my name, probably by next year at the very latest. I can't say this will work for everyone, but I was informed presenting as female ahead of my first appointment might expedite the process once I'm able to prove this, and I've nothing to lose if that isn't true. On the other hand, I'm considering going to my GP again for a discussion about him possibly setting me up with a bridging prescription, especially as I have concerns of not passing without hormones. You see, my neighbourhood isn't exactly the most friendly place to be an "out" member of the LGBT+ community, so I anticipate needing all the help I can get...

[Confetti]

As someone who is financially dependent on the NHS to achieve my transition, I first asked my GP to write a referral letter. Rather than complain about the waiting list (which I've been told could be somewhere in the region of four years for the gender identity clinic my case has now been confirmed as being on the system of!), I'm hoping the time will help my partner, family and friends to better adjust, since I'd much rather have my support network relatively intact through all of this if possible. Also, I'd like to concentrate on reducing my weight, plus I have a few other problems caused by a lifetime of denial that still need addressing. My plan is to let more people know about my transgender status, then in a few months I'll be going full time and changing my name, probably by next year at the very latest. I can't say this will work for everyone, but I was informed presenting as female ahead of my first appointment might expedite the process once I'm able to prove this, and I've nothing to lose if that isn't true. On the other hand, I'm considering going to my GP again for a discussion about him possibly setting me up with a bridging prescription, especially as I have concerns of not passing without hormones. You see, my neighbourhood isn't exactly the most friendly place to be an "out" member of the LGBT+ community, so I anticipate needing all the help I can get...

Thankyou Alison,

Your process sounds similar to mine, I think I will too have to rely on the NHS, and I want to plan everything out.

Can I ask what a bridging prescription is? Is it a prescription of HRT whilst you wait for the GIC?

[Megan.]

Be prepared, UK GPs can give a varied response. I've personally experienced both utter inexperience on their part, but also great support. Make sure you go to your GP knowing what you want and copies of the GMC guidance. The first GP I saw referred me to the local mental health team because he didn't know what else to do! You might find a supportive GP here: http://transfigurations.org.uk/trans-friendly-doctors/

[Megan.]

Can I ask what a bridging prescription is? Is it a prescription of HRT whilst you wait for the GIC?

That's exactly what it is, but very few GPs are actually prepared to do this in reality. My GP treats several trans people and is great, but they won't do bridging prescriptions. Often only done where people are self-med'ing already, and it needs bringing under safer medical supervision.

[Megan.]

While waiting for the GIC, you can work on the following: Stop smoking if you do, loose weight/get fit if you need to, cut out or back on the booze if you need to. None if these cost anything, and will probably help you save for the costs that might come later.

[Confetti]

That's exactly what it is, but very few GPs are actually prepared to do this in reality. My GP treats several trans people and is great, but they won't do bridging prescriptions. Often only done where people are self-med'ing already, and it needs bringing under safer medical supervision.

Thankyou so much for this link!
There is a doctor not too far from where I am living who based on reviews provided HRT pre GIC?!
I don't want to get my hopes up as I realise it is case by case basis, but this has given me a lot more insight.

[RenegadeGirl]

I know it's been a week or so, but I just wanted to offer that there are other ways in the UK. I myself have gone through the private route, seeing the people at Gendercare, so 7 months or so after I made contact with them I have been prescribed 'starter' hormones. There is also Transhealth, but I think they only see people 21 and over, so on the downside, if you aren't over that it sucks, but on the plus side if you are I hear there are shorter waiting times.

But anyway, just wanted to throw that out there, I know it is a more costly way to do it, having my parent's financial support has really helped, but I could have scraped by without it.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!
Lily

[Confetti]

I know it's been a week or so, but I just wanted to offer that there are other ways in the UK. I myself have gone through the private route, seeing the people at Gendercare, so 7 months or so after I made contact with them I have been prescribed 'starter' hormones. There is also Transhealth, but I think they only see people 21 and over, so on the downside, if you aren't over that it sucks, but on the plus side if you are I hear there are shorter waiting times.

But anyway, just wanted to throw that out there, I know it is a more costly way to do it, having my parent's financial support has really helped, but I could have scraped by without it.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!
Lily

Hi Lily, Thankyou 
Over the past week i've actually decided that when it comes to it, I will definitely be taking the private route.
The NHS is wonderful but it's just such a long process.
I'm going to give myself to prepare, save a bit of cash and then come out and book in with Gender Care.
Can I ask you for a cost breakdown / how much it has cost you with them so far (if it's not too rude of me!)

xx

[RenegadeGirl]

It's not too rude at all, I'm more than happy to help! I did see your personal message, but I haven't earned my stripes yet so if you don't mind I'll reply here (plus maybe others could find it useful too).

So far I've had two appointments, one with the psychiatry assessor person and another with the endocrinologist (who I really wish someone had warned me was a complete robot, would have saved a lot of stress), which cost £200 and £220 respectively, plus travel obviously to London for the first and Enfield for the second. I will need follow up appointments with each in 3 months for the psychiatrist and 6 months for the endocrinologist to see how I've responded to the low dose hormones and then (hopefully) to move onto the proper full feminising ones, but those appointments are about half the cost of the first ones (for roughly half the time, if only there was a connection somewhere...). Speaking of which the 3 month supply that I was prescribed cost just under £13, even with the fact that I have to pay full price because they were privately prescribed.

I was advised to notify my GP, but that conversation was about as long as 'I'm transitioning with a private clinic', 'Great, keep us informed', so that was that.

Of course if you have any other questions it's no trouble, but there is about a 3/4 month waiting list for the psychiatrist and 6/7 month one for the endocrinologist, so there is time to save up whilst waiting for the appointments.

Hope that helps,
Lily