How long did it take?

[JeanetteLW]

   I told my VA primary care doctor last Friday 1/20/2017 that I felt I was transgender or I guess a transsexual would be more appropriate.  He offered to refer me to mental health and I have an appointment with a psychiatrist on 2/23/2017 for initial screening and then hopefully onto a gender therapist shortly there after. I could be wrong about this, he could discover I am just crazy.
   For myself I went contrary to every piece of rational advice I've read by putting the cart before the horse. I started HRT then confessed to my primary care doctor. He made no suggestion for me to stop and only assured me I am not the first to do so and offers to assist me with my desires by ordering labs tests and making the referral.

[Dena]

I could be wrong about this, he could discover I am just crazy.

My dressing up and wanting to be like a girl never left me. No it never left, not through a stint in the Navy, not through  20 years of marriage. not after having kids, not after the divorce nor into becoming a grandfather.

I will put any amount of money on you being transgender. I am a bit more cautious about transsexual because that is a higher bar but I am not about to rule it out.

[JeanetteLW]

I will put any amount of money on you being transgender. I am a bit more cautious about transsexual because that is a higher bar but I am not about to rule it out.

Thank you Dena. We'll have to see what the shrink thinks next month.

[LShipley]

Informed consent for me! I actually had a bigger problem getting the PHARMACIST to fill the prescription over the doctor prescribing it!

[Pisces228]

Informed consent for me! I actually had a bigger problem getting the PHARMACIST to fill the prescription over the doctor prescribing it!

Really?  How so?  Did they not want to fill estrogen for a male bodied person? (Assuming you are mtf)

[JeanetteLW]

 I related this elsewhere but it fits into this thread also.

Yesterday I contacted my VA primary care doctor and requested to get my HRT meds through the VA if possible. His response back was to inform me he was ordering them. So about 4 days for me to reconsider wanting to obtain them through the VA and now the wait for them to arrive. (typically 5 - 7 days)

[BreeD]

I did therapy for 6 months, then decided it was time to pursue HRT.  I saw my GP and was nervous has hell!   I rambled, as I do about details and she was SO nice and reassuring.  I have actually been floored at how compassionate and accepting all of my medical team has been.  I am pursuing a "low dose" route (about half currently) and have gradually gone up from VERY low, but they have always been understanding and supportive for which I am grateful! 

[Veda]

It took one visit only to my physician who specializes in Family Medicine to get a prescription for HRT. No therapy required, only informed consent. Now, that prescription had a condition that my blood pressure be checked again 14 days after the doctor visit because of borderline high blood pressure. I had that check done by a nurse. My BP was still considered on the high range of normal, but good enough for HRT.

So, I have that prescription in hand yet I have yet to have that discussion with my wife about my need for this.
Thus, I chose to go to a gender (and family) therapist to help me with my coming discussion with my wife.

I also would like to add how extremely happy I am with my HMO, Group Health of Washington State.  They put me on their Transgender Services Program and assigned me a Social Worker who is an experienced therapist herself specializing in the needs of transgender clients. She helped me find my gender therapist. This social worker  is the best and free!.

I have been so, so very tempted to start the HRT before talking to my wife about it. But then the good angel inside me slaps me on the hand, and convinces me to talk to my wife first.

I am hoping my therapist gives me both the courage and the tools to have this discussion with my lovely wife to whom I have been married happily for over 40 years. The marriage has been happy, but my self imposed repression of my big secret has been keeping me numb, agitated, and depressed.

I cannot risk losing my wife, yet I can barely handle the thought of another year being forced to remain a man. I refuse to die before I transition first.

Thanks Donna, this answered a number of questions I had.  Group Health is pretty good.