Self-medicating to prescription

[Ar-bar-bar]

I've been self medicating for a year (it was more expensive for me to get insurance and do it the right way). I'm now on state insurance and trying to do things right. Im meeting with a therapist who is all for helping me get onto hrt (she's following the wpath standards of care). I'm want to know if I should tell her and if it will change how I'm going to be treated.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

I would be scared to tell her. My other thought is that the doctor will need a blood test done and will see your hormone levels - that would reveal the truth wouldn't it?

I guess the only option is to explain why you did it and she should hopefully be understanding.

[Mendi]

I guess you have to tell, really. I dont know how things are in the place where you live, but at least here self-medicating is not punished. I think it was something like 40% trans women, who self-medicate here, before getting into the official system...me included, sort of, I have a prescription from a gynecologist, but from another country and I am not controlled with labs by our health care.

Perhaps try to ask locally, what are the experiences there when it comes to self-medicating and official system.

[AnonyMs]

You should have a read of the WPATH Standard of Care. Therapy is not a requirement for HRT, and there's talk of harm reduction. As to what hard reduction means in your case:

Physicians may provide treatment based upon the principle of harm reduction. When patients have demonstrated their determination to continue using medication(s) without physician oversight, then it is advisable to assume their medical care and prescribe appropriate hormones. Denial of care will likely result in continued independent treatment and possible harm.
http://transhealth.ucsf.edu/trans?page=guidelines-mental-health

The doctor should just skip the letters and prescribe it to you, as mine did.

[Deborah]

I self medicated too before I saw a therapist or a doctor. I told my therapist on the first visit because I knew exactly what I wanted, HRT, and knew from experience that it would get rid of the dysphoria.  Telling him did not hurt my case.

Later when I went to the doctor got HRT I told her too that I had self medicated before.


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[ainsley]

You should have a read of the WPATH Standard of Care. Therapy is not a requirement for HRT, and there's talk of harm reduction. As to what hard reduction means in your case:

Physicians may provide treatment based upon the principle of harm reduction. When patients have demonstrated their determination to continue using medication(s) without physician oversight, then it is advisable to assume their medical care and prescribe appropriate hormones. Denial of care will likely result in continued independent treatment and possible harm.
http://transhealth.ucsf.edu/trans?page=guidelines-mental-health

The doctor should just skip the letters and prescribe it to you, as mine did.

I self medicated for years and then I quoted this from WPATH when I went to my doctor (to go legit) and she prescribed HRT based on it with no therapy:

In selected circumstances, it can be acceptable practice to provide hormones to patients who have
not fulfilled these criteria. Examples include facilitating the provision of monitored therapy using
hormones of known quality as an alternative to illicit or unsupervised hormone use or to patients
who have already established themselves in their affirmed gender and who have a history of prior
hormone use.
page 34...

[AnonyMs]

I thought that was in there somewhere, but couldn't find it. I read that thing so many times when I first started. Know thy enemy.

[ainsley]

Know thy enemy.

Ain't that the truth!! 

[KathyLauren]

It is better to tell about self-medicating.  If your E is already high on your initial blood tests, they may think you don't need much more and start you on a very low dose.  At least if they know what is going on, they can make the proper adjustments to your dosage.

[Laurie]

 

  Just a reminder.

TOS 8. The discussion of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and it's medications are permitted, with the following limitations:

    A. You may not advocate for or against a specific medication or combinations of medication for personal gain. This is strictly prohibited.
    B. You may not discuss the means to acquire HRT medications without a prescription. The discussion of self medication without a doctor's supervision is prohibited.
    C. The posting of recommended, or actual dosages, is strongly discouraged to prevent information obtained on this site from being used to self medicate.
     

We cannot in good conscience condone the self administering of these medications. Not only may self medication be illegal, but HRT medications can cause serious health problems, and many have the potential for life-threatening side effects that can only be detected and prevented with proper medical supervision.