So I got back from the gender services.

[jaybutterfly]

Ok so today I found myself being grilled over things in my past by a male doctor, who seemed to be absolutely adament of things he can't support.

Despite multiple tests on my for learning difficulties, all I came out with was dyspraxia and perhaps a few features of autism (which overlaps) but none of the big tell tales signs like non-verbal issues, taking things literally etc. He is adament in spite of my points and reports that I am autistic and not suffering gender dysphoria (despite his superior, the head of the gender services, thinking I most likely am suffering dysphoria to some extent). He went on to tell me some very strange things.

- I can't have dysphoria because I have had family problems
- I dont see myself as a typical male, but that doesnt mean Im 'not one and probably just a different type of boy'
- I'm probably just a crossdresser, or I fetishize women (despite my lack of sex drive)
- my low sex drive is down to intimacy issues (duh)
- the fact I have concerns about surgery and hormones due to passing or that surgery is scary indicates I do not want it bad enough
- I cannot be dysphoric because I enjoy contact sports like Judo. I'll let you guys think on that one and what it implies about women and sports...
edit: OH AND THE LAST ONE
- I most likely didn't like the changes of puberty because I want to remain a child. All I told him was I disliked the secondary sex characteristics that came about through puberty and that intensified as I got older and they became more pronounced.

So anyway, i came away nearly discharged, sent for autism tests and 'explorative counselling' as he calls it. While I appreciate counselling to help me mull through this, I do not appreciate ignoring my assessments I have had done since I was a child into adulthood, or comments like the last one made.

Anyway, I put forward my feedback and hopefully I can get a second opinion before he discharges me. Was very upset with how things went today.

[Jessica]

Ok so today I found myself being grilled over things in my past by a male doctor, who seemed to be absolutely adament of things he can't support.

Despite multiple tests on my for learning difficulties, all I came out with was dyspraxia and perhaps a few features of autism (which overlaps) but none of the big tell tales signs like non-verbal issues, taking things literally etc. He is adament in spite of my points and reports that I am autistic and not suffering gender dysphoria (despite his superior, the head of the gender services, thinking I most likely am suffering dysphoria to some extent). He went on to tell me some very strange things.

- I can't have dysphoria because I have had family problems
- I dont see myself as a typical male, but that doesnt mean Im 'not one and probably just a different type of boy'
- I'm probably just a crossdresser, or I fetishize women (despite my lack of sex drive)
- my low sex drive is down to intimacy issues (duh)
- the fact I have concerns about surgery and hormones due to passing or that surgery is scary indicates I do not want it bad enough
- I cannot be dysphoric because I enjoy contact sports like Judo. I'll let you guys think on that one and what it implies about women and sports...
edit: OH AND THE LAST ONE
- I most likely didn't like the changes of puberty because I want to remain a child. All I told him was I disliked the secondary sex characteristics that came about through puberty and that intensified as I got older and they became more pronounced.

So anyway, i came away nearly discharged, sent for autism tests and 'explorative counselling' as he calls it. While I appreciate counselling to help me mull through this, I do not appreciate ignoring my assessments I have had done since I was a child into adulthood, or comments like the last one made.

Anyway, I put forward my feedback and hopefully I can get a second opinion before he discharges me. Was very upset with how things went today.

I would definitely ask for a second opinion, along with requesting a conference with the head of gender services and discuss this with them.  All of the reasons your doctor gave you, in my opinion, is a bunch of hooey and I'm amazed that anyone in the gender services department would even think that way.

Good luck, Jessica

[jaybutterfly]

Thanks Jess

the head is on leave due to maternity leave, but I was advised to call tomorrow. I will be raising this as a complaint because I felt this was inappropriate and upsetting, and showed a total lack of regard for what they said to a patient.

[Kirsteneklund7]

Hi Jaybutterfly,
How much more interviewing and testing is left ?,I personally found the process cold and objective at the start - in the beginning it seemed I may or may not be trans at all.
Now I can access letters for surgery if necessary! Is it possible that particular clinic always starts the process that way until they dig down into the Nitty gritty?
You may find your profile is typically trans in the end.
Second opinions are gold if you can access some.
Wishing you the best, Kirsten.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[jaybutterfly]

Hi Jaybutterfly,
How much more interviewing and testing is left ?,I personally found the process cold and objective at the start - in the beginning it seemed I may or may not be trans at all.
Now I can access letters for surgery if necessary! Is it possible that particular clinic always starts the process that way until they dig down into the Nitty gritty?
You may find your profile is typically trans in the end.
Second opinions are gold if you can access some.
Wishing you the best, Kirsten.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

This was meant to be my final interview after the head of the services saw me and believed Im a strong candidate for a gender dysphoria diagnosis, this guy has effectively given me the middle finger at the last second. This isnt my first, this was meant to be my last interview for a verdict. If he gets the discharge paperwork in this is 3 years of waiting down the drain and at least 12 months wait before I see anyone else. Im calling tomorrow to try to see someone else because some of this was so silly.

[Kirsteneklund7]

I see what you mean. That is incredibly annoying. Seeing the doctors superior sounds like a very good idea. I have my fingers crossed for you. Your previous posts all point to someone who has the motivation and intrinsic nature to benefit from HRT. I wonder if the NHS is actively turning people away ?
My thoughts are with you, Kirsten.

[jaybutterfly]

I see what you mean. That is incredibly annoying. Seeing the doctors superior sounds like a very good idea. I have my fingers crossed for you. Your previous posts all point to someone who has the motivation and intrinsic nature to benefit from HRT. I wonder if the NHS is actively turning people away ?
My thoughts are with you, Kirsten.

After spending some time on the transgender UK ->-bleeped-<-, I dont think it's just me whose having this kind of problem, other's have raised issues with Leeds and while I might not get anywhere with them, I will look at my options on what I can use from Leeds now in order to get further along. They have suggested counselling back here at home, so there is that. I wont be going to any reccomendations they gave for autism screening on grounds that I know already from several things I repeatedly didnt qualify AND I lack most of the symptoms looked for.

Counselling may not be specialised for gender dysphoria, but i might get some use out of it anyway. In the meantime I can try to get a referral to another gender service in the future. This at least gives me time to sort out a lot of other things in my life.

[Dena]

There is something you might consider. You have your schedule and gender services has theirs. If you can start your transition by taking the steps you can. Possibly electrolysis or working toward presenting and full time. Yes HRT helps and you might go private for that but people have gone full time without HRT. This would have the advantage it would be difficult for them to decide that you don't suffer from dysphoria or that your not determined.

[jaybutterfly]

There is something you might consider. You have your schedule and gender services has theirs. If you can start your transition by taking the steps you can. Possibly electrolysis or working toward presenting and full time. Yes HRT helps and you might go private for that but people have gone full time without HRT. This would have the advantage it would be difficult for them to decide that you don't suffer from dysphoria or that your not determined.

To be honest with my life as it is I think HRT would need to be saved anyway till I'm a bit further on in life.

Still, I'm not impressed with the idea of words being put in my mouth or that what I say gets partially ignored

[pamelatransuk]

Hello again Jaybutterfly

As you know we have corresponded previously both here on TT Board and on HRT Board.

I assume you are referring to a doctor at a UK regional GIC and I am both disappointed and surprised that you have had this latest experience; I agree you need to seek a second opinion as this person is clearly way off target. You also need to complain to the Head of Services unless your second opinion overrides the first opinion from this character.

I have no evidence but as Kirsten suggests, I would if the unofficial NHS policy may be to reduce patient numbers by determining some cases that are true transgenders suffering GD to be suffering from autism or instead  ->-bleeped-<-s/crossdressers/fetishists? Could it be a secret cost saving initiative?

I wish you every success with your appeals. Secondly if like many here you cannot afford to go fully private, then there is always the option of "bridging" whereby you go private for therapy and HRT when you are ready for it and while you wait for NHS (presumably at a different NHSGIC), you arrange some Electrolysis or Laser as proof that you are serious as a transwoman. Not that "proof" should be necessary for the NHS of course!

Good luck and hugs to you.

Pamela 

[jaybutterfly]

Hello again Jaybutterfly

As you know we have corresponded previously both here on TT Board and on HRT Board.

I assume you are referring to a doctor at a UK regional GIC and I am both disappointed and surprised that you have had this latest experience; I agree you need to seek a second opinion as this person is clearly way off target. You also need to complain to the Head of Services unless your second opinion overrides the first opinion from this character.

I have no evidence but as Kirsten suggests, I would if the unofficial NHS policy may be to reduce patient numbers by determining some cases that are true transgenders suffering GD to be suffering from autism or instead  ->-bleeped-<-s/crossdressers/fetishists? Could it be a secret cost saving initiative?

I wish you every success with your appeals. Secondly if like many here you cannot afford to go fully private, then there is always the option of "bridging" whereby you go private for therapy and HRT when you are ready for it and while you wait for NHS (presumably at a different NHSGIC), you arrange some Electrolysis or Laser as proof that you are serious as a transwoman. Not that "proof" should be necessary for the NHS of course!

Good luck and hugs to you.

Pamela

I just got off the phone with the clinical team leader and she seemed quite concerned about my feedback. The doctor in question will be spoken to. I've left it open that I want a second opinion, but at this point part of me doesn't even want to go back to the leeds gender services.

While I appreciate his concerns that I may have other issues and counselling may be required for helping me to come to terms with some things (we even agreed that I find myself feeling very lost in life) including gender identity as a possibility he admitted, I thought i was rude to put words in my mouth and ignore the points about previous autism screening, and the 'wanting to remain a child' and the 'surprise you like contact sports' comments felt odd.  I looked at his areas of focus. I see gender dysphoria, but also 'masculinities' and nothing on autism so I don't think there's much stock i can or will put into the autism. Perhaps he saw me as a troubled man who needed fixing? I don't know, I can't read minds.