First HRT appointment.......advice welcomed

[Jenny1969]

Next Monday is going to be my first appointment with the doctor to talk about all the pros and cons and risk associated with HRT. I assume that if all goes well I will leave there with a prescription.  I'm looking for lessons learned here. Is there anything I Shouldn't say?        Is there anything I need to emphasize more?   Should I go completely dressed totally enfem ?  Is this appointment a test to check on my seriousness?

Thank you all in advance


Jenny


P.S.    Will I always have to "Type the letters you see" and do math every time I post?   

[Meghan]

Next Monday is going to be my first appointment with the doctor to talk about all the pros and cons and risk associated with HRT. I assume that if all goes well I will leave there with a prescription.  I'm looking for lessons learned here. Is there anything I Shouldn't say?        Is there anything I need to emphasize more?   Should I go completely dressed totally enfem ?  Is this appointment a test to check on my seriousness?

Thank you all in advance


Jenny


P.S.    Will I always have to "Type the letters you see" and do math every time I post?

Hi Jenny,

You don't have to go all dress up to impress your Doctor since they're know reasons for your visit. The Doctor probably request blood work before prescribing you any hormones. Good luck and have a safe Thanksgiving.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

[ChrissyRyan]

Next Monday is going to be my first appointment with the doctor to talk about all the pros and cons and risk associated with HRT. I assume that if all goes well I will leave there with a prescription.  I'm looking for lessons learned here. Is there anything I Shouldn't say?        Is there anything I need to emphasize more?   Should I go completely dressed totally enfem ?  Is this appointment a test to check on my seriousness?

Thank you all in advance

Jenny

P.S.    Will I always have to "Type the letters you see" and do math every time I post?

Jenny,

I think that guests will have to do that, but members with greater than 15 posts do not have to do those extra verification steps to show that they are not robot software programs trying to post.

Chrissy

[Linde]

Next Monday is going to be my first appointment with the doctor to talk about all the pros and cons and risk associated with HRT. I assume that if all goes well I will leave there with a prescription.  I'm looking for lessons learned here. Is there anything I Shouldn't say?        Is there anything I need to emphasize more?   Should I go completely dressed totally enfem ?  Is this appointment a test to check on my seriousness?

Thank you all in advance


Jenny


P.S.    Will I always have to "Type the letters you see" and do math every time I post?

My appointment was as short as it can get.  The doc asked me if I know that estrogen can cause certain problems.  i just reminded him that I am also a medical professional.  He prescribed the stuff to me based on my quarterly blood work for my diabetes.

[dee82]

Hi Jenny,

My first appointment was long and no prescription given for hormones. The doctor wanted blood tests done first, and also a bone density test as well.

She has a concern about female hormones and osteoporosis. I was sort of disappointed that I went away with nothing. But she made me feel cared for and that she is looking after my overall welfare.

I did think the doctor was sizing me up, to make sure I was in this for the long haul. Even though I had letters from my gender therapist and a psychiatrist, she wanted to be sure herself and asked more than a few personal questions.

I did dress in some slightly feminine clothes simply because it felt like a good oppportunity to do so. And based on my experience, your doctor may want to quiz you a little.

At the time I had mixed feeling about that, but it was overall a positive experience, and I have been back a second time and got my prescriptions. I like that she is methodical and wants to treat me as a whole person. Not just another trans person needing HRT.

One thing I did was avoid expressing any doubts, (not that I had any) and to always sound certain, because I got the feeling that was important for the doctor to hear.

Good luck on Monday!

[Lacy]

Hi Jenny!
My first appointment with my HRT doctor was checking my weight and blood pressure. They brought in an endocrinologist who went through all the changes to expect with the hormones as well as any negative side effects.

She then ordered blood work to check my blood sugar and testosterone. I had to make an appointment with the blood lab who took my blood.

I faxed her the results and had to set up a second appointment. At this appointment, they did the weight and blood pressure thing again. My doctor then told me what hormones she was prescribing and then told me how quickly I could expect changes. She felt my breasts and told me everything was good to go.

I went downstairs to the pharmacy and got my Hormones. The lady who was in charge of the pharmacy was familiar with transgender patients and was kind enough to explain things again for me!

I didn't feel pressured to ask anything more than what I felt I needed to know. They did a good job of explaining things.

I hope your appointment goes well!
Lacy

[Jessica_Rose]

Just tell the truth. I started HRT using the 'informed consent' model. I picked up my prescription just a few hours after my first appointment. I was in 'male mode' for every visit until about three weeks before going full time. Once my doctor had signed the gender marker change form I decided it would be appropriate for Jessica to pick it up. That was one of the happiest and most frightening days of my life!

They may ask you if you had any plans for children, and if so you may want to freeze some sperm. HRT may cause infertility after just 6 - 8 months, but this is highly variable. 

[Sonja]

Hi Jenny,

My first appt was with a medical professional who just wanted to chat and then gave me a form to get my blood checked, I was also scheduled in for 2 meetings 2 weeks apart with a therapist to talk about me ( check to see you'll be able to handle this physical transition, suicidal tendencies etc etc) and then a 4th appt to re-see medical professional to start HRT.

You don't need to dress up or try to prove anything. just talk openly and honestly about what brought you to this point in your life.

Hope it all goes well,

Sonja.

[Linde]

Just tell the truth. I started HRT using the 'informed consent' model. I picked up my prescription just a few hours after my first appointment. I was in 'male mode' for every visit until about three weeks before going full time. Once my doctor had signed the gender marker change form I decided it would be appropriate for Jessica to pick it up. That was one of the happiest and most frightening days of my life!

They may ask you if you had any plans for children, and if so you may want to freeze some sperm. HRT may cause infertility after just 6 - 8 months, but this is highly variable.

What is a gender marker change form?  What is it for and who gets it?
I hardly talked to my endocrinologist, and no form was even mentioned.  They called the prescription in to my pharmacy, and that was it.

[Arianna Valentine]

Be honest and if you smoke stop

If you can't accept yourself,  how can you expect others to accept you?

[Jessica_Rose]

What is a gender marker change form?  What is it for and who gets it?
I hardly talked to my endocrinologist, and no form was even mentioned.  They called the prescription in to my pharmacy, and that was it.

In Colorado you can change your gender marker with a form from your doctor. In part, the form states:

"Based on the patient's gender identity and full time gender role expression, or on prior completion of medical sex reassignment, my professional opinion is that the person's gender is Female" (or Male)

The form is accepted by the Social Security Administration, and they will update your social security account to indicate your new gender (I had to do this before getting my new drivers license). Some states require surgery before you can change your gender marker. I was surprised my doctor gave it to me because she had never seen me as Jessica before giving me the signed form!

Colorado recently added another option on drivers licenses, they now allow 'F', 'M', or 'X' as gender markers.

[Linde]

In Colorado you can change your gender marker with a form from your doctor. In part, the form states:

"Based on the patient's gender identity and full time gender role expression, or on prior completion of medical sex reassignment, my professional opinion is that the person's gender is Female" (or Male)

The form is accepted by the Social Security Administration, and they will update your social security account to indicate your new gender (I had to do this before getting my new drivers license). Some states require surgery before you can change your gender marker. I was surprised my doctor gave it to me because she had never seen me as Jessica before giving me the signed form!

Colorado recently added another option on drivers licenses, they now allow 'F', 'M', or 'X' as gender markers.

Thanks!  Here in Florida one has to get a court judgement, and a million other forms.  About $500 later, one can have ones new name/gender identity!

All that can only be done when one is fully established in the new gender role!
It is very frustrating, because everything, from credit card to health insurance is based on those stupid forms!
It is absolutely common that a very feminin person is official addressed with Mr. XX

[Devlyn]

At my first appointment my doctor started by saying that the decision to start hormones was entirely my decision, and her role was to get them into me safely. Then she asked me to tell her about my journey (I was already living full-time as a woman, with a name change). Then she sent me down the hall for a blood draw and an appointment the next week to pick up my prescriptions. Have fun, be honest.

Hugs, Devlyn

[AnneK]

Just tell the truth. I started HRT using the 'informed consent' model. I picked up my prescription just a few hours after my first appointment.

That's what I'm hoping for.  I'm still waiting for an appointment with the endocrinologist.  My doctor says it sometimes takes a while.

[Jenny1969]

Thanks for all the information. Im going in confident and prepared so I hope she (the doctor) doesn't make me jump thru hoops. I am in the VA system and this DR works at the VA. The VA has protocols for HRT. The first step is the intake evaluation. That's my first step. Then if she approves she will send me to the encronolgist for HRT. If she doesent approve me for HRT she could send me back for further psychotherapy.

Thanks everyone.   Ill keep you posted. and by the way the appointment is on Monday 3 dec.

[Linde]

Thanks for all the information. Im going in confident and prepared so I hope she (the doctor) doesn't make me jump thru hoops. I am in the VA system and this DR works at the VA. The VA has protocols for HRT. The first step is the intake evaluation. That's my first step. Then if she approves she will send me to the encronolgist for HRT. If she doesent approve me for HRT she could send me back for further psychotherapy.

Thanks everyone.   Ill keep you posted. and by the way the appointment is on Monday 3 dec.

Good luck to you.  And if the doctor has any compassion and common sense, she will send you on!

[Jenny1969]

Thanks everyone.  I was totally over thinking it. It was all good. No issues at all.  Going to the endo doc on the 28th to start HRT👍

[NatalieRene]

Hi Jenny,

My first appointment was long and no prescription given for hormones. The doctor wanted blood tests done first, and also a bone density test as well.

She has a concern about female hormones and osteoporosis. I was sort of disappointed that I went away with nothing. But she made me feel cared for and that she is looking after my overall welfare.

I did think the doctor was sizing me up, to make sure I was in this for the long haul. Even though I had letters from my gender therapist and a psychiatrist, she wanted to be sure herself and asked more than a few personal questions.

I did dress in some slightly feminine clothes simply because it felt like a good oppportunity to do so. And based on my experience, your doctor may want to quiz you a little.

At the time I had mixed feeling about that, but it was overall a positive experience, and I have been back a second time and got my prescriptions. I like that she is methodical and wants to treat me as a whole person. Not just another trans person needing HRT.

One thing I did was avoid expressing any doubts, (not that I had any) and to always sound certain, because I got the feeling that was important for the doctor to hear.

Good luck on Monday!

This is very sound advice.

[BlueJaye]

Thanks everyone.  I was totally over thinking it. It was all good. No issues at all.  Going to the endo doc on the 28th to start HRT👍

Hi, Jenny. How are things going? I hope that your experience so far with HRT has been very positive. It sounds like your initial appointment with the endo went better than you had hoped. I'm hoping your experience with the medications has been really great so far.

[dee82]

Thanks everyone.  I was totally over thinking it. It was all good. No issues at all.  Going to the endo doc on the 28th to start HRT👍

Yay! I hope your Endo is a good as mine. I have to travel a little to get there, but it is worth it because she is so helpful.

~Dee.