I've been told I can get my hands on T without a "letter." Do I still need a prescription?
My dad asked how exactly I would get T if I didn't have a doctor's approval. The Standards say that as a legal adult, I don't have to play this waiting game and I can get started right away. My dad, however, says I'm paying for the T out of my pocket if I don't get it from Kaiser. If I am to get it from Kaiser, I have to wait for a prescription to be written... I'd say I have enough money for about... a year and a half? Something like that. And that's only if I'm on a "normal" dose.
I'll need to be approved at least by my general doctor anyway (she'll decide how much I need to get, I guess) but I don't need the therapist to give the okay (at least that's what I was told). I've worked with 5 different psych doctors over the past 4 months. All 5 of them keep saying I'm "not ready." They're probably hesitating for legal reasons, because I turned 18 in March and they think my parents will try to sue them if I transition or something. Every transguy I've talked to (in person, so far that's 4) says that what I'm going through is total bull->-bleeped-<-. Even though I'm "just" 18, I shouldn't be stuck like this. In fact, one of the transguys I was camping with until this morning said he knows an 18 year old that's applying for phalloplasty. He's already started everything else and he's just 18. So I don't see why I have to wait.
I half feel like they're "testing" me, waiting for me to demand my testosterone. Which I will soon. I'm really tired of waiting and now I really know I'm ready and that this is the right thing. There isn't a shred of doubt left in me about this.
I have a feeling that when I see Dr. Demara on the 17th of September that he will be able to get me that prescription. I've been ready for this for a while, and just this weekend I went the whole camping trip completely full time (I was a "he" and "Dan" for just under 48 hours straight). My complete full time streak ended when my step mother started calling me a "she" again. But I must say, I had no hesitation, doubt, or feelings of alienation when I was a "he" with the guys. I felt right at home. I was worried that I would feel weird and that maybe if I did that being a transguy wouldn't be right for me. But this trip has really helped me understand what my life will be like when I'm trans.
I used the men's room the whole trip, and I was even on my period during this. One of the reasons I now want to start T as soon as possible is to stop the period. I really can't take it anymore. It's the only thing that makes me feel awkward in the men's room. I'm afraid they can smell it and I've had to change 3 pads in there. I flushed the toilet while I was doing it so no one could hear the plastic. I sat to pee. I think anyone who saw me just assumed I was disabled since I always used the handicap stall and took a really long time in there (standing, messing with my "girly stuff"... damn period).
So okay. What do you guys know about T for adults? Do I need a prescription from my medical doctor? An approval from a therapist? Both? Some sort of letter?
Also, Kaiser will cover some (if not all) of the cost for the T, which is why my dad wants me to wait (he is not anti-T or transition, he just wants us to save some money and get it from a trusted source). I just don't want to have to wait 6 months to get it.
