doctor and hormones?

[veronica06]

okay.
bear with me just one tiny itty bit....k?
====
I see a lot of mouth...folks talking about having a doctor around to do this...
uh..yeah,...right.
now where do you FIND this just mentioned item?
from what "I" have found to date;
the V.A. wants nothing to do with this subject.
the local county people say I am over their gov't listing for monthly $$$ income.
and I have tried to look in the phone book locally and found zilch.


WHERE.....and WHY....
where do ya GET a doctor

why do I need one if I am a big boy and can take care of myself...find my own drugs and make my own boobs come out.....

I fail to grasp all this.

and yes..I admit to not knowing what the fuss is about.

thanks

[beth]

Hello Veronica,

                   Before considering drugs and surgery it's best to do some soul searching and talk to a therapist to see where you fit on the gender scale.  If you find you are a candidate for these things you can get direction to a doctor to begin the process.

                  After you do a bit of research you will find out why you need a doctor, in simple terms the reason is the medications can be very dangerous even when taken in prescribed doses. You blood needs to be checked regularly to ensure proper chemical balances. Doctors can be found in most all parts of the country. The VA might not pay for the surgery but then they don't buy us a 25k car either.

Try reading the proper sections of the Wiki, it will spell out the things you need to know.

The wiki is on the main page here,

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Main_Page

welcome to Susan's

beth

[Buffy]

Hi Veronica...

Beth has made some good points follow them.

Why does a big boy need a doctor....

1. These things are dangerous, Blood clots, strokes, DVT, all linked to taking Estrogen
2. You need to be supervised, first a baseline and then any regime altered to suit your blood chemistry
3. Long term use of Anti-Androgens can cause Liver damage
4. The side effects may not be reversed if you decide after a number of months this is not for you
5. Black market Hormones may not be the "real thing", they like any drugs can be doctored and altered.
6. Serious other side effects, headaches, sickness can result and also allergic reactions.

Never consider self administration, it is NOT worth the risk. The process MUST be monitored and reviewed

Hope that answers your Question.

I had DVT two years ago, from Flying..... It was NOT nice.

Buffy

[LynnER]

Personaly Im working my tail off trying to afford my MD, my theripist and perscriptions.... I have no help, just deturminations and a will to do things right..... I dont want to end up another statistic.........

Where theres a will there is a way.... and its safer though harder to go the right way than the easy way....  Just please be careful and find a good doctor and theripist.....

[Kate]

WHERE.....and WHY....
where do ya GET a doctor

- Hormones are prescription drugs, so you need a doc to write you a prescription.
- By writing a prescription, the doc assumes some responsibility of making sure the treatment is appropriate for the patient
- But most docs aren't well-versed in diagnosing TSism, so they rely on the recommendations of gender specialists

So... the first step is usually finding a therapist in your area who specializes in gender issues. Some are expensive, others not so bad. One specialist in my area charges $225 per session. Another charges $75. So it varies.

Most therapists will refer you to a doc if you're diagnosed as TS and have been in therapy for at *least* three months (the minimum requirement). Other factors come into play however, so it may take longer. And not everyone abides by these standards.

I resent having to jump through the hoops myself, but I can't blame the docs. If I was a doc, I wouldn't write a script either unless I was bloody well sure that patient knew what she was doing and wasn't going to sue me later for prescribing an inappropriate treatment. I'd want that "official" TS diagnosis in hand to back me up.

[veronica06]

I resent having to jump through the hoops myself, but I can't blame the docs. If I was a doc, I wouldn't write a script either unless I was bloody well sure that patient knew what she was doing and wasn't going to sue me later for prescribing an inappropriate treatment.
===========

wellllllllllll??
MY issue,..is..--now bear with me---"I" am over 50, and I know my own mind.
and "I" resent some white collar telling me what he thinks I should or should not do..by HIS darn rules.
this IS the U.S. of friggen A. and I am a vet of foreign war..paid my dues.
I oughta be able to walk in and say " hey yo!".
all I can do at THIS precise moment..is try calling around--AGAIN..but the last time I tried..I got a lot of backlip from folks on the phone with a ton of excuses...

k........
any who way??

thank you to those whom DID reply here.
by the gods I may have just found a place where people actually care!

later

take care out there

[Dennis]

I get the same frustration, Veronica. I can't even get a hysterectomy without hoops. I'm a 44 year old lawyer who's had chest surgery and been on testosterone for 18 months, and they want two psychiatric opinions. I'm sure they're going to diagnose me with unresolved anger issues by the time I get to that point.

Dennis

[Kate]

MY issue,..is..--now bear with me---"I" am over 50, and I know my own mind.
and "I" resent some white collar telling me what he thinks I should or should not do..by HIS darn rules.

I can certainly understand those feelings. I resent it too, and yet... I recognize it as a necessary process.

But you've mentioned you're a no-nonsense, bottom-line person? Well, the bottom line is the docs control the drugs, and the therapists control the docs, so if you feel this is a direction you want to be moving in... ya gotta swallow your pride and work within the system, even if you disagree with it. That's the conclusion I came to anyway

It's not as bad as it sounds though. I'm learning to make the best of it, and hey... I've even learned things about myself that surprised me. And like you, I thought I knew my own mind pretty well. Turns out there's TONS of uncharted territory still in there... but I was so used to romping around the same, well-rutted roads... I never noticed it. Sometimes we need help to knock us out of our habitual thinking patterns. The eye cannot see itself, I always like to say...

all I can do at THIS precise moment..is try calling around--AGAIN..but the last time I tried..I got a lot of backlip from folks on the phone with a ton of excuses...

I'm not sure what sort of people you're calling, or if you're trying to work within insurance limitations and whatnot... but finding someone who is a member of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA) is often a good idea. Not everyone appreciates their "Gatekeeper" role, but the reality is that the "Standards of Care" these folks follow have become the unofficial requirements for most doctors and surgeons.

by the gods I may have just found a place where people actually care!

Of course! Like it or not, you've made some new friends and family here. And we DO take care of each other

[veronica06]

again............thank you everyone.
I made a call today, spoke to 'a' woman,...and claims to know about this topic.
gave her my background, named all my meds...
she says,...basically...until I see a doctor...that will take care of me...
"I am too sick to be seen by anyone".
supposedly she says if I put 10 grand on the desk of any self respecting doctor..he'd walk away from me and laugh in my face.
she claims ,...I am in no condition physically to undergo any surgery.
--
I am expecting an appt next week for a consult to see what this place has to offer...

they lay claim that they are familiar with gender change and can help, more than, the, V.A. is doing.

she claims,...the VA is not doing it's job and she is wondering how and why I am still alive.

I'll get back to you folks.
everyone stand by...
--
now I return you to your regularly scheduled life.

take care out there

[Julie Marie]

When you gave the "woman" the information detailing your medical conditions it seems she deemed you at high risk for HRT administration.  That alone should prevent you from self prescribing, if you want to live. 

I'm a pretty stubborn person (and over 50) and I have felt just like you but I swallowed my pride after educating myself on the dangers of self prescribing. 

You will never know if you are giving yourself too much or too little.
You will never know how your system is reacting to the meds, especially the liver.
You will never know if you are in danger of developing a blood clot and, until it does it's damage, you will never know if you will survive and if you do what state it will leave you in.

For me, that was enough to enlist the help of a doctor.  As for how to find one, I got that information from my therapist and TS friends.  Based on what I learned I made my choice and I'm very happy with him.  He's become part of my support system, something I didn't expect.[/font]

[stephanie_craxford]

thank you to those whom DID reply here.
by the gods I may have just found a place where people actually care!

And you thought that this was just another waste of space site.  This is what Susan's is all about Veronica, we are here to help each other anyway we can.  As you can see we're not all sweetness, tugging at heart strings type of site

Like you I'm a 54 year old Vet, served my country for 30 years, both in combat and in peace time and you would think I would know what is best for me?  Well apparently not, there are those out there who know much more than I do   Like many here I've been through the hoops, two therapists and in therapy for a little over a year, HRT for 18 months, seemingly a thousand trips to doctors and endo's, came out, live full time... blah, blah, blah   But I got my letters and they attest that I am crazy enough to want to go through this hell they call transition, risk loosing my livelihood, family and friends (still have my pets - animals are nice that way) and I now have a date with the surgeon this December - Merry Christmas ho, ho, ho.

I guess I could write everyone back and say that I could have saved myself a whole bunch of money is they had just taken my word for it.

Get back to us Veronica and keep us posted on your progress or lack there of, as all our experiences and issues benefit everyone here at Susan's, if nothing else misery loves company don't cha think.

Steph

[HelenW]

Going to a therapist who specializes in gender issues can do alot more than just write referrals to the endocrinologist.  They've helped many transsexuals move on through their changes (if they're any good - it's a good thing to ask them: How many have you helped transition?) and because of that are in a unique position to give advice tailored to the specific circumstances of your life.

I found out two weeks before my 50th last year just how good I am at fooling myself even though I thought I knew myself more than most people.  That's when the scales fell off my eyes and I realized who I really am.  I've learned even more from my therapy, which I started last December.  Veronica, you may surprise yourself!

There are lists of gender specialists that can be found on the web as well as here on Susan's, in the Links section.  Most common garden variety doctors and therapists don't know squat about this phenomenon so be careful that you find someone who knows what they're doing.

Hugs & Smiles,
helen

[cindianna_jones]

Veronica,

It sounds like you are looking to the VA to help you in some way here.  Veronica dear, we the people care about our vets. We the US government don't give a flying rats......

It is a situation I deplore to be sure.  I'm glad that you are looking outside what the VA can provide.  That's where you'll find the medical support you need.  And you are discovering that medical help is truly necessary, so I won't say any more about that.

You have found a good group of people here.  This is the best support site I've found to date.  If you are working through problems, this forum is the best.  Who knows, you may even gain a close friend or two.  But you will always take away more than what you  bring in.  

Cindi

[tinkerbell]

thank you to those whom DID reply here.
by the gods I may have just found a place where people actually care!

later

take care out there

Veronica, I am deeply touched by these words.   Now you have experienced the support I was talking about in your introduction thread.  I'm very glad that you have found us.   Please don't hesitate to ask questions, and any of us, your friends, will respond.

Veronica likes us, Veronica likes us, Veronica likes us.... and believes in us...........wooooopeeeeee!


tinkerbell

[veronica06]

Veronica likes us, Veronica likes us, Veronica likes us.... and believes in us...........wooooopeeeeee!


tinkerbell
==============

hun,..ya just made my day....thank YOU!

[Dennis]

Tink's our resident sweetheart. She can bust through any crusty exterior.

But I'm glad you like us too Veronica

Dennis

[sheila18]

...I am in no condition physically to undergo any surgery.
--
I am expecting an appt next week for a consult to see what this place has to offer...

they lay claim that they are familiar with gender change and can help, more than, the, V.A. is doing.

she claims,...the VA is not doing it's job and she is wondering how and why I am still alive.

veronica06:
I am a vet and am under the care of a Veterans Admin's physician.

They do not support Transgendered medical issues.
  If you have any care by another physician ( meanning not authorized by the Vet. Adm, including medication) you lose your medical priviledges until you again reprocess and make them your primary care system.
  My step father died last year and incurred $180,000.00 bill because he went to a hospital after his hip broke and he assumed that because he was 92 years old and WWII vet they would pay ...wrong.
  Please move with caution.
Sheila18

[tinkerbell]

Tink's our resident sweetheart. She can bust through any crusty exterior.
Dennis

That's so sweet of you to say, Dennis!  thanks!


tinkerbell