GP referred me to a psychologist today, but...

[Al James]

i think looking at the web sites i'm gonna end up at the nottingham GIC which doesn't seem to bad. And like others i have waited this long (20 years) before doing anything and now its not something that the door can be closed on again. Even waiting for my next appointment when i've had two and know i'm in the system is starting to drive me mad. but if i do anything drastic i'll get told i'm not stable enough to transition but if i manage to keep it calm i'll be told that i don't need to transition cos i'm getting on with my life. Thats the thing that really worries me

[Nemo]

I'm only going off various peoples experience with waiting years for Leeds, & one article stating it's now 2 years & that was from 2008/9, maybe if you call the clinic they can tell you for sure?

Maybe. On the other hand, they say one thing, but...

As you get older, you learn to be pessimistic (at least if you're me ), especially when it comes to the NHS. Mind you, I did get a psych. appointment fairly quickly. I'm also planning to go FT as soon as possible, and it also says on the site that the "care pathway" is flexible depending on how much the patient has already transitioned. I already have a part-time job, so they can't pull me up on that either ^_^

Are we allowed to choose a different GIC if need be? Last I heard you couldn't, but that was in March... unless I've been researching so much I've got it tied up in knots.

[Jam]

Yep - I've only been aware of this for a few months, but I'm already at that point now. ... Is that common?

I've always known i should have been a boy but i've only just really realised i can do something about it in the last couple of months too so i think its ok. At the end of the day if you think its cool then thats all that matters really.

I would have been the one going to the GID clinic in Leeds. I read an online leaflet on it these are the main points-

- After you've been referred they aim to get you your first assessment within 18 weeks
-They then assess you which can take between 3-6 months, afterwards they have a meeting to see if you can continue the service care
- You will then get the 'real life experience' for a year, during which you will get your hormones
- You have to have been with there service for 6 months before they will give you the hormones
- For surgery you have to have been on hormones for at least 18 months and they have to assess you (again) to see if you are ready for it.

I don't know the waiting list for surgery. These are all just 'aims' whether or not you will actually get them within the time scale i don't know. I'm not trying to put you off just letting you no what i've found out.
I don't earn much, im on a part time wage so going private is going to make things very tight. If my parents take this all bad there's no way i will be able to go private. Still at least there is stuff out there and we CAN get the treatment its better then nothing.

[Zack]

Are we allowed to choose a different GIC if need be? Last I heard you couldn't, but that was in March... unless I've been researching so much I've got it tied up in knots.

I don't know for sure, I think you can request it but it depends upon the person who would refer you.

[Dan]

I've emailed Leeds to ask them, if I get an answer rather than a fobbing off I will post it on here so others know.

In theory, you should be able to choose whichever GIC you want to go to and request your PCT fund it out of area if they don't have an agreement in place - this is a service user right across all NHS "mental health" services (which currently trans services fall under). In practise however........

[Nemo]

Yeah, I read that leaflet too. That's where I got the part about being flexible about patients already transitioning. What worries me is, I've read that what used to happen was that no matter if you already held a GRC, they still insisted you go all the way through. I hope to God they've sorted that out (if all goes to plan, I'll have already changed my docs and lived FT for a few months).

To top it all, after Al mentioned Nottingham I decided to do some digging. And I found this:

Referrals are usually made via the GP. Referrals from local psychiatric or psychological services are also accepted, although we would like the GP of the person referred to support the referral.

That's just p*ed me off. Why is it they can do it, but Leeds GPs have to go via the psychiatrist?!

Dan: Oh yes please. Anxious minds want to know...

[Tay]

Nemo,

At least for my GIC, after a GP refers you, you must undergo an initial psychiatric assessment to ensure that the gender clinic is actually the place you need to be referred to... and not the mental health clinic

[Al James]

Thats the bit i'm having now and then Dr Ferguson is hopefully going to refer me on to the GIC. Hope theres not much longer to wait having to be sane for this long is seriously hard work 

[Arch]

Yep - I've only been aware of this for a few months, but I'm already at that point now. ... Is that common?

Yeah, pretty common. I've seen it again and again. It might be because even if you don't know exactly what is wrong for all those years, you know something is wrong, and figuring out exactly what it is, and that something can be done, and coming out, opens all of the floodgates. It did for me, but of course I had known for a long time.

Post Merge: April 15, 2010, 05:55:55 PM

On the sustanon issue I have no choice - I'm allergic to nuts so will have to have Nebido.

Oh, dear. Will you have to skip the testicular implants?

[Dan]

Post Merge: April 15, 2010, 05:55:55 PM
Oh, dear. Will you have to skip the testicular implants?

LMAO  I'm getting an extra big penis to compensate with free specially adjusted trousers for a life time to accomadate it dangling down my legs - and a porsche

[Arch]

LMAO  I'm getting an extra big penis to compensate with free specially adjusted trousers for a life time to accomadate it dangling down my legs - and a porsche

Dan, if you're that well hung you don't need a Porsche. It might give people the wrong idea.

[Nemo]

Yeah, pretty common. I've seen it again and again. It might be because even if you don't know exactly what is wrong for all those years, you know something is wrong, and figuring out exactly what it is, and that something can be done, and coming out, opens all of the floodgates. It did for me, but of course I had known for a long time.

If this could strike any more chords with me, I'd be a one-man-band.

The reason I'm asking is because various people in my support network (folks I've come out to) are concerned that I'm "jumping in too quickly", and that "it's only been a few months" - no amount of "This has been going on for decades, not months!" will change their minds. It was for that reason I left church with unsigned deed polls yesterday - the pastor was like "I'm not saying no, just not yet" and wants to wait 'til I've spoken with this guy I mentioned. Understandable from her viewpoint, but still frustrating as hell - stop dangling the keys in front of my nose, just open the cage already!

[Dan]

Hi again - got a very quick reply from Leeds and they said that the first appointment is usually within 18 weeks of recieving a full referral. They disputed the two year figure completely and said if there delays it's usually caused by funding agreements not being in place. They were really helpful actually and emailed a bunch of leaflets back to me too.

nemo - I got my GP to sign my deed poll which has had the added advantage of not needing a doctors letter when I got my name changed with everything. Worth considering?

[Nemo]

Hi again - got a very quick reply from Leeds and they said that the first appointment is usually within 18 weeks of recieving a full referral. They disputed the two year figure completely and said if there delays it's usually caused by funding agreements not being in place. They were really helpful actually and emailed a bunch of leaflets back to me too.

nemo - I got my GP to sign my deed poll which has had the added advantage of not needing a doctors letter when I got my name changed with everything. Worth considering?

Thanks for the reply. Does sound like they've pulled themselves out of the dark ages, thankfully - and like I said, my psych. appointment was fairly quick to get arranged. Here's hoping it stays that way - and that they do take into account time already spent FT.

As for the other idea - hmm, you could be onto something there. When did you get it signed - how far along the transition were you? I'm just concerned she's gonna give me another "wait 'til later" response..

[Al James]

i got my deed poll done in January, 3 months after i'd seen my doctor but 3 months before i saw the psychiatrist. The day the deed poll came back i went to see my doctor and she changed all my records there and then sent a memo to the PCT and i got a brand new NHS number as well. Unfortunately they haven't cross referenced the new male me with the previous female me so theres a 38 year old male born on Jan 22nd this year with no past.

[Zack]

Hi again - got a very quick reply from Leeds and they said that the first appointment is usually within 18 weeks of recieving a full referral. They disputed the two year figure completely and said if there delays it's usually caused by funding agreements not being in place. They were really helpful actually and emailed a bunch of leaflets back to me too.

That's great hopefully you'll get an appt. quite quickly then

[Ryan]

Nemo,

At least for my GIC, after a GP refers you, you must undergo an initial psychiatric assessment to ensure that the gender clinic is actually the place you need to be referred to... and not the mental health clinic

That's the protocol. Everyone gets that

[Dan]

Nemo - It was in January I got my deed poll done had just started living full time. I just asked my GP to sign it and she did. If you have already been referred for your psych appointment I don't see an issue. Good luck 

[Arch]

The reason I'm asking is because various people in my support network (folks I've come out to) are concerned that I'm "jumping in too quickly", and that "it's only been a few months" - no amount of "This has been going on for decades, not months!" will change their minds.

I used to think that people just didn't understand and value the internal process that almost all of us go through before we come out to others. I thought that the friends were saying it because they themselves hadn't known about the person's trans status for very long. But then I talked to a few people whose friends/relatives said the same thing ("too fast!"), even after the person in question had been out to them for a few years and were just now going on hormones. WTF?

I think that for some folks, any speed is too fast. Ya gotta listen to your heart and screen those people out. But I guess you already know that.

[Teknoir]

I used to think that people just didn't understand and value the internal process that almost all of us go through before we come out to others. I thought that the friends were saying it because they themselves hadn't known about the person's trans status for very long. But then I talked to a few people whose friends/relatives said the same thing ("too fast!"), even after the person in question had been out to them for a few years and were just now going on hormones. WTF?

I think that for some folks, any speed is too fast. Ya gotta listen to your heart and screen those people out. But I guess you already know that.

Yes, I agree with this.

I've normally handled it by asking them directly - "Then how long is the right length? One year? Three years? Ten years?".

That usually either shuts them up, or they name a time frame shorter than I've already been "doing my thing"  .

I think people don't say "too fast" because they're thinking about your welfare. They're saying it because they can't fathom what you're doing.