CAMH- Toronto.

[AweSAM!]

I've heard a lot about him being hot. Come to think of it, it's all been from you, Sara. In the past 2 months, I've reevaluated where I stand in terms of my sexuality, so I guess a hot male endocrinologist would be a hot commodity. All I need now is to have a crush on my endo. Dr. Goodhew isn't accepting new patients at this time, so for now I'm with another, decidedly not so hot endocrinologist.

I'm really glad that all of a sudden, it's not a completely unbearable 2 year process to get surgical approval from CAMH. I guess the best choice here for those who don't want the crazy experience of one year pre-HRT RLE is to get on HRT by using a private psychologist, and then go to CAMH for the 1 year pre-surgery RLE after 1 year of full time.

Jeez... I wish they would just follow the WPATH standards to a tee. It looks like my actual date for SRS will be sometime around 2013 if I go through with CAMH. I'll be nearly 23, and I'm now 19. That's a long time to wait, and I might give up on having FFS, get surgical approval from therapists on my dollar, and just go to a surgeon paid for by me.

[Colleen Ireland]

Oh but it is very important for the initial assessment else youll be told the same thing... and by the time you get your name change and all that and get an appointment 6 months later... you started the "RLE" from the point your name is changed and you can prove that you work as (Female/Male) new name.

@SaraR, I'm not sure I'm understanding what you're getting at here, and this is important, so I want to make sure I understand what you're saying.  The underlined part in the quote is confusing me.

Here is what I'm expecting to happen with me:

• In the past four months (five when I go to CAMH), I've been attending a trans support group, had regular (every 2 weeks) visits with a gender therapist, and been through the 11-week Gender Journeys workshop at Sherbourne.  I regularly go out dressed in public, i.e. shopping at the mall, riding the train and subway, out for drinks or food with friends, and using gender-appropriate facilities
• My therapist has already given me an HRT letter, which I will present to my GP next week for referral to an endo (waiting list)
• My Life Story submitted to CAMH covers 50 years and runs 18 pages single-spaced
• I will begin facial laser treatments sometime within the next month
• I will see Dr. Dickey and Dr. Brown on Jan 11 (initial assessment) - obviously I will be presenting in my preferred gender
• Several weeks later (sometime in Feb) I expect to receive the letter from CAMH, which will likely state that they agree I meet the criteria for GID but will make no recommendation concerning transition, other than a statement that I could make a follow-up appointment in six months
• I will start HRT sometime after receiving that letter - hopefully sometime in Feb or Mar.
• When I'm ready (i.e. when the hormones have done their stuff sufficiently) I will initiate the legal name change and make preparations to transition at work (I've already checked into Company Policy - my job will be safe)
• Legal Name Change accomplished - time to come out at work (RLE begins)
• Hopefully that will be sometime in 2011

Beyond that, things are a little fuzzy, but the above is a sort of mental checklist I've worked out.  Aside from the obvious "wild card" (the actual contents of the letter from CAMH), I think the above is pretty reasonable.  Of course, my wife is pretty much guaranteed not to see it that way, but that's a different issue.  Am I way off base?

My main reason for doing things in the above order - I've been advised by trans friends (both in transition and post-op) that given my situation (31-year marriage, 3 [adult] kids) that this is the best approach.  Of course it won't get me to completion as quickly as another path, but it may have the best chance at getting me there with as many relationships intact as possible.

[Colleen Ireland]

Jeez... I wish they would just follow the WPATH standards to a tee. It looks like my actual date for SRS will be sometime around 2013 if I go through with CAMH. I'll be nearly 23, and I'm now 19. That's a long time to wait, and I might give up on having FFS, get surgical approval from therapists on my dollar, and just go to a surgeon paid for by me.

Sorry, but read some of my posts, and you'll understand that when I read something like this, I react badly (I'm 54, 3 kids, been in denial most of my life, if I go through CAMH and get SRS, my surgery will probably be sometime in 2014, and I'll be 58...  )

Added:  I'm not blaming you, dear... just being bitchy.  Sorry...

[AweSAM!]

No worries Colleen, the CAMH stuff is pretty aggravating. (smashes head through nearest wall) Patience is something that I need to work on. By the end of this ordeal, I'll either be insane or happy, or both.

When I go to CAMH after completing one year of RLE to start the one year surgical approval process, I'll have a psychologist heavily vouching for me, which will be nice, and I hope it makes a difference.

[lpfix2009]

@SaraR, I'm not sure I'm understanding what you're getting at here, and this is important, so I want to make sure I understand what you're saying.  The underlined part in the quote is confusing me.

Here is what I'm expecting to happen with me:

• In the past four months (five when I go to CAMH), I've been attending a trans support group, had regular (every 2 weeks) visits with a gender therapist, and been through the 11-week Gender Journeys workshop at Sherbourne.  I regularly go out dressed in public, i.e. shopping at the mall, riding the train and subway, out for drinks or food with friends, and using gender-appropriate facilities
• My therapist has already given me an HRT letter, which I will present to my GP next week for referral to an endo (waiting list)
• My Life Story submitted to CAMH covers 50 years and runs 18 pages single-spaced
• I will begin facial laser treatments sometime within the next month
• I will see Dr. Dickey and Dr. Brown on Jan 11 (initial assessment) - obviously I will be presenting in my preferred gender
• Several weeks later (sometime in Feb) I expect to receive the letter from CAMH, which will likely state that they agree I meet the criteria for GID but will make no recommendation concerning transition, other than a statement that I could make a follow-up appointment in six months
• I will start HRT sometime after receiving that letter - hopefully sometime in Feb or Mar.
• When I'm ready (i.e. when the hormones have done their stuff sufficiently) I will initiate the legal name change and make preparations to transition at work (I've already checked into Company Policy - my job will be safe)
• Legal Name Change accomplished - time to come out at work (RLE begins)
• Hopefully that will be sometime in 2011

Beyond that, things are a little fuzzy, but the above is a sort of mental checklist I've worked out.  Aside from the obvious "wild card" (the actual contents of the letter from CAMH), I think the above is pretty reasonable.  Of course, my wife is pretty much guaranteed not to see it that way, but that's a different issue.  Am I way off base?

My main reason for doing things in the above order - I've been advised by trans friends (both in transition and post-op) that given my situation (31-year marriage, 3 [adult] kids) that this is the best approach.  Of course it won't get me to completion as quickly as another path, but it may have the best chance at getting me there with as many relationships intact as possible.

Maybe the main point i should get across is Any therapy you are currently doing DOES NOT count nor does any letter count.. When it comes down for OHIP Approval you need 2 letters FROM CAMH period.. OHIP won't accept any OTHER person.. I tried... I was returned a letter that only CAMH employees must sign off within the gender specialist field..

[4348]

I was returned a letter that only CAMH employees must sign off within the gender specialist field..

This is not true either. Only CAMH adult GIC employees can sign off. Someone I know, the same age as me (i.e., not 21) will probably be able to have surgery way before me because the CAMH child GIC will approve her for surgery. This will not result in OHIP coverage, but her family is so rich it doesn't matter. Another disgusting double standard within CAMH itself.

Maybe the main point i should get across is Any therapy you are currently doing DOES NOT count nor does any letter count..

Colleen will be fine. She has things very well thought out. Currently in order for the clinic to approve you for surgery, they must know you for at least 1 year RLE, of a two year total. Now that she will be known to them she should have no problems when she is ready. Also the policies are subject to review soon so there's no need for all of this angst... yet.

I'd probably end up in a depressive coma if nothing changed though...

[lpfix2009]

This is not true either. Only CAMH adult GIC employees can sign off. Someone I know, the same age as me (i.e., not 21) will probably be able to have surgery way before me because the CAMH child GIC will approve her for surgery. This will not result in OHIP coverage, but her family is so rich it doesn't matter. Another disgusting double standard within CAMH itself.


Colleen will be fine. She has things very well thought out. Currently in order for the clinic to approve you for surgery, they must know you for at least 1 year RLE, of a two year total. Now that she will be known to them she should have no problems when she is ready. Also the policies are subject to review soon so there's no need for all of this angst... yet.

I'd probably end up in a depressive coma if nothing changed though...

I said within the gender specialist field... its the same exact thing you said..

and again they will not take a letter from another therapist and the whole point is the 1yr RLE... regardless... your arguments are not even valid... your saying the same thing i already said but trying to argue against it... which makes no sense..

[Colleen Ireland]

Okay, Sara, got ya.  You're talking specifically about approval for OHIP-covered SRS.  And you're completely correct.  On the other hand, you do NOT need CAMH to access HRT.  My letter from my therapist will do me just fine for that.  And by the time I start my RLE, CAMH will have known me for the better part of a year, at least.  The main thing that will jump-start me is that initial letter.  And yes, I'm well aware that it may be somewhat self-contradictory ("We agree that you meet the criteria for GID, however we do not specifically recommend transition at this time..."), but I'm prepared to deal with that.  Anyway, thanks for clarifying.

[lpfix2009]

Okay, Sara, got ya.  You're talking specifically about approval for OHIP-covered SRS.  And you're completely correct.  On the other hand, you do NOT need CAMH to access HRT.  My letter from my therapist will do me just fine for that.  And by the time I start my RLE, CAMH will have known me for the better part of a year, at least.  The main thing that will jump-start me is that initial letter.  And yes, I'm well aware that it may be somewhat self-contradictory ("We agree that you meet the criteria for GID, however we do not specifically recommend transition at this time..."), but I'm prepared to deal with that.  Anyway, thanks for clarifying.

Yeah its a miss communication.. thats what i did i got my HRT from a GP vs. CAMH but when it came down to therapy for the SRS approval.. it had to be all CAMH

[Colleen Ireland]

...but when it came down to therapy for the SRS approval.. it had to be all CAMH

Yeah, I knew that.  Of course, there IS another option, if ya got deep pockets, lol.  But for OHIP, yup, it's CAMH or nothing, but that may change in the not-too-distant future.  A friend (and mentor) of mine is currently fighting a human rights case, and if they win (she's one of four respondents), one of the possible outcomes is that CAMH loses their sole-provider status...

[lpfix2009]

Yeah, I knew that.  Of course, there IS another option, if ya got deep pockets, lol.  But for OHIP, yup, it's CAMH or nothing, but that may change in the not-too-distant future.  A friend (and mentor) of mine is currently fighting a human rights case, and if they win (she's one of four respondents), one of the possible outcomes is that CAMH loses their sole-provider status...

I live well but 20k is 20k... i rather have something the government pay for us then us having to pay the government.. its all about "beating the man"

[Colleen Ireland]

I live well but 20k is 20k... i rather have something the government pay for us then us having to pay the government.. its all about "beating the man"

And the all-time bonus... we get to see Dr. Brassard!

[lpfix2009]

And the all-time bonus... we get to see Dr. Brassard!

Hehe indeed he was certainly amazing.. and made me feel comfortable... it was just plain ol AWESOME... i can't say the same about the pain though argh.. but look at me now 3 months.. and i can do backflips (not really) but im in good shape haha well i can do a backflip normally but i would be hesistant because i still don't want to "hurt" things.

I DO LOVE my results i can't ask for better but i have a couple of little issues i need brassard to look at some time.