UPDATE: Starting my Real Life Experience

[Tom]

Hey All!

I know it's been a REALLY long time since I've been on. Stuff happened...you know life stuff. Also I sort of needed a break from all the information I had soaked up too fast haha. But I'm back and I have awesome updates! I finally got in to see Dr. Warneke and now I'm starting the real life experience! Hoorah! This means, I got my carry paper stating I'm pretty much male and that I can get it changed on my ID. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Totally pumped to get my name changed along with my ID. That probably won't be happening until like December so I can save up for it, but it's well worth the wait. ^^

So I've decided to scrap book my "journey" through this one year, from start to finish. So then I can look back on it and see how much I've learned and changed. ^^ But I wanted a quick opinion from you guys: how well do I pass? I say fairly well and I'm confident but I want peoples' opinions for the now and then for the later, so I can sort of journal it in my scrap book. XD

Here's the pics of the now:








I'm really excited to start hormone treatments, which they told me I wouldn't have to wait too long. And I'm really happy that I have so many supportive friends, co-workers and family. And you guys! ^^ Recently, I started helping someone and I felt really good about it. She had some questions and she was asking for advice and I was really glad to help her out. Just like others could help me, I could help this other person. I wanted to say thank you to all you guys.

Thomas Edward Quackenbush

[Devyn]

That's awesome, man. ^^ Congrats.

[Tad]

gah.. my referals got shipped into Warnecke over 3 weeks ago, and I haven't gotten so much as a phonecall achnowledgment that they recieved them yet. *Cries*

[Tom]

Aw well it shouldn't be too long of a wait. Honestly, I waited about two months before I got in. And if, for some ungodly reason lol, I couldn't have made it, I would have had to wait until like next September. But I'm sure it won't be too much longer. But yeah, that was the one weird thing is that no one told me Dr. Warneke got the referral or anything, they just randomly called me for an appointment so I imagine you won't really know until they phone you. O_o

[Squirrel698]

Congratulations!  You look great and I have to say that I love your name! 

I'm also looking forward to changing my name and my id.  It's going to be so awesome just to be able to pull it whenever I need instead of always having to deny that I have it.  lol

[Tom]

Thank you! All you guys. ^^

Yeah, it's gonna be awesome to be able to check off male and write my name in and everything. XD Haha thanks, I say my name makes me sound pretty smart too LOL

[Tad]

hmmm... I talked to my buddy and he said he didn't get called for 4 months, and then had another 5 month wait.


I hate when they don't call you to at least let you know they got your referal.

How many weeks did you wait before they called to set up your appointment?

[Tom]

Well I went to the doctor in September to get myself referred and then nothing happened. I didn't get any phone calls or notifications. And then just this last Thursday they called and had an appointment ready for me for Friday morning. It was very random and rather sudden. But they've been ridiculously busy, like intensely...especially since Dr. Warneke has two separate clinics. But he is training like two or three more and they're really good so hopefully that'll help. I hope you don't have to wait too long. XP

[Tad]

crap.. Hopefully I get more then a day's notice. I have a 5 hour drive to do. I got reffered in Oct.. so hopefully i'll come up soon. I dont' really want to wait the standard 6 to 8 months.

[Tom]

Yeah no kidding, I understand that one. XP Well I'm sure you won't have to. It's seems a lot of us are told that but it ends up sooner than that.

[Tad]

Were you already living full time/ doing counselling when you went in? Or is that something you're just starting now?

I'm hoping to get a leg up on meeting requirements since I've been able to live full time for a while now, had transcripts changed  to male and change my 'legal' name on school documents despite not having it legally changed, starting trans therapy etc. etc. (Done this without my carry letter or whatever they call it )

Been being pretty proactive. I hope to minimize the amounts of trips I have to make to see Warnecke.

[Tom]

Well I've been living as full time for a few months now before I saw him. And now it will be completely, like change in ID and name legally. As soon as I can anyways. Well, you have to see Warneke once a month regardless of the circumstances, simply to keep up on your "real life experience". XP

[Tad]

Did they leave you a message when they called.. or did they get a hold of you? O_o. I'm guessing if they don't get ahold of you to fill up those next day appointments they just put your file aside and move on to the next person.

*keeps phone on me constantly*

[Lee]

Congrats man!  I'm looking forward to seeing your future pics.

[Tom]

Lee: Thank you! ^^

Tad: Um they left a message and it was fine. I think it's just if you say you can't make it or you don't go, you're dropped to the bottom of the waiting list. But you should be fine.

[Tad]

Gah one more question for you. Got an email from my physicians office.. telling me that I should call in and make sure they got my referal, and asking to be put on a cancellation list..

Do you happen to know if when you were reffered, that you/your refferal specifically asked to be on a cancellation list? Or is that just something standard for everyone.

[Tom]

I'm sorry but I have no answers. I have no idea when I was referred and there was nothing said to me about a list or anything. I didn't get a phone call at all until the day before the appointment...when the appointment was made. XP I wish I could be more helpful.

[Tad]

I got my appointment.. December 9th. If you don't mind me asking.. what was the cost on your initial appointment/

[Tom]

Haha oh my lateness, sorry for the late reply bud. Um I didn't pay a thing for it to be frank. XP

[Tad]

issit covered under alberta health care? I was under the impression that psychiatrists were not covered.