Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm thinking of booking SRS w/ a Thai surgeon (likely Chettawut) for around the end of March 2013. Depending on how one counts RLE, my 1yr began in early March, or as late as late April 2012. How strict will Thai surgeons adhere to the 1yr RLE requirement; for example, suppose that my psychologist writes a letter saying that I've had 10months of RLE but that he recommends surgery anyway?

Thanks!

It would probably be fine. You could always ask before you book your surgery. I didn't need any letter of recommendation when I had srs with Suporn, but that was because I had had ffs with him just over a year before.

the rle is bs.

From a thread I started a little while back:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,124938.msg980484.html#msg980484 (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,124938.msg980484.html#msg980484)

I'm writing this to offer support for those people who do not fit into neat categories, or those who do not prefer to wear makeup, or those who prefer not to have their marriage annulled by a legal gender change, or those who for safety reasons are unable to live full time as an unpassable woman. In short, you don't have to, and you can still get the blessed surgical relief the rest of us have (hopefully) enjoyed.

Sorry, don't mean to be categorical, but this is a big pet peeve of mine. As someone who knew what gender I was (NoT the one into which I was born), I resented any directives that placed my gender future in the terms of whether I changed my name or wore a skirt or told people what my gender was. Although I identify as a female, I am more androgynous in appearance. I never liked feminine clothes, although all of my clothes are bought from the female racks. I never liked makeup, but then again, neither does my cisfemale wife, who has supported me through my transition in more ways than I could say. Plus I live in eastern Europe, where very simply put if you cannot pass 100% of the time, you will eventually be physically put to grave danger. I am okay regarding passing, but not 100%. That is not acceptable for me or for my wife. Who, incidentally, would be deported if I changed my passport to F because same-sex marriage is illegal in my homophobic country, and she is an immigrant.

In short, for anyone who knows what they want / need but feel the RLE requirement will significantly ruin / damage their lives, they can be excused by an empathetic psychologist / surgeon. My US psychologist and my being 12 days post-op by Dr Suporn of Thailand can attest to that.

RLE, while trying to minimize the risk of regret for us, fails to understand that for most of us, we've had 20, 30, 40, 50+ years to digest, absorb and understand who we are. They are flexible enough to allow that you might also at this point know how you wish to present yourself to the world. Thank god.

My understanding of exceptions like the one possibly made for you is that one need not undergo a year of RLE *only if* doing so would put one in real danger.

That doesn't apply to me.

Elsewhere, I've raised the point that determining the beginning of one's RLE is often arbitrary. That's not my focus here, however.

But it wasn't just danger, and many psychologists are realizing the rules are flexible. I've had my RLE for 30 years, thanks very much; whether any of that was in a skirt or not is not anyone's business, and my surgery to correct a recognized disorder shall not be determined by my fashion sense or lack thereof. :)

Incidentally, Dr Suporn may be a little more flexible than most. He certainly impressed me and my wife this past august while we were with him for my srs. Amazing organization, awesome result. Good luck!

9 / 10 you be just fine.

I was in a similar situation like yours and also about +/- 10 month, got my letter after ~ 9 month.

The 'letter' will be VERY important (my experience) then you'll very probably see one of their own physiatrists just to make sure you not some nut that slipped through the net...

Your own presentation will be important, again my experience.

I'm sure you'd be fine short of rocking up locking like "Paul Bunyan"...  :P

Axx

I just got back from bangkok (AVOID PICHET) and i can tell from personal experience i showed him my letter and he barlley glanced at it. He just said if i didnt have it then i have to pay 3000baht(about $90) to see his "Therpist". What you are paying for SRS is over 5 years pay for a descent hard working person over their. When i was first getting ready to go i told a budget of $5 a day for food(ALL THREE MEALS). I thought this was absurd. But from any street vendor you can get two spicy hots dogs(10baht,a pepsi in a bag(17 baht),and chips(5 baht)) Total of 32Baht per meal. 34 baht is a dollar

Quote from: mandyh92 on September 05, 2012, 04:10:37 PM
I just got back from bangkok (AVOID PICHET) and i can tell from personal experience i showed him my letter and he barlley glanced at it. He just said if i didnt have it then i have to pay 3000baht(about $90) to see his "Therpist". What you are paying for SRS is over 5 years pay for a descent hard working person over their. When i was first getting ready to go i told a budget of $5 a day for food(ALL THREE MEALS). I thought this was absurd. But from any street vendor you can get two spicy hots dogs(10baht,a pepsi in a bag(17 baht),and chips(5 baht)) Total of 32Baht per meal. 34 baht is a dollar

SRS aside, Thailand sounds lovely!

And cheap

Quote from: mandyh92 on September 05, 2012, 04:10:37 PM
I just got back from bangkok (AVOID PICHET) and i can tell from personal experience i showed him my letter and he barlley glanced at it. He just said if i didnt have it then i have to pay 3000baht(about $90) to see his "Therpist". What you are paying for SRS is over 5 years pay for a descent hard working person over their. When i was first getting ready to go i told a budget of $5 a day for food(ALL THREE MEALS). I thought this was absurd. But from any street vendor you can get two spicy hots dogs(10baht,a pepsi in a bag(17 baht),and chips(5 baht)) Total of 32Baht per meal. 34 baht is a dollar

Thanks. :) I see a therapist (M.Sw) regularly because I simply like speaking to her, and she's definitely happy to write the first letter, and she's looking into PhD colleagues to write the second letter. I've seen a psychologist for a few months, and I expect that he'd write me a letter if I asked. My concern was more on the Thai side, since it would be a hell of a thing to book the surgery and them not accept the letters.

I don't know about dr chet, but my doc in thailand basically asked me to email the psych letter for preapproval so I could book and fly in safety. Maybe you can ask dr chet if your psych letter is enough. I guarantee one letter will be enough, so try emailing that for approval. Then bring the signed original with you on the day.

They wrote back saying that 10 months would be fine. ^_^ And the March 30th date that I want is available.

See! :)

Very good, I hope things will work out good for you  :laugh:

Axélle

my doctor friend just made it happen for me. no letter. he did all. FFS BA and SRS for me and pay. maybe u can go? no letter?

Quote from: Tristan on September 06, 2012, 07:57:21 AM
my doctor friend just made it happen for me. no letter. he did all. FFS BA and SRS for me and pay. maybe u can go? no letter?

Oh wow!!! what a PRETTY new avatar! Sexy!

Axxx

What exactly has to be in such a letter? Isn't it enough to just be legally female? After all, that's a good sign it isn't a mistake.
I do have letters. Several of them. Most of them have a lot of errors in my personal details (For a man trained to listen, he kindof got A LOT about my life wrong), and they are in german. Only one of them has the ICD code by the diagnosis, but it's already a quite old one. I also have a letter from my health insurance saying that SRS is medically necessary and that they'd pay for it (omitting the part that they only do it in germany), also in german.
I think the letters might be okay, although i don't know which one would be the best to take with me, and i don't know if it needs to be in english.

Each surgeon lists their requirements. Chettawut requires one letter by either a psychiatrist or psychologist (PhD), and therapists/counsellors/endocrinologists/physicians don't count. Suporn's site lists much more rigorous requirements.

Essentially, they're trying to adhere, or at least look like it, to WPATH's SoC.

Quote from: Tristan on September 06, 2012, 07:57:21 AM
my doctor friend just made it happen for me. no letter. he did all. FFS BA and SRS for me and pay. maybe u can go? no letter?

but didn't you say you may have thought it was all a mistake? Not a good precedent  :-\

its not good. but he did pay. he said it was the right thing to do because he say that im trans

Quote from: rachl on September 06, 2012, 12:24:24 PM
Each surgeon lists their requirements. Chettawut requires one letter by either a psychiatrist or psychologist (PhD), and therapists/counsellors/endocrinologists/physicians don't count. Suporn's site lists much more rigorous requirements.

Essentially, they're trying to adhere, or at least look like it, to WPATH's SoC.

I just left my nutz with Suporn last month. I'm telling you, one psych OR counselor letter, emailed ahead of time for preapproval, then the signed original brought in on the day. Boom. There was a house psychologist who asked some questions, but very standard stuff. I don't know if he would have been enough without my original letter.

Someone i know who had their SRS in Thailand told me most Doctors want you to see their psychologist as more of a protocol.
They said it didn't matter how many letters you had, you still need to see their psychologist to make sure you where aware and fully understood the surgery. They said it was just a formality.