Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I am so happydancing right now. I went out for my 5 mile run/walk, got home, checked the mail and there it was.  :icon_joy:

I almost started crying at the mailbox when I saw the envelope.  ;D ;D ;D

Congrats on receiving your letter!!!!! May I ask what your letter was for?

Congratulations!  It's such a wonderful feeling isn't it?  :)

You go GIRL!  A significant milestone on the way to being more  the real you than ever.  Joining your dance line....

YES!
;D

-Jade
:-*

Woot! Congrats!

Now buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Quote from: JenniR04 on February 02, 2015, 01:25:43 PM
Congrats on receiving your letter!!!!! May I ask what your letter was for?

I'm sorry, I thought I added "HRT" in the tag section of the post.  ::)

And thank you all. It's a great feeling. :D

Its a start of a new future :) congrats xo

Outstanding! Great to hear :)

Quote from: Jessika on February 02, 2015, 04:21:15 PM
I'm sorry, I thought I added "HRT" in the tag section of the post.  ::)

And thank you all. It's a great feeling. :D

Jessika, thank you for clarifying and a very big congrats and hugs to you! Also to add, I just seen my therapist tonight and received my HRT referral letter as well. My doctors appt is booked for next Tuesday morning. Best of luck to you and we'll have to keep each other update to date on our progresses as we transition together!

Great news Jessika... Now enjoy the feeling of wellbeing and watching the magic happen  8)

L Katy  :-*

Quote from: JenniR04 on February 02, 2015, 10:22:25 PM
Jessika, thank you for clarifying and a very big congrats and hugs to you! Also to add, I just seen my therapist tonight and received my HRT referral letter as well. My doctors appt is booked for next Tuesday morning. Best of luck to you and we'll have to keep each other update to date on our progresses as we transition together!

Thank you.
I don't have an Endo yet but have one in mind. I get to see my new Primary Care Doctor on the 6th, with letter in hand.  ;D
I want to see if VA (Veterans Affairs) will use a specific Endo and then make that appointment or use the one I have been in contact with.

But yes, I look forward to sharing my experience.  :)

I also got a referral letter today, not for an endo but for a psychiatrist that can prescribe HRT.  The waiting list is 6 months though !

I am still stoked I got the letter.

You must be sooo happy!

:D

Quote from: Joanne Feliz on February 05, 2015, 04:36:33 AM
I also got a referral letter today, not for an endo but for a psychiatrist that can prescribe HRT.  The waiting list is 6 months though !

I am still stoked I got the letter.

You must be sooo happy!

:D

Grats also and thank you very much.  ;D

May I ask why the 6 month wait thou? Is the letter to a specific doctor?

Mine is a General letter. To Whom It May Concern is the heading.
This way I can take it to whoever needs to know. I made 5 color copies for now. (Sure I will need more)

It's a full page and when you read the part about the HRT and SRS recommendations it is in quotes(Yes, Doctors quote to emphasize their diagnosis). My Psychiatrists (Medical Director M.D.) evaluation was also on the Letter. So two Docs in one Letter is great.  :)

Also, many places will not except the Letter unless it is signed in Docs Ink. I guess it has to be Authentic.

I see my Primary Doc tomorrow and can't wait to bring her a copy of my Letter "for the record".  :D

Time for us start baking more cookies!! They should be ready when you take the first pill!!!!  :icon_woowoo: :icon_joy:

Float on over to the phone book and get you an Endo girl!

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on February 05, 2015, 11:19:11 AM
Time for us start baking more cookies!! They should be ready when you take the first pill!!!!  :icon_woowoo: :icon_joy:

Float on over to the phone book and get you an Endo girl!

Yep.
Tomorrow is the day I find out who my Endo will be.  ;D

I'm doing the happy dance today too because I got approved for top surgery. I was very lucky with location and timing and I quickly got an appointment with the therapist who approves all the SRS surgeries in BC. She told me pretty quickly that she'd refer me for surgery but it wasn't until the end of our second appointment today that I realized she meant that I was actually going to get my surgery funded by the provincial medical plan. I cried a little from relief and happiness. I thought it was going to be so much harder.

I'm just amazed how people do things in the medical field.
I went to see my VA Doctor today, brought her a copy of my HRT Letter, talked a bit.

She put an order in for me to see an Endo for consultation, 2 hrs away. I asked her why and she told me that is the main city (Headquarters) that VA deals out of. I asked her what time frame I should call if I don't hear anything. She told me in a Month. REALLY?? :(

And...If they are full or booked , THEN I would be able to see an Endo in town once VA requests it.  :'(

Congratulations.

Quote from: Jessika on February 06, 2015, 03:31:38 PM
I'm just amazed how people do things in the medical field.
I went to see my VA Doctor today, brought her a copy of my HRT Letter, talked a bit.

She put an order in for me to see an Endo for consultation, 2 hrs away. I asked her why and she told me that is the main city (Headquarters) that VA deals out of. I asked her what time frame I should call if I don't hear anything. She told me in a Month. REALLY?? :(

And...If they are full or booked , THEN I would be able to see an Endo in town once VA requests it.  :'(

You obviously know how cumbersome and slow the VA system can be and it is a testament and challenge to your commitment to transition.  I worked for the big VA in Minneapolis and could only do it for a year as it was too much like the army i loathed.  There are patient representatives and ombudsmen dedicated to hearing complaints and facilitating your care.  I encourage you to be persistent with them.  You are so with it!

Jessika, there are family practice doctors who work with transgender folks, and will prescribe the hormones directly.

Is it possible there is someone like that near you?

Quote from: newgrrrl on February 07, 2015, 01:21:24 PM
Jessika, there are family practice doctors who work with transgender folks, and will prescribe the hormones directly.

Is it possible there is someone like that near you?

I'm sure there are many, but I am using the VA for military benefits. I would love to use a Family Practice but not sure if Insurance would cover it. Also, what do you mean by "directly"?
I will make sure I am monitored by an Endo and do all the Bloodwork ect as required too. :)

I think she means informed consent. My old GP said he would have prescribed it if I wanted to but he did monitor some light self medding I was doing.

A doctor with a DEA license can prescribe practically anything they want (with some limits) and hormones are not controlled narcotics like say Vicodin or similar. However, it's better to be under the care of someone who understands transgender care or at least hormone replacement therapy.

A month seems about standard. Not sure about the VA but I had to wait for a month for an appointment at Beth Israel in NY. Callen-Lorde is running 2 months and change now. So yea there is high demand.

You really don't need to see an endocrinologist. You can use a regular family doctor who is willing to prescribe. They will monitor your levels and standard stuff including glucose, lipids (cholesterol), liver and kidney function. They'll also take your blood pressure. All of this is basic medicine that is routinely practiced.