Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Male to female transsexual talk (MTF) => Topic started by: Roz on January 23, 2018, 03:23:01 PM Return to Full Version
Title: "Success" Bridging Hormones
Post by: Roz on January 23, 2018, 03:23:01 PM
Post by: Roz on January 23, 2018, 03:23:01 PM
Hey i'm new to posting on here.. i've spent a lot of time going through posts regarding transitioning, but being quite a shy person and dyslexic i've not thrown my 2 cents in.
i've followed quite closely some of the posts regarding getting GP's to prescribe bridging hormones and as of today my GP has agreed to prescribe bridging hormones !!! heres how i did it...
After being on the waiting list for Leeds GIS since May 2017 by late summer i started researching private options for obtaining HRT before being seen by Leeds.. i got an appointment to see DR Christina Richards in Nottingham through Gender Care.. although not being a medical DR she can see people on a psychology basis and make a diagnosis and recommendation for her colleague DR Seal to prescribe Hormones.. to cut a long story short after getting my diagnosis from her and after delayed response from my GP sorting blood works i decided the whole thing was a bit of a scam.. ( i live in the lake district and work a quite intensive job so having to travel to london for follow up appointments frequently isnt really viable for me... i obviously would of done this if i hadnt found another way)
In November i had my first telephone consultation with Leeds GIS and after talks with one of there lovely team they advised me to talk to my GP regarding him initiating Hormones.. they were honest with me and told me i could be waiting at least another 6 months before being seen by them.. but they also emailed me some "helpful links" to forward to my GP.
The following week i booked an appointment to see him armed with the research i had done and the links i had been sent by Leeds.. i explained the whole situation and how he could help me.. not surprisingly he declined (i live in quite a rural location and most of the GP's have never dealt with trans individuals before), i argued my case and in the heat of getting upset i stumbled out the words "what if i was to self medicate?" .. now i definitely don't recommend you should morally use this method but i cant shake the feeling that this was when my GP knew he had to seek some advise.. by the end of the appointment he gave me the names of the senior physician and the practice business manager of my practice, he told me to write a letter to them regarding my case and if they would allow him to prescribe then he would.. so that night i got to work.
The letter ( probably full of incorrect punctuation and grammar just like this post ;D ) explained my current situation, basically i think if you can show them that you are dedicated with your transition then i cant see why they would refuse. i can completely see why GP's are daunted by having to learn this field but unfortunately for them the burdon of our underfunded NHS waiting times has been unfairly dropped into there hands .
after a month of waiting (patience isnt my thing :D ) i finally received a response.. it was very vague, but thanked me for my letter and agreed with many of my points raised.. it was basically acknowledging the grey areas of the system of what a GP can legally do.. the letter closed with a number for the clinical pharmacist who would "love to hear from me" to help review there new policies and procedures for transgendered patients.. when i called this lady she told me that she had been talking to leeds GIS and they were sending her information regarding hormones.. a few days later i had an appointment with my GP where he said that i was a "success" .. whatever that means?? :laugh: and he was currently formulating a care plan with Leeds GIS with a hormone regime :)
All in all its taken me 8 months to get here and i couldn't be happier today!! i've still got a hell of a long way to go on my journey but i feel like today is a big milestone for me.
I don't believe it was "pot luck" that i managed to get my prescription .. show them your dedicated , be pushy but polite, follow stuff up , do your research (even with big words like "Endocrinologist" that i wouldnt begin to try and spell without google ha ) and generally, don't be a dick. Our NHS do an amazing job of dealing with a ->-bleeped-<- work load.. spread a lil love and be positive.. you will get there :)
i've followed quite closely some of the posts regarding getting GP's to prescribe bridging hormones and as of today my GP has agreed to prescribe bridging hormones !!! heres how i did it...
After being on the waiting list for Leeds GIS since May 2017 by late summer i started researching private options for obtaining HRT before being seen by Leeds.. i got an appointment to see DR Christina Richards in Nottingham through Gender Care.. although not being a medical DR she can see people on a psychology basis and make a diagnosis and recommendation for her colleague DR Seal to prescribe Hormones.. to cut a long story short after getting my diagnosis from her and after delayed response from my GP sorting blood works i decided the whole thing was a bit of a scam.. ( i live in the lake district and work a quite intensive job so having to travel to london for follow up appointments frequently isnt really viable for me... i obviously would of done this if i hadnt found another way)
In November i had my first telephone consultation with Leeds GIS and after talks with one of there lovely team they advised me to talk to my GP regarding him initiating Hormones.. they were honest with me and told me i could be waiting at least another 6 months before being seen by them.. but they also emailed me some "helpful links" to forward to my GP.
The following week i booked an appointment to see him armed with the research i had done and the links i had been sent by Leeds.. i explained the whole situation and how he could help me.. not surprisingly he declined (i live in quite a rural location and most of the GP's have never dealt with trans individuals before), i argued my case and in the heat of getting upset i stumbled out the words "what if i was to self medicate?" .. now i definitely don't recommend you should morally use this method but i cant shake the feeling that this was when my GP knew he had to seek some advise.. by the end of the appointment he gave me the names of the senior physician and the practice business manager of my practice, he told me to write a letter to them regarding my case and if they would allow him to prescribe then he would.. so that night i got to work.
The letter ( probably full of incorrect punctuation and grammar just like this post ;D ) explained my current situation, basically i think if you can show them that you are dedicated with your transition then i cant see why they would refuse. i can completely see why GP's are daunted by having to learn this field but unfortunately for them the burdon of our underfunded NHS waiting times has been unfairly dropped into there hands .
after a month of waiting (patience isnt my thing :D ) i finally received a response.. it was very vague, but thanked me for my letter and agreed with many of my points raised.. it was basically acknowledging the grey areas of the system of what a GP can legally do.. the letter closed with a number for the clinical pharmacist who would "love to hear from me" to help review there new policies and procedures for transgendered patients.. when i called this lady she told me that she had been talking to leeds GIS and they were sending her information regarding hormones.. a few days later i had an appointment with my GP where he said that i was a "success" .. whatever that means?? :laugh: and he was currently formulating a care plan with Leeds GIS with a hormone regime :)
All in all its taken me 8 months to get here and i couldn't be happier today!! i've still got a hell of a long way to go on my journey but i feel like today is a big milestone for me.
I don't believe it was "pot luck" that i managed to get my prescription .. show them your dedicated , be pushy but polite, follow stuff up , do your research (even with big words like "Endocrinologist" that i wouldnt begin to try and spell without google ha ) and generally, don't be a dick. Our NHS do an amazing job of dealing with a ->-bleeped-<- work load.. spread a lil love and be positive.. you will get there :)
Title: Re: "Success" Bridging Hormones
Post by: Jessica on January 23, 2018, 03:30:22 PM
Post by: Jessica on January 23, 2018, 03:30:22 PM
Hi Roz 🙋♀️ Welcome to Susan's! I'm Jessica! This is a great milestone to achieve, I'm so happy for you. Please join in to a topic that sounds helpful. We all love that your here!
I see your new here, so I'll post some links that may help you get better acquainted with the site.
I see your new here, so I'll post some links that may help you get better acquainted with the site.
Things that you should read
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