Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've been waiting around when it came to actually going on hormones. The vast majority of the time I think hormones will help me, but there are doubts, there are moments where I wonder "is this right for me?" Being very low income and without insurance caused me to put it off, too. I started researching the places in my area that were good for people with low income, and used some sort of informed consent. I asked around trying to figure out which places provided the best services, what were people happy about with their experiences?

Today, I called one place on my list of three health centers. The person I spoke to was the head of the transgender program who explained what they do, how they work, costs, etc. Towards the end of the conversation I felt like this was where to go. I set up an appointment for intake for Thursday. I was shaking, breathing heavy, and my heart was racing in the minutes before I called. Afterward I started to cry because it's like...a huge relief. My heart is still beating pretty fast so I sang along to show tunes.

Wicked - Thank Goodness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ZobQ9Zz8o#)

Grrr....why is it showing up as a link and not video!?

Wow --- congrats!!!!  I am so impressed.  I personally am stuck & afraid of that first appointment too.  You give me hope that I can make the next step. 

I am set on getting my breast reduction surgery but hestiant on getting on hormones.

Congrats Nygeel, that's so awesome! :D

Congratulations Nygeel!

Quote from: Rob on September 27, 2010, 02:33:48 PM
Wow --- congrats!!!!  I am so impressed.  I personally am stuck & afraid of that first appointment too.  You give me hope that I can make the next step. 

I am set on getting my breast reduction surgery but hestiant on getting on hormones.

Took me 3 years...sorta. I've been thinking about it for over 3 years, living as male (as much as possible) for maybe 3.5 years. I just want to make the best decision for me and feel that T is the next significant step.

Congrats!  I hope it all goes well.   :)

Congrats Nygeel! It's great you got over the mental hurdle.

Quote from: Nygeel on September 27, 2010, 02:24:41 PM
I've been waiting around when it came to actually going on hormones. The vast majority of the time I think hormones will help me, but there are doubts, there are moments where I wonder "is this right for me?" Being very low income and without insurance caused me to put it off, too.

I had felt the same for a really long time. But now im sure its right for me.

And its weird too, im so set on top srugery but hormones were iffy.

No matter what you decide, making a decision is huge. YOU ROCK.

(And not to hijack, but...hi, James. I was just thinking about you a couple of days ago.)

Congrats!!! It took me about the same amount of time to make a solid decision re: HRT. Hang on to that feeling, you'll see - it keeps getting better too.   :)

Congrats man. Hope it all goes well for you.

Gratz man, I can't wait to start T either, although I still need to go through 2 more appointments before I can get approved and sent to an Endo.

~Zack

Congrats!

Congratulations!

Great song too. I went and saw Wicked in London on Thursday. It was the most mindblowingly incredible thing I've ever seen.

Thank you all!

Today was my intake where they figure out exactly what would be best for me. The people I met with said that I am ready, level headed, etc. I was given the first available appointment to see a doctor which will be on the 21st to get bloodwork done. I'll have another visit to go over the results and if everything is good with my labs theeeen I'll get a script for T.

Up until the time that I left the office I was doubtful, nervous, and unsure about if T is right for me. After leaving I was much happier, calmer, and knew it was right for me.

Congrats Nygeel

So if all goes well, are you looking at November?

Quote from: Arch on October 02, 2010, 01:10:28 AM
So if all goes well, are you looking at November?

Begining of November, I guess. Which is also great because I'm going to see Lady Gaga (AGAIN) in April (if all goes well). WHICH ALSO MEANS I'LL BE 5-6 MONTHS ON T BY THEN!!! And Imma be hella sexy...and possibly wear revealing clothing.

I can see you singing along, your voice cracking all over the place...

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Sounds like you found a great place, too. It's quite something to feel comfortable there, but for them to also be able to put you more at ease with the decision -- clearly a great place.

Congratulations!   You got an appointment there without a referral from your family doctor first?

All I've had the balls to do was ask my doctor about having bloodwork done to check to see if my hormone levels are normal for a female (baseline would be nice to know before doing anything else, since I don't even know if that's normal), and switch my curse-control pills to the progesterone only ones instead of the ones with estrogen too.  I giggled when I saw that one of the potential side effects (along with the expected "hirsuitism, acne, hair loss") was "breast shrinkage".  I so hope I get that one!

Quote from: Kareil on October 07, 2010, 04:15:01 PM
Congratulations!   You got an appointment there without a referral from your family doctor first?

All I've had the balls to do was ask my doctor about having bloodwork done to check to see if my hormone levels are normal for a female (baseline would be nice to know before doing anything else, since I don't even know if that's normal), and switch my curse-control pills to the progesterone only ones instead of the ones with estrogen too.  I giggled when I saw that one of the potential side effects (along with the expected "hirsuitism, acne, hair loss") was "breast shrinkage".  I so hope I get that one!

I don't have a family doctor or health insurance. There's a general health clinic that has a department for transgender care, including hormones, name change, etc. There's no real reason to get bloodwork to see what your hormone levels are unless there's something wrong (no point of paying extra for the tests).

UPDATE!

The last time I was there I specifically told them not to send mail to me due to my current living situation. I received mail Monday with the envelope saying this: Last name, First initial of legal name "preferred name." I freaked, almost had a panic attack, cried, etc for a good long while because of this. I called the next day and was told that they made a mistake but that now I won't be getting mail from them. Alright, that's cool...a bit calmer.
Sooo today was my follow up. I had a basic physical and pre-T blood work. Originally I was told that it would be about a month before I could go on T. It turns out I'll be waiting an additional month and a half (making it about 2 and a half months) before I can even DISCUSS the POSSIBILITY of going on T. My next appointment for results is in December.
While waiting to get my blood drawn I sat in a waiting area. I heard my birth name called, which I was told nobody in the office would call me. I figured that since my birth/legal name is fairly common that it must've been for somebody else. They called again...and again...and again for about 20 minutes. Eventually they called my preferred name which I responded to.

It does seem as if they are trying but all of the comfort I had at my first appointment is slowly vanishing.