I got my script, as I mentioned in my other thread. I went to 5 different pharmacy's who all didn't have it, and one who said it's marked on their systems as discontinued.
One pharmacy tried to ring the company to check, and nobody picked up after trying a few times. I left the script with them and they said they would try to order it and give me a call as soon as they knew what was happening.
After looking around google for a while it seems that a lot of people have been having trouble getting it for quite some time, and some have been told that's it's discontinued.
I just don't understand...why are the gender clinics and GP's still recommending it...shouldn't they be in the know about whether it's still available or not?
I was also told by my gender therapist that other forms of T are available - BUT technically, they aren't "official" treatments for transsexuals, which means inexperienced GP's (such as mine) are often unwilling to prescribe it.
At this point I'm not even angry or upset, it's just like...well I'm not surprised xD yet another setback
As you know, I haven't been able to get hold of it for about 9 months. I first heard of supply issues almost a year ago. The company who produce it have it listed under "currently experiencing manufacturing shortages" and NOT under "discontinued products" - that's the bit of hope I'm holding onto right now.
I'm starting to think that because they also produce Nebido, which is more expensive, that they are trying to force everyone to switch onto that.
As you say though, no other treatment besides Sustanon is licensed for ftm treatment and therefore a GP can refuse to prescribe. My experience has been that if your GP has a recommendation letter from the gender clinic for an alternative form of testosterone, they should prescribe it. If not, look for another GP as they will more than likely cause you further problems with blood tests, if you want to pursue surgeries or to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. You will more than likely have to ask your gender clinic to write you a recommendation letter for an alternative and wait to see what the GP says.
Good luck and try not to let it get you down as it will be worth it.
That does make sense, I didn't realise they also produced Nebido, definitely makes me think something fishy is going on ::) there is clearly a demand for sustanon, so there should be no reason to stop making it.
I really hope my GP is willing to prescribe something else, I don't have another gender clinic appointment for months and months....to get this close and then be denied is so disheartening
I left him a message with the receptionist so I'm once again waiting by the phone to see what happens
I had problems getting Nebido once in a while,
I dont know if its connected to this or not?
But somethimes people also had made up lies, that they didnt have it simple because it was the most easy way to refuse me. Kind of hard to prove after all..
When I had the same issue I called the gender clinic and they wrote again with a replacement, which the GP ignored, then they faxed and then they called and gave him hell because he refused to prescribe anything other than tablets. I just kept calling my specialist and they sorted it out in the end.
Tay do you mind if I ask which Gender Clinic you're with?
I go to Charring Cross and every time I've tried to call them in the past nobody picks up....like I don't even get put on hold or anything, it just rings forever. So I assumed they had some sort of call screening system that only allowed recognised numbers through.
I'm at The Laurels, which was in Newton Abbott and is now in Exeter as I'm South West way, although I'm being discharged at my next appointment. I do extra stuff for my therapist like research surveys for her and I also wrote a couple of personal pieces about my transition for a book she was writing, so they do tend to help me out if I have issues.
Do Charing Cross have email? There isn't always someone at The Laurels (I think they're only open 3/4 days per week) so sometimes I purposely call out of hours to leave voicemail, or I email.
Hopefully you will hear from your GP tomorrow and all be be resolved. Fingers crossed.
:icon_chainsaw:
More hoops to jump through, sheesh. You must be going nuts right about now.
Why is Sustanon the only licenced treatment for FTMs? Is this specific to the UK? Because I've never heard of that here in Australia.
It's not approved for use in the US. We mostly use shots, and some gel, and newer, pellets. So if the docs say there isn't anything else to prescribe...point to all us hunky US and Australian guys! ;)
My GP prescribed me something else - woohoo! :) ....but none of the pharmacies could get that in stock either....awww :(
Soooo I've left another message with the GP
Still waiting....*sigh*
WTF??? Sorry, this is just mind-boggling. ???
I think at the moment the only available options are Nebido, Gel or possibly implants (although I haven't heard from anyone in the UK using implants).
Like Kreuzfidel, I've never heard of it here in Aus. I'm on quarterly Reandron injections, and I've never had trouble getting hold of them from any pharmacy I go to.
I'm convinced it's me :P life hates me, nothing is ever simple
I'm hoping I don't have to go on Nebido because that will mean a trip back to the gender clinic, which will mean a much longer waiting time
Did your gp prescribe testosterone ethanate? I've been on that since not being able to get Sustanon and never had trouble getting it.
I'm not able to get hold of enanthate. Which pharmacy do you use Nathan?
Hang on, ethanate.... Not enanthate?
I've never heard about what you are mentioninfg either. However I'm in the U.S. However, in the U.S. dcotors are allowed to prescribe meds that are "off label", it mean that the drug is effect for the condition it is being prescribed for but the FDA and just not approved that for the use. Drug companies can only spend so much time and money getting things tested for approval, It does not mean the drug is bad or will not work. Fo rexample, 90% of bipolar medication currently prescribed is not approved for the disease. But it is effective and there is research supporting its use.
Get a hold of some evidence based practice (EBP) lit on t and bring it to your GP and state that you want this form of T.
At least, that would work in the U.S. it should work there, T is cheap.
It wasn't Enanthate no, I assumed it would be...it was something unpronounceable and unspellable xD beginning with a U I think
Quote from: Tay on August 07, 2012, 05:23:10 PM
I'm not able to get hold of enanthate. Which pharmacy do you use Nathan?
Hang on, ethanate.... Not enanthate?
It's enanthate.
Ethanate is just a fairly common misspelling.
Jeatyn - Undecanoate? That's Nebido.
It is ridiculous though. I don't know what they expect us to do with no Sustanon and no Enanthate, besides slather ourselves in gel every day.
aye that's the one! didn't realise that was nebido....I was under the impression that nebido was the trump card that would definitely be available :-\ oh dear
I have been back and forth between the doctors and the pharmacy like 100 times and the doctor finally decided it would be easier to go see the pharmacist himself and have a look at what's available.
Apparently Nebido is the only one available, the prescription I got before was for a non-branded version of the same compound as nebido...but nebido itself is available.
I was afraid of this :-\ nebido is a little more complicated and my GP isn't too comfortable with it so I have an appointment on Monday to discuss what's going to happen. I fear I will have to go back to the gender clinic.
In the long run though I would be happier on Nebido, much less hassle if I only have to get it injected a few times a year. Silver lining and all that *trying not to let the situation get to me*
Quote from: Jeatyn on August 10, 2012, 08:55:56 AM
I have been back and forth between the doctors and the pharmacy like 100 times and the doctor finally decided it would be easier to go see the pharmacist himself and have a look at what's available.
Good heavens, a sensible solution. Who woulda thunk it.
The end--or, rather, the beginning--is in sight. Just hang in there.
yeeeah he wants me to go back to the clinic and has sent off a letter
It'll be months before I get an appointment
No positive spin to put on this, it sucks, and I'm devastated
I don't know whether you'd want to go on to gel but I've seen someone in on tumblr go on testogel recently in the UK so it's obvious that they can get hold of that so it could be a possibility. I don't know how interested/possible it would be to go on testogel, or if you could use it as an interim method until sustanon becomes available again or you get put onto nebido. Just a thought.
I asked about gel but my GP doesn't want to touch anything not plainly written in his rule book. He also isn't interested in any of the advice or printouts I have provided on how to administer and monitor nebido....he wants to have it in writing from a professional. I find it ridiculous that a doctor can't take his own initiative and do his own research and needs to have somebody hold his hand.
I'm sorta considering ringing round some other GP's in the area (not that there's a lot) and seeing if any of them are familiar with trans-patients....I really don't think I have the energy to deal with the embarrassment of explaining the situation to a whole bunch of new strangers though.
I'm just so tired of roadblocks, so very...very tired
Is there another GP at the practice you go to? That way they'll have easy total access to your notes and whatever and might even know a little about you from other things you might of been in for. I know there's some GPs around here that I wouldn't go to for even a cold, they'd probably tell me to improve the feng shui in my room or something ridiculous like that.
I've been following your topics on your quest to get started on T for a while Jeatyn and I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you've been running into these setbacks. I don't know what you could do to stop from having to wait even more months to get started, but I have an idea that may or may not work. Your doctor says he is not willing to use alternative forms of T without it being in writing from a professional. Is there any way you could perhaps contact a doctor that you know prescribes that form of T and ask him if he would be able to send a letter to your doctor stating that it is an effective means of treating you?
I have no idea if that is possible, but it makes me feel awful to not have a solution so I'm pulling at anything I can think of.
This must be a UK/Europe thing... I'm in the US and have never been prescribed anything but Cypionate (injectable). Do they not prescribe that on your side of the ocean?
What about oral tablets until you can get on the nebido? From what I know they should be readily available, as they're used for guys who have a testosterone deficiency.
My doctor was able to prescribe me andriol testocaps with no previous experience with trans guys, and they're good for putting your doc at ease because they're super temporary; should something go wrong (what could?) then it's simple to stop them immediately.
I've seen every GP at the practice I'm currently at and the one I'm using now is the only one who was willing to help me out, the rest wouldn't touch it with a bargepole because they're inexperienced.
I've never heard of Cypionate, maybe it's called something different here?
The only doctor I know of who can provide the professional recommendation is the Gender clinic doctor, that's why I have been wondering about ringing round some other practices to see if any of them have experience.
I'll have to ask about the tablets, I'm already on e-blocking pills which were supposed to be a temporary solution before getting T and I've gone over the recommended maximum time to take them already...but I will definitely ask anyway.
The real kick in the nads here is that there was a GP who treated trans-patients at my practice but he retired like a week before I signed up ::)
If its any use when i couldn't get either sustanon or the enantate on prescription my gp was happy to just accept a letter from the gender clinic switching me to Nebido. So a phone call to clinic later and a letter was winging its way to my gp with all the recommendations. But i had discussed Nebido with the psychiatrist before so he knew i knew all the side effects etc.
So all of today I have been hitting redial constantly for the gender clinic and I FINALLY got through, when it actually rang instead of beeping at me I nearly fell off my chair. I have heard that beeping for so long I was convinced it was broken xD
The lovely receptionist fired off an email to their nurse while I was on the phone asking her to ring my GP/send him an email explaining how to administer nebido. He said if I haven't heard from my GP before monday then ring him back and he will get on the phone for me ;D
I don't have to go back to the clinic woohoo! Shouldn't be too long now, I hope
Quote from: MadHatter on August 21, 2012, 08:49:59 AM
how hard can it be to get it?
I'm friends with a few bodybuilders and they seem to be able to get it for their cycles just fine ???
I know, right?
I would never buy from anywhere other than a licensed pharmacy that requires a prescription but I have seen what's out there and it makes me wonder what exactly they're selling if proper pharmacys can't get it in stock. Where the hell are they getting it from?
So I went to the pharmacy today and two lots of undecanoate were waiting there for me.
I hightailed it to the doctors "I've got a golden ticket" style all excited to make a nurses appointment to get it administered....and was told....yeeaaah they aren't gonna do that.
I argued with the receptionist for a good half an hour begging her to let me to talk to a nurse or a doctor but nope, the best she could offer me was an appointment in a week with a totally different doctor I've never seen before to "discuss my options"
erm what options? I already know my options thanks, I have the T RIGHT HERE IN MY HAND, please for the love of god, just inject me with it.
I think it may be time to change GP's.
To me they are clearly stalling because they aren't comfortable with the idea. What is there to discuss, you wrote me a prescription, I have the prescription, all you need to do is stick it in me and I'll be on my merry way for a few months until the next shot.
I seriously don't know what to do. What if I change GP's...go through the mess of having all the new patient checkups and having my records moved only to find that they won't do it either.
I have no idea why they won't administer the injection for you, that's very strange because your prescription comes from the doctor there. Can you ask for an appointment or better, a phone "call back" from the doctor who did the prescription and ask why they won't do the injection?
I have had many, many, many issues with two different GP practices but have never had them refuse an injection appointment. It's not in their best interests to refuse to inject you because logic says you might try to do it yourself (I really don't recommend that).
Sorry I've been MIA Jeatyn for the past couple of weeks, I had my hysto on the 16th.
Don't apologise, I hope you're recovering well! ^_^
I now have to wait it out over the weekend but I'm definitely calling first thing monday and making a nurses appointment anyway, I'll just take it in with me and be like "yeah need this injecting please" and hope for the best. It doesn't make any sense to me either that they would prescribe something and then refuse to administer it...did they just assume it would never get filled because of the manufacturing issues?
It's beyond frustrating...it's right here...staring at me.
Boy, this is beyond stupid. Maybe they did think you would never be able to get any, but that just doesn't sound professional. It's gotta be something else...
Or maybe they really ARE that devious.
You have a legit scrip. The nurse should be able to administer. And should be willing to. But your whole experience has been like a Twilight Zone episode, so I wouldn't bet money on any sensible scenario.
aaah to be young and naive and thinking I'd be on T within weeks of coming out to my doctor....those were the days...if only I'd knew xD
I dread to think what my battle for surgery is going to be like if I have to jump through this many hoops for T
I have heard that some areas are much better than others. Maybe you can move to one of them soon, before you start lining up top surgery? Or are you pretty well dug in?
Jeatyn - you will get there and it will be worth it. Always keep that in mind.
I had to fight really hard for top surgery too as the doctor at the gender clinic was adamant that I be on T for two years before I had surgery. He relented after I stated that this was ridiculous as I'd had 15 months RLE and therapy before he eventually prescribed T. He then wrote a letter referring me for vaginoplasty??! I was beyond belief at him, as if I'd want two vaginas... He just seemed purposely obstructive and this was at the GIC. I managed to get him relieved of his job at the clinic after showing he couldn't differentiate between FTM and MTF and now have a much better doctor but it's still 5 years in September since I came out to my GP and asked for a referral. I'm due to be discharged from the GIC in November as I feel that I've done as much as I need to do.
So have faith and stick with it because once the ball is rolling, it becomes much easier. The first injection of T becomes one week on T, becomes one month, one year etc etc The hardest bit is proving to everyone that this is what needs to happen. Once they're on board it becomes much easier. For most GPs, you might be their first trans patient and they probably are just not sure what to do. Unfortunately you'll just have to show them.
It's not just me then, it's been around 4 years since I first came out to a doctor and started my RLE. I have another appointment in a month at the GIC and I'm not too sure what the appointment is for. I can't imagine they'll want to discuss surgery with me so soon, so I'm a little confused about the point of it all when it costs me £100's of pounds to get all the way down there on the train.
Arch I definitely live in a rubbish area for trans-issues. It's the kind of place where the whole neighbourhood gossips if somebody of a different skin colour moves in xD I only live here because it's where my older sister is and she's brilliant for babysitting - also house prices are disgustingly cheap here, so it's a good place to get your foot on the property ladder. I'll probably end up going private for surgery if it turns out to be as much of a hassle as getting T. I'd be happy to get into a little bit of loan debt just to get it over with.
Went to see the nurse, she refused to administer the Nebido, has made me an appointment tomorrow with the head nurse to see what she thinks. They all keep saying the same thing "oh I don't want to just give it to you, I feel like somebody needs to be monitoring you when you're on it" uuuh...yeah? One of you guys has to do it, somebody is gonna have to stop being such a baby and take some damn responsibility. Do they expect me to do my own blood tests or what?
This is getting RIDICULOUS.
Tomorrow is their last chance before I start complaints procedures.
QuoteI feel like somebody needs to be monitoring you when you're on it
Um...isn't this why we get legit scrips instead of street drugs, and why we have doctors keep track of us periodically? Fer fook's sake.
Bang.
Head.
On.
Desk.
Quote from: Arch on September 03, 2012, 03:38:27 PM
Um...isn't this why we get legit scrips instead of street drugs, and why we have doctors keep track of us periodically? Fer fook's sake.
Bang.
Head.
On.
Desk.
If you're an ftm then yeah I would advise against it. If you're an mtf who's under 20, time is of the essence and you gotta do what you gotta do.
I would really rather not for obvious reasons, but yeah basically if tomorrow doesn't go well I'm probably gonna do what I gotta do, hopefully it will give them a kick up the arse
Good luck, be careful.
Explain to them that between your GP and the gender clinic, you will be monitored and that it's all under control.
If they refuse to inject I would refuse to leave until someone spoke to the prescribing doctor about what they think should happen with the medicine they prescribed, or demand the Practice Manager.
Quote from: Jeatyn on August 31, 2012, 01:17:39 PM
I dread to think what my battle for surgery is going to be like if I have to jump through this many hoops for T
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it will be easy for you. :) Generally speaking any surgeon you go to will have trans experience, and if you're already on T that will be proof enough for most, and the rest will just require a note. It took me two years to get approval for T with a whole bunch of back-stabbing and gatekeeping therapists, and only six months to get from my first consultation to surgery. So chin up. :)
As to them dicking you around so much, it sounds absolutely ridiculous! I would have gone into some kind of rage by now for sure; at the very least the way they're treating you is unbelievably unprofessional.
My doctor was worried the nurses at her practice might not understand why they were injecting me (an unfounded worry, as they're all absolute gems there), so she told me to schedule my first shot for a day when she was working so that she could reassure them if needed. Worse comes to worst see if your doctor will do the same.
I just had my first shot!!!! ;D ;D
The head nurse apparently had a go at the nurse yesterday who refused to do it. "it's only an injection, it's not hard! sorry about that!"
I don't think it's quite sunk in yet, I expected to have to kick up a big fuss today and make a scene but it's all good! I'm officially started! Woohoo!
Congratulations! :D Nothing can be as hard as waiting for that now!
At last. Congratulations Jeatyn, it's all worth it now.
Congrats! That's awesome news dude! :D
Fantastic! After all this time, an anticlimax. You're all rarin' to argue, and you didn't need to. This must be a first.
Quote from: SilentOwls on September 03, 2012, 03:41:43 PM
If you're an ftm then yeah I would advise against it.
I have to say that this really confused me. You would advise against getting a prescription under a doctor's supervision?? That's gotta be a misread, but it did make me chuckle after my brow unfurrowed a bit. :laugh:
Quote from: Arch on September 04, 2012, 09:20:04 PM
Fantastic! After all this time, an anticlimax. You're all rarin' to argue, and you didn't need to. This must be a first.
I have to say that this really confused me. You would advise against getting a prescription under a doctor's supervision?? That's gotta be a misread, but it did make me chuckle after my brow unfurrowed a bit. :laugh:
LOL. Sorry for that, I just meant I think T has more potential side-effects than E. Also, if you're female-bodied once you're past around a certain age you don't really become "more" female, whereas an mtf can bald later on and become broader, etc...
Quote from: Jeatyn on September 04, 2012, 07:27:27 AM
I just had my first shot!!!! ;D ;D
The head nurse apparently had a go at the nurse yesterday who refused to do it. "it's only an injection, it's not hard! sorry about that!"
I don't think it's quite sunk in yet, I expected to have to kick up a big fuss today and make a scene but it's all good! I'm officially started! Woohoo!
Congrats :D
Thanks for putting up with all my whining this whole time guys :P I can finally begin the rest of my life! Need to get me one of those ticker thingys some of you have.
Not to derail, but that's a really nice avatar, Ave. Is it you?
There once was a trans guy named Jeatyn;
The clinics he was truly hatin'.
He said, "Listen to me;
I must have my T.
You don't know what hell it is, waitin'."
Quote from: Arch on September 07, 2012, 08:08:08 PM
Not to derail, but that's a really nice avatar, Ave. Is it you?
There once was a trans guy named Jeatyn;
The clinics he was truly hatin'.
He said, "Listen to me;
I must have my T.
You don't know what hell it is, waitin'."
No, but I'm just as malnourished and gender confused :p
Quote from: Ave on September 07, 2012, 08:18:24 PM
No, but I'm just as malnourished and gender confused :p
I like the short hair and the borderline emo look.
Love the poem :D
I still can't quite believe I'm actually ON T
Nothing feels different yet :P not that I expected it to after 4 days but I know what I mean
Give it another week or two; I know I was on a different type of T, but I started to feel/see the difference after about 2 weeks.
Oh, and btw... you do continue to feminize until 35 or so, as far as I'm aware... I've had the misfortune of being off T for the past almost year, just turned 30, and can see the feminization occurring. Certainly, some of that is due to my body reverting from being off T, but there are various rounds of feminization in a genetically female body. I'd advise anyone who gets on T in the first place not to get off it again if you can avoid it.
Luc
only two weeks? :O
All the leaflets I was given say I might start to notice changes between 3-6 months
I am so excited for my voice to start dropping
Well, it depends on a lot of factors, obviously. Your dose, how your body reacts, and what types of changes you are talking about.
I am so happy for you dude! :D
Nice one! Its about time things went your way again.
Thank you guys ^_^
I think the change I'm mostly looking out for is my voice dropping. From my understanding this is what I will notice first. I know other changes like facial hair and muscle mass increase tend to take a lot longer.
Quote from: Jeatyn on September 13, 2012, 09:46:06 AM
I think the change I'm mostly looking out for is my voice dropping. From my understanding this is what I will notice first. I know other changes like facial hair and muscle mass increase tend to take a lot longer.
Remember: everyone is different, so that may not hold true for you.
But when your voice drops, it'll certainly help quite a bit with passing issues, so it is definitely something to look forward to nonetheless.
:)