Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all,

I've already posted on a few times about moving forward in the UK as a transgender, and have recently spoken to my GP about it - and she was pretty much useless! Supportive and nice, but no advice on where to go or what to do except a printed list of support groups from google that don't apply to me (The closest was for 13-25 transgenders. I'm 32. Why did I leave it so late...) I was sent away with a promise that I'd be contacted when the doctor found out more, but it took over a month and a half just to get the initial appointment. Plus she had no phone details to contact me with - I had to ask to find that out. I'm not hopeful. I'll keep pushing for help, but with Xmas and the huge waiting lists it's getting harder to put up with.

So are there any UK (Specifically Scottish) girls or boys out there who have been through the system? Is there a way to move things forward myself or should I start looking outside the NHS? I've only found two support clinics in Scotland at all and they charge about £200 per hour for a session - I simply cannot afford that right now, and I don't want counselling or therapy, I want to start on HRT. I assume the NHS will refer me to these places, but how long will that take? Am I just being impatient?

I don't know how it works in the UK, but in the states most places will require some kind of psychological evaluation. I doubt you'd get on HRT without seeing someone, if you go through insurance/health care.

I saw a doctor in at Fenway health last Thursday, who said that it's completely possible to be on HRT by the end of January. So, two months. Personally, I'd like to move that faster, but oh well.

Quotewho said that it's completely possible to be on HRT by the end of January

That's amazing. Was that the first doctor you saw?

I expect I'l have to talk to someone about this, the doctor mentioned that if I wanted NHS treatment I'd be expected to follow their planned path for care. It's only been four days since the appointment, but I've left this so long to make sure to myself this is what I wanted.

That's amazing for you, and if you get depressed with how long it's taking just remember us British girls dealing with the glacial NHS system :D

My gp gave me hormones. No therapy required. I'm in NZ and I think we have pretty similar "rules" to the UK, you just need to find a gender friendly Dr.. Sorry I can't be any more help.....good luck though :)

Isabelle, I wonder if NZ doctors have better training. Mine referred to the fact that she had no idea how HRT worked for men and suggested I may have to see an endocrinologist. I told her what I hoped for, HRT, as a first step but she shot that down. Maybe it is going to be about finding a GP who's dealt with this before.

I can assure you, our Drs aren't better trained lol. You just have tofind someone who uses the "informed consent" model. You'll need an endo to monitor your blood but, there's no reason why you can't start immediately and see the endo in a few months time.

Hi Sandra,

I'm not in Scotland, but in Wales, and this has, in the past been notorious for being pretty bad when providing support for trans people. Scotland may be better.

If you go down the NHS route, this is what you need to prepare yourself to do...

1, speak to your GP then another GP and possibly another GP to get a referral to the local mental health unit (MHU).
2, After a couple of months attend appointment with  local MHU so they can determine if you have gender dysphoria or you have some other underlying mental health issue, like, say, being clinically nuts... You will then be referred to a gender specialist in a gender clinic/MHU
3, In about 3 months time, attend appointment with your gender specialist who wil ask some difficult questions to try to 'weed out' those who are wasting the clinics time. If you do have GD, they will then expect you to start RLE by changing your name and all your documentation over to your new name and begin integrating with society with your new gender role.
4, In about another 3 months you get a follow up appointment (if they remember to send out the appointment letters  >:( ). If you haven't been scared off by your RLE and have documented evidence such as receipts, name changes, driving license/passport changes etc that you can show the specialist as proof, then they may recommend hormones and send you to an endocrinologist for bloods etc.
5, Wait another 2-3 months for this appointment. Then wait for the prescription (This is where I'm at)
6, Attend follow up appointment with specialist sometime in the future..

It takes MONTHS and MONTHS, or at least it has for me. In fact it will be a year of RLE, after changing my name and all my documents BEFORE starting with the endocrinologist. Not fun  :'(.

If it wasn't for another girl on here advising me to chase up my appointments, I doubt very much if I'd be seeing an endo in January.

I'm not saying you will be treated in the same way or have to wait as long, not everyone is treated the same. The big mistake I made was not taking documented evidence of my name change to show the specialist on my first appointment. This put me back 6 months because they messed up with appointment letters.

Point of all the above is that the NHS route isn't the quick fix that you want.

Depending on your financial situation, you could save a lot of heartache and go privately. It will halve the wait that you get with the NHS.

Hope that helps somewhat and I hope you get better results in Scotland. I have heard of this person http://www.medicalternative.com/gender-dysphoria from another girl and she said she was very good.

Nikki

Wow.... I had no idea the nhs was so convoluted! That's terrible :(

Nikki,

Thanks so much for sharing your journey so far, it really was the kind of detail that I wanted to hear regarding transitioning through the NHS. I didn't think it would be that long though, or that they would expect RLE before even booking with an endocrinologist. That is harsh, and I'm not sure how I could react to that (I work with the public in retail. Everyone at my job would be fine, but the average Joe off the street? That's a push) Another girl on this forum showed me some recent changes to the Scottish NHS, being able to self refer for HRT and other services that filled me full of hope, but that my doctor knew nothing about. I guessed there would be some kind of screening to weed out timewasters (although why anyone would pretend to have GD is quite beyond me)

Still, it's not always easy to be honest and sharing your own experiences helps force some patience on me. The link you posted was the same centre I found through my own research, too expensive for me right now though.

It took a lot for me to go and talk to the GP, personally - it's quite heartbreaking to not have things move forward after so much soul searching and making the decision to move ahead. I may just have to start saving and look into going private.

Thanks again for sharing <3

I'm in Newcastle upon Tyne, so nearly Scotland lol.

I went to my gp, told her I was duffering from gender dysphoria, had been all of my life and could she refer me to the relavent people. She said she'd need to find out who the relavent people were, but for me to come back in a week. I did, she has reffered me to the northern gender clinic. I believe there are 3 similar clinics in Scotland. I'm still waiting for that appointment.

If you want to chat more inbox me Hun x

There are others on here who have better knowledge of the NHS path than me, however this is only my experience. I don't want to say that one method is better than the other (NHS or Private) so please, even though it may look that way in my post, don't assume that. You will find that most NHS gender specialists offer private consultation so the standard of care must be the same I would like to think. The downside is the time it takes. On the other hand, you could look at things positively and try to improve other non drug/surgical aspects of transition like your voice and presentation. For example,  my mother, who doesn't accept me  :'( , has received countless phone calls from insurance, double glazing, telecoms and PPI companies from a female member of staff  >:-)  :P  Practice makes perfect as they say...

It's a waiting game, which is why a lot of us self med. I didn't as I have an obsessive, extremist personality (see previous sentence about the phone calls ;D) which would ultimately mean that I would mess something up. I chose for me. Others successfully self med.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on December 09, 2013, 09:46:40 AM


It took a lot for me to go and talk to the GP, personally - it's quite heartbreaking to not have things move forward after so much soul searching and making the decision to move ahead. I may just have to start saving and look into going private.

Thanks again for sharing <3

Things are moving along. You've made that all important first step. You are already 10 years ahead of me.  The worst thing is to do nothing. Make a start and push for things to happen. Find another GP. I think you have a clinic up there called Sandyford Gender Identity Clinic in Glasgow which is NHS. Can you call them directly for advice ? Anyway, don't get angry or depressed, get constructive and creative. You are rebuilding.

Good luck,

Nikki

When I started to go through the NHS system in the late 1980's my male GP was a little taken aback  but was actually pretty good and sent me to the local psychiatrist (this was in Bradford, West Yorkshire). I had a double session with the psychiatrist lasting over an hour and it was wonderful and healing, to be able to finally talk about how I was feeling. I was finally on the road to recovery. After her diagnosis I had to wait ages then to get the referral to Charing Cross in London (as far as I remember it was months not weeks).
After 18 months or so of wasted time on the NHS I left the system and went private and borrowed the money to pay for my SRS.
My feelings of the NHS at the time were that they seemed to be hoping I'd change my mind and were forever putting me off.
I'm surprised that nowadays local GP's have so little knowledge in gender dysphoria. I hope for your sake that the NHS is somewhat better now than it was for me.

Thank you Nikki X Your posts are a lot of help. I've looked into self medding... bt I'm pretty sure I'll just mess it up. My opinion is that the doctors will know best, so I'll exhaust every opportunity to get their help before I take that path. I love your idea for voice training though, my voice is something I'm really worried about. You've filled me full of ideas, visiting friends I've came out to in larger towns in female mode and others, and been a great help.

Saskia, I wouldn't say they're actually that bad at how they deal with GD now, just really uninformed. Most figures I can find online put GD at <1% of the population so I guess we're just not a priority in training for general work. It would be nice if they had SOME kind of plan to follow on the first visit rather than 'I dunno. I'll call you' though

Quote from: nikkit72 on December 09, 2013, 12:18:22 PM
For example,  my mother, who doesn't accept me  :'( , has received countless phone calls from insurance, double glazing, telecoms and PPI companies from a female member of staff  >:-)  :P  Practice makes perfect as they say...

I am glad you didn't tell me that when we were having a coffee, I would have snorted it straight out my nose. Very unladylike.

From my understanding Scotland is where Wales should have been following a report to the Welsh Assembly last summer that seems to have been ignored (or, more likely, there is no money to implement it). You should, in theory, be able to refer yourself directly to a Scottish GID. There should be no need for RLE before hormones and all therapies should be covered, at least that is what the Scottish NHS literature says. I wonder how much of it is really true rather than politically true. I found this out by Googling but give me a shout if you have problems finding the information and I will see if I can locate it again.

It is almost enough to make me face those Gods-awful winters you have up there.

Rosie

I had the same info referred to me, and took it to my GP to discuss. She didn't have a clue about any of it though! I'll report back when I hear from her regarding what is next - I want it to be HRT straight away and that's what I tried to self-refer for.

And the winters aren't that bad... it's just that they last for 9 months of the year usually. Summer was a Tuesday this year, I recall.

I kicked the NHS to the kerb when it became apparent they have no flexibility on their rules after a couple of appointments. No full time RLE - no hormones, is an idiotic rule.

Getting hormones privately took 3 months. Screw waiting on the NHS for 2 years. Cost some money sure, but I have some money. I would rather pay than jump their hoops and waste another year. Since I am still not full time and have no intention of doing so until I am comfortable with it, that would have been the minimum.

I would imagine there are some decent private clinics in Scotland but I have no idea where. Lots easier near London. Just make sure when you pay someone they have the capability to prescribe, and know a psych in order to get an evaluation so that they can do so within the standards of care.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8FZdRke.png&hash=23bc50bf7013c45367905ee72d289144347d5c12)

I got a letter of referral to a gender identity clinic in in Edinburgh, one of the ones I'd found online and was planning on contacting myself. I'm buzzing here! Thanks to everyone for the help so far, I'll keep posting here with progress because I have to tell someone or I WILL EXPLODE WITH HAPPINESS.

That letter was dated from the 12th so I'm awaiting another contact to tell me when to show up there for a discussion. Should I show up in full Sandra mode? :P Seeing as they misspelled my name anyway...

That is good news! Show you mean business and turn up in full Sandra mode.  If you do not it could mean delaying the next stage. One rule of thumb with GIC's, always think 1 step ahead. I do not know what it is like in Scotland, but here in the wetlands, the delays are 3-6 months. If you have any other documentation to prove that you are taking steps toward transition like a change of name by deed pole, receipts in your new name, bills etc., take them too as this will all count as proof of RLE. If you want info on deed pole, when you are ready, then PM me or, I guess, just post here.

Oh, and do not explode with happiness or otherwise as it will be seen as a waste of an appointment.

Onward  ;D

Nikki.

Wow, that quick? I got referred to Leeds like a month ago and I've still heard bugger all. Got a psychosexual counselling thing coming up on a date yet to be announced, but yeah. Looking into going to see Dr. Curtis now because the wait is killing me and I don't want to do something stupid like self-medding. :(

Quote from: Michaela J. on December 16, 2013, 02:17:31 PM
Looking into going to see Dr. Curtis now because the wait is killing me and I don't want to do something stupid like self-medding. :(

Sorry to take off topic, but I thought I would drop in here this... If you are thinking of a trip to London, if you have not already done so, look up Dr Perring at Optimal Health and Dr Lorimer at Gendercare. Both have 'Useful' connections to CHX and both are NHS and private. Not to take anything away from Dr Curtis, but has he not been in a spot of bother in the last couple of years ? Probably all sorted now, but it is your money. There are probably a few more, but as it is expensive to go via the expedited route, it may be worth looking the other two up as well.

Nikki

Quote from: nikkit72 on December 16, 2013, 05:11:08 PM
Sorry to take off topic, but I thought I would drop in here this... If you are thinking of a trip to London, if you have not already done so, look up Dr Perring at Optimal Health and Dr Lorimer at Gendercare. Both have 'Useful' connections to CHX and both are NHS and private. Not to take anything away from Dr Curtis, but has he not been in a spot of bother in the last couple of years ? Probably all sorted now, but it is your money. There are probably a few more, but as it is expensive to go via the expedited route, it may be worth looking the other two up as well.

Nikki

Thank you nikki, I'll look into those.  :)

Oh my... I called the clinic after a month and a half of waiting and was informed that they have at least a 12 to 18 month waiting list before I get my first appointment.

Not sure if I can handle this, I'm 32 already (33 on the 17th of may) and I don't think I can wait that long before they even start helping me, especially as this will put me on 3 month waits for appointments before I can get help. I'm afraid to act too impatient but I can't really see myself surviving that long.

And I was so happy when I got that letter. Now I'm starting to realize it was just a way to shunt me onto another list and out of the doctor's hair..   :icon_sadblinky:

Quote from: Michaela J. on December 16, 2013, 02:17:31 PM
Wow, that quick? I got referred to Leeds like a month ago and I've still heard bugger all. Got a psychosexual counselling thing coming up on a date yet to be announced, but yeah. Looking into going to see Dr. Curtis now because the wait is killing me and I don't want to do something stupid like self-medding. :(

Beware of the Leeds gang.

email me for info on how to deal with them.

Sandra. I know of one MtF who turned up at sandyford and was on hormones within a week.
The Human Rights Act which aids people like my hereo Abu Qatada quite specifically says we don't have to provide any evidence of being TS to get surgery but of course the NHS is full of fools and bigots.

I had my final post-op inspect yesterday and now I'm writing claims for damages.

Grrrr >:( it is very annoying. But at 32, a few more months should not make any difference to you at all. Work on the things that you do not need medical/psych help. Voice, image, mannerisms etc. This helps to fill in the gap before the medical bit. As you know, hormones only do so much. It is no good looking like a supermodel and then walking into a restaurant picking your nose, scratching your bum, walking like an ape and talking like a builder ( no offence to apes). I am 41, and have been full time for over a year and only had my first endo appointment at the beginning of January. Was sent to the doctors for a Zoladex implant and was told by them that the dosage my endo wanted to prescribe did not exist. Guess what, another delay. It is not just the delays, but the incompetence that gets to you. So, even when you think you are moving forward..... you get the picture. So, take things into your own hands while you wait. You need to be the driving force behind your transition. Do the safe things to aid progress. It WILL make you feel better.

It WILL happen for you, just on the NHS' timescale and not yours should you take the NHS route.

Oh, and one more thing, there is nothing like jumping in at the deep end with transition. It causes you to readjust preeeeety rapidly in a kind of sink or swim way. Goes something like this... Monday, take ALL male clothes to charity shop, Tuesday, send deed poll and change of name requests to all relevant organisations, Wednesday walk into bank in female clothes with a deed poll and change all your bank details over, Thursday go shopping in Tescos and surprise yourself that because you are dressing to blend in with the other women, nobody is staring at you. Get annoyed that the price of cherry tomatoes has doubled. Friday go for a meal or a coffee or  both. Following week repeat...repeat....repeat... Then get all happy when time has passed, life starts to normalize and you get all your new documentation with your new name and acquired gender on. Driving license is a real cool one.

Thing that puzzles me is, looking at your profile pic, what are you waiting for ??????? Get the groundwork done and you can walk into your first appointment, where and whenever that may be with proof of name change and RLE with your head held high.

Remember, you do not need the NHS' permission to be you and start living your life.

Do not get upset, get busy and get creative.  ;D

Lilacwoman - I called Sandyford (in Glasgow) immediately after hearing that and the gender clinic receptionist is off today, I've been given a direct number to call tomorrow so they're my main hope right now. They advertise a 3 month turnaround and I can definitely live with that, just as long as the wait to get seen to start with isn't too long...

Nikkit - you're right as always X if I had taken this into my hands at the start I wouldn't have sat around waiting for such disappointing news. I've been going out shopping and generally having fun and it's felt better than I could have imagined,  I suppose that's why learning of the wait feels so crushing. I need to work on my voice, it's my main problem with passing (I get my friends to ask for things because I'm too ashamed of it) and that's what I should be directing my energies to beating. I needpractice and I certainly have time...

It is good to hear that you have been proactive in your transition. Keep at it. Your voice will come in time. Just remember to use it everywhere. With regards to voice, just remember that YOUR female voice might not be what you want it to sound like. If that makes sense.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Nikki

Well Sandyford clinic have a 12 month waiting list, slightly better - they were also much more helpful and understanding on the phone than Chalmers street. Talking to the lovely lady I found I wasn't even on the Chalmers street waiting list, despite being referred by my gp! Not pleased with them at all and I've not even seen them yet!

If any other Scots need a recommendation so far it has to be Sandyford. Polite, helpful and understanding staff and they actually reply and call you back! Waiting lists can't be helped with the nhs, just dealt with.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on January 29, 2014, 05:24:55 AM
Well Sandyford clinic have a 12 month waiting list, slightly better - they were also much more helpful and understanding on the phone than Chalmers street. Talking to the lovely lady I found I wasn't even on the Chalmers street waiting list, despite being referred by my gp! Not pleased with them at all and I've not even seen them yet!

If any other Scots need a recommendation so far it has to be Sandyford. Polite, helpful and understanding staff and they actually reply and call you back! Waiting lists can't be helped with the nhs, just dealt with.

HEEEEEEY! ANOTHER SCOTTISH PERSON WAITING ON SANDYFORD! -waves frantically-

I've been on the waiting list for 4 months now...although I have had a bunch of snags with living in Tayside, (they had a policy change with self referrals which meant I needed to see therapists etc to secure funding before I was allowed on the waiting list...weirdness)

So I was taken off the list for a while because of some funding malarkey...but luckily just found out today that I am back on it now, and the folk at Sandyford are saying that they will keep my original referral date on record, so that in theory I shouldn't have lost any time!...in theory...I do not like the idea of going back to the bottom of the list after 5 months :S

So I can certainly second the Sandyford praise, even through all the shenanigans of the self referring mixup etc, they have been lovely...and yeah it really sucks that there are so few trans support groups...or any trans support in Scotland really.

There isn't a single thing in Tayside at all...maybe one day I will start one, maybe I could teach them how to project the perfect air of insanity to ensure smooth transitioning...or roller skating...one or the other

I am also currently waiting on Sandyford, but its just the last hurdle to get hormones. Turns out the Doctor that sets up the letters was on Holiday until just last month, so its probably just chasing him up. But I spoke to a lovely lady by the name of Alice?. Who assures me, that they haven't forgotten about me, but to wait about another week. I have been waiting for about a year altogether, so I guess another week isn't too bad. After an appt was pushed back 2 months, so i guess considering how bad England is with it, I can't complain.

Sandyford is very helpful, but its just taking alot of time. It seems the doctors that actually help out there, only work 2 or 3 days a week and work the rest of their time elsewhere. I am impatient and my wife is getting downright  aggressive with them, but we don't have the money to go private.

Good luck.

Quote from: chrissydr on January 29, 2014, 10:01:43 AM
I am also currently waiting on Sandyford, but its just the last hurdle to get hormones. Turns out the Doctor that sets up the letters was on Holiday until just last month, so its probably just chasing him up. But I spoke to a lovely lady by the name of Alice?. Who assures me, that they haven't forgotten about me, but to wait about another week. I have been waiting for about a year altogether, so I guess another week isn't too bad. After an appt was pushed back 2 months, so i guess considering how bad England is with it, I can't complain.

Sandyford is very helpful, but its just taking alot of time. It seems the doctors that actually help out there, only work 2 or 3 days a week and work the rest of their time elsewhere. I am impatient and my wife is getting downright  aggressive with them, but we don't have the money to go private.

Good luck.

Yeah I've got that feeling from Sandyford, the area is pretty underfunded in general.

I have been to see Dr Lyndsey Myskow privately in Edinburgh, she was really, really good, it's just a shame I can't afford to go full private, or I would most certainly be doing so right now :(

OMG! 2 other Scots! Others do exist!

Sandyford seem helpful enough, and I'm hoping that they have ironed out any issues - I get pretty depressed when there's a hold up. The receptionist I spoke to also only worked Monday to Wednesday so I already had to wait a few days just to speak to them, but at least they actually called me back!

Quote from: Danniella on January 29, 2014, 09:16:38 AM
There isn't a single thing in Tayside at all...maybe one day I will start one

Apparently there's support groups here in the Lothians but every one I've contacted has had nothing but dead emails and disconnected numbers :/ When we're all finally done with this we can band together and start one!

Oi Dickinson woman ! Now look what you have started ! You are all crawling out of the woodwork now and when Scotland finally gets its independance and decent funding for things (good luck) you lot will forget about yer poor sisters down below the border and teeter off to your fancy support groups eating posh food and drinking fine wines.... ;)

On the other hand, suffering always feels better when you do it together. :P

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on January 29, 2014, 12:05:58 PM
OMG! 2 other Scots! Others do exist!

I know right!, it's like, the waiting lists at Sandyford etc imply that there are lots of us...but then we are like golddust when you try to find others 0.o

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on January 29, 2014, 12:05:58 PM
Sandyford seem helpful enough, and I'm hoping that they have ironed out any issues - I get pretty depressed when there's a hold up. The receptionist I spoke to also only worked Monday to Wednesday so I already had to wait a few days just to speak to them, but at least they actually called me back!

I know the feeling, I get really depressed if a day goes by without some form of progress in the transition. I started self medding (I wouldn't recommend it still, but desperate times...) so at least it feels like, even if I can't get any time to practice voice or dressing or whatever, at least some progress is still being made biologically :)

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on January 29, 2014, 12:05:58 PM
Apparently there's support groups here in the Lothians but every one I've contacted has had nothing but dead emails and disconnected numbers :/ When we're all finally done with this we can band together and start one!

Sounds like you had the same experience as me, there are dead websites and phone numbers for some support groups in Tayside, but none are running currently...well there is one, but it's only for teenagers...I think I am past the stage where I can pretend do be an emo 15year old now ^^#

We could start a group, and call it the "Super Awesome Gender Questioning Talky Group of Scotland!"..."SAGQTGS"...needs work...

Quote from: nikkit72 on January 29, 2014, 12:28:44 PM
Oi Dickinson woman ! Now look what you have started ! You are all crawling out of the woodwork now and when Scotland finally gets its independance and decent funding for things (good luck) you lot will forget about yer poor sisters down below the border and teeter off to your fancy support groups eating posh food and drinking fine wines.... ;)

On the other hand, suffering always feels better when you do it together. :P

Decent funding... I'm pretty sure if we do get independence we'll be trading one load of selfish politicians for another!

And we won't forget you while eating deep fried mars bars and sipping irn bru from champagne glasses! As long as fracking doesn't separate us by exploding the north of England lol

Misery loves company, after all!

Quote from: Danniella on January 29, 2014, 12:48:07 PM
I started self medding (I wouldn't recommend it still, but desperate times...)

Um... I've started buying and preparing for that, going to start once I get working and settled in. I know it's not the best idea, but with the twelve months to wait I wasnt sure I could wait for them to ok me or not. Taking it really slow and safe until I can get real help. But I need to feel progress is happening biologically as well as psychologically.

Quote from: Danniella on January 29, 2014, 12:48:07 PM
We could start a group, and call it the "Super Awesome Gender Questioning Talky Group of Scotland!"..."SAGQTGS"...needs work...

I've spent about ten minutes trying to come up with something funny as an acronym, but nothing work safe :p

Quote from: nikkit72 on January 29, 2014, 12:28:44 PM
Oi Dickinson woman ! Now look what you have started ! You are all crawling out of the woodwork now and when Scotland finally gets its independance and decent funding for things (good luck) you lot will forget about yer poor sisters down below the border and teeter off to your fancy support groups eating posh food and drinking fine wines.... ;)

I thought we were already planning the Welsh one? They get independence and we get the good food and better (relatively speaking) weather.

Rosie

Quote from: H, H, H, Honeypot! on January 30, 2014, 12:35:58 AM
I thought we were already planning the Welsh one? They get independence and we get the good food and better (relatively speaking) weather.

Rosie

Shhh I thought that was a secret otherwise you will have them all down here basking in our tropical climate.. :o

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on January 29, 2014, 01:20:13 PM
Um... I've started buying and preparing for that, going to start once I get working and settled in. I know it's not the best idea, but with the twelve months to wait I wasnt sure I could wait for them to ok me or not. Taking it really slow and safe until I can get real help. But I need to feel progress is happening biologically as well as psychologically.

Yeah, the waiting lists are a real kicker :S I mean it's like 12months to get in the door, then normally like 3-4months RLE after that before they even consider giving you hormones :(

I'm really looking to use Sandyford for the more niche services, like the voice training etc, and ofc the SRS when the time comes.

Ideally though, I think to myself, hell, in a years time I would love to be able to walk into my first ever appointment at Sandyford fully and confidently presenting as female, I hear that if that happens, then they will expedite the rest very quickly :)

Gives me a nice target to aim for as well.

You don't need any RLE for hormones. I am def not to the point where I could pass one bit really. But I should be going on them as soon as possible.

My wife is somewhat helpful with alot of things and did want to be a makeup artist so she has been some help. I will def be using the help from Sandyford for anything and everything they will give me. Might be good to have a few going through it with them to help each other out.

Number 3 Scot here!  I'm from Dundee originally, lived in Edinburgh for years (even saw Dr Myskow while I was a student at Ed Uni, the NHS waiting list at the time was *only* 9 months - though I bailed on transitioning at the time).  Fast forward a few years, I started transition at 32 (it's not too late! :), now 35 and living in near Los Angeles.

Quote from: chrissydr on January 31, 2014, 03:33:36 PM
Might be good to have a few going through it with them to help each other out.

Well we have somewhere we can post updates now! I want to hear any updates regarding transitions lol

Quote from: KateConnors on January 31, 2014, 05:30:48 PM
Fast forward a few years, I started transition at 32 (it's not too late! :),

Really? I'm having to wait a year but I'd love to be transitioned enough to be full time by 35, already kinda part time and making trips out. You look gorgeous, is that your daughter too?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 01, 2014, 05:47:50 AM
Really? I'm having to wait a year but I'd love to be transitioned enough to be full time by 35, already kinda part time and making trips out. You look gorgeous, is that your daughter too?

Thanks  :)  Yes, that's my daughter, who will be turning 4 next week.  To say that becoming a parent and transitioning was correlated is correct.  This was my flipping point, I had to transition to be the best parent I could be.

I remember thinking that getting on hormones couldn't happen fast enough and it felt every passing day was another day wasted.  Remember it's not all about your age; a healthy diet and exercise will also help, and genetics go a long way. Then there is of course making sure your face is hair free, you're likely looking at a year before this is done, and it is a hell of a lot easier to present as a girl when you don't have to worry about the beard. This will also show to any therapist that you see, that your committed to this path and will likely get you in HRT sooner rather than later.

Chin up! (as my wife says to me)

Quote from: KateConnors on February 02, 2014, 02:47:13 PM
Thanks  :)  Yes, that's my daughter, who will be turning 4 next week.  To say that becoming a parent and transitioning was correlated is correct.  This was my flipping point, I had to transition to be the best parent I could be.

The birth of my son was certainly the tipping point for me, he was the one thing I felt I couldn't fail.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9tPR2Su.jpg&hash=7fa02d7f10aedf08705314f5a31eddd652c83bc3)
Just can't get a good picture of the both of us! He makes me look so ugly lol! (beard shadow doesn't help...)

Just got a new job that offers private healthcare, so maybe getting laser or electro through them would be a bit easier or quicker than the NHS. So much research to do!

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 03, 2014, 07:13:43 AM
Just got a new job that offers private healthcare, so maybe getting laser or electro through them would be a bit easier or quicker than the NHS. So much research to do!

There is a place in Aberdeen I found that does electrolysis for a reasonable price

http://www.beautyfountain.co.uk/PriceList.php

I'm going to go there some time this month and report back, I have very fine hair on my face anyway, so hopefully I won't need toooooo many sessions to remove everything, but we shall see :)

I would rather start now, that wait another 8months to get into sandyford, even if it's not 100% gone, I can at least get a start on it, and it's another thing that you can show to prove you are committed when you walk in the door for the first time.

First off I have a salon appointment to sort out my hair tomorrow...-squeeeee-

I e-mailed the salon owner in advance explaining my situation (because I didn't want to blind side some poor hairdresser who would have no idea what to do with me).

The salon owner has been amazing so far, she took me in for a private consultation to talk about what I needed and wanted, and form a sort of "hair plan" for the next year or so. Looking forward to it!

Interesting update for all Scots :)

I put in a request at my local NHS infertility clinic a while ago, basically I wanted to see if the NHS would cover the costs of storing sperm samples etc for use in the future.

My GP cautioned me against getting my hopes up, as the chances are that they wouldn't, since it walls somewhat outside of their regular mandate.

But lo and behold! I got a letter through this morning saying that they will cover most of the costs!

All I need to do is pay £300 up front for the first 3 years of storage, and £100 a year after that, and the NHS will take care of the rest! Including any future IVF treatments I request for a partner in later years (which is REALLY good, cause that costs a fortune!)

So it's worth looking into for those who are interested, I don't even honestly know if I would ever use IVF to have a child, but for less than £10 a month, I like that I will at least have the option :)

While I don't have the luxury of the NHS, I used sperm banking myself prior to starting HRT.  My wife is trying to preggers now from the frozen sperm.  It's kinda weird having parts of me frozen thousands of miles from where I live (I lived in Boston when I froze it).

Hey all,

Status update from me!

I have officially completed that weird additional "Tayside Gender Identity Disorder Pathway" that threw up a barrier on my way to Sandyford.

It took 5 hours across two psychologists, but I finally managed to convince them that I am not insane...or at least...sane enough that I should be seeing gender specialists, and that I in fact do not have a little voice in my head saying "hey...you should really wear women's clothing...and maybe their skin".

As a fun note, I requested to be added to my psychology team's correspondence, which resulted in me being sent a huge document including a complete psycho analysis and breakdown of my case!

It's a really fun read...like an episode of "This is Your Life"...but with all the celebrity appearances and witty anecdotes replaced with psychological analysis and recommendations for the future.

I have also been assured that my referral date will be back dated to when I originally self-referred in September of last year, so I haven't actually lost any time on the waiting list in the grand scheme of things ^^

All in all it's been a fairly painless experience to be honest, all the people I saw appeared to agree that the additional screening was an annoyance and they just wanted to get me through the system as quickly as possible to get me to Sandyford where I could actually get the specialist help I need.

How is everybody else doing?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 03, 2014, 07:13:43 AM
The birth of my son was certainly the tipping point for me, he was the one thing I felt I couldn't fail.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9tPR2Su.jpg&hash=7fa02d7f10aedf08705314f5a31eddd652c83bc3)
Just can't get a good picture of the both of us! He makes me look so ugly lol! (beard shadow doesn't help...)

Just got a new job that offers private healthcare, so maybe getting laser or electro through them would be a bit easier or quicker than the NHS. So much research to do!

Awwwe, what a cutie ...

and the baby's not bad either  ;)

Hi all,

I'm aware this is a bit of an old thread, but I didn't really want to start a new thread just to talk about updates.

So I self-referred to Sandyford after hearing that Chalmer's had a 12-18 month waiting list, and finding out that I hadn't even been put on the list was a bit of a bummer.

So imagine my surprise to receive a letter from Chalmer's, inviting me to an appointment on the 24th of May!

Honestly, I'm a bit confused as I asked to be taken off their list (I didn't want to be taking up two spaces on the list, it's long enough and I didn't want anyone else to have to wait longer) even though I was technically never on it.  And now I'm not only on the list, it only took about four months to get an appointment!

So I have an appointment with Dr Gerber, who I think is a psychiatrist from Glasgow - I'm having a little trouble finding any info online. Has anyone else spoken to or dealt with this Doctor? Honestly I'm pretty excited to talk to a professional regarding this so I don't really think I need any info, but it's best to be informed I suppose.

How's everyone else doing? Are things moving forward for anyone else?

And Jamie D - I never noticed your reply, thanks honey! He's only gotten cuter too X

Dr Gerber is who I am seeing. Its a bit of a pain to getan appt with him as he is almost never in Glasgow. He is pretty nice and seems a bit understanding about the whole ordeal. I am just waiting for the specialist to om me for hormones. I am a 'special' case as my hormones are ->-bleeped-<-ed up to begin with. I would have hormones months ago if not for this problem.

Good luck and you will be fine. I was nervous but hes fine and it will be ok.

Ok, Dr Gerber was fantastic :) it felt really good to put my cards on the table and just talk about how I felt. He said he had no problem putting me on hormones, that I had done my research and understood it. Going to another appointment for an interview with the second doctor before it's confirmed though.

And it turns out I'm on both waiting lists, so I'll call sandyford to remove myself and hopefully someone will move up the queue :)

My friend gave me a lift on his bike too!
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fpb9yaA0.jpg&hash=403aa18a02f4471bffd5731f594d6ee36bc8e249)

The ultimate transgender accessory this season! Ruins your hairstyle though.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on May 24, 2014, 02:09:02 PM
Ok, Dr Gerber was fantastic :) it felt really good to put my cards on the table and just talk about how I felt. He said he had no problem putting me on hormones, that I had done my research and understood it. Going to another appointment for an interview with the second doctor before it's confirmed though.

And it turns out I'm on both waiting lists, so I'll call sandyford to remove myself and hopefully someone will move up the queue :)

My friend gave me a lift on his bike too!
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fpb9yaA0.jpg&hash=403aa18a02f4471bffd5731f594d6ee36bc8e249)

The ultimate transgender accessory this season! Ruins your hairstyle though.

congrats

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on May 24, 2014, 02:09:02 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fpb9yaA0.jpg&hash=403aa18a02f4471bffd5731f594d6ee36bc8e249)

Love that jacket! And congrats. :)

Awesome, def good news. Def a nice helmet, but as you say, horrible for the hair.

I'm seeing dr sarah Kennedy at chalmers clinic in Edinburgh this week! I have already had my gender dysphoria formally diagnosed by local psychiatrist. Hoping therefore that this gender specialist who is also a psychiatrist will give approval for my gp to describe hormones. Really don't want to repeat whole psychiatric assessment again? Any thoughts?

Quote from: Elizabeth1 on May 25, 2014, 09:36:41 AM
I'm seeing dr sarah Kennedy at chalmers clinic in Edinburgh this week! I have already had my gender dysphoria formally diagnosed by local psychiatrist. Hoping therefore that this gender specialist who is also a psychiatrist will give approval for my gp to describe hormones. Really don't want to repeat whole psychiatric assessment again? Any thoughts?

Dr Kennedy was in the office next door and is the Doctor I'll be seeing to confirm HRT. To be frank, I was just honest with the Dr. Gerber about what I'd done and been through and he said he was happy to prescribe once I'd gotten the other Doctor's agreement. If you've already been diagnosed as transgender I can't see them putting any obstacles in your way, as I hadn't been formally diagnosed as transgender just referred by my GP.

Good luck XXX
(You don't need it though)

Everything turned out alright at chalmers clinic. Arrived on time and saw both dr Kennedy and her colleague named Daniel. It went well but both insist that a final opinion is obtained from dr gerber. Both reckon this is a formality and a letter has now be sent to my gp to have blood tests in readiness for hormone therapy. This will be concluded within next 4 months. Frustrating but I can deal with this. Slowly but surely!

Elizabeth1 : Great to hear things are moving, and it's good that you got a timeframe at least as I'm still waiting for correspondence and have no idea how long it will take. When I spoke to Dr. Gerber he said he worked primarily in Glasgow and only really worked in Edinburgh when their list got too full and needed help - which was why I ended up seeing him on a Saturday rather than a weekday.

Anyway, I hope things get sorted for you quickly and you can get the help you need :D

ftp://Sandra- thank you! Just got to be patient now. Blood tests wil be done shortly at local medical practice. I think I will have to go to sandyford to see  dr gerber! Chalmers clinic staff all put me at ease. One kindly escorted me to my car when leaving after I initially got lost trying to find the car park where I parked in fountainbridge!
Wishing you the best! You are looking great. I'm 50 in 2 weeks so this is my last chance in making real changes to my physical appearance!

Elizabeth1: Thank you so much <3 You're looking great too doll XxX Thanks for keeping me updated, it's so hard to wait for updates from the NHS without discussing it with someone - it just takes too long to even receive confirmation letters. I know what you mean by last chance, but I suppose all of us feel like that at some point. X

Keep me updated as things move along, I love hearing other people's journeys. Mostly because I'm a nosy bitch, but it also helps me be more patient regarding my own :)

Hi all,

Hope you don't mind me posting here, but since this thread is active, about Scotland, and the OP (Sandra) is, or was, in a similar position to me, it seems like the best place to ask for help and advice.  I am right at the beginning of this process.  I visited my GP in early May and obtained a referral to local psychiatric services which is scheduled for the very end of July.  It feels so far away!  I'm struggling a lot with my feelings of dysphoria and am desperate to begin receiving treatment so I can move forward with my transition, but I'm a bit confused as to what my best options are for making this happen as soon as possible.

My naive first assumption was that I would see the psychiatrist and -- assuming I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria -- I'd be able to access whichever treatments and therapies were available after that.  As I understand it now, this first appointment is only an initial screening prior to my being referred to a GIC, and from what I've read here, that could take a further year or more.  I don't feel like I can cope with waiting over a year before I can even begin HRT.  I've read that I can self-refer to Sandyford, and I'm thinking that maybe I should do this without waiting for my local psych appointment?  Because I live in Tayside, I don't think I can self-refer to Chalmers, since it's only for the NHS Lothian region.  But I'm also worried that the same problem Danniella had may complicate things if I try to self-refer to Sandyford from Tayside... I'm not sure if there's anything I can do about that.

I've read so much, but some of it is contradictory, and I'm not sure how much applies here.  My friend told me today that, in Scotland, it ought to be possible to begin HRT prior to starting the RLE and after only one psychiatric assessment.  But elsewhere I've read that this almost never happens in practice.  Someone in another thread here posted that GPs should now be referring straight to the GIC, but since this hasn't happened, perhaps the local psychiatrist would count instead?  I wonder if there is there any chance at all that I could successfully request hormones from my GP (or at least a referral to endocrinology) following this first assessment? 

The other thought I've had is about going private.  While I could probably afford a couple of consultations, I don't know if I'd be able to take any prescription I received back into the NHS system (again, the literature says I should be able to, I think, but I'm not sure if the NHS would be obstructive in practice).  I wondered if I might be able to skip the initial waiting times by paying what I could afford, but then continue on the NHS pathway after that (there's no way I could fund the whole process myself).  But I'd be concerned about the effect doing that might have on my NHS treatment.  Maybe it can't work that way...?

Anyway, sorry for the long first post.  I hope it's not too much of an imposition.  While my partner and a few friends have been great about this, and my family are supportive, even if they don't understand it yet, I don't know any other women in my situation, and there are no local support groups I can find.  Thanks so much for reading, and all the best with your own journeys. ^^ xx

~Cat

Cat: Hay you! I went to uni in Dundee :D

I know it's hard to hear right now but the best option is really to wait and let things run their course. In my initial posts I forwarded the idea that it would take up to a year and a half to get seen, when it turned out to be less than 6 months. I'm really glad to hear you have a supportive family, its the best thing right now.

I think you should stay with Sandyford (They have an open day soon that I was invited to), They are prompt, caring and understanding - not that Chalmer's street aren't - but this journey is yours alone, and I think they will help you best.

You seem young, but maybe that's just me and the wine reading too much into backstory. I know it feels like an age and it hurts everyday, but the wait will make it all worth it. You are sure of what you want, but every step closer will become it's own victory.

PS: There's not really much chance of receiving HRT from a GP -they're trained for female HRT treatments, not people like us - heartbreaking I know, but it's better to not get your hopes up. At least until you have seen a gender therapist and endocrinologist separately.

PPS: Private healthcare is only a option if you can stay with it, most practices don't like the idea of you switching between and can put you on a longer waiting list if you've received private and returned to NHS. It is slow and I know it hurts, but it's the best option if you can't afford to keep up private costs (Which are extortionate)

PPPS: (I know, taking the piss) Have you received any correspondence from Sandyford yet?

Hey Cat! And welcome to the growing list of Tayside transitioners! xD

I'm probably what I would reckon to be around 7-8 months ahead of you in the process.

Unfortunately if you life in Tayside you cannot self refer to ANY NHS Gender Identity Clinic, Sandyford or Chalmers. If you try to do so (like I did) it can take them up to 4+months before they actually get back to you and tell you that you need to go through the tayside mental health pathway first.

I was very lucky in that they kept my original referral date after the clerical error...but I know of others who have not been so lucky.

Things in Tayside are just a bit different than the rest of the country (for some indeterminable reason). So allow me to lay down the process in as clear a manner as I can (MY FAVOURITE! BULLET POINTS!)

• Step 1: See GP and arrange to enter the Tayside mental health pathway. Make sure to properly express to both the GP and the psychologists that you have a clear goal of receiving a referral to the GIC as soon as possible, so everybody is on the same page. (The new pathway has not been in place for long, and my second psychologist didn't even know why I was there, you need to be firm and sure of what you want to keep making progress)


• Step 2+3: See your first and second psychologists for a number of sessions. It can take a month or two to get your first appointment, but after that you should have 3-4 sessions in quick succession (approximately a week apart). The number of appointments you need per psych varies depending on what previous information is on your file, how you express yourself, if you have any other mental health issues, and of course the psychologist's view on the whole thing. (For reference, my first psych needed 4 seperate hour long appointments over the course of a month before she was satisfied to pass me on down the line, but the second psych only needed 1 30min appointment to come to the conclusion that I needed to get specialist help from the GIC)


• Step 4: Confirm that you have completed the pathway, and that you are going to be referred to your clinic of choice. (Be sure to call the clinic themselves approximately a week after the referral is sent out to make damn well sure you are on their waiting list)


• Step 5: Wait...for 12-14 months. This is the hardest part, and it's during this time you may have the desire to seek private healthcare or begin the RLE (see optional steps at the end)


• Step 6: You will be contacted with your first appointment at the GIC when you are near the end of the list, congratulations! The hard part is over...


• Step 7: You will require ANOTHER psychological evaluation at the GIC before they will give you access to their services. On the plus side, this time the psychologists will at least know what the hell you are talking about xD


• Step 8: Once you have been fully diagnosed as having Gender Dysphoria, you will be signed off by the specialists, the doors are thrown opened and you gain access to all the services they can provide...or at least access to their individual waiting lists that is :)

Below are some optional steps that you may or may not undertake during this process.

• Optional Step 1: Go private and get an appointment or two with a gender specialist. While expensive (the clinic I recommend cost me £300 per session) I can't recommend it highly enough. During your early transitioning phase, you will be surrounded by people asking you questions, but you will not be able to ask them any back. I cannot express just how comforting and liberating being able to sit in a room with a specialist and ask questions face to face can be during this time.


• Optional Step 2: Self Medicating...a touchy subject. I do not condone it. Having gone through it myself I can tell you that it is neither an easy nor cheap thing to do. You must research meticulously, find reliable suppliers, experiment to find the correct dosage for yourself, and pay for regular and expensive blood tests to monitor it (Your GP will not cover these if you are self medding). But the temptation will always be there. Just be careful and think of the dangers, and the alternatives. Remember that passing and transition is 80% confidence, fashion and voice, and only 20% HRT, you can, and should, do ALLOT before you resort to it.


• Optional Step 3: Start your RLE early: There is nothing anywhere that prevents you from getting the jump on the que by starting your Real Life Experience (Going Fulltime) ahead of schedule. In fact I highly recommend it! All of the services that the NHS can provide, from HRT to surgeries, have a pre-determined period of time that you need to have spent in RLE before you can gain access to them. For Example you need to have been living fulltime for 4 months before you gain access to HRT. 12 Months before access to SRS and so on. You could wait until you are seen by the GIC before starting full time, but why waste the 12-14 months on the waiting list? So long as you keep evidence of your start date and continuation of the RLE (Letters to work, name change documentation, photos, anything that proves you were living fulltime) the GIC can back-date your RLE start date. If you start it early enough, you can potentially walk into the GIC having been fulltime for months, and be granted access to services almost immediately. (The specialist psychs also love this, as it shows you are committed, driven and know what you want)

This is the official Scottish Government Gender Reassignment Protocols, read and memorise the process, know what your GPs/Psychs can and can't do for you. Always push for your next step. http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2012_26.pdf

If you need any further advice, or just want to chat with a fellow trans Dundonian, feel free to drop me a message. :)

Good Luck! <3

They did change a few things. You don't need the RLE before getting hormones anymore, so you don't have to do that if you feel that you can't do it just yet.

Saying that, its propbably going to be alot more comfortable to start doing things that make you more towards the gender you really are. For instance I wouldn't pass to save my life, but I am taking steps to express myself more femininely to alter the perceptions of people in small ways to make the transition easier.

Quote from: chrissydr on June 05, 2014, 04:02:22 AM
They did change a few things. You don't need the RLE before getting hormones anymore, so you don't have to do that if you feel that you can't do it just yet.

Really? That's the first I have heard of it! :D

It's good news if so. I understand the standpoint of ensuring that people are committed to the process before allowing permanent changes to take place, but it can be quite brutal to those who really struggle with passing early on.

Quote from: chrissydr on June 05, 2014, 04:02:22 AM
They did change a few things. You don't need the RLE before getting hormones anymore, so you don't have to do that if you feel that you can't do it just yet.

I see a lot of people clinging to this particular hope. It is a guideline, not a rule. GICs set their own rules. I have never known anyone to get away without some RLE.

As an example, Daniella's post above points out that the guidelines say you can self-refer. The reality is that you cannot.

Quote from: ytxwmb on June 05, 2014, 04:16:40 AM
I see a lot of people clinging to this particular hope. It is a guideline, not a rule. GICs set their own rules. I have never known anyone to get away without some RLE.

As an example, Daniella's post above points out that the guidelines say you can self-refer. The reality is that you cannot.

But as you said it is based on the GIC. And as far as Sandyford goes. You can. And they give you hormones before RLE. The rules were changed for Scotland, to allow hormones before RLE. Wether you realized it or not, it does happen. All the time now. I was self-referred and will be going on hormones without RLE.

I don't know why you would say you can't when I am proof you can do both.

http://transactivist.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/scotland-hands-unprecedented-power-to-trans-patients/

You don't need RLE before hormones, and if they don't give them to you then they are not doing what they should be doing.

Quote from: chrissydr on June 05, 2014, 05:19:53 AM
I don't know why you would say you can't when I am proof you can do both.

Because I am not you. I do not know your history.

Reread my post. I said that "I have never known anyone to get away without some RLE". Note the "I have..." bit.

I was relating my experience just as you were and pointing that Daniella's experience also differed from the guidelines.

Quote from: chrissydr on June 05, 2014, 05:19:53 AM

But as you said it is based on the GIC. And as far as Sandyford goes. You can. And they give you hormones before RLE. The rules were changed for Scotland, to allow hormones before RLE. Wether you realized it or not, it does happen. All the time now. I was self-referred and will be going on hormones without RLE.

I don't know why you would say you can't when I am proof you can do both.

http://transactivist.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/scotland-hands-unprecedented-power-to-trans-patients/

You don't need RLE before hormones, and if they don't give them to you then they are not doing what they should be doing.

Actually you are totally right re-the HRT :D

Looking closer at the official guidelines I linked above, HRT can on a case by case basis be gained before the 12 month RLE ^^

As far as I know the self referral issue is a recent tayside specific one though. I spoke to the people at Sandyford multiple times and they explicitly stated that I couldn't self refer if I lived in Tayside :S

(I would also still recommend starting your RLE as soon as possible, HRT or no HRT, you still need 12 months under you belt before you can get a referral for your SRS, if you want that ofc)

Personally I've never seen a psychiatrist and have had only one appointment with a GP that took about twenty minutes. After that I was referred to Chalmer's street and on my way to HRT. Things do sure seem complex up there in Tayside for some reason!

You can self-refer to Scottish GIC, and the rules state that they don't require RLE, but - as I think has been stated - that entirely depends on your situation and what the Doctor thinks is best. I'm not out to my family, only my close friends (Dad is a bit of homophobe, terrified of telling him really) and I suppose you could call me part-time. I know I wasn't asked for RLE, but I regularly go out in full girl mode and showed up to my appointment as feminine as I could get.

I agree with Daniella though, the best way forward is to take control of this yourself - it's the best advice I was given (Nikkit*Mwah*). Go out in girl mode, buy make-up and put it on daily. Learn all those little things that make a woman. Discover your style and how you like to dress. Do it all at your speed - it took me 5 months of going out as a girl before I worked up the guts to go out alone and ask the barista for my own coffee, and that was so liberating. I got laughed at by some construction workers the same day -_-

I'm on my way, but I don't pass. I think it's important to remember that even if you pass flawlessly and stealth into a new life, you will always be trans. It's part of us and it can't be escaped. RLE with that attitude helps your confidence.

There are going to be little victories and defeats that you will learn to deal with, and problems you don't expect. Who else has stood like a moron staring while a gent held a door open?

Quote from: ytxwmb on June 05, 2014, 05:27:39 AM
Because I am not you. I do not know your history.

Reread my post. I said that "I have never known anyone to get away without some RLE". Note the "I have..." bit.

I was relating my experience just as you were and pointing that Daniella's experience also differed from the guidelines.

Read what you said. You said it was clinging to a particular hope, and that you said in reality you cannot. Taking out any phrase you meant to say on a case to case basis ( ie. the 'I have seen') and the thought was that you can't even though the guidelines said you could. To be honest, i didn't take that into account with anything about what you have seen, as its pointless to argue about what you have seen, because I don't know what you have seen. I said what said, because you seemed to debate the thought that you could get it without RLE based on the guidelines that are in place.

Hope is all we have sometimes. If I had read that without knowing what I do know. I might have sunk further into my depression. But the reason I said what I did. Is because its not just a particular hope, that I am clinging to. It is the truth because, there are people out there that are getting the help. And getting the extra step to make it a little less of a horror story.

RLE is a bit not possible for me. My mother knows and is supporting me. My wife is supporting me, but she said she would leave once I have the surgery. The rest of my family doesn't know, so its a bit impossible for me at the moment.

The thought of doing it without HRT or having some more planning time with certain things are out of the question. I would be looking at years before I could do anything such as HRT or RLE. This just helps as well to deal with the suicidal tendencies that I have had and they help quell the demons inside.

I try to look at it from the perspective of planning as much as possible. Need to make sure I do as much as humanly possible, while I can. Its going to be a long and difficult road to go down, enough as it is.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 05:48:45 AM
I'm on my way, but I don't pass. I think it's important to remember that even if you pass flawlessly and stealth into a new life, you will always be trans. It's part of us and it can't be escaped. RLE with that attitude helps your confidence.

I agree 100%

Quote from: chrissydr on June 05, 2014, 05:54:27 AM
Hope is all we have sometimes. If I had read that without knowing what I do know. I might have sunk further into my depression. But the reason I said what I did. Is because its not just a particular hope, that I am clinging to.

It can be (at present) a false hope. That is why some of my friends have had to go private for their HRT.  I see this being trotted out on a regular basis and I see the blow-back some weeks later when people found out it just wasn't so at their GIC. I spent my Saturday night in an A&E ward with a new girl who is self-medding - and collapsed - because she could not get HRT without RLE.

Quote from: chrissydr on June 05, 2014, 05:54:27 AMIt is the truth because, there are people out there that are getting the help. And getting the extra step to make it a little less of a horror story.

I am glad you are getting the help you want, but not everyone is. In spite of the guidelines....

Quote from: ytxwmb on June 05, 2014, 06:34:21 AM
I agree 100%


It can be (at present) a false hope. That is why some of my friends have had to go private for their HRT.  I see this being trotted out on a regular basis and I see the blow-back some weeks later when people found out it just wasn't so at their GIC. I spent my Saturday night in an A&E ward with a new girl who is self-medding - and collapsed - because she could not get HRT without RLE.


I am glad you are getting the help you want, but not everyone is. In spite of the guidelines....

Knowledge is power . Researching into the little problems that can come up are part of everything that we do. No not everyone is getting the help the way that they want. people jump into things without realizing what may happen. Self-medding is a choice but a choice people do make. I almost took my own life due to the thought that I could never be the woman, i know I am. I almost went the route of medding myself when I thought that I couldn't got the proper route.  People do that because they are told that they can't get help because, although they have not read the guidelines, that they won't be able to get the help, they do need.

What I have been trying to express is that there is the possibility to get the help, and there the light at the end of the tunnel might be closer than you think. I think maybe I am a bit more optimistic about things than I should be. But at the end of the day, i have done the research and found its not as depeessing as some would have me believe it to be

Quote from: ytxwmb on June 05, 2014, 06:34:21 AM
I agree 100%

You agree I don't pass? You tactless bitch!
<THIS IS A JOKE. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY>

Chrissydr: I agree research is the key here. We all have different journeys towards a similar goal, and what makes this place great is the ability to share those journeys. My wife also stated that full time is the end of our marriage, and won't kiss me or even entertain closeness if I'm in girl mode. She's my best friend then, not my wife. Still hurts though, as I do still love her.

I can relate with the wife issues :(

Unfortunately after receiving my diagnosis, she decided that getting involved in online swinging circles and having orgies in our marriage bed behind my back was an appropriate method of communicating her displeasure with me and the situation. (I discovered this when one of my friends alerted me when photographs and videos of the offending events surfaced on the internet...)

I can only hope that your own relationships continue, or end, in a slightly less gruesome manner.

Thanks so much for the replies! <3  Obviously not everything is exactly what I wanted to hear (even if I expected that, it's still hard...), but it really helps a lot.  I'm so grateful for your support.


Sandra:  Hihi! ^^ I'm at uni here right now (I lived here anyway, though).  I guess I'm older than I come across, and definitely older than I look irl (or so I'm told).  I'm actually 34. It's a big part of why I feel so impatient... other than the whole hating what I look and feel like in this body so much that it's hard to get through each day.  At least this is one place where I don't need to explain that! 

I haven't received anything from Sandyford yet.  This thread was the best source of info I could find, and I wanted to ask you all about it first, especially given the problems that seem to arise from living in Tayside.  Anyway, you're right, it's terribly hard to hear that I may have to wait as long as I thought, but it won't help me to have false hope.  I will try everything I can.  I couldn't fund the whole private thing.  I've made another GP appointment so that I can ask her opinion on going private initially and how it would affect me, and also ask whether she'd refer me to an endo after my local psych appointments.  But I will work on the assumption that she'll say no to both of those things, which stops me from getting my hopes up.

I've been really lucky with my family, but my dad is struggling a lot.  He hasn't been able to face me or talk about it yet, but sent me a message of support, despite not understanding.  I got the best possible reaction from them, considering I was worried that they might never speak to me again.  They are going to lag behind for a long time in how they process it, I think, but I've told them I have to move forward at my own pace.  My partner has been amazing through all of this, and says she's sticking with me no matter what.  I realise there are no guarantees, but she accepts me completely as a woman and is working on adjusting herself to the idea that she'll be with a woman in future, so... fingers crossed.  I know exactly how fortunate I am at present in that regard, especially reading some of your replies here. :(

I do have clothes and makeup, I've been discovering my style (actually feeling good and taking pride in my appearance for the first time in my life is a great feeling), and I suppose I'm going out in 'half girl mode' atm.  Subtle makeup, more feminine hair, bootcut jeans and ankle boots (I love those boots).  I'm going to start trying to wear women's tops now, but keeping it subtle until I feel more comfortable.  As Danniella says, confidence is so important, and I'm sort of lacking it right now, so I need to build it up slowly. 

But hey, I've been laughed at by construction workers even when presenting as a guy in the past, so I'd take that as them being them, and not a reflection on you. :)

I take your point about learning to embrace my trans status.  It's something I found very difficult at first, but which is already getting easier now.  Thanks for the advice! ^^


Danniella:  Hey! xD  Thanks so much for the comprehensive summary of the process in Tayside (with bullets! \o/).  I will be sure to affirm that I'm seeking a referral to the GIC.  I wasn't so clear on this when I visited my GP the first time, mainly because I was a complete mess and could hardly talk to her, and I also didn't know about the new protocol at that point.  I wonder if I should contact Sandyford anyway, just in case I get lucky with them backdating my referral, but perhaps it's unlikely....

In terms of having private appointments with a gender specialist... you would recommend this purely for the opportunity to talk and ask questions, but it isn't likely to speed up my access to treatment, is that right?  It still sounds like a worthwhile thing if I could afford it, but I might be more reluctant to spend so much money 'just' to talk, however useful that would be.  It's worth thinking about, though.

I will admit to considering self-medding, and in my darker moments deciding that I must do it, but most of the time it scares me and I have no desire to if I can avoid it.  I have been considering whether I should start my RLE regardless.  Concerns over how well I will pass in the shorter term (I suspect not very o.O) and social anxiety over things like having to return to uni in September as an openly trans woman to people know already know me as something else are the main things holding me back.  I'm debating whether I should change my name and start this process by the end of the month.  I am just starting on my voice.  Other than my obvious lack of breasts (lol), my face and voice are the major areas of concern.  I want to get started, so I'm gonna have to reconcile myself to the fact that those things are not going to be perfect, or even passable, and that I need to be strong enough to deal with that until I improve those areas.  I don't want to get to my appointment when it finally happens only to be made to wait further.  -_-

And thanks, I appreciate the offer of advice or a chat.  We should totally do that.  You're way further on than I am, and I imagine you know lots of people you can talk to already, but if you ever want to talk to someone else local, the same applies in reverse, k? :)


And sorry, I do have a tendency to type too much once I get started. :3

~Cat

xx

Daniella: my word that's horrible, I hope you're doing well. It must be awful to have that from someone you trusted so much.

Cat: You certainly do come across as younger <3 pretty much the same age as me though so I can relate. It's a pity uni is over or I'd meet up for a coffee and a chat :)

Keep us updated on anything that happens, and don't worry about long replies!

I'm really glad I made this thread, as it's helped me incredibly and its good to see it helping others - also I've met some amazing people!

Quote from: Cat on June 05, 2014, 08:21:15 AMI wonder if I should contact Sandyford anyway, just in case I get lucky with them backdating my referral, but perhaps it's unlikely....

It might happen, always worth a shot since getting through the Tayside pathway can potentially ad 4-6 weeks to the time it takes to get in the door at sandyford -.-'

Quote from: Cat on June 05, 2014, 08:21:15 AM
In terms of having private appointments with a gender specialist... you would recommend this purely for the opportunity to talk and ask questions, but it isn't likely to speed up my access to treatment, is that right?  It still sounds like a worthwhile thing if I could afford it, but I might be more reluctant to spend so much money 'just' to talk, however useful that would be.  It's worth thinking about, though.

I found that it actually did help me get through the tayside pathway in some ways. You can request that whatever specialist you see shares your information with your GP + Psych team, which can help them diagnose you quicker.

I'm yet to see if this will help matters in Sandyford, but it's always nice to have another specialist report in your back pocket anyway (Even if just to read at night during the dark early times to convince yourself you are not crazy)

Quote from: Cat on June 05, 2014, 08:21:15 AM
I have been considering whether I should start my RLE regardless.  Concerns over how well I will pass in the shorter term (I suspect not very o.O) and social anxiety over things like having to return to uni in September as an openly trans woman to people know already know me as something else are the main things holding me back.

I actually wish I had come out in University. From what I hear, it's a good environment for it. Lots of bright minds experimenting with new ways of thinking, meeting new people and no massive pressures makes for a good environment to experiment with one's self in.

Quote from: Cat on June 05, 2014, 08:21:15 AM
I'm debating whether I should change my name and start this process by the end of the month.  I am just starting on my voice.  Other than my obvious lack of breasts (lol), my face and voice are the major areas of concern.  I want to get started, so I'm gonna have to reconcile myself to the fact that those things are not going to be perfect, or even passable, and that I need to be strong enough to deal with that until I improve those areas.  I don't want to get to my appointment when it finally happens only to be made to wait further.  -_-

Finding that strength to step out your door even on the days when you know you don't pass is the hardest part imo. But once you get used to it, you become stronger than you could ever imagine.

Quote from: Cat on June 05, 2014, 08:21:15 AM
And thanks, I appreciate the offer of advice or a chat.  We should totally do that.  You're way further on than I am, and I imagine you know lots of people you can talk to already, but if you ever want to talk to someone else local, the same applies in reverse, k? :)

Yup yup, I'm actually meeting up with another dundonian trans girl from the forums this weekend! I'm always happy to meet up with questioning peeps or those in transition for a coffee and a chat :) (We are in the shadows...but we do exist ;) )

Quote from: Cat on June 05, 2014, 08:21:15 AM
And sorry, I do have a tendency to type too much once I get started. :3

Don't worry...that happens to most of us when you find somewhere safe to express yourself after a long time of keeping it all inside...you should see the length of some of my posts linked in my bio >.> (I have a habit of writing about my experiences like they were short stories...makes for some looooong posts x'D )

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 08:35:59 AM
Daniella: my word that's horrible, I hope you're doing well. It must be awful to have that from someone you trusted so much.

Well I had a complete and utter mental breakdown (Pro tip...seeing pictures of your wife and partner of 10 years being spit-roasted by two overweight 40 somethings while entwined in another woman is NOT a good way to discover they are cheating on you, it has somewhat negative side effects to one's sanity).

Buuuuuuuut after trying to throw myself off the Tay bridge, spending a month in a mental hospital, another two months heavily medicated and under suicide watch, countless hours of therapy, a divorce and one gender transition...I think I'm pretty much over it...mostly x'D

AT LEAST I CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT NOW RIGHT!? RIGHT!/ -maniacal laughter-

...

Okay I'm done venting now...CARRY ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS!!!

Well you're looking fantastic and helping others. I think you're an amazingly strong person to have even recovered from that!

And sanity is entirely subjective! "Only the insane have the strength to prosper, only those who prosper can judge what is sane"

yeah a warhammer 40k quote. I am a mega nerd.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 09:45:15 AM
Well you're looking fantastic and helping others. I think you're an amazingly strong person to have even recovered from that!

Thanks. ^^ (That reminds me...it's been months since I updated my avatar >.>)

But I guess it helped me in a round about twisted kinda way...I mean, I lost everything I had which sucked (understatement) but it meant that I had nothing to lose when I decided to go full-time etc, so without it, I would probably not be anywhere near where I am now...

-shrug-

Silver linings and all that.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 09:45:15 AM
And sanity is entirely subjective! "Only the insane have the strength to prosper, only those who prosper can judge what is sane"

yeah a warhammer 40k quote. I am a mega nerd.

Another 40K nerd? We trans girls can be scarily similar at times...

-cough cough-

'They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give themselves to me.
Like clay I shall mould them and in the furnace of war I shall forge them.
They will be of iron will and steely muscle.
In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest gun shall they be armed.
They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them.
They will have tactics, strategies and machines such that no foe will best them in battle.
They are my bulwark against the terror.
They are the defenders of Humanity.
They are my Space Marines...
...and they shall know no fear.'

-cough cough-

^^

This thread could devolve into a major geek out if we continue... Adeptus Astartes! (I was a Dark Angel collector, as well as some Orks!)

I absolutely loved reading the background and world building quotes in those books, especially Rogue Trader and the 2nd Edition. Incredible artwork as well, introduced me to one of my favourites, Ian Miller.

"That which I cannot crush with words I will crush with the tanks of the Imperial Guard!"

"I don't have time to die! I'm too busy!"

"Drive me closer! I want to hit them with my sword!" (Ok that one wasn't in the books but I love it!)

It is amazing how similar Trans girls can be sometimes. I found a thread when I first joined that was entirely made up of favourite MST3K quotes. When I saw that I thought "Yes. I'm home. These are my people" :p

I... don't even know what to say, Danniella.  That is just horrendous.  :/  So glad to hear you are doing better now, but I'm sorry you had to go through that in the first place (anything I can say sort of seems inadequate, so I'll shut up now).

As for me:

I just got off the phone with Sandyford.  They put me on their waiting list, and the woman I spoke to explained the Tayside situation but said that it would not affect my waiting time.  She said that as long as my local assessment has been done prior to my appointment at Sandyford, that's all that matters.  So, there's some good news.  Current waiting time is 13 months, which I guess is the bad news, but not unexpected.  I'm still gonna try to bug my GP for an endo referral and/or some bridging therapies, but I'm not holding my breath. I have also made the local place promise that they'll phone me if there are any cancellations between now and the end of July.  I live pretty close, I can be there in 15 minutes, I told her.  It's only the third time me or my partner has phoned them about that.  I think they got the message?  :p

I'll have to think carefully about what to pay for.  I'm starting electrolysis next week, and that will be expensive too, but I'll think about whether I can manage a private assessment.  As for uni... hmm, I dunno.  Part of me says most people will be fine, the other part is terrified and convinced everyone will hate and ridicule me, but I suppose that's natural.  Already I feel a lot stronger.  Six weeks ago, the idea that I could tell my family about this seemed impossible, but now it's done.  If they accept me, I shouldn't really care what folk at uni think.  I'm working on that.  I'll get there... I hope.

And yup, definitely.  I would like to meet up for a coffee and a chat (same goes for you, Sandra, if you're ever up this way again).  Right now is kinda hectic, but in a couple of weeks, once I'm back from my fieldwork trip, things should settle down a bit.  Kinda.  Maybe.  :3  But even if they don't, I'm still up for it. ^^

And yes, thanks to both of you for understanding. <3

I... in no way have any kind of leanings toward fantasy, RPGs or anything of that nerdy nature, though, so I'm totally nothing like you two.  Nope nope, not at all, nothing to see here........ pls move along, k?

*cough*

;P

Well hopefully I can pass my driving test on the 5th attempt and be able to take a drive up. I've never actually spoken face-to-face with another trans person!

I'm glad Sandyford got back to you. In my experience they were great, and they have an open day for folks on the waiting list on the 10th of July. 13 months is a long time, but its a top end figure - I got seen by Chalmers in less than that when they told me a year and a half.

Keep us updated <3

Oh!  I will try not to pin my hopes on it being the case, but it's nice to know things might not take as long as 13 months.  Thanks also for letting me know about the open day.  I am totally going to that! ^^

And good luck with your driving test!  I have one failed test behind me, a long time ago, and I've been trying to psych myself up for another shot at it for a couple of years.  I suspect any spare money I have will be getting funneled into other things for now, but it would be great to get over that hurdle one day.  I hope it works out for you this time. :)

And I will do.  Thanks again. <3

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 10:46:07 AM
Well hopefully I can pass my driving test on the 5th attempt and be able to take a drive up. I've never actually spoken face-to-face with another trans person!

We need to organise some mass gathering of Scottish Trans girls :D (Since there are no active support groups in the area...god knows I have looked)

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 10:46:07 AM
I'm glad Sandyford got back to you. In my experience they were great, and they have an open day for folks on the waiting list on the 10th of July.

I can't find any information on their website about this, can you elaborate? I think I would quite like to go to an open day, get a taste to keep me looking forward to it :)

Due to me strangely being on both waiting lists I started receiving letters from both. I got a letter informing me that it was an open day for people that were on the waiting list, although it does say that anyone interested in finding out more can attend.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fr7PmMUK.png&hash=a57712955592bf9b20fe1aa4e7c73f3f05260be7)
apologies about the fuzzy pic, took with my webcam. If you need any details I'll just type it out for you X

Cat: Stay hopeful about the times, but take my info with a pinch of salt. I'm not promising it will be shorter, just that there's a chance.

Danniella: I am so up for a meetup, there's so little help outside of the clinics. When I tried to look into groups I just found dead emails and disconnected phones. If you ever make a date, I'll be there

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 01:29:56 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fr7PmMUK.png&hash=a57712955592bf9b20fe1aa4e7c73f3f05260be7)
apologies about the fuzzy pic, took with my webcam. If you need any details I'll just type it out for you X

Wellp...I know the next day off from work I will be booking! :D

Anybody else going to go?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 05, 2014, 01:29:56 PM
Danniella: I am so up for a meetup, there's so little help outside of the clinics. When I tried to look into groups I just found dead emails and disconnected phones. If you ever make a date, I'll be there

My experience was much in the same, the odd ageing website or dead e-mail but nothing else. Even the people at sandyford etc hadn't heard of any groups in this area :(

Maybe we should just start our own one day ^^

I wasn't going to, seeing as I've been seen by Chalmers street now, but I could come through to meet some people? It's certainly easier for me to get to Glasgow than Dundee.

I will be going, I hope.  It's not too expensive to get a train, as long as I can book it in advance, so we're seriously discussing it.  It would be lovely to meet you both.  ^^

Well you'll see me there, even just to chat! The Q&A event is on the 10th of June from 6pm to 7:30 at the Lorne Hotel, 923 Sauchiehall Street (In case you couldn't read my fuzzy photo) I'm free all day that day, and Glasgow is just a train journey away from Bathgate so just update me on the times honey and I'll be there!

Getting quite excited about meeting you guys :D, anyone else who can make it is more than welcome to attend - it's going to be a useful night for filling in the blanks regarding care and treatment!

Ok, I will be getting into Glasgow at the back of four that day!  My partner will be with me, but she's a sweetheart, so it's all good. ^^  Thanks so much for posting the details... I couldn't find specifics on their website, so that really helped.  Oh, and thanks again for flagging this up in the first place.  Looking forward to meeting you!! :3 

-groan-

My work is being annoying and crunch deadlines means that I won't be able to go tomorrow :(

Daniella: awww :( pity. Love the new avatar though, you look great!

Crunch time? I just finished a computer arts course so I can only think of game development. Please don't tell me you work in game development or I will die of jealousy from your looks and job! x

Oh, Christ... I might just be the biggest idiot in the world. I, um... I sort of read June as July... and I have trains booked for July, and... *sigh* >///<

Omg, I...  And tomorrow I have an electro appointment, not to mention that without advance fares the trains are extortionate, and...  and my trip away is in two days and I have a ton of packing to do, and... >.<

This is a huge disappointment (completely of my own making), I was really looking forward to it, and to meeting you!!!! ;_;  And now I have a trip to Glasgow in July for no reason that I totally don't need. >.>

Ok, at the very least, you get a taste of the real me, I guess.  Scatterbrained doesn't even begin to cover it...  But I am soooo sorry about this.  I can't even explain the levels of idiocy to which I am capable of descending.  I hope we get another chance to meet up soon, but this is totally my bad, and I'm just gonna have to wear it.  Sorry. 

Cat: Oh tonight is disappointing... I start my new job on the 7th of July... It's unlikely I'll get time off and I'm not sure of my shifts yet as it's the training. I'll keep you updated, the job is in Edinburgh park and about ten minutes away from a train station so I may make it a bit later - if I can.

I was looking forward to meeting you as well... I'm sure I'll still get the chance to meet up with you lovely ladies though - at some point!

I suppose I should clarify that it is definitely tomorrow. If you're going to be in Glasgow on the 10th of July I can still try to organise something X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 09, 2014, 06:18:59 PM
Daniella: awww :( pity. Love the new avatar though, you look great!

Crunch time? I just finished a computer arts course so I can only think of game development. Please don't tell me you work in game development or I will die of jealousy from your looks and job! x

Thanks ^^; Still got a ways to go, but starting to get to that point where my before and after pictures are becoming more than just "Look I have longer hair!" xD

I am a digital artist too. :P I worked in the games industry for a short time (Studied computer arts and game design at abertay uni) but I very quickly switched to something more...stable, after the realities of the games industry hit me. D: (I have major issues with the state of the games industry right now, that could fill a whole thread of their own so not going into it now ^^)

Now I do pretty much the same job I did in the games industry, but the hours are stable, we actually get paid overtime and the pay is almost double what it was in the games industry...so what if I really only do things for the likes of the oil and gas industry, NHS or other businesses. It's a damned sight less stressful than the games industry was ^^ (Aside from the rare crunch ofc)

Quote from: Cat on June 09, 2014, 07:56:20 PM
Oh, Christ... I might just be the biggest idiot in the world. I, um... I sort of read June as July... and I have trains booked for July, and... *sigh* >///<

This is a huge disappointment (completely of my own making), I was really looking forward to it, and to meeting you!!!! ;_;  And now I have a trip to Glasgow in July for no reason that I totally don't need. >.>

Ok, at the very least, you get a taste of the real me, I guess.  Scatterbrained doesn't even begin to cover it...  But I am soooo sorry about this.  I can't even explain the levels of idiocy to which I am capable of descending.  I hope we get another chance to meet up soon, but this is totally my bad, and I'm just gonna have to wear it.  Sorry. 

Don't feel too bad! I did the same thing! xD I got confused because in Sandra's first post she said the 10th of July, not June ^^ Just hoping that there may be other similar opportunities in the future :(

I just checked with Sandyford, apparently they only have these events once a year :(

Looks like we shall have to meet under our own steam now then.

Abertay as well! Still trying with the games industry here, hoping it's going to get more stable.

Quote from: Danniella on June 10, 2014, 03:09:47 AM
Don't feel too bad! I did the same thing! xD I got confused because in Sandra's first post she said the 10th of July, not June ^^ Just hoping that there may be other similar opportunities in the future :(

I didn't notice that! What a stupid cow. Apologies for the confusion.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 04:00:13 AM
Abertay as well! Still trying with the games industry here, hoping it's going to get more stable.

There are still lots of opportunities out there in the smaller companies etc...but it's just not been the same since the recession hit big, with Realtime Worlds etc going bust :(

I actually went back to the Abertay Digital Degree Showcase this year...spoke to lecturers I had known for 5 years and they didn't recognise me, was pretty cool...so was going to the female toilets in the uni after 5 years studying there and wondering what they were like xD

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 04:00:13 AM
I didn't notice that! What a stupid cow. Apologies for the confusion.

It's easily done :)

I don't think bovine creatures can utilise forum technology though, especially stupid ones...so I don't think you are a stupid cow :P

No, don't worry, I still think it's my fault for not checking, although I suppose I shouldn't be quite so hard on myself about it if the original post did say July (please don't feel bad about that, though, I didn't realise either -- I thought that was just me having another of my "moments", to be honest).  As things stand, I still have those trains, so perhaps if you're free we could still meet up that day.  If it's too much hassle or expense given your new job (congrats on that, btw!), or if I'm not able to keep to those train journeys now for whatever reason, we can still do it some other time. ^^

It's a pity they only run those events once a year.  I was looking forward to hearing what they had to say.  -_-  However, if I'd noticed the date was this month initially, it's unlikely I'd have been able to attend anyway, given the state I'm gonna be in for the next couple of days getting ready to go away.  But it's not the end of the world.  At least I am on their list, and I have a ton of other things I could/should be doing to get myself ready for when I get my local appointment in July.

x

Yeah Realtime World's explosion flooded the job market with quality applicants with experience, leaving uni leavers in a poor position for a while. Hoping to get into a smaller team or have an independent project come through.

My work was at the digital showcase, Shadow Over Innsmouth in the reception hall - although I wasn't able to make it for the show opening.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 04:34:08 AM
Yeah Realtime World's explosion flooded the job market with quality applicants with experience, leaving uni leavers in a poor position for a while. Hoping to get into a smaller team or have an independent project come through.

Have you tried entering Dare to be Digital? I did it in 3rd year, was great :)

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 04:34:08 AM
My work was at the digital showcase, Shadow Over Innsmouth (PLUG: https://vimeo.com/94773214) in the reception hall - although I wasn't able to make it for the show opening.

I think I saw your work, was on a talent scouting mission but we were looking for 3D artists.

Although I would caution against linking that video, as it has your full name on the account >.>

I entered dare twice, didn't get accepted twice. >:( With living so far away from the university it's hard to get a team together, but I still have a couple of years.

And I noticed my male name was on it, but I felt it was safe for this thread - I don't think it will be getting too much attention. I'll probably edit it out of the comment after a few days. Who knows? Maybe there's a Scottish game developer in need of an artist who's also questioning their gender? :p

Also, I knew I should have went for my 3d animated project idea instead!

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 06:12:39 AM
I entered dare twice, didn't get accepted twice. >:( With living so far away from the university it's hard to get a team together, but I still have a couple of years.

That's a shame, it was the highlight of my Uni life :) So what year are you in now then?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 06:12:39 AM
And I noticed my male name was on it, but I felt it was safe for this thread - I don't think it will be getting too much attention. I'll probably edit it out of the comment after a few days. Who knows? Maybe there's a Scottish game developer in need of an artist who's also questioning their gender? :p

Quite the specific recruitment goal...but you never know ^^

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 06:12:39 AM
Also, I knew I should have went for my 3d animated project idea instead!

If it's any consolation, after all my scouting, we didn't hire anybody in the end xD

I finished fourth year in May. Waiting for my final grades now, hence the new job. Working for HSBC isn't quite what I did all that work for though.

You get 2 years after you graduate to continue entering dare so I may still be able to, but work may put a stop to that. Mortgage and a child mean a need for money!

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 06:32:28 AM
I finished fourth year in May. Waiting for my final grades now, hence the new job. Working for HSBC isn't quite what I did all that work for though.

Making corporate/training materials for multi billion dollar companies isn't what I imagined either...but life gives you lemons xD

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 10, 2014, 06:32:28 AM
You get 2 years after you graduate to continue entering dare so I may still be able to, but work may put a stop to that. Mortgage and a child mean a need for money!

Yeah...that dare money isn't exactly good for much heavy lifting...I had to keep my part time job during dare and I just had to afford a flat with myself and my then fiancée in it. I can imagine mortgages and kids are somewhat more draining on the resources xD

Good to see some developers in here. Personally, I prefer the programming/non artist side of the games myself. I could never get the artistic side of my brain to work. Too much OCD, I think.

To be honest as well, if we could get a few girls together, we could meet in a fairly public place to do a sort of meet and greet with the scottish 'lassies'. Maybe put a few faces to some names.

So how was the Q&A day!? :D (For those that went)

I'm really bummed that I didn't get to go and meet you all. We must organise something!

I did make a 6 month transition update video over the weekend though, for those interested in progress etc ^^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw0YjH69ahg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw0YjH69ahg)

Quote from: chrissydr on June 11, 2014, 06:49:03 AM
Good to see some developers in here. Personally, I prefer the programming/non artist side of the games myself. I could never get the artistic side of my brain to work. Too much OCD, I think.

To be honest as well, if we could get a few girls together, we could meet in a fairly public place to do a sort of meet and greet with the scottish 'lassies'. Maybe put a few faces to some names.

It's amazing who you find! I think we have the start of a Trans games company! Lets make some waves! Or maybe some games...

I repeat that I am up for any meet ups, I'd love to meet some other trans people and like you I'd love to put some faces to names. It's weird how you can get to know people just from a forum.

Dannielle: I didn't go to the Q&A myself, as I was only really going to meet with people. I'm off Sandyford's waiting list now since I was seen at Chalmers so it didn't seem too important to me to go alone.

You look amazing though and act really natural! Maybe close the blinds next time lol to stop the nuclear sunshine (Sunshine? In Scotland?!?) I'm so glad to hear the hormones have helped you find a happier place, that's pretty much the only reason I want them - I want to feel better inside, boobs or not!

I'll just fake it until I make it!

Well... I could do some storyboarding/writing for these games, since I write fiction (mainly speculative). ~_^

And yeah, I'd be up for meeting, but right now I'm rushing around trying to get organised for my flight... :o  I'll be back in a couple of weeks, at which point I'll have the chance to sit down and watch your vid, Danniella.

You both look amazing in your pics, btw.

Quote from: Cat on June 12, 2014, 06:15:59 AM
Well... I could do some storyboarding/writing for these games, since I write fiction (mainly speculative). ~_^

I too write fiction etc...it's my dream to one day shake off the shackles of the oppressive, mundane 9-5 job, and ascend to the ranks of professional best selling writer, whereupon I shall swan around my palatial mansion in the country in wonderful dresses and hipster trappings, before casting myself into my overflowing study filled with piles of half read books, and scattered manuscript papers around the floor. Then I would begin to write my hotly anticipated next best seller, prepping my trust old bakelite typewriter as I begin...wait.
...
What were we talking about again??

Quote from: Cat on June 12, 2014, 06:15:59 AM
And yeah, I'd be up for meeting, but right now I'm rushing around trying to get organised for my flight... :o  I'll be back in a couple of weeks, at which point I'll have the chance to sit down and watch your vid, Danniella.

I'm sure I could manage a day trip to edinburgh or glasgow if peeps were so inclined :D I have intentions of taking the 10th of July off anyway to go see my family in Ayrshire, so I would be heading that way anyway.

Quote from: Cat on June 12, 2014, 06:15:59 AM
You both look amazing in your pics, btw.

Why thank you ^^ I do wish my hair would grow faster though -..- It's at such an awkward length -sigh-

Quote from: Cat on June 12, 2014, 06:15:59 AM
You both look amazing in your pics, btw.

Thanks so much XxX

I always had long hair, even before I started looking to transition - I always liked playing with it! In hindsight, maybe not the most masculine of activities...

Back now.  Something of a traumatic trip, but meh.  It only makes me more determined to push ahead with this so I don't have to be reacted to and perceived in that way again in the future.  -_-

Sandra -- I always had long hair, too.  This week I treated myself to a cut and colour, and it no longer looks like I have long 'guy hair' that I have to feminise... I wish I could change other things as easily and successfully as that.  >.<

Danniella -- it's great to hear you talk about all this; obviously you've been through some stuff, but you sound so positive now.  You also made me laugh a lot.  <3  I know what you mean about going out -- I've been surprised by the lack of adverse reactions so far, even if my choice of female clothes is fairly conservative.  And even if I still get misgendered in restaurants and the like.  I know how far I have to go.  It's interesting to hear you talk about the reactions of people at work.  I'm changing my name officially this week and I will have to confront people at uni with that soon. 

And wow... you're going to Thailand?  But it's so expensive! :o But... yeah, you talked about the expense... and good luck with your fundraising for that.  It sounds like a much better option, but I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to fund something like that myself.  Right now I will be happy just to get started with HRT.  I have an assessment for laser at the end of the week, also.  And I'm starting to look at voice techniques... I will postpone thoughts of SRS until later, I think. 

Hmm... now I'm in danger of rambling again.  Oh!  But... I am no longer available on the 10th, because my partner has booked us into a hotel as a surprise (she told me when I got off my flight home), since she didn't want our train tickets to go to waste.  At least, that was the theory, although it seems to have involved buying a whole new set of tickets, which... well, I'm not seeing the logic, but it will be a nice little break, either way.  HOWEVER, I am totally able to do other dates.  I will just make sure I read them very carefully before I go booking anything. :3


And yes, I have that dream too!  Thankfully I have shed the arrogant sense of entitlement I used to have toward it, years ago, when I was convinced that all my neophyte scribblings were the best thing ever to happen in the English language.  I look at them now, and... and I cringe.  I should burn those.  Maybe someday I will.  >///<  And I can't type on a typewriter to save myself... it hurts my poor little fingers, although not as much as trying to write with a pen.  I have no idea how people used to manage with those things.  I've taken a break from writing since the turn of the year, partly because it was stressing me out on top of study commitments.  Now I think I will probably wait until things settle down a bit before I pick it up again.  I've had one small thing published, but not anywhere prestigious.  But I tend to hold on to my work because I always believe I can sell it to a better market than the one I wrote it for, and then I feel like I have to make it perfect, and ... then I never do.  But I think I will be able to let go in future, because I'm learning to let go of lots of things I used to feel the need to control excessively....

Ok, I'm definitely rambling now.  I shall stop.  ^^

Hi girls!

Traumatic trip Cat? Want to talk about it? Why were you traveling anyway and where did you go? Don't mean to pry but I am a nosy bitch so feel free not to answer if it's personal or you just don't want to.

And although Thailand is expensive it's still not as expensive as the surgery in the West and has far, FAR better doctors. Of course the NHS is free (but sloooooow) but looking at private the prices were going up to about 10 grand in the West for SRS surgery. I recently watched the god-awful sky living show 'ladyboys' and in the last episode they showed a woman who had paid -outside of flights- about £1500 for the same operation from one of the better hospitals with a full 14 day aftercare. Even in the US and UK they tend to chuck you in an attached hotel for aftercare that you pay for so that you're not taking up space. I know I want SRS and I think that's the way I'd like to go, their results are incredible (one doctor bragged that his work could fool a doctor and could only be spotted with a speculum!) and the timing is in your hands, not the NHS's

My real reason for my post was humble bragging that today we went to M&D's theme park (Scotlands number one theme park! in a field of one!) on an offer that came with the paper for my son's second birthday. As there would be photos on Facebook and I'm not out to my family I dressed androgynous - men's work shirt. baggy jeans and trainers with my hair in a basic ponytail. I had very minimal makeup on (for me I suppose) just some foundation to cover the dark circles under my eyes and eyeliner pencil on the lower lash line. Less than five minutes there and my wife and I are being referred to as 'Ladies' and on at least four separate occasions when I was moving the buggy through the crowd I heard mothers and fathers pulling children aside "to let the wumman wi' the buggy through" and even received a 'Sorry hen!' when a man stepped back onto my toe. We also got a dirty look from a rather large and well dressed woman when we stood together with our son there. I think we didn't fit her worldview and I'm glad we didn't :)

So this is really all this post is. I'm not out to family so I can't go to Facebook to squee this all over my wall, and although I am out so several friends and they are fantastically supportive I don't think they'd realise how much of a success this was today and just how incredible I feel right now because of it.

Does anyone else have any success stories to share? Or just updates? I'm still up for meeting up with people to have a chat (And maybe some wine?)

For reference here's a picture of the theme park today. By this time I had stopped caring and had put my hair up in a bun so it didn't whip my face on the roller coasters.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMcJ67GT.jpg&hash=5042f7e77c0688432c728355f010299b15c265ee)

Hi Sandra! ^^

It's so great to hear about your success, yesterday!  Congrats!  :3  I know exactly how good you must be feeling!  Love the pic, too.  So sweet, and you look great.  <3  Most of the time I go out in shirts, albeit girly ones with pinks and pastels and feminine cut.  I don't have the courage to wear anything too overt yet.  I've not been out in a situation where I haven't been required to be up close and talk to people, so I have no idea what people see when I'm out, but I know that I don't remotely pass in one-to-one situations -- such as in restaurants or shops.  It's early days, so I am mostly sanguine about that, but... well, you know.  Glad to hear I'm not alone in often having to cover dark circles under my eyes though, lol.  I have always been prone to those when I'm tired or stressed, and losing weight over the past few months has caused several people to ask if I'm ill... which is not exactly flattering.  I'm a healthy weight for my size!  >.>  But the combination of dark circles and looking thinner than people expect doesn't work too well, I guess. -_- 

About my trip... yeah.  I was doing research fieldwork in Iceland.  I mean, the people I was with were lovely, but they knew me as male, responded to me that way (used my birth name, etc., made comments about women to me like I'm a guy), expected me to respond in kind... and I was sleeping in a tent and having to use the (shared) male facilities all week, and... it took its toll.  I found myself being really awkward and withdrawn with folk, which is not like me, because I didn't know how to react and wasn't comfortable with how I was sounding or acting.  And then when I got home, I just felt so weird for a couple of days.  Thankfully, that feeling didn't last long.  Maybe 'traumatic' is overselling it, but emotionally it was pretty traumatic.  Or maybe I'm a flake, but... I found it hard. 

I may have to look more seriously at the Thai option.  The truth is that I haven't researched SRS a great deal yet, because I've been seeing it as the end, and I'm still close to the beginning, but I know I want it too.  And if I'm going to let someone do that to me, I need to make sure I get the best possible outcome.

As for me, my main thing is getting my statutory declaration done tomorrow, and then I have the joy of changing all my documentation and records with everyone.  Um, yay.  -_-  I will stop moaning about it when I actually see my real name and gender on stuff, I guess.  :p  No, I mean, of course I'm excited about that.  But it also seems like a pain.  And I have my test consultation for laser at the end of the week, because apparently I have the ideal colouration for that (i.e. pasty white skin in typical Scottish style, with darkish body hair).  I'm hoping that if I get a good outcome from that, it will save me some time and money on electrolysis in the long run.  I've read this is the case for many girls, so... fingers crossed.  Aside from that, I've been researching my rights and the recommendations under the Gender Reassignment Protocol here.  I plan to present myself as established in my affirmed gender, and to make it clear that I'll be seeking to start HRT through whatever means as soon as possible, and I'm going to push for bridging treatment with my GP and see where that gets me. 

The dark circles are a constant pain to me, something I think I'll never shift, I'm about 7 stone and always have been. HRT may put some fat on me but I'll always have panda eyes I think.

I tend to dress far more feminine if I'm out in girl mode, you can probably see from my avatars that constantly change. To go out without being so overtly female and still passing -when that wasn't my intention at all - was the greatest feeling. Going out with breast forms, hip padding, an hours worth of make up, false eyelashes, false nails and a skinny jean/vest top combo is so different from just me in my boy clothes. Or I thought it was. I'll be riding this high for a while :)

Oooh! field work? what field do you study? (Remember:nosy bitch)

And you're not flaky, or if you are I am too. I left a well paying job a couple of months ago because of similar feelings. Training was awful, being lumped with the boys all the time, when I always hung around and chatted to the girls. I was put in an all female team - I thought this was perfect, but the team just clammed up when I was around and wouldn't let me join in on anything. They'd talk about things and I'd want to join in but when I made my presence known they'd stop with "Oh he doesn't want to hear about hand creams!" when I wanted to tell them about Soap and Glory Hand Food (It's amazing by the way) or my favourite conditioner. After an awful day that left me in tears my trainer took me aside and tried to cheer me up by constantly telling me that I was a man and I wanted to succeed - it's natural for men to want to feel that way! I got so sick of being told to grow a pair that I just handed my notice in and walked. Things could have been so different if I had been out. I don't blame anyone there at all, it was my fault for keeping things secret and they can't be blamed for treating me as the gender I was presenting as.

Where are you getting laser? Is it private? My doctor hasn't spoken about it at all but it's something I want to do - having to disappear after being out for four or five hours to the toilet with my shaver and re-apply make up is a pain and a drag. The buzzing noise from the girl's toilets isn't exactly the easiest thing to explain either :P

At the risk of sounding like a nosy bitch myself (an impression which would not be entirely without foundation ;p), what height are you?  Because wow, you are so light!  I'm 5'8" and currently weigh just under 10 stone.  I plan to be a stone lighter in the long run, because although I'll put on fat, the muscle I'll lose will more than compensate, but that will take longer ofc.  But yeah, I've always been the same with my eyes.  I dunno what it is.  At least now I get to cover those dark circles up. But anyway, I'm just glad I'm not any taller than I am.  I wouldn't mind being a couple of inches shorter. 

And yeah, I see how you dress in your avatars, you are way more confident than I am right now. :)  So awesome that you were passing without trying, though!  I am gradually edging toward being more overt when I go out, but I've been taking it slowly.  I guess my figure is not helping.  I have a bit of natural curve, but not to female proportions (not even close)... and I have no breasts, obv.  I think my new hair and eyebrows ought to help me be a little bolder, maybe. 

I study geoscience.  Lots of time was spent lying in rainy trenches measuring dirt with a ruler.  It's super glamorous, for sure. ;3  But yes, pretty much exactly what you went through with your old job, I think, with the good thing being that I only had to deal with it for 12 days.  Same deal, in that none of them are culpable, since I was presenting as male (albeit a male with a very girly way of walking and doing "his" hair, and whose toenails were painted pastel pink ;P).  But still really hard.  It's not easy to undress/dress completely in a tiny shower cubicle, and I'm sure they wonder why I'm the only one who wasn't happy to strut around in "his" underwear. >.>  And the shower was one of those where you have to push the button, and it kept going off, and I'd have to wrap in my towel and sneak out of the bathroom to switch it on again without anyone seeing me.  Thankfully didn't have to deal with any of the "man up" stuff, but I know what you mean about that.  I did have to grit my teeth while men gave me their opinion of the "gentler sex" along with the usual unconscious mild patronising attitude.  Meh.  Most of all I just hated the fact that I felt like I was betraying myself the whole time, though.  And my voice, omg... so horrible.  I'm gonna be working very hard on that from now on, I think.

There is a laser clinic at the hospital here (Ninewells), which I am booked into for a test patch thingy to make sure my skin reacts ok.  Because yeah, the hair thing is a big obstacle, not to mention a massive dysphoria trigger.  Any difference this makes will be a godsend.  But oh, I hadn't thought of actually taking a razor out with me... that's genius.  Although... reapplying makeup afterwards, yikes... I would be gone for some time. I suppose I can think of another potential source of buzzing from the girls' toilets, but I'm not sure that makes things a whole lot better in terms of not drawing attention and stuff. ;3 

I need to try that hand cream.  I could use something better for during the day regular use.  I will try to pick some up!

I'm 5'8" as well, would love to be shorter as I'm soo gangly right now. Strangely enough the last time I went to boots and measured/weighed myself I clocked in at just under 8 stone fully dressed and 5'7". A  health nut friend of mine said that it was due to the massive amounts of walking I do - it's about 2 miles to my train station and a further mile to my uni from there, so every day I was doing a round trip of about 6 miles - apparently this wears out the soles of your feet and can cause your skeleton to settle, making you slightly shorter. I walk EVERYWHERE now lol

On the figure, just fake it until you make it doll X I use breast forms (Or chicken fillets) that I picked up for about a fiver from Primark (also where all my outfits come from) to fill a padded bra - A cup only, as that's probably all I'd get naturally (Sister and mother are both B's) and I wear a padded gaff that I picked up online, about £40 - this was a great purchase, it puts barely an inch total onto my hips but jeans and the like just fit so much more naturally - they'd fall off otherwise.

http://www.thebreastformstore.co.uk/mens-padded-panty2.aspx

So you just booked with the hospital for the laser? didn't have to go through any hoops? I might look into that then, I assumed it would have to be set up like HRT or voice training through a gender clinic.

Also I called my clinic today and I have a follow up for September booked with Doctor Gerber, Dr Kennedy is on holiday though so I won't be able to get a second confirmation on my HRT until October at the earliest. It's nice to have a timeline, but I am pretty impatient. We'll see how I react to that in a couple of months.

Oh wow, you must have a really small frame for your height. Which is totally a good thing!  I'm not big-built, and I'm quite slender, but I'm way heavier than you.  I have a friend who walks all over the place though -- prior to starting that he was extremely overweight, and he got to the point where he is now extremely thin, so it definitely helps.  Right now I do about 35 mins of cardio most days on a cross-trainer, but I've stopped running, because I don't really want what it would do to my calves.  Once my endocrine situation is correct, maybe I'll consider running again, but not right now.  Walking though... that I could do more of.  I read also that we can lose up to an inch in height following HRT -- something to do with the effects of less muscle on the skeleton or something... but I dunno if that's the case, I haven't researched it myself. 

I do have the fillets (I'm kinda wearing them now, in fact, as I do most days at home, just so I 'make sense' when I see myself).  Do you tape those when you go out, I guess?  But ohhh, thank you for the link!  I've been wondering about the hip padding.  That's awesome.  Most of my jeans fit well at the waist (the size 10s, at least), but I would appreciate a little more curve to fill out the hips.  It would be a much more natural look. 

And yes.  The laser clinic is part of the hospital, but operates as a private clinic also.  I believe their NHS waiting times are super long, and I think also that a referral would be required for that.  But you can go yourself if you're happy to pay for it.  This test thingy will cost me about £30, and then I think each session will be in the region of £75-100 after that, spaced a month apart.  It's something I can do right now that will make a difference, and I feel like I really need to get started.  I need to do something right now.  Hopefully the test patch will work out ok. 

Glad to hear you have a date to see Dr Gerber!  I know what you mean about waiting, though.  I'm still desperately waiting for my local psych appointment at the end of the month.  Oh, and yesterday I read that Chalmers apparently do consider referrals from Tayside, so now I'm confused about what I read before.  But maybe not self-referrals?  I dunno.  Anyway, I'm impatient too.  That's why I'm gonna discuss the thoughts of self-medding I've been having with my doctor and see whether that bridging treatment might be an option.  But at least you have the appointment!  And even if it's October, and that's still too long, it's progress on where you were before, right? ^^

QuoteI read also that we can lose up to an inch in height following HRT -- something to do with the effects of less muscle on the skeleton or something... but I dunno if that's the case

Oh my god that would be amazing. My height worries me when I'm out, I love wearing heels but they can make me feel awkward and too different. I'm size 6 so I guess I have a small frame, but when I look at my back and shoulders in the mirror it doesn't feel that way. I realise I'm not alone, and in a better position than other girls. I want to put some weight on though, but like you I'm scared of putting it on the wrong place or developing muscle from it. Sexy calves can be a plus though girl!

I wear my fillets all the time and my gaff as well, it's pretty much permanently in the wash, then back on me. Just makes me feel right, especially when I catch myself in a mirror or a shop window. I don't tape though, I never thought of that! They can move around and I've been scared of adjusting them. Just a sports bra with them, it's not too flattering but has a much more natural shape I find.

Laser is an idea I may choose to follow once my wages start coming in, if I'm on HRT by October then I want to be as smooth as possible!

Hey all ^^

Sorry for no updates or chat involvement in a bit, crazy few weeks, bad assed flu, my father in hospital and work problems = a busy busy Danniella ^^;

To catch up to the convo...

I'm 5'9" without heels...which I ALWAYS wear since going full time (like seriously...I don't own any non heeled shoes now :S) which results in the unfortunate effect of having me tower over all my female friends and family...but I am growing used to it now. If nothing else being that tall helps build confidence pretty damned fast, since it's not like you can hide in a crowd xD

I'm not sure about losing height or not...but my feet shrank...a hell of allot (see Pic)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10479732_792892057411641_5247831134181743197_n.jpg)

Went from a women's size 11 to a 9, which is great! since now I can actually shop for shoes in some high street places ^^;

But I imagine if HRT can do that for cartilage in your feet etc, is might do something for your height as well.


I've not actually started laser/electrolysis yet. I'm lucky and unlucky in that I have very light fine facial hair anyway, which the HRT has additionally softened and slowed the growth of. I still want to get electrolysis eventually (as I do need to shave every morning otherwise I can feeeeeel it D: ) but considering the cost? I think I am better spending funds elsewhere on my transition, at least until the NHS can help.

So what is the plan for the 10th then? I have the day off work but no knowledge of appropriate meeting places in Glasgow ^^;

Hay Dannielle X

So you do see cartilage loss as well as muscle loss? I'm a seven, I can actually steal my wife's shoes. I guess I won't be dropping that much as I probably don't have much to lose as I am a twig :p

You make a good point about being unable to hide, when I first started going out I always had friends ask for things or talk to people for me. Once I had to do things alone my confidence leapt up :)

I'm starting my new job on the 7th so if I am able to meet up it will be after work and rather late - I'd want to go home and get changed before coming through. If I'm honest the weekend would be better, or meeting up closer to home. But I can still make it for a couple of hours and a drink or so. Unfortunately I don't know much about Glasgow at all, I'm an Edinburgh girl.

I don't wear heels out yet, so my height is just about okay, but I'm pretty tall in heels.  My upper body is so annoying though.  I mean, I'm not particularly broad shouldered or anything, but... compared to where I want to be, it's just... it's fine with certain things, but... it's really not fine.  I need to lose mass there.  Which I will.  But... I also need patience, which I don't have.  :p  Sexy calves though, yes, but I know that when I ran a lot before, they got very defined, and since they would still develop under the influence of androgens right now, that's a worry.  But in principle, I totally agree.  I will be keeping myself in shape, for sure. 

I read about the taping thing.  I think I would have to.  I don't wanna bend over in a shop and my fillet comes out my top and rolls across the floor.  I can see that scene in slow motion, with me screaming "Noooo!" and everyone looking on in shocked amusement.  I don't bend over in shops much, admittedly, but you just know it would happen.  I've had the 'lost boob' scenario too many times at home to be comfortable without securing them somehow.  Oh, but a sports bra, that is a cool idea, that might work better. 

Shop windows... and shop mirrors... >.>  Did not have fun looking in those today.  Makeup was so rushed this morning, and... omg, not a good look.  Hair had to dry in the wind, too.  Yikes.  HOWEVER, I did have a little success of my own!  As me and my partner were waiting to use some revolving doors, a woman turned to her friend and declared that they would "let the ladies go first".  Yay!  I can only assume they didn't look at me very closely, but even so, that was nice. 

I want to be smooth asap, too.  I don't have heavy facial hair, but it is dark, and I do struggle to get a close enough shave to really hide it as well as I would like. >.<  I think it's one of the biggest issues I have.  I can't do much about the shape of my face right now.  People always said I had a feminine face as a guy, but that's quite different from having a female face. -_-  I dunno how much of a difference HRT makes with, like, fat redistribution and skin softening and stuff.  But losing the hair is something that will make a significant difference, I feel.  One day I will have surgery, one way or another, but for now....


Hi Danniella! ^^  Nice to see you back.  Hope you feel better, and that your dad is okay. x 

I'm an eight in shoes right now.  I will be happy to lose sizes.  Ofc, I'll be sad that my lovely boots don't fit me any more... ;_;  But overall I'll be delighted. 

I can't do the 10th now, as I said above, but I can do another date!  Potentially can do another place, too, if it's easier for us all. 

gdi, I forgot to mention (soz for double post), but I got my statutory declaration notarised today, so I can get all my official documentation and stuff changed into my new name forthwith... ^^

Gratz! You're moving forward so well! I'm mega jealous as I am still so scared of coming out, something I discussed with doctor Gerber -long story short, I have some issues with my dad...

But I'm so glad to hear that you've got things moving forward X

Dark hair is such a pain, even when clean shaven it still shows though. I'm sure that you didn't look anywhere near as bad as you thought - we're always our own harshest critics X

And on the 10th I finish at 4pm. Up to anyone else what happens.

Oh, I'm totally not feeling ready, I'm totally scared, but I don't think we ever really feel ready for half this stuff, right?  Same as anything major in life.  ^^  But I know who I am and how much I need to do this, so I can't let fear stop me -- buuut I'm only able to say that because I've been fortunate to have my family's support.  I remember you saying about your dad.  I hope you can find a way to deal with him that works for you. :)  My only slight concern was that my family had been supportive in word but had seemed to kinda withdraw from it and not want to see me or hear about it much, but I've managed to tell them my name, and now they're gonna try to use it, so that's progress.  I kinda felt like I had to hold back for a bit because I wasn't sure how they were dealing with things, so I completely understand where you're coming from, even if I feel lucky in comparison.

It's funny though, coz I feel like you're way ahead of me.  It's just circumstances.  Being at uni, and being off for the summer... it's fortunate for me, it gives me breathing space to do this.  If I was at work right now, I don't think I could.  Going back in September will be a challenge, but I have lots of time to get my head straight for that (and my presentation).  And you're inspiring me. x  I'm gonna try going out with my breast forms soon I think, and maybe with the gaff if I feel I can fork out for that. 

Anyway, thanks.  Maybe you're right.  I know I've always been extremely harsh about myself.  I'm a nightmare when it comes to this stuff.  :p  As we all are, I guess.  I'm sure I'm not the only one here who always hated every single thing about how I looked.  One day that's going to be different, though!


Danniella, are you suggesting the 10th coz I did, or because it's the best day for you because you're going to Ayrshire at the time and you can stop on the way?  Because I have this hotel break booked on the 10th now, but I would hate to miss out on meeting you girls.  But if that's the date that works for you, go for it, and I'll catch up with you another time.  All of this is my fault for getting the initial date wrong, and then for not making it clear to my partner that we still might meet up, so that she booked this break for us instead. 

If it doesn't have to be the 10th, I might suggest the following weekend, but please don't let me muck you all about.  I know I've been a pain about this.  >///<

QuoteAnd you're inspiring me. x  I'm gonna try going out with my breast forms soon I think, and maybe with the gaff if I feel I can fork out for that. 

Gosh you got me smiling so hard I'm squeezing tears out X

We're all here for each other and to inspire and help each other. You've got me thinking about coming out and how to discuss things - it's got to be done sometime, right? I'd sure like to go back and see Dr Gerber in September and tell him that I'm out and full time. We've each got our hurdles and goals to overcome, and you'll get past yours soon enough. I look forward to talking here in a few year's time at the other end of this, when we're all savoir-faire ladies of leisure!

Still haven't seen you at all honey but I'm sure you're gorgeous X We all pick on ourselves and know the feeling of hating what we see in the mirror, but the confidence of going out and having fun while looking the way you know you should will bring that down, that and support from your fabulous friends here and elsewhere (and of course your significant other)

Support can only go so far though, this journey is deeply personal to all of us and we have to learn do it alone. You sound like you're well on top of that already X

Oh and on the meetup - weekend would be good, but other times can be dealt with. If we wait a little then that's fine. Patience is a virtue we all have thanks to dealing with the NHS

OK to change the tone and subject somewhat, I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST! :D

More specifically Sandra passed her test - on my last attempt I looked in the mirror and said to myself (I talk to myself a lot) 'This is your last attempt, Dave. This is the last chance for you.' then I failed for the fourth time.

Before I left this time I put on my lucky pants and stared in that same mirror and told myself 'You can do it Sandra, you've done much more than this already.' I kept that in mind while driving, that Sandra was here now and she doesn't afraid of anything.

And I passed. I am on cloud nine right now. I send you all my love and good mojo, may you have as good a week as I have XXX

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on June 30, 2014, 06:27:29 PM
Hay Dannielle X

So you do see cartilage loss as well as muscle loss? I'm a seven, I can actually steal my wife's shoes. I guess I won't be dropping that much as I probably don't have much to lose as I am a twig :p

Jelly...I am still far too large to steal any girl's clothes xD

But yeah, there is definitely something more than just muscle loss in my feet, couldn't tell you exactly what, but I reckon you don't lose like 3 shoe sizes from muscle alone :S

Quote from: Cat on July 01, 2014, 09:46:46 AM
Hi Danniella! ^^  Nice to see you back.  Hope you feel better, and that your dad is okay. x 

He is a stubborn old gent, he will survive and continue grumbling about "all the fuss over nothing" during it >.>
[/quote]

Quote from: Cat on July 01, 2014, 10:29:27 AM
gdi, I forgot to mention (soz for double post), but I got my statutory declaration notarised today, so I can get all my official documentation and stuff changed into my new name forthwith... ^^

Grats! I've got about 50% of my name changes done across the board now...it takes so long when you only have one new birth certificate, I would recommend paying for another one if you have the spare cash, simply to save time as you can then be dealing with two agencies at once.

Quote from: Cat on July 01, 2014, 12:04:36 PM
Danniella, are you suggesting the 10th coz I did, or because it's the best day for you because you're going to Ayrshire at the time and you can stop on the way?  Because I have this hotel break booked on the 10th now, but I would hate to miss out on meeting you girls.  But if that's the date that works for you, go for it, and I'll catch up with you another time.  All of this is my fault for getting the initial date wrong, and then for not making it clear to my partner that we still might meet up, so that she booked this break for us instead. 

If it doesn't have to be the 10th, I might suggest the following weekend, but please don't let me muck you all about.  I know I've been a pain about this.  >///<

I'm easy to be honest :)

If it's better for people, I will be in Edinburgh on the weekend of the 19th this month? We could potentially have a meet up there + then?


I'm currently in a drawn out battle with my GP to provide me bridging HRT and bloods...I am gradually making my way up the ladder of important people, hopefully i can eventually talk to somebody who will actually be willing to help ^^

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on July 02, 2014, 05:49:50 AM
OK to change the tone and subject somewhat, I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST! :D

Before I left this time I put on my lucky pants and stared in that same mirror and told myself 'You can do it Sandra, you've done much more than this already.' I kept that in mind while driving, that Sandra was here now and she doesn't afraid of anything.

And I passed. I am on cloud nine right now. I send you all my love and good mojo, may you have as good a week as I have XXX

Sandra sounds like a pretty cool girl, I bet she kills aliens...

Oh if anyone would get the reference I knew it would be you Dannielle XXX

19th actually works better for me so I'm up for that!


EDIT: OMG your new pic is absolutely gorgeous Danielle! You look stunning!

Ok, first of all Sandra, CONGRATS ON PASSING YOUR DRIVING TEST!! Yay! \o/ So happy for you to have succeeded at last!!! :)

((And you've just proved that women are better drivers after all, thus destroying an age-old patriarchal stereotype. ;3  One day I hope to join you.))

And ty for the kind words. <3  I had a rough few days tbh, but nothing to worry about, just the common, garden-variety rough days.  I'm not feeling so great today, either, but mainly because I had to not shave so that I can go to this laser consultation (at least, I figured it would be stupid to go there without any visible hair for them to remove o.O).  I did order the gaff though, and I will experiment with going out more overt soon.  I'm looking forward to that.  ^^  As for your own situation -- yes!  Coming out has got to be done sometime, but it's such a personal thing that no one else can really know what's best for you in terms of timing and how you go about it.  But we are here for you, at least, along with those people around you whose support you have.  The support of you girls here has been a huge positive for me already, and you're helping me to move forward even when I'm scared about certain things.


I did the name change via statutory declaration instead of my birth certificate, Danniella, so I have extra certified copies to send to various places.  It definitely helps to be able to hit all these different places at once.  But I spent all of yesterday writing letters.  -_-  Thankfully, not everywhere I need to contact has to see a certified copy, so for certain things I've just attached a photocopy of the document instead.  Obv the official government stuff, bank stuff, etc., has to be the official ones, though. 

Love your new pic also! <3  Maybe one day I will feel confident enough to put one up myself, but don't hold your breath just yet.  Crossing my fingers for you with the bridging thing.  I'm about to have the same fight, but I'm not feeling super positive about the outcome. 


I can totally do that weekend.  We can arrange a date and time via PM (I have that privilege now, it seems), and I will look into booking trains.  The one caveat, as was going to be the case last time, is that my partner would be with me.  She's worried about me going off by myself right now, which I totally understand, and I would feel better having her with me for the journey and stuff too.  She is really lovely, and totally supportive, but I completely understand if you feel uncomfortable with that, so don't feel bad about saying so.  Just let me know.  It's all good either way. :)

Quote from: Cat on July 04, 2014, 04:55:50 AM
I did the name change via statutory declaration instead of my birth certificate, Danniella, so I have extra certified copies to send to various places.  It definitely helps to be able to hit all these different places at once.  But I spent all of yesterday writing letters.  -_-  Thankfully, not everywhere I need to contact has to see a certified copy, so for certain things I've just attached a photocopy of the document instead.  Obv the official government stuff, bank stuff, etc., has to be the official ones, though. 

It's a paaaaain in the ass. But I got all my new bank cards through yesterday! One less stressful potential clocking situation (I hated handing over bank cards with my old name on them D:)

Quote from: Cat on July 04, 2014, 04:55:50 AM
Love your new pic also! <3  Maybe one day I will feel confident enough to put one up myself, but don't hold your breath just yet.  Crossing my fingers for you with the bridging thing.  I'm about to have the same fight, but I'm not feeling super positive about the outcome. 

Well my case went as high as it could go...and I still got told no :(

The NHS is so bloody weird sometimes I swear...if I was a junkie who walked in full of smack, they would get me on methadone and test my bloods etc at the drop of a hat. But tell them you are trans and self medicating and nobody wants to lift a finger -.-;

Quote from: Cat on July 04, 2014, 04:55:50 AM
I can totally do that weekend.  We can arrange a date and time via PM (I have that privilege now, it seems), and I will look into booking trains.  The one caveat, as was going to be the case last time, is that my partner would be with me.  She's worried about me going off by myself right now, which I totally understand, and I would feel better having her with me for the journey and stuff too.  She is really lovely, and totally supportive, but I completely understand if you feel uncomfortable with that, so don't feel bad about saying so.  Just let me know.  It's all good either way. :)

I'm totally happy with partners etc tagging along, whatever makes you comfortable ^^

We can continue the planning via PM

Oh, congrats!  My bank cards should come back in the next week or so.  I don't feel like I'm passing well enough to worry about being clocked if I'm close enough to someone to be handing over my bank card though, lol.  Patience, I know, *sigh*... :p  I figure if I'm gonna face the awkwardness of my name and presentation not matching up whichever way they're oriented, I'd rather have the official stuff in place, and at least I can try my best to live up to the stated name and gender.  Plus, it just feels better this way.

But anyway... grr.  That makes me so angry.  I don't understand how they can be refusing you.  -_-  It's clearly stated in the protocol and in the RCP guidelines on this (and also in NHS England & Wales documentation) that monitoring & bridging therapy can be provided even where the normal conditions for HT aren't met, and is particularly to be considered (the tone suggests it's recommended, in my opinion) when the person is established in their acquired gender, and as a safer alternative to self-medding.  So, I don't get what their problem is.  I'm sorry you got that response.  >.>

And thanks, we'll do that! ^^

Hi girls, if you all remember I've already had my first assessment at Edinburgh clinic with dr Kennedy (may 28) and am now waiting for final assessment with dr gerber. In anticipation of getting my hrt my local gp was contacted by clinic to arrange for blood tests. Get this done next Friday! Nearly there. With me set to see dr gerber before end of September my wait for hormone start is nearly over- subject of course to blood test! . I'm so excited. Nearly time for this ugly chrysalis to hopefully become some kind of butterfly- want my boobies and some curves so bad!!!!! Lol :-). Just hope my arthritic hip does not cause long term issues with hrt ? . Nice all you Scottish lassies are meeting up. Without being presumptous maybe I could eventually join . Then again I don't want to cramp your style being all young things! - im pre hrt and 50 ! That's my latest! Watch this space!

Hmmm.. I'm sure I already wrote a reply but the site has been down for a couple of days...

Well it's great to hear you're moving ahead - I'm not going to be seeing HRT until October at the earliest so it's not like I'm any closer than you! I'm fine with you joining us, but we haven't set a time or a place yet, I was waiting until I'd got my car sorted. I was thinking a coffee or lunch earlier in the day? Nothing is set so just message me with ideas X

I know I have a follow up with Dr Gerber in September and a second opinion from Dr Kennedy to receive before anything starts moving forward, but it's just good to know that things will still move ahead.

Message with ideas ladies!

Been a long few weeks, but I am happy to say, that I am now on hormones. Has only taken me a year and a half. They were paranoid, because of a few things that popped up in my blood tests, so they wouldn't give me them, till they were sure.

Its def a long wait and its a right pain. But worth it in the end.

Elizabeth -- glad to hear you're getting close now!  As for any meeting, I am totally fine with that.  It would be lovely to meet you. ^^

Sandra -- Earlier in the day would make sense for me, too.  I'll have to organise travel, so it would be good to have some idea of when and where reasonably soonish.  I only really know the city centre, which would also be most convenient in terms of getting there from stations and stuff.  Don't know a great many specific places to suggest tho, or else I would PM with a suggestion... I'm also terribly indecisive. :3

Chrissy -- Congrats!  So glad to hear you got there in the end. x

I've sent the following peeps a message with some details on the meet up etc:

• Cat
• chrissydr
• Sandra_Dickinson
• Elizabeth1

Please read the message and get back to me ASAP about if you can/wish to attend, so I can book tables etc ^^

If there is anybody else lurking in the thread that wants to get in on the meet up, just add a reply or PM me soon.

Hi danniella , I am trying to make plans to meet up as arranged. Have sent private message with intentions to send further private message tonight or tomorrow. Hope I can manage. It will be great to meet up with all you girls :-)

Hi girls! <3  We just got home.  Sorry again for having to leave so abruptly! ;_;  We would have booked a later train if we'd realised (we thought we'd given ourselves lots of time for lunch, but we'd have liked to stay and chat for longer, even if the later trains were a bit more expensive).  We made our train, obv, but only just... another 2 or 3 minutes and we'd have missed it! :p

Sooo lovely to meet you all, though.  Hopefully we can do it again soon. ^^

x

Hiya! This is Elly from today. I don't actually post here, but Danniella mentioned the name of the forum you were all from after lunch, and when I drifted by I quickly stumbled across this thread. So I thought I'd register to thank you all for a lovely time. ^^ I have a couple of FTM friends, but I think today was possibly the first time I had ever met another MTF person in the flesh before, so it was an interesting experience for me, as well as one which made me painfully aware of just how little I've actually participated in the transgender and wider LGBT community, both offline here in Scotland and online. :'D Sorry for being a bit awkward and standoffish. I'm not very good with one stranger at a time, nevermind a whole bunch all at once. ^^'' But it was so lovely to meet you all! I'm not sure how much longer I'll be in Scotland for, but do let me know if you're meeting up again! If I'm about, I'd love to come along. And feel free to get in touch if you end up in Japan someday. ^^ Best of luck with everything. <3

Great to have met with you all today! Apologies for running late. Parking in Edinburgh can be a nightmare! It was a fun day despite the miserable weather! You all were looking great. Nice to be made most welcome despite my advanced years :-)
My enthusiasm was neither dampened by the weather or having to walk barefoot in the street because of ill fitting  heels -  :D.  Nice to hot soak my feet afterwards :-). 

Great meet up, lots of wine and laughs. I had such a good time, and I don't think I've laughed so much in a good long while. I'm happy to join in on any further meet ups. Glad I finally met you all in person xxx

Also, Paula was hilarious. I have stolen 'ding'

*EDIT* I'm also ashamed that I got too drunk to remember a group photo, something I really wanted to do! That's why we definitely need to do this again X

I am...so...hungover xD

The party just kept rolling! Poor Sam, having to drive Paula and myself home at silly o'clock, still drinking wine all the way back to Dundee ^^;

Speaking of Paula, she officially loved each and every one of you, saying that she had the best day in months and that each of you were "amazing ladies!" :D

Yo all left such an impression her that she now want's to help campaign for trans rights...so congrats girls! You made an ally today ;)

I'm so glad that it went well, and that so many of you could show up. We shall definitely be doing it some time again before long :P

Now I am off to collapse on the sofa...Sam is bringing me baked goods and I have every intention of not moving and just playing Pokemon all day xD

Well, I better say hello in this thread, too. I'm the SO of Cat. I had such a fantastic time too, so thank you for letting me join in the fun. You were such great company, and we look forward to meeting up again soon. Sorry I didn't get to speak to everyone individually. I can be quite a shy person, and was a little intimidated by so many of you at the table! But you all made me feel very welcome. I'm just sorry we had to nip off so abruptly for our train! I could have happily chatted to Daniella for longer, since I seemed to have commandeered her for a time there (you're so lovely, D!).

Hopefully next time we can chat somewhere quieter, where we can all hear each other. And I do hope Nala can be there. Cat said she was lovely, so I'd love to properly speak to her.

In the meantime, I wish all you girls the best of luck with your transitions. And I hope Daniella's hangover clears up soon. ^_~

Quote from: Danniella on July 20, 2014, 06:35:30 AMSpeaking of Paula, she officially loved each and every one of you, saying that she had the best day in months and that each of you were "amazing ladies!" :D

Paula was lots of fun! When you tagged her on Facebook today and I hovered over her name, I realised that she's actually friends with my cousin! I don't know how / where they met, but I'll have to ask him next time we're together.

I hope the Pokeymans soothe your raging hangover. ;D Thanks again for the invite!

Quote from: Kitty. on July 20, 2014, 06:50:25 AMHopefully next time we can chat somewhere quieter, where we can all hear each other. And I do hope Nala can be there. Cat said she was lovely, so I'd love to properly speak to her.

Aww, the pleasure was all mine! ^^ Talking to her brought back so many memories, fond and otherwise, of when I first came out all those years ago, and felt a little like leafing back through the pages of my own history. And seeing the two of you together was really heartwarming. It's obvious that you mean so much to her, and I'm sure that your support has played no small part in helping her finding the strength to be who she really is. :) I hope I can be there next time too, but if I'm not, I wish you both all the best with everything on the road ahead. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if I can be of any help at all!

Nala, I'm so glad you registered! <3  I had lots of fun talking to you, and I wish we hadn't been forced to cut that short the way we did.  But you were not any more awkward and standoffish than I was, so don't worry about that.  It was almost inevitable in the circumstances, but we soon got over that, and we all had a great time.  I wish we could have talked some more. ^^

If we meet up again before you go to Japan, then please do come along!  You are more than welcome to email me at the address I have up on this forum, or drop me a PM here any time, too. 


It was so great to meet all of you on here, and Paula too!  She is hilarious, and she was brilliant at breaking the ice when we sat down and were all nervous and shy, too. We didn't get to say goodbye to her because of the train panic thingy, so please let her know we are sorry for that. :s 

I totally want one of those jackets she designed, btw.  And I have only been skiing once... when I was 11 years old... but, I... I still want one.... ;3

xx

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

So I just called Sandyford today for my random monthly "I just want to make sure I am still on the list I'm totally not paranoia why do you ask" test...only to find out that I had LITERALLY JUST REACHED THE FRONT OF THE WAITING LIST 5 MINS BEFORE I CALLED!!!

Number one on the list!!!

NUMBER ONE!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

I have an initial appointment date for September the 24th, but I made sure to let them know that if there were any cancellations...ANY CANCELLATIONS! That I would jump on them with a rabid desperation the likes of which they have never witnessed before!

Apparently cancellations happen fairly frequently, and I could in fact have gone today had I hit the front of the list yesterday instead...which is craaaaazy!

So I could be going any day now!

ANY DAY NOW!!!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

WHY ARE NONE OF YOU GIRLS HERE TO HUG!?

Congratulations!! *hugs*

just out of curiosity, is it the appointment that you're supposed to have for your GRS examination? x

Omg, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!  *more hugs*

We are both crossing our fingers that something comes through immediately for you. <3

And ofc you'll let us know how it goes, so I hardly need to ask. :3

Best of luck!

x

Quote from: crowcrow223 on July 24, 2014, 12:21:07 PM
Congratulations!! *hugs*

just out of curiosity, is it the appointment that you're supposed to have for your GRS examination? x

Alas no. I'm sure that the subject of whether I desire SRS etc will come up, I won't have the official meeting to determine if I am "Suitable" for SRS for another 10+ months.

The first few meetings are psychological evaluations...just to give them a starting point and to make sure you are not crazy ^^;

But this will be my first ever meeting with anybody in the NHS who actually knows about Gender Dysphoria.

Quote from: Cat on July 24, 2014, 01:13:55 PM
Omg, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!  *more hugs*

We are both crossing our fingers that something comes through immediately for you. <3

And ofc you'll let us know how it goes, so I hardly need to ask. :3

Best of luck!

x

Thanks :D I will most certainly let you know!

I'm pretty sure I will be jumping at every phonecall I get for the next two months until i get my first appointment x'D

Hugs! Huuuugggsss!

That's brilliant to hear Danielle! You're close to the final stretch xxx

Keep us posted x

My much less exciting news is that I finally had my laser test today, after having to wait a few extra weeks because I'd had sun exposure and they were worried about side effects.  So... it feels a bit like being stung by a wasp, but it's tolerable.  Everything seems to be fine.  As long as I don't have any delayed reaction, I will have my first full session next week.  Yay! ^^

Quote from: Cat on July 25, 2014, 09:56:36 AM
My much less exciting news is that I finally had my laser test today, after having to wait a few extra weeks because I'd had sun exposure and they were worried about side effects.  So... it feels a bit like being stung by a wasp, but it's tolerable.  Everything seems to be fine.  As long as I don't have any delayed reaction, I will have my first full session next week.  Yay! ^^

Sounds...fun? >.>

I really need to get on the facial hair removal program...my facial hair may be all fine and not too noticeable to the naked eye...but I can feeeeeeeel it D:

...

Would also be nice to have that extra 5-10 mins every morning ^^

I've been holding off, as I

A: Hear that you get better/faster results when you have been on HRT for some time

B: Lacked the funds to do it >.>

But here is hoping that Sandyford can help with that! :D

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on July 25, 2014, 05:00:27 AM
Hugs! Huuuugggsss!

That's brilliant to hear Danielle! You're close to the final stretch xxx

Keep us posted x

Thanks ^^

Although "Final stretch" is a bit much I reckon...I see it more as the beginning of my official treatment :)

Paula and Sam are taking me out tomorrow night to celebrate...to metal bars...and gay clubs...

...

Help! D:

I never went to bars and clubs as a single person even BEFORE my transition!!!

QuoteI never went to bars and clubs as a single person even BEFORE my transition!!!

Not exactly a clubber myself, but you'll be fine. I get a little claustrophobic in them but that's probably just since transition - I always like to know my escape path. Just watch yourself when someone yells 'SHOTS!', or you'll wake up with no memory after that point

Quote from: Cat on July 25, 2014, 09:56:36 AM
My much less exciting news is that I finally had my laser test today, after having to wait a few extra weeks because I'd had sun exposure and they were worried about side effects.  So... it feels a bit like being stung by a wasp, but it's tolerable.  Everything seems to be fine.  As long as I don't have any delayed reaction, I will have my first full session next week.  Yay! ^^

Did your gender therapist say you have to be with them 6 months before they fund facial hair removal for you? x

Hi, crowcrow.  ^^  I don't even have a gender therapist yet (;_;), I'm funding this myself because I need to do something while I wait, and I can just about (kinda) afford to do it right now... (sort of).  But yeah, I expect it will be a looong time before they're willing to step up and fund anything for me. :)

Danniella, I know what you mean -- I think the feeling of having facial hair is even worse than the look (and that's saying something).  I'm sure you're right about getting better results once on HRT -- I've read that too, and obviously the presence of androgens makes it more likely that new hair will grow (>.>).  However, it can and will still make a profound difference in the meantime, which will put me in a better position down the line!

Plus, I reiterate, I just... need to feel like I'm doing something.... making some progress... while I wait for this psych appointment (next week) and then the stress of trying to push for bridging therapy once that's over with.  At least this way, I have some way of reassuring myself that I'm making some kind of permanent(-ish) physical changes happen.

As for bars and clubs... hmm.  I stopped going to the latter in my early twenties and can honestly say I've never missed them.  And I pick and choose my bars (even more so now, for obvious reasons :p).  I suppose I'm a bit antisocial, or maybe it's just not my kind of socialising any more?  But I'm sure you'll have lots of fun! :3

Quote from: Danniella on July 25, 2014, 10:27:02 AMB: Lacked the funds to do it >.>

But here is hoping that Sandyford can help with that! :D

I think I got about nine or ten sessions of laser freeeeeeee~ :D Should be fine!

crowcrow223: Thanks for your private message, but I don't actually have enough posts to respond yet. ^^ I'll respond as soon as I can!

EDIT: Oh, actually, this post gave me enough posts to respond. XD Ignore me~!

I forgot to let ya'll know what happened last weekend! xD

So Paula, Sam and I went out to an LGBT club in Dundee...first time I have ever been to one D:

Highlights of the night included:

• A massive Nerf war pre-going out to get the blood pumping ^^
• More alcohol than I have ever drank
• So much heat like oh my god it was so warm and sweaty
• Being hit on by a super butch lesbian in the bathroom. She was apparently frustrated by the number of "fakers and ->-bleeped-<- hags" in the club, but she apparently could "tell I was a lesbian from across the room"...Apparently she had been watching me for a while and "You only have eyes for the girls, and you look the part"...I'm not sure how to take that to be honest, but I politely declined her advances regardless xD
• A super creepy guy stalked Sam for a bit (Nothing screams creepy more than a guy in his mid 40s only drinking diet coke in an LGBT bar at 2am in the morning o.O )
• Another trans girl was dragged in halfway through the night by a group of friends. She was the shiest thing I have ever seen. I kept an eye on her for a bit until she caught me looking at her. We had a little peering moment where we clocked each other...I gave a little friendly smile and a nod...just to try and be all "Hey there...yeah we're trans don't worry about it"...but she looked like I had just shot her dog and promptly gathered her friends before fleeing the building :( maybe she is trying for pure stealth and was worried I would out her or something :( I felt really bad for ruining her night
• I danced like I have never danced before!!! (but always wanted to xD ) In the past I have always avoided dance floors...my excuse being that I "couldn't dance"...when the truth of the matter is that whenever I danced in the past, I had constant urges to do so in an extremely...feminine way. So I just avoided them in general. But for the first time ever, I completely let myself go! I went full on...just lost completely in the moment. After a few minutes I found myself just sexy, steamy dancing on the dancefloor. Lost the middle of all the sound, smoke and lights..I felt so truly alive and more attractive than I ever have before. I even managed to catch the eyes of a number of girls and got some smokey "come hither" looks and people checking me out!!! I didn't make a move on anybody, just enjoying myself too much really to think about pulling and uncertain of the etiquette involved, but it was amazing!...Although...I think I freaked out Sam a bit... We where hot all night...like...wow...the way you danced" was his insightful retrospective the following morning...Again...not sure how I fell about that >.>
• [Possible hurtful/bigoted comments redacted, Danniella needs to think about her perspective some more >.>]
• Then another quick dance before home time and collapsing with exhaustion ^^

I don't exactly think I will ever be a hardcore clubber or anything, it was quite the roller coaster of a night, I didn't pull, had some rather bad feels during it, and conjured the worst hangover I have ever experienced in my life the following day. xD But Paula kept my spirits up (As she is want to do), and even just the power I got from realising that I am actually getting to a place mentally where I can physically go out into the "wild" and feel alive and sexy like I never have before...yeah it was totally worth it :D


Some pics from the night:

Pre-Club Snacking
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10574245_811540775546769_2574148541843644307_n.jpg?oh=2ad31530d9c0989a46788c869916b7a3&oe=54385529)

Nice photo of me and Paula...Dark because Sam does not know how to take epics in a club xD
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10552584_811540762213437_1825684178138391464_n.jpg)

Me for most of the following day xD
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/10513511_811540818880098_5954920719034227978_n.jpg)


Hope the rest of you girls are doing okay, and that maybe this will help you find some confidence to go out there push yourself/try something new outside your comfort zone! :)


Cleaned up a few words of language

Quote from: Danniella on August 01, 2014, 04:25:06 AM
A troop of Transvestites entered the building...The grotesque Cher lookalikes were squeezed into PVC, donning huge wigs and teetering on platform heels, as they screeched and stomping around the place in quite the dysphoria inducing spectacle...They were exactly the type of thing that scared me away from the trans community when I was younger...and it just brought up lots of resentment, regret and bad memories...(I got many "Dings" then) >.> [/li][/list]

OMG I love drag queens! why throw a shade at them, for looking the way they do? everyone can dress how they want, plus I personally find dqs hilarious and so colourful!

QuoteBeing hit on by a super butch lesbian

The ultimate pass! Men will stick their willy in anything, you know you're doing well when girls hit on you x

I'd be more jealous, but I'm in Venice! Too many beautiful people here though...

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKMsWVRf.jpg&hash=486add6ca8015975e768b293808378693cdfb181)

Quote from: crowcrow223 on August 01, 2014, 01:49:10 PM

OMG I love drag queens! why throw a shade at them, for looking the way they do? everyone can dress how they want, plus I personally find dqs hilarious and so colourful!

Yeah...I know that really I shouldn't mock drag queens, especially given my oft lauded stance of "people should be free to be who they want to be...so long as who they want to be isn't a serial killer." but I just can't get over how much they ->-bleeped-<-ed with my head when I was younger and delayed my transition for the better part of 10 years, and that every time I tell people I am trans there is a distressing number of people who instantly get the image of me as a full blown drag queen "On the weekend" :(

It just makes me feel uncomfortable...like they are a great big mockery of a real medical condition...but I should probably work on that >.>

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on August 04, 2014, 10:06:27 AM
The ultimate pass! Men will stick their willy in anything, you know you're doing well when girls hit on you x

I'd be more jealous, but I'm in Venice! Too many beautiful people here though...

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKMsWVRf.jpg&hash=486add6ca8015975e768b293808378693cdfb181)

Venice!? Oh my god I am so jelly! D: Also amazing pic! Hope you have a great time!!![/list]

Quote from: Danniella on August 05, 2014, 12:36:06 AMbut I just can't get over how much they ->-bleeped-<-ed with my head when I was younger and delayed my transition for the better part of 10 years, and that every time I tell people I am trans there is a distressing number of people who instantly get the image of me as a full blown drag queen "On the weekend" :(

It just makes me feel uncomfortable...like they are a great big mockery of a real medical condition...but I should probably work on that >.>

Don't worry Daniella. Being transsexual can affect many parts of your life, how you perceive others etc. I used to detest every successful, happy transsexual prior to my transition, I was full of rage, internalized transphobia and jealousy really.

As I went on with my transition, my acceptence towards myself grew, and hence my acceptance towards gay/trans people grew too. It doesn't happen overnight :)

Plus, even if people think of you as a "fullblown drag queen on the weekend", what's wrong with that? Let's forget about the mentality of heteronormative patriarchy, where every gender non comforming person is looked down upon... Let's celebrate it! There are in fact transsexual women who DO perform as drag queens. If someone looks down upon drag queens, do you want them to be your friend?

No one delayed your transition, I'm sorry, drag queens are performers/actors/singers/dancers, they weren't holding you back from starting a transition, you held yourself back, your misconceptions, but don't worry, you're on your way girl :) Chin up, your life is just starting!

I don't agree that drag queens are a mockery of real medical condition... Drag queens mock women. Predominantly women. Mock is the wrong word, they impersonate women in a funny way, they don't mean to offend women. They have never aimed to be the face of transsexual community. They're just having fun, performing, impersonating famous celebrities, laughing etc.

Good luck!

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on August 04, 2014, 10:06:27 AM
I'd be more jealous, but I'm in Venice! Too many beautiful people here though...
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKMsWVRf.jpg&hash=486add6ca8015975e768b293808378693cdfb181)

If you're still in Venice and you like pizza (apparently some people don't :o) then you might want to check and see if there's still a little pizza place off of one of the little side streets from the Fontana di Trevi, best pizza I ever tasted, I wish I could remember it's name...

If you don't like that, as you yourself said, don't hang out with drag queens. But to be honest, if you really like them, and they're your friends, I would still hang out with them. If I'd get miscategorised, I'd politely explain who I am etc, but if it triggers your dysphoria, avoid trans-related places

I used to care how people view/categorise me. Now, if they'd label me a crossdresser who likes wearing women's clothing, I'll wear this label with a smile baby, proudly.

Can we please respect everyone that is under our umbrella.

They are humans the same as us and deal with there own issues the same as we do.

They are no more right or wrong as TG are right or wrong.

Seems so much judgments going on but in the same breath we wish not to be judged.

SO please remember to respect everyone.

I will be watching close where this is going.  :icon_suspicious:

Quote from: aaggat on August 05, 2014, 11:21:03 AM
You seem to have missed the point. I am not judging DQ/CD/TV folk. I am judging how cis-folk think of ALL of us and how I have trouble with cis-peoples opinions.

Cis people are entitled to there opinions. But we also can not place our opinions on anyone either. Its that double edge sword.

My comment is not to one person it is made to the progression in the thread.

It is getting a little on the side of bad judgements.

I just want everyone to put yourself in others shoes before one makes comments that can be misconstrued.

That is all i am saying.

It just occurred to me that the fontana di trevi is in Rome not Venice. I apologise wholeheartedly for my stupidity  :(

And for this post, highlighting my stupidity...

Still I hope that you're enjoying Venice Sandra, have you been to Murano yet?

We'll be visiting Murano later this week, going to see some more local sights tomorrow, a few exhibitions at the palazzos. This city is absolutely gorgeous, knocks me dead when I turn a corner and see another incredible sight. Just sat and had a cigarette while looking at the moon reflected on the canal...

And the shoes! So many amazing shops, so little money!

Kisses from Venice, I may post some photos tomorrow when I'm back in my hotel XXX

EEP...things got a bit cray cray in my absence >.>

I've been having a good hard think about my stance re:transvestites etc and how and why I view and react to them in the way I do.

I know that it is a complex and not 100% fully understood problem I have, but I'm not going to muddy the water of this thread any further with my internal soul searching and commentary/musings as I try to figure out what is residual bigoted mentalities of my past male self, and what is genuine problems etc.

Instead I am just going to say that I am sorry for any offense that may have been caused by my comments, I have removed what I can myself, and I shall spend some time trying to figure this one out myself...

I guess we are all a work in progress, not just physically, but mentally and socially as well. ^^#

Now hopefully we can return to our regularly scheduled Scottish trans content :)

live from Venice  :laugh:

A Scottish transgender in Venice, day 3

Saw so many amazing things today, just a couple of pictures for you girls.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0eZFhii.jpg&hash=5f751a1dc3c3c9c92e8737abacdce7abb8ae3da9)

Photobombing a shot on the Rialto bridge. Ugh. Such British teeth.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCMq2YFv.jpg&hash=8d271fe9ce28fd21faa4f39b812c0655ee971581)

San Marco Piazza. So much incredible architecture in such a small area.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fou2Mcpa.jpg&hash=80764d9fd2771df3c1d099487ddb63c6e13f8e5e)

And this is how I spend my nights once the little one is asleep. Plastic glass of wine (classy!) and a cigarette while looking out at the canal.

Feeling kind of up and down, with so many gorgeous Mediterranean people about I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. Keep smiling and enjoying though, trying not to let that bring me down.

Today on a waterbus a lady gave me the absolute stink-eye, and I looked away ashamed. Until my wife stepped in front of me and stared her down, before whispering "if that b***h does that again I'm going to put her in the canal!" to me. I guess you can take the girls out of Scotland... :-P

Now the thread is nice and derailed, how about you ladies? Any times you've had a defence like that, or where would you go on your dream holidays?

Wish i was there seeing the sites with you Sandra.

Yes had a few issues back when i first went full time.

My husband just reached over took my hand and gave me a kiss.

They had not clue then what was up.

Just enjoy your time and do not let small minded people upset your day.

Hugs and love all the pics. Again thanks for sharing

I'M SO JELLY ON SO MANY LEVELS!!!

Jelly of your holiday! (Venice! Oh my god I want to go there one day!)

Jelly of your amazing sounding wife! (Give her a hug from me for standing up for you and being generally awesome)

Jelly of your kid! (I hope she is having a good time to, even though you do want some "Parent time" )

Just...so much jelly ^^

How long are you away for?

Would you tell your wife that we think she sounds amazing? :laugh:
Also if she does throw someone in the canal could you snap a picture?
Remember to bring back a mask (I think it's a law or something).
I hope you continue to have a great time, after all it's not where you are, it's who you're with that matters and you seem to have that covered.

Wishing you guys were here too x we'd drink our fill of Italian wine (5 euro for a 1.5 litre plastic bottle! And it's delicious!) and shake up these venetians, Scotland style!

After the little one was asleep of course x

Last day tomorrow, then a day in Amsterdam - just in time for pride week! What timing x

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FavOBakf.jpg&hash=7f56b69e28d53ba06b3cccb044170399f6eb8d85)

My son as a venetian captain, so cute!

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FILRGSPV.jpg&hash=3ab1ec7375f25bc1a24c48e81ed31f05290b937c)

Yes we got loads of masks, here's my wife modelling one. I got myself a blank one too to paint up as half male, half female. A nice little art project!

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbdX9OFO.jpg&hash=63c567f7a18856d588742e7626eec74986851d7a)

I wish I had worn more sunscreen though. Curse this Scottish need to be in the sunlight at all times! Also getting an allergic reaction to their sheets - I'm allergic to biological washing powder so I'm covered in angry red spots too.

Apparently I got an opposite stink-eye today, from an older woman in shorts who stared at my backside with jealous hatred in her eyes. My wife found this hilarious.

She's read your messages and they made her smile, she says she's happy to stand up for any trans person who needs her x

Flying back tonight, back in boy mode as my passport is in my male name. Been an incredible time, sorry for the Facebookey posts with updates, but I got kind of scared that the thread would get locked while I was away -and I've found it so helpful to have. I would have never met any of you fabulous people if I hadn't made it years ago and I figured I'd just drown out with noise to keep it here for me. Selfish I know, but I still need this place to talk.

Guess my next update will be when I see doctor Kennedy in September, stay amazing ladies x

Safe trip back home and thanks for sharing your family time on vacation.

Hugs

Hey all!

So who is up for an impromptu super happy fun meet up in Edinburgh on the 23rd of this month (two weeks from now)!?

I am going to get some tickets to go see a Transgender themed play during the fringe ( http://kaleidoscot.com/play-puts-t-lgbti/ ) and I wondered if one or two of you girls may wish to join me for a pre play meal, and/or post play drinks? ^^

Could be a fun day! :D

-cough- more info.

Tickets cost £10 and can be bought here ( https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/x-and-y )

There is only one showing on per day which starts at 7pm ^^

I think I can do that, just after payday too x

I wanted to see a show at the fringe and haven't had a chance. I'll look into it further tonight and confirm proper. Is it OK if I bring a male friend? I'll probably crash at his so he may join us

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on August 13, 2014, 04:06:40 AM
I think I can do that, just after payday too x

I wanted to see a show at the fringe and haven't had a chance. I'll look into it further tonight and confirm proper. Is it OK if I bring a male friend? I'll probably crash at his so he may join us

Sure. Sam will be tagging along with me as well so why not ^^

Hi to all the Scottish girls,

I have been visiting this site for a while, thought I had better register and make some posts. I am near Edinburgh and am 50 years young, hi Elizabeth 1, I would love to meet up to chat, sounds like you had a ball last time, I have only been out a couple of times and been to Miss TV Scotland three times. Looking forward to chatting,

Belle

Hi gals, hope you are all doing well! I've been in the doldrums of late. Bouts of depression and anxiety caused by increased dysphoria about my general appearance, lack of understanding from family and a general drop in confidence. Night out would do me good and despite my shoe debacle I did enjoy ours last day out! Would not want to cramp your style hanging out with an old bird like me! Let me get back to all regarding this :-). Sandra, glad you had a wonderful time in Venice. Danniella , really enjoyed meeting up with you and Sam was great company . Belle, another new face! Don't know if I'm good company right now with my up and down mood. Trying to keep upbeat but tearful right now . Xx

Hi Elizabeth 1,

It's good to talk, I feel at 50 that time is escaping me and I should have done this many years ago, but pre internet world was a very different place. I feel sometimes it's too late, especially when you see the young ones transitioning so well. However confidence and a positive mental attitude is required, less of the negatives and more of the positives goes a long way to help, so shoulders back chest out and go get them, also how do I post an avatar please?

@belleroberts: you'll get the ability to upload an avatar when you've made fifteen posts. Get chatting x :p

Hope you're feeling better Elizabeth,  I got an awful case of the post holiday blues,  especially having to go back into boy mode for work.

I'm definitely going to be there on the 23rd, not sure if I'll have a guest or not but if I do it will definitely be an ally x

Hi all,

the play on the 23rd looks good, would love to go and meet you all, but I feel I need to get to know you all through the site first, I am a bit shy. I so enjoy Miss TV Scotland, as it's only once a year that is now no good, I need to go out at least monthly. Hope to see you sometime soon

Belle :-*

OK, I'll definitely be there, tickets booked and everything! I'll leave it to the lovely Danniella to sort out where we're meeting up before or whatnot with personal messages like she did last time (You were just too good at it!)

I got my appointment with Dr Kennedy too, 3rd of September! It's all moving a little bit closer...

Heya!

Had a great time on the weekend meeting up with some of the girls :)

Quick post to ask for a big favor from Paula!

She is trying desperately to win a competition that will give her valuable cash for her business start up, but she needs more votes! Currently she is only in second place by only 9 votes!!! so I'm going to post it here and see if you lovely ladies will help out by voting for her :)



Just go to the link here : http://www.shell-livewire.org/awards/grand-ideas-awards/#votingarea

Then click on the "Cast My Vote" button under Paula's video (shown in the pic) (https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10612909_10154451006685125_6687072133020823279_n.jpg?oh=79d7a987f0cb44b9b8f99954690baa60&oe=5464EBE3&__gda__=1415521367_924af43b3cf2e71475782dcfc6c47cda)

Then you will be sent an e-mail to confirm your vote (the e-mail may go into your junk folder, mine did.)

After than pat yourself on the back and you will be sure to receive extra hugs and love next time Paula sees you :P

Had my appointment with Dr Kennedy yesterday :-)

Pretty much a repeat of my appointment with Dr Gerber, although she did take my bloods, I've been given three months to think about coming out and explaining to my family before things move on.

So, I'd like to ask you girls how you approached this? Not necessarily how it went but how you built up to it and how you delivered the news: letter, text or a talk with them?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on September 04, 2014, 01:35:07 AM
Had my appointment with Dr Kennedy yesterday :-)

Pretty much a repeat of my appointment with Dr Gerber, although she did take my bloods, I've been given three months to think about coming out and explaining to my family before things move on.

So, I'd like to ask you girls how you approached this? Not necessarily how it went but how you built up to it and how you delivered the news: letter, text or a talk with them?

Ahh coming out...the most terrifying of things :S

Personally I came out to my immediate family (as in my two sisters and my parents) by just having a "Family meeting" one weekend, getting them all in a room and explaining it to them face to face. We have done this before as a family for numerous important things in the past though, thus it was easy enough to get everybody together fairly quick etc. Still...it was quite the experience. :S

As for the extended family (My family is huge!) I realised that it would be simply impossible to talk to them all one by one, so instead I recorded a video and posted it on youtube, in which I talk to the camera, explain my situation, a bit about gender dysphoria, and common questions etc. I then sent the video to all the family (we have a facebook group for the family so that was easy enough).

Le vid in question...and HOLY ->-bleeped-<- IT'S A MALE ME!? D: Been a while since I saw that 0.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcAEVcPPxFg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcAEVcPPxFg)


Everybody in my family said that the video was an amazing way to come out as it let them all digest and re-watch etc at their own pace.

So really I would ask what your family is like, what do you think is the best way to go about talking to them etc?

It's never easy, but we can find a way that is hopefully the least painful :)

Thanks for that Danielle x

I'm not really close to my immediate family and I have no extended family. We never say we love each other, see each other rarely. There's something so difficult about talking like this when you're so distant. This is the closest family I have, but we're certainly not as close as others.

I suppose this is what's holding me up. We don't meet really and there is no chance of having a discussion around this unless I call everyone and make it happen - I see my parents once a month or less.

I like the video idea, I was thinking about a letter too - something that let's them get their heads straight, before they can come back to me for further understanding

Hey everybody! Hope you are all doing well.

I have been absent from the forum for a while due to copious amounts of real life shenanigans.

But I am here to announce another of Elaine's patented super happy random meet up/scottish trans event type things :D

So my favourite trans centric band "Against Me" are playing in Glasgow on November 15th.

Sam and I shall be attending, and as such shall be driving from Dundee to Glasgow on the day.

There will be 3 spaces in the car. So if anybody feels like a roadtrip to see an awesome punk rock band let me know! ^^

Tickets available at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Against-Me-tickets/artist/877828

CAUTION! If you are buying tickets, make sure to get the ones for "The Garage", as the gig at the "wa wa hut" has been cancelled, but ticketmaster have not updated their system yet.

Other than that, how is everybody doing!?

Hi everyone!

Sooo... I haven't been around for a while either.  I'd kinda been feeling a bit frozen in my transition, having hit a wall after doing everything I could in terms of sorting out hair removal, changing all my official stuff to my new name, etc..  And going back to uni has been pretty stressful for me of course, and it's been weird being in a situation where the staff all know and the official records are all changed but the fellow students are still unaware, and I'm only in a couple of days a week and don't really get a chance to speak to people much, so it's... odd.  Like, people must notice I look and dress different, but I have no idea what they think, not that I should necessarily care.  :p  Anyway, I don't think I was coping very well with everything.  Or... I definitely wasn't coping well.  And that was compounded by the stresses of trying to get treatment started and...

...well anyway, it gets better.  I don't really want to make a big song and dance about it, because I know I'm really fortunate to be in this position and that others have been waiting in some cases longer than I have, and I kinda feel bad about that.  But having had very positive psychiatric and psychology assessments and after a bit of a back and forth with my GP and practice manager, I have been able to obtain a prescription for estradiol valerate which I started taking yesterday.  The initial practice meeting was kinda negative, I think, but then after more discussions between them, my partner and me, my GP ended up speaking to Dr Gerber at Sandyford and apparently he agreed that, based on the details of my case, he would support the idea of bridging treatment being an option in this case, so....  It's taken a while from my point of view and I've just been hanging on for dear life and hoping something good would come of it, and I was desperately struggling psychologically at times, and then...

...well, as of yesterday, I just feel... like someone has pressed the reset button on me.  I had prepared myself for the fact that I wouldn't really feel any different immediately, and I guess a big portion of it may be psychological, and I know it's not going to solve all my problems by any means, but I feel profoundly different (in a good way).  I feel so calm and positive right now and my anxiety levels have dipped a lot and, well, I guess I feel kinda euphoric still also and I'm sure that will pass but... so far it's been amazing.  So, having pulled my head out of the sand where I had firmly stuck it for the past month or two, I wanted to come back on and share my good news. ^^

Sorry as ever for the wall of text, lol.  I hope everyone else is doing ok and I hope you don't mind me sharing my news with you, even though I know I've been super lucky with this. :)  Hopefully it shows that the idea of getting bridging treatment is not completely hopeless, even if there's still a widespread reluctance to prescribe it in spite of what it says in the literature in support of it. 

I'm glad the wee Scots lassies are still around and posting. You all went quiet for a while, I had assumed the referendum was holding you rapt. 

It's interesting to hear how horribly random the treatment remains North of the border, especially given you had the best of the reports on treatment for GD.

Rosie

I have to admit, I was so wrapped up in my own issues that the whole referendum thing almost sailed past me unnoticed! :o  But yeah, my psychologist even told me I was lucky and that she was surprised because although it's clearly stated in the protocol that treatment ought to be an option prior to attending the GIC when the patient meets the listed criteria, the reality is that it's seldom being done, and most GPs seem to lack the knowledge (and therefore the confidence) to proceed.  And the psychologist herself would have suggested to me that I try to hang on in there until my GIC appointment had I not previously been proactive in pushing for treatment with my GP, even though she and the psychiatrist both agreed that treatment was the next logical step and there was no reason to delay it any further.

Hey Cat!

I'm so glad (and very jelly :D ) that you got your prescription!

I just had my first meeting at Sandyford on Thursday, and yet despite fighting it every step of the way, I am still having to self med. By the time I have my next appointment in January, where they promised to look into taking over my HRT, I will have been self medding for 13 months.

So it's great that you are managing to get a good head start on things, and feeling the effects already :)

I was rather similar in the whole "It probably wont feel any different for a few months"...-three days later-..."OH MY GOD I FEEL AMAZING!" thing ^^

I would suggest trying not to think to much about the whys, and focus more on that precious feeling :)

Hi Danniella! ^^

Thank you so much.  <3  I do feel crappy talking about this knowing that you are *still* having to self med, and I know how incredibly lucky I have been and how annoying it must seem to others who have been waiting longer.  :(  I really thought  it would change when you got to Sandyford, so it sucks to learn that you've been seen and yet it still hasn't happened, and now you have to go back in another three months?  I'm assuming the first time they see you is just a general/initial assessment where they don't do much of anything other than get started in getting to know you and looking at your case, then?  I don't mean that to be a prying question btw, and don't feel obliged to answer, I'm just curious about the process since I naively thought that getting to Sandyford would somehow represent a kind of gear shift in how the system deals with us.  Either way, I hope you're doing well with your HRT and that the further wait will be bearable for you.  :)

The psychologist I saw is on the national steering group and says that the Government is refusing to bring gender reassignment in line with other areas of treatment in terms of waiting times, but a general agreement was reached that waiting times are unreasonably long and more funding ought to be made available to shorten them.  It's not a particularly impressive outcome, but it's something -- though it will likely come too late to benefit us very much. 

As for me though, yeah... I still feel great, other than (obviously) physically triggered dysphoric episodes which are... both easier to deal with because I feel so much better inside, but also harder to deal with because what I'm seeing is even more incongruous compared to how I feel now, if that makes sense?  But I'm not complaining, it's a huge improvement and relief overall.  As for not thinking about the whys or about time scales... I'm trying, I really am, and mostly I've just been enjoying it.  I'm so chilled out now compared to how I was.  :o  But of course I have to keep stopping myself from thinking and watching and hoping for signs of further progress, however unrealistic I'm being.  :)

Yeah, the first meeting was only an an hour long appointment, and as I expected nothing much happened on the first visit.

I was basically sat own in a small room with a rather nice woman who basically just asked me "So walk me through the events that brought you to us here today".

It was quite the question xD But I covered it rather quickly anyway, since I am by not rather adept at giving the abridged version of events to any parties.

After that, she asked me what services I would like to access from Sandyford, so I listed the usual, electrolysis, voice coaching, HRT, blood tests, potential FFS in the future, and I made sure to tell her about my plans to go to Thailand for my SRS in the future.

She then agreed to write out recommendations for the other services, and took a (rather sizable) blood sample, before arranging the next appointment for January, under the promise that they will hopefully be able to take over my HRT then.

So yeah, pretty much what I expected, no new ground really covered that I hadn't already had to go through with a therapist before going to Sandyford. But it's good to know I'm in the system now at least. :)

Thanks for the insight! :)  It's a pity the time between appointments is so long, but I suppose that's just how it goes at the moment. :s

I was gonna say it's good to know I should go there with a list, but that would pretty much be my list too.  I'll work on getting an abridged version together.  The thing I handed the psych assessors here was like 11k words and the psychiatrist's eyes kinda bulged when she saw it, although the psychologist says she's interested in using some of it (redacted to protect my identity) if I consent at a later date, so that's pretty cool I guess. 

Glad you're finally getting there, and I hope you hear something from some of those other services while you're waiting for the next appointment to come around.  :)

Yeah I would defiantly recommend that any interaction with an NHS Dr is heavily steered and driven by you. Go in there knowing what you want and how you want them to help you, otherwise you end up stuck in the cycle of nothing being done for months.

The three month period in between appointments did give me a sigh, but at this point I have such low expectations for the NHS that I'm not even surprised. Even the Dr I was talking too seemed fed up with the waiting times.

I'm not holding my breath for any positive action any time soon. I have kinda conceded to myself that I will have to do this mostly by myself if I want to be done with my transition before I am 30.

A pessimist is never disappointed I guess.

Hmm, I guess not, but I hope you're ok. :)  I know exactly what you mean; there was no way I was getting anywhere with this, except that I told them what I needed and kept pushing for it, and it just so happened that the people I was dealing with ultimately listened and changed their minds.  But yeah, the psychologist I spoke to was also fed up and frustrated with the waiting times. 

Hopefully you have grounds for optimism in other areas that aren't contingent on the NHS.  On the bright side, you can still be done with all this before you are 30.  That ship has well and truly sailed for me!  ;_; :p

Quote from: Cat on October 20, 2014, 03:18:16 PM
Hmm, I guess not, but I hope you're ok. :)  I know exactly what you mean; there was no way I was getting anywhere with this, except that I told them what I needed and kept pushing for it, and it just so happened that the people I was dealing with ultimately listened and changed their minds.  But yeah, the psychologist I spoke to was also fed up and frustrated with the waiting times. 

Hopefully you have grounds for optimism in other areas that aren't contingent on the NHS.  On the bright side, you can still be done with all this before you are 30.  That ship has well and truly sailed for me!  ;_; :p

Well I still have hope for my SRS in Thailand etc next year, which to be honest is the most important thing for me right now (hence why I'm aiming for the best). The only way the NHS can interfere with that would be if they held off from giving me my psychiatric recommendations for it, but I doubt that would happen given how far I have come now, and even if they did I could just go private for a psych and throw money at them until they gave me the papers...some things can be solved with money I guess xD

Everything else is kinda tertiary in my eyes. If the NHS does decide to cover them for free, great! If not, I can just do it under my own steam.

Also, I keep forgetting tha tyou are over 30...STOP LOOKING SO YOUNG IT'S CONFUSING! :D

EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING THAT! :P  So I look young and I sound young and I come across as young on here, and I... still feel old. -_- Mehhhh, I need to see what everyone else sees! :3  Or... maybe I don't?! :o Or maybe I doooo, since it could hardly be any worse than what I see most of the time, lol. 

Well, I'm glad to hear you feel like you're on course for Thailand, and I hope it pans out for you next year!  I'm sure you'll have your psychiatric recommendations in plenty time for that, and if that's your main concern then January isn't so bad for having your next appointment after all.  Sure, things can be solved with money, but yeesh, that Thailand thing is already gonna be fairly expensive!  I dunno how I'm gonna feel about that in due course, but right now I need to focus on what's happening with me and I'm sure SRS will start to become a higher priority once I start seeing some progress with my HRT.  And you're right, the other stuff (aside from the FFS of course) isn't such a big deal and can easily be taken care of.  I'm doing hair removal under my own steam right now, which has been going great so far.  This Thursday I get the pleasure of being tortured for half an hour again, although the second 15 minutes will not be on the face, and doesn't really hurt much, but the first 15 minutes makes up for that... and I still can't wait!

Wow it's been busy here...

Danielle, I'm in the same boat with the three month wait after they took bloods from me, after two meetings where I sat down for an hour or so and explained my life story to two different doctors. I'm not even sure if they're going to put me on HRT or what, but I do have a voice training session with my local hospital booked now for November. The also mentioned going on laser for a few sessions with the NHS paying for it. I've made it clear from the start what I wanted, but not really seen movement. I suppose it's still quicker than the waiting time I was originally told - I'd still be waiting for a first meeting if that had been correct.

Took the plunge in one way myself and told my work that I was trans, after stress and anxiety over everything caused a few meltdowns and failings at work. They've been ridiculously supportive, but work on the phone is all they do. They're getting me a new role I can do what won't require so much phone time, but everything they do will require some at some point. It's nice not  to be hidden at work, but I'm still hidden to every customer I speak to.

I'm still building up the guts here to talk to my family about it, and from what Dr Kennedy spoke about on our last meeting it seemed that was what she wanted to see movement on. I've no idea why someone who has came out like that would need further questioning, other than the obvious health reasons that could arise.

Have patience, girls. Lord knows I've had to learn some :p

Hi there! Patience is definitely so important. At long last it has paid of for me. At my last GIC appointment Dr Kennedy approved me for starting hrt. Letter written to my gp to start estradiol patch (evorel) and t blocker injection. Already had blood tests in preparation for my estrogen therapy! . Expect to get my first patch and injection next week. This will improve my dysphoria greatly. Hope to also start hair removal treatment with electrolysis and laser treatment within forseeable future. Awaiting more info regarding this from gender clinic. I'm so excited yet nervous at same time. Hoping for dramatic changes although I'm realistic about expectations.  Want pear shape curves and substantial breasts ASAP!! :-) watch this space. Hope all you gals see big changes in me next time we meet! You girls will get there being so young and having time on your side. Xx

That's fantastic news Elizabeth! I'm jealous here, but I am glad to hear that things are moving ahead for others. I know what you mean by having a body shape in mind, mostly want to get some fat on my butt here - they can always put some boobs in with surgery, as the girls in my family have never been particularly big on top!

But mostly I just want the feeling I'll get of knowing things are moving X

I feel i should pop in this thread and say hello. I'm 28 but only told my doctor about being transgender last week, so I am right at the very start of the journey. This thread has been quite enlightening and also good to see a Scottish contingent here. I'm in West Lothian so we shall see what happens going forward from here.

Another West Lothian girl! When you hit 25 posts you'll be able to send private messages and we can talk about where we're from. Shouldn't discuss locations like that on the open forum.

Telling the doctor is the start of the journey though, a year after I did and I just wished I'd done it sooner X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on October 25, 2014, 07:23:49 PM
Another West Lothian girl! When you hit 25 posts you'll be able to send private messages and we can talk about where we're from. Shouldn't discuss locations like that on the open forum.

Telling the doctor is the start of the journey though, a year after I did and I just wished I'd done it sooner X

Ah W.Lothian is pretty general, I don't mind telling people that part :p

Yeah, well I told my mother at 14 and she laughed at it and said it was daft which kinda made me push back against it for the next 14 years. How I wish I had just told my GP then rather than wait till now. Oh well, better late than never as they say.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't telling you off - I'm just desperate to ask where you're from! I really though I was the only trans in West Lothian X

And at 14 your parents' consent would have been required, so no time lost there! It could be worse, you could be 33...

Anyway, welcome to the thread and I hope things move quickly and easily for you X

Well being following this thread for a while now and so i've finally decided to register and speak up.

So i'm 28 and after years of keeping this repressed I came out to family 5 weeks ago and then all my friends a week after that. Well I have told all my family in the first week and already seen a GP, in Dundee so the information about the differences in Tayside has been helpful. While awaiting to start the tayside check stuff  I got instructed by the GP to get in contact with Sandyford and I'm at least on their 12 month waiting list.

Still not sure how fast to make the changes without gender clinic yet, though currently do try and present as a woman when going out to friends houses and home though trying not to think about work yet even though I did find out that they have a proper process in place for transitioning employees and non-discrimination policies.

After seeing Bellatrix's post and being same age kinda made the decision to post this online. Guess the weird thing is that I could never get the courage to even post about this anonymously online.

Thanks

Erin

Welcome Erin!

The transition process can take a while on the NHS, if you see from my own journey I spoke to my GP specifically about transitioning in December last year after I'd been in a few times regarding depression. About 5 months for the clinic to get back to me (Chalmers Street in my case) and I've only been seen twice since then.

Sounds like you've already got things in hand and are moving forward at your own rate - I still haven't talked to my parents or immediate family (Although I have told my mother in law, because she's amazing)

Just don't let the wait get you down, if there is one. I recommend you new girls meeting up with us and getting drunk by mid afternoon the next time we get together for it! X

And Danniella, I won't be able to make it to the gig I'm afraid - please keep me posted next time you set an event

By the way, for you new girls who have taken the plunge and came out to your family - how did you do it? How did it go?

I am so terrified and need some ideas. I'm not as good as Danniella at making videos so I'm thinking of a letter - or getting drunk with my sister and telling her as she can't keep a secret to save her life.

My biggest fear in coming out was what people would say and how they'd react, the biggest being my mum's reaction. Not to say that she came across as she wouldn't be supportive, just that my mental state sorta worried about the what ifs a lot. Though I actually told my mum first out of everyone and she was fine, well she was more concerned that I had been keeping it a secret for so long to the extent that I couldn't tell anyone.

After that, I kinda ran with it to be honest. I just felt that I had finally got a bit of breathing room to finally talk about it, that i told some close friends which had no problem with it either. at this point I just kinda bit the bullet and told everyone else that I was close to, friends and my brother and two sisters about me but one thing that I did do which won't be for everyone i'm sure. I told them not to particularly make it secret. What I mean by that is, if they felt they needed to speak to someone about this then to go ahead because I felt having gone through so many years not speaking about it and going through the affects yet knowing the only thing that would help was to talk, then I would be upfront with others if they felt that same kind of feeling and thought that they had to keep it secret if talking to someone could help them.

So maybe not really the best advice but it was just something that I felt I had to do since I had finally got the momentum to start this process and damned if I wasn't going to try and do as much as I could while I still  had the confidence to do it. I guess I have just been lucky in this that everyone has been really supportive and some on first hearing even asked if i'd thought about a new name and what pronouns i would prefer.

Sounds like you have a great network of supportive people there Erin X

I've told friends, my work and select family members - and I really want to keep the momentum going, like you said. I want to move into my new role at work presenting as female and keep building from there.

Just telling my dad... he's an old school bigot that I've never really been close to. But I have a son and I can't just shut him out of his grandson's life. That means I have to work up the courage to tell him somehow.

Hey all again. Just dropping by with another interesting trans oriented event ^^

Not sure how many/if you are aware of this, but there is a big Trans/Intersex conference in Edinburgh this weekend.

http://www.islesconference.org/

It's primarily a large networking and workshop oriented affair, with lots of interesting speakers and topics to go through, with workshops ranging from huge community based concepts such as "Education for All: Making schools, colleges & unis trans & intersex inclusive." or "Encouraging collaboration & consensus building between trans groups." to far more personal opportunities for self growth like "Singing as ourselves." and "Peeling off the layers: Finding our own body confidence."

The tickets are free, and I reckon it will be a super interesting couple of days :D

If anybody else is coming, let me know ^^ I'm planning to be there on Saturday and Sunday (since Friday is focused primarily on business affairs).

As for other thread things, welcome to Erin and Bellatrix! If you need peeps to talk to or want to meet up I'm always doing things out in the community, so send me a message :D

Also Sandra, I could give you a hand with a video if you would like to make one? I have all the equipment to do it and editing etc is a cinch for me. Of course how you choose to come out is a deeply personal choice, so if you would rather do it another way that's fine, but don't let not being a 1337 video editing genius stop you from doing so in video format if that's how you really want to do it ^^

Hi all, I come bearing some scary news...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-29804901

Basically, a stupid person at Sandyford clinic has managed to leak the identity of 86 transgender people. I'm registered to Sandyford myself, as I registered there while I was choosing between there or Chalmer's street.

I'm pooping myself over this, but I thought you all should know so you could look into it as well - I'm not just fearmongering!

Call them on 0141 211 8130 between 8:30 and 16:30

Do you think it would be worthwhile to repost about this leak as a fresh forum topic to draw attention?

Umm... Hi, by the way, I'm in Scotland myself so had followed this thread.

J
X

Hi Jessica X

I'll start a thread about it, just to get maximum exposure. It's an exclusively Scottish issue, but we better make sure any other Scots girls (or guys) out there that may have registered with Sandyford find out.

Also, welcome to the thread honey! *mwah*

I also visited Dr Perring and found him most helpful in digging down deeply into my former 68 years as a male feeling female!  But travelling down to London as a pensioner became too expensive so I gave up for a while whilst still feeling I should do somthing positive.  I met up with a psychosexual counsellor in my local city (Lincoln - Relate - NHS funded) and after my first session asked my GP to refer me as an NHS patient.  Success!  Local Trust funds me...After a couple of months managed an appointment with the Gender Identity Clinic in Nottingham and after three sessions (over 6 months) and a chat with an endocrinologist, was prescribed HRT - only oestrogen as I was already on Finateride for prostate enlargement.  This took in total 18 months.  My oestrogen levels are monitored every three months and I have just been prescribed a testosterone blocker that will be injected as a pellet sub-cutaneously as my testosterone levels were still within (just) normal male levels.  (Yet to start.)
I started full RLE last Spetember after my wife moved away into her own home.  (We still talk and see each other although a 400 mile round trip)  I wear skirts and dresses at home buit jeans when out shopping - just as every other woman does, it seems!  I am a member of a number of amateur radio clubs, motor sports clubs and sailing clubs - and no-one turnds a hair when I introduce myself with my feminine name.  I have just spent a couple of days crewing a 72' yacht in the Solent / Channel and was treated normally with no counter reaction.
I have booked an appointment with Brian Musgrove (whose name appears elsewhere on this forum) for some light 'cosmetic' work around my eyes and ears and a brow lift.  At 71 I would love to look as a yopung girls - but my body would give it all away!
So - it's a long haul and I envy all you youngsters who have managed to start early, but when I was your age, treatment would have been electric therapy under the Mental Health Act of the time.  At least the NHS now regards gender dysphoria as a Medical issue, not a mental health one.

Hi there Rafiki, welcome to the thread X

You've certainly got an active social life there, I'm housebound compared to you!

I've been away for a few days getting things together and moving forward on my own here - I'm full time now, and I've told my parents. I'm still shaking and about to go have a hot bubble bath and a glass of wine!

I just decided to tell them face to face, otherwise I'd keep putting it off. And - as everyone but me expected - it went well. It's going to take time to sink in to both of them, but they're both of the opinion that what makes me happy and stops me killing myself is a good thing, and they accept me.

My father did ask me not to 'camp it up' around him, I think he expects me to rock up in a miniskirt and suspenders next time I see him! He's the one I'm scared of the reaction of, and I will have to work to not be so 'overt' around him to start with. It took me a long time to come to terms with myself because of the point of view I'd inherited from him (I used to consider 'transsexual' a dirty word, and tried anything to claim I wasn't like that) he will accept me, but I'm going to have to understand that it will take him longer than anyone else to truly come to terms with it. Hoodies and baggy jeans when I'm at my parent's for the foreseeable future.

But I've done it. Now my life can actually begin. Next step is to get my ears pierced and to resist the urge to jump straight into self-medding.

I have a fortune cookie fortune on my desk that I've  had for about two weeks - it says 'All your hard work will soon be paid off'. I don't believe in fate so I've worked this week to make it come true myself. It's time to do something for me, and really start to live my life.

I hope everyone's week has been as productive and uplifting, love you all X

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYAmUb4W.jpg%3F1&hash=2f8d143a5d3e7aeee46039ee5efbfcbb4369e715)

Ears pierced! I went for something rather subtle, but I love it X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on November 03, 2014, 05:38:08 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYAmUb4W.jpg%3F1&hash=2f8d143a5d3e7aeee46039ee5efbfcbb4369e715)

Ears pierced! I went for something rather subtle, but I love it X

Looks good. Simple but effective :)

I love piercings, I guess when HRT starts I'll need to take out my nipple piercings though :s

Love that profile pic Bellatrix! Looking gorgeous X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on November 03, 2014, 05:38:08 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYAmUb4W.jpg%3F1&hash=2f8d143a5d3e7aeee46039ee5efbfcbb4369e715)

Ears pierced! I went for something rather subtle, but I love it X

Aww, we got basically the same piercing on basically the same day. ^^''

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi57.tinypic.com%2F1z4xzbn.jpg&hash=135b48e5aa03b6e26ac29e8d2cbc1ef1a49a080a)

Ooo, nice! ^^  I got mine done three weeks ago and it's basically the same, too.  Silver studs.

Also, Sandra, I'm so glad to hear your coming out to your work and your parents has gone well!  I know how much of a relief it must feel to have that out the way.  :)  As for your Dad's reaction... I got a similar reaction when I first told my family... sort of like, "You're not gonna turn up in a dress next week, are you?"  My family have been supportive but awkward for months but I think (I hope) they're starting to relax and accept just a little more. I hope things go smoothly for you from now on. 


Can I also say hi and welcome to the other Scottish girls who've posted since I was last here (Bellatrix, Erin, Jessica).  I can't believe there are three of us from Tayside here now!  Or maybe I can, given what I was told about the numbers going through local assessment (about 2 per month).  But either way, it's nice to meet you all, and Rafiki too.


Hope things are going well for all of you. :)

Yeah! There is a surprising number of tayside trans peeps ^^

We should really get some form of support group up and running >.>

I can barely run my own life at the moment & I'm not the most social butterfly-y type, so I'd likely be both horrible and willfully negligent at organising anything (and it would stress me out terribly :p).  But I would totally be up for meeting!  I'm sure Kitty would too, assuming SOs were welcome. ^^

Sorry to ask, can any of you girls recommend a private gender counsellor in Edinburgh(shire)?

Tried to post this before but something went wrong. If a dupe appears sorry in advance

X

Dr Lyndsey Myskow

http://your-gp.com/services/sexual-health-gender-clinic/gender-dysphoria/ (http://your-gp.com/services/sexual-health-gender-clinic/gender-dysphoria/)

Thanks hon.
I was kind of thinking a counsellor around the £50-75hr mark rather than a physician at £230/hr though :)

Quote from: Jessica_S on November 18, 2014, 10:50:47 AM
Thanks hon.
I was kind of thinking a counsellor around the £50-75hr mark rather than a physician at £230/hr though :)

That's about the going rate for a GD therapist if you go private; although Dr. Curtis may be a bit cheaper after the first consultation, but you've got to fact in the train ride to London.

Quote from: Jessica_S on November 18, 2014, 10:50:47 AM
Thanks hon.
I was kind of thinking a counsellor around the £50-75hr mark rather than a physician at £230/hr though :)

True, but when it comes to this nothing is going to be cheap, and if it is cheap I would think twice about it.

If you were looking for an ongoing service I'm sure that there would be discounts for block booking etc, best bet is to give them a ring and talk it over with them. Any counselor will be be able to talk to you about the issues, however, for a specialist, especially in such a specific area its a small fortune I'm afraid, I guess it just depends how much detail and past experience you want from them.

Thanks again for your help.
Went through Dr C at transhealth last time around who put me onto Sharon Fillingham whom I saw for a number of sessions. Was about 70 squids an hour as I recall. Was looking for a Scottish equivalent. Might go along and see Dr Myskow initially and see if she has anyone she works with.

Thanks once more for your kindness.

X

hey all my name is laura, and i just came out 4-5 months ago being transgendered (MtoF), and the other day i made the first step i went to see my GP, i live on the isle of skye, i just thought to say a little about me, hope thats ok

thanks

laura 

Hi, Laura!  Welcome to Susan's!  It's always nice to meet more Scottish girls on here.  :)

It's only been 7 months since I first went to see my GP.  I hope it goes well for you!  The girls here were so helpful and supportive when I first appeared (<3), and we are all here for you if you feel like talking about anything or if you have any questions (not that I'm an expert -- I'm pretty early in the process myself and only have my own experience to draw on really). 

Anyway, nice to meet you. ^^

~Cat

x

thanks! am so happy to find someware to talk and learn, i am really happy to be here :D

thanks!

laura

Hi Laura!

How did you get on with your GP?
Some of the Hebridean GPs can be real bunker nuts :)

J

X

I tried to get a referral from my GP and that was a waste of time. I ended up moving to the US. That was in 2000. In 2011 I went directly to an end and that day I was given my prescriptions. I found too many therapists in my area who had no idea how to help a transgender patient so I cut them out all together. My name change was done via deed poll which, after some explaining, the social security office accepted.I got a new social security card in the mail. Getting my drivers license changed over however has been a pain in the butt. They want an updated birth certificate, so I am trying to get that done.

Hello Laura!

From the mainland perspective going through your GP can be real slow, I'm pretty much hitting my first year anniversary. I'll be seeing my therapist on the 13th, and that's only my 3rd appointment of the year. Did your GP know much about it? Mine was pretty honest in stating she had no training and no clue, just referring me to Chalmer's street clinic. Did you get any clue of what was happening as you move ahead?

Lovely to see another Scots girl on here too XXX

So I had my appointment with Dr Gerber again yesterday, a year after I contacted my GP and was referred initially. I'm being prescribed HRT! A letter has been sent to my local GP that I've been advised to chase up from about the 20^th onwards to make sure I can start the prescription as soon as possible - it apparently takes ten days to get there as the NHS must use some kind of pre-WW2 messaging system to send its letters (Even 2^nd class post takes 5 days tops)

So one stage of my journey is over and another has begun. For those who've been following my journey here and are not sure, I can recommend going the NHS route, no matter how long it may seem. This is a big journey and the year that it's taken to get to this point has been useful otherwise, although I certainly didn't feel that way initially. I'm glad I've had the time to truly get my head straight and I'm in a much better position to deal with the raging hormones than I would have been a year ago.

Yeah this is pretty much just a humblebrag post, but I need to tell EVERYONE!

PS, I hope the onslaught of questions didn't scare you off Laura, reading previous posts would inform you what a nosy bitch I can be :p

Yaaay, awesome news, Sandra!!  So glad to hear that you're getting the treatment you need at long last!

And thanks for posting this thread -- which I can say has been invaluable for me, and I'm pretty sure is invaluable for all the other Scottish girls too -- and for sharing your journey here.  Do keep us posted about how you get on with it! ^^

That's great news honey! What an awesome Christmas present.

And a merry Christmas to all :)

Jessica

X

Quote from: nikkit72 on December 09, 2013, 09:33:05 AM
Hi Sandra,

I'm not in Scotland, but in Wales, and this has, in the past been notorious for being pretty bad when providing support for trans people. Scotland may be better.

If you go down the NHS route, this is what you need to prepare yourself to do...

1, speak to your GP then another GP and possibly another GP to get a referral to the local mental health unit (MHU).
2, After a couple of months attend appointment with  local MHU so they can determine if you have gender dysphoria or you have some other underlying mental health issue, like, say, being clinically nuts... You will then be referred to a gender specialist in a gender clinic/MHU
3, In about 3 months time, attend appointment with your gender specialist who wil ask some difficult questions to try to 'weed out' those who are wasting the clinics time. If you do have GD, they will then expect you to start RLE by changing your name and all your documentation over to your new name and begin integrating with society with your new gender role.
4, In about another 3 months you get a follow up appointment (if they remember to send out the appointment letters  >:( ). If you haven't been scared off by your RLE and have documented evidence such as receipts, name changes, driving license/passport changes etc that you can show the specialist as proof, then they may recommend hormones and send you to an endocrinologist for bloods etc.
5, Wait another 2-3 months for this appointment. Then wait for the prescription (This is where I'm at)
6, Attend follow up appointment with specialist sometime in the future..

It takes MONTHS and MONTHS, or at least it has for me. In fact it will be a year of RLE, after changing my name and all my documents BEFORE starting with the endocrinologist. Not fun  :'(.

If it wasn't for another girl on here advising me to chase up my appointments, I doubt very much if I'd be seeing an endo in January.

I'm not saying you will be treated in the same way or have to wait as long, not everyone is treated the same. The big mistake I made was not taking documented evidence of my name change to show the specialist on my first appointment. This put me back 6 months because they messed up with appointment letters.

Point of all the above is that the NHS route isn't the quick fix that you want.

Depending on your financial situation, you could save a lot of heartache and go privately. It will halve the wait that you get with the NHS.

Hope that helps somewhat and I hope you get better results in Scotland. I have heard of this person http://www.medicalternative.com/gender-dysphoria from another girl and she said she was very good.

Nikki

That sounds horrible. This is why I think national healthcare is stupid. Does anyone else think that RLE is really just a barrier to access created to scare off trans people from starting HRT?

QuoteThat sounds horrible. This is why I think national healthcare is stupid. Does anyone else think that RLE is really just a barrier to access created to scare off trans people from starting HRT?

I've not had any where near that much trouble in Scotland, where RLE is not a necessity at all.

Personally I could not have afforded private healthcare and I would fight for National Healthcare - I just wish our other British sisters saw the advantages we Scots do, like self referring and not requiring odd sacrifices to 'prove' our issues. We should fight for everyone in Britain to get the treatment we do up here!

I have military healthcare, I just think the wait times are insane. If they could make government run healthcare as efficient as that in the private sector I wouldn't have an issue with it.

While I do object to the "approach as supplicant" approach the NHS demands for Transpeople I too believe in it as an institution. Also I would say that fast is not the same as efficient :)


(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.commonwealthfund.org%2F%7E%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2Fpublications%2Ffund-report%2F2014%2Fjune%2Fdavis_mirror_2014_es1_for_web.jpg%3Fla%3Den&hash=e87b261c280102b6e632d01ac14e6a1ff618306b)

Jessica

X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on December 14, 2014, 02:45:04 PM
So I had my appointment with Dr Gerber again yesterday, a year after I contacted my GP and was referred initially. I'm being prescribed HRT! A letter has been sent to my local GP that I've been advised to chase up from about the 20^th onwards to make sure I can start the prescription as soon as possible - it apparently takes ten days to get there as the NHS must use some kind of pre-WW2 messaging system to send its letters (Even 2^nd class post takes 5 days tops)

So one stage of my journey is over and another has begun. For those who've been following my journey here and are not sure, I can recommend going the NHS route, no matter how long it may seem. This is a big journey and the year that it's taken to get to this point has been useful otherwise, although I certainly didn't feel that way initially. I'm glad I've had the time to truly get my head straight and I'm in a much better position to deal with the raging hormones than I would have been a year ago.

Yeah this is pretty much just a humblebrag post, but I need to tell EVERYONE!

PS, I hope the onslaught of questions didn't scare you off Laura, reading previous posts would inform you what a nosy bitch I can be :p

Aaaaah congrats Sandra! Sorry I've been absent for a while, life kinda got ahead of me for a bit there xD

I can't believe you got your HRT on the first appointment D: I had my first GID clinic appointment in November and was told that they would not even consider taking over my meds until my next appointment where they would "review" it...so I am back in January which will mark 17months since I initially referred to Sandyford and I have still not had a single bit of tangible aid from the NHS -.-;

That's the worst thing about the NHS...the bloody postcode lottery:(

But anyway, happy days! Welcome to the supper happy fun time HRT club ;)

We should arrange another meet up one time soon, so we can all catch up in person ^^

QuoteI can't believe you got your HRT on the first appointment D:

Not quite Danniella, it was my third appointment. Took them 5 months to set up the first one. My advice for anyone waiting on replies is to bug them with phone calls and messages. I waited four months and started calling Sandyford and a letter dropped on my mat 2 days later with my first appointment. Every time it's been about 3 months with nothing before I call and then the letter plops through with an appontment. Either I am REALLY good at predicting when they have posted or they make me one every time I call in.

QuoteWelcome to the supper happy fun time HRT club ;)

I'm waiting on my local GP recieving the letter though, phoned them Friday and still nothing... I'll call again when I'm off on Monday but I'm working right up to Christmas after that and I think it will be a pain to get it sorted until the New Year. Bugging them incessantly seems to have worked so far!

QuoteWe should arrange another meet up one time soon, so we can all catch up in person ^^

Definitely. You're the best at setting these up so I think you'll have something prepared before I do, just post when you see an event we can meet up at XXX

Congrats Sandra, that's awesome news!

I know its a tiny step but I shaved my legs, pits and body hair off for the first time today. Its the biggest change I've made so far. My left knee and right ankle are cut to shreds but it feels great. :)
No more tights with a Denier rating normally reserved for blast furnaces.

Again a small step but thanks for reading.

Love

Jessica

It's an important step! I bet you feel great Jess X I remember when I first did it myself, it's a feeling I love but the prickly regrowing hairs mean that you can never stop!

I also have about a one inch scar on my ankle from overzealous shaving....

Well Hi again,

So last time I posted here, I was just starting out and now... well I'm going full time at work from Monday.

OK brief update of what I've been up to;

Just started living as myself presenting female outside of work since then pretty much all the time, seeing friends, going food shopping, cinema and then went to the pub over Christmas where i had 2 weeks off from work at which point I promptly dyed my hair a dark red(dark red since my hair is already dark brown/close to black) with the idea that it would wash out/dye over it by the time I went back to work after the break.

Well being me for fulltime over that period, has quickly made me realize that it was going to be sooner, rather than later that I would be doing this at work as well.

So told my Boss first thing when we got back to the office to get things kicked off with him and HR, and he was fine with it and supportive, so good from that end.

Ended up making the decision to come out to the rest of the team of people I work with today, and they all seem fine with it.

So going to be working from home till the end of the week, my boss had suggested it (though he wasn't meaning it in any offensive way) to just help after telling folk, also the weather in Dundee isn't the greatest at the moment and I just live outside it, so the snow is kinda worse where I am and of course I have the most sensible car ever for the snow! (MX5 with "All-weather" tyres). So working form home wasn't the worse call to make.

So going to get name change documents set up to get this thing going.

I arranged a follow up visit with my GP to check on the referral for the Tayside thing since I'd hadn't heard anything yet, so he hasn't done anything. He knew there was a process, and I kind of assumed he was doing something since he gave the impression he knew what he was doing but I did take a note of someone to call about this when i phoned Sandyford, so waiting for a call back from that Doctor, though may need to try and contact again since haven't heard back yet after leaving a message to get a call back.

He did say he was going to write a letter confirming the transition, which according to the gov.uk website should be all I need to get passport gender marker changed along with name change document.

So while I know at the moment that I won't "pass", kinda feel time is right to just start.

Thanks

Erin

So got in contact with the Doctor about getting pre-assessment checks started, while I do have to now contact my GP again and get them to properly refer me to the Community Mental Health team also had a good chat about the process when I get seen by them.
I was also told that usually you see two psychologists at Sandyford when referred but because in Tayside we get seen by psychologist and a psychiatrists before going to the clinic, then should only need to have one psychologist to see once I get to the clinic, which would at least save on the travel expenses.

Hi Erin :)

Congrats on going full time -- so glad to hear that things are going well for you!  And yes, everything you say is pretty much what my experience has been.  I was told by the psychologist that I would only have to see one psychologist at the GIC.  Your GP letter and proof of name change is fine for getting your passport changed also. 

Wishing you all the best with it. ^^

Cat

Thanks Cat,

Talked to my boss this morning and he says that other people in the office have been told and they all seemed fine with it. Also my mum's colleague, who didn't know about me, had said that her partner who works in the same company and said they'd all been told about someone transitioning and that his opinion was that no-one seemed to have any issues with it, so that all seems good.

That is definitely a plus. and great to hear.  I'm at uni right now, so my situation is a little different, but it's been the same in that everyone so far has either been fantastically supportive or, at the very least, has had no problem with it.  Hopefully that will continue this semester. 

Hey all!

Glad to see the girls still keeping things interesting, Welcome to the full time club Eris!...I'm afraid we are all out of cookies. >.>

So last week was insane!

First off, I had my first ever Voice Therapy session at Ninewells hospital in Dundee. I was really worried going in, since all the leaflets etc that I was sent out in advance didn't actually mention transgender issues at all...just lots of stuff about recovering from smoke inhalation/throat surgery etc...as a result I was somewhat apprehensive about going in, as I felt that once more I would have to spend the whole first session just explaining the basics and trying to get the therapist on side.

But oh god did I strike gold with my voice therapist! She is a lovely woman (names withheld and all that) who has been workign with trans people for over 10 years, and know EXACTLY what she is doing :D

I was expecting just a bit of "this is how to speak a tad more feminine", a couple short session and some homework and that would be it. I am over the moon to tell you that this therapist is amazing!

The first appointment was an hour long, the first 30mins of which was just a casual conversation so she could gauge the state of my voice and what I could work on etc. We got on like a house on fire, and by the end of the chat she was very impressed with what work I had done to my voice to far (just basic youtube stuff etc).

We spoke about what I would like my voice to sound like, picking a celebrity to emulate as such, personally I love Amy MacDonald, and always thought she had a lovely voice that I could possibly reach. Thankfully she agreed. ^^#

Apparently though her services do not just stop at you correcting your voice a bit, oh no, she spoke about how we would work on body language, mannerisms, conversation pace, speed and even topics all with the goal of reaching my maximum passing potential.

By the end of the session my head was spinning in the most delightful way. I wanted to give her a hug! I refrained for now...but there will be plenty of opportunities for that later, as I will now be seeing her once a week for the next 6-10 weeks. I can't wait for our next sessions so I can get down to business. :D

So yeah! For those who are in Tayside and thinking about getting some voice therapy on the NHS, go for it! I can't recommend it enough.


I also had an appointment at Sandyford this week (marking my second time in the gender identity clinic). I expected a fairly standard continuation of going through the motions etc. Lots of talking about childhood, evaluations, discussion about the future etc etc etc. but it turned out that it was far more straight forward than that.

I basically sat down, updated my Dr on the recent happenings in my life...and was then promptly informed that they were very happy with my progress, that I clearly knew what I want, and that they were more than willing to help me in whatever way they can.

So yeah...Signed up for the NHS finally taking over and funding my HRT (which should start next week), laser hair removal, blood tests...and a general "go-ahead" for my surgery in Thailand!

So after 17months on the waiting list, it took only 2 appointments, approximately 1h45min, for them to sign me off as "Approved Transgender Person: Give access to all the things"

It was VERY shocking the speed at which I made it through that place. I will now only need to go back once every 3-6 months for some blood tests...the rest is up to me!

I now only need to get my 2 letters of recommendation from psychologists for my SRS in Thailand and I will be ready to book my surgery day!

...

It's been a fun week xD

YAAY, what a delightful post, Danniella... SO PLEASED FOR YOU!!!  I just got home and this has really cheered me up after the day I've had, too (no need to worry, no big deal, just meh).  So glad you've managed to get all your NHS stuff sorted out!  :D

I also got super excited reading about your voice experience.  My voice is bugging me so much at the moment.  It'll be a while before I can get a referral for that myself (June will be my first appt at Sandyford if all goes to plan, May if the extra funding they have speeds things up any, or so I was told), but it's reassuring to know that the therapist here is so good! 

I keep putting off trying to find someone to emulate, but I should get on that asap I guess.

Anyway, congrats!  You doing laser at Ninewells too?

Cookies are definitely on you this week. >.>

:3

Hey Danniella good to hear things are good and nice to know the voice stuff is better than expected.

Well had first day at work full time today and everything was fine and we actually just got straight back into work, though got a new photo id badge and got a new email alias sorted out.

Finally got rid of all male my clothing tonight off to a charity shop minus some items that i've kept for gardening/housework use. Now need to really start getting more clothes now, which is sorta good and bad(money mostly, though i will get paid tomorrow).

I've got my name change documents getting processed now, which will start the 20 odd places that i'll need to get in contact with to get things sorted out.

All the best everyone!

Clothing, ugh... I still have that old stuff lying around in binbags in a cupboard somewhere... I really need to ditch it.

Glad to hear everything at work went well for you! :)

Hope the name change stuff goes smoothly, too.  I got seriously impatient with some of the sluggish responses (and the lack of acknowledgment or notification from certain quarters, and the insistence from some companies that they would 'keep a copy on file but destroy the original' even though I expressly instructed them not to keep any record and that they had no legal basis for doing so >.>), but that was just me being me.  I should really have expected that.  The most annoying thing now is that the only things I have left to change (online gaming things mainly), I sort of feel like I shouldn't have to send these places intimate details of my life in order to have my name and gender marker changed on their systems, so I keep putting it off.  All of the meaningful stuff is sorted, though. ^^

Quote from: Cat on January 20, 2015, 07:25:02 AMThe most annoying thing now is that the only things I have left to change (online gaming things mainly), I sort of feel like I shouldn't have to send these places intimate details of my life in order to have my name and gender marker changed on their systems, so I keep putting it off.  All of the meaningful stuff is sorted, though. ^^

I know right!? I wanted to change my World of Warcraft account and it's like I was trying to apply for a job in the secret service! D:

Yup, ditto with the one I've done so far. I've been wanting to change my PSN details but... Sony + data security = hmmmm.  :P

Well that's the first week over with and everything was 'normal'. Everyone just treats me as normal and all using the new name without any real slip ups.
I do feel really good about just being able to get on with work as before, so slightly anti-climatic in a way of fearing what folk will do/say etc which probably everyone feels before starting.

Though one thing my boss mentioned he was going to say in my performance review was about that I need to come out of my shell more and interact more with the team, but he has said he already saw a difference in my behavior in being more talkative to others. I have sort of noticed this myself, though this wasn't any conscious effort on my part, its just a case of just feeling better about myself that really seems to me that with all the other changes to come and challenges to face, the fact I feel good and others see me as being more happier than before i think says a lot of how much I was keeping held back in daily life.

I will admit to being slightly daunted with using the women's bathroom but hopefully that feeling should fade after a while.

Quote from: ErinKM on January 24, 2015, 02:15:10 PM
Well that's the first week over with and everything was 'normal'. Everyone just treats me as normal and all using the new name without any real slip ups.
I do feel really good about just being able to get on with work as before, so slightly anti-climatic in a way of fearing what folk will do/say etc which probably everyone feels before starting.

Though one thing my boss mentioned he was going to say in my performance review was about that I need to come out of my shell more and interact more with the team, but he has said he already saw a difference in my behavior in being more talkative to others. I have sort of noticed this myself, though this wasn't any conscious effort on my part, its just a case of just feeling better about myself that really seems to me that with all the other changes to come and challenges to face, the fact I feel good and others see me as being more happier than before i think says a lot of how much I was keeping held back in daily life.

I will admit to being slightly daunted with using the women's bathroom but hopefully that feeling should fade after a while.

Glad to hear things are going well! That first week is all about the anti-climactic feeling i'm afraid...but in a good way! ^^

Hopefully the shock of social change can be as anti-climactic and drama free as possible, that way you can focus on yourself and coming out of your shell more/being true to you, rather than worrying for your job or anything.

(and don't worry about women's bathrooms either, I found them to be the most pleasingly anti-climactic event ever! xD )

Hey all! Thought those of you who are in Tayside/Dundee would like to know that anew group has surfaced recently.

They are called "Trans Drundee" and I can personally vouch for their awesomeness. They are new, allin the getting to know you stages of forming the group, but I went to a workshop a few nights ago that had 40+ people there, all Trnas, Intersex, Nonbinary and a healthy dose of allies. Afterwards around 12 of us went for pizza and some drinks, didn't finish until past midnight and some truly great times were had :)

They are planning on running further events, such as trans clothes swaps, charity pub quizzes and movie nights etc. With the direction and enthusiasm I feel from the group, I think it could be the foundation of a great new support network in Dundee.

Their Facebook page is : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1446765165613427/ so feel free to join and I'm sure I'll see you at one of the events :D

Hi,
Can I just say thank you for all your posts, I'm near Dundee and I self referred myself to Sandyford last August , was told a 13 month waiting list but at no time did they mention any trouble with this being from Tayside :(.  I'm married with 3 kids, a software engineer and now at age of 43 my female side has caught up with me, I tried so hard to hide it that for a long time I had, career, marriage and children can be very distracting but now every day I just feel wrong, it comes in waves some days worse than others but Argghh It makes me want to scream my head off !!! I'm currently seeing a counsellor and trying to work out where to go from here. Any advice appreciated :)

Thanks
Amy
x

P.S. How can I get a pic up on my profile?

I went through the Scottish system. I was seen by a gender guy who said he'd see me again in two months. After that another gender guy saw me two months later and said come back in a month. I did and he said he was going to prescribe hrt and three weeks later my first dose was in my awaiting system. For every appointment I had a touch of make up, my limited hair doing its best, earrings, woman's top and trousers. They were not expecting Maggie Thatcher nor a cheer leader and accepted that it is kind of difficult getting by before the drugs have had their chance to girlify you.

Hiya Amyriver X

I've only just received a call from Sandyford asking for me to come in for an initial interview, more than a year after I initially contacted them (and after I asked to be removed from their list. Oddly enough they even knew the female name I've been using as their files were linked with Chalmer's street). Chalmer's street managed to see me initially in five months and I'd recommend giving them a call because of this, it did take about a year to get HRT out of them though.

Anyway, glad for another to join the fun here, more Scots girls than ever, although a surprising amount from the Tayside area :p

And you can set a profile pic after 15 posts babes X

Thanks Sandra, I'm not sure whether I need to see my GP or not, it's so not easy doing this while married for 15 years with 3 kids :). I so wished I knew more about myself when I was younger  but I didn't have internet , always felt something wasn't quite right, I just didn't gel with boys, got on better with girls but then started getting teased and decided to try and man up and then found computers and programming so that kept me distracted :).
Im lucky my wife understands my need to dress but its so not about the dressing any more, I do get a sense of peace and calm when I'm amy and it used to last a good while when I had to appear back in man mode but now it doesn't. I've tried more androgonous dressing but that doesn't work for me either I still just feel wrong. I have a good counsellor Im seeing , via online Skype and its a bit scary.

So back to Sandyford and being from Tayside :).  I so didn't want to go to my GP , I just want someone to diagnose me and tell me if I have GD and I'm not mad or imagining it or something else. I saw from Sandyford I could self refer and was told on phone 13 months last August , I should really phone back to see if still on list but I did get a letter to an open day thing but I couldn't make it.

Then I saw your posts about being from Tayside and that's got me a bit upset :(. I sort of know my GP from playing golf, lol so I was hoping to bypass that side until I got a diagnosis from Sandyford.

So apart from 3 boys under 12 and the guilt I feel for feeling like I so wish I'd been born female and feeling this all the time, my Dad was never around for them I'm 43 (how did that happen so quick), I like to drink wine, lots of it to dull the pain, though on lent at moment so I can't , why did I promise to give up wine oh foolish me I like hillwalking, skiing, golf, horses,  wargames Warhammer type and fixing up my old house.

I think I need to give myself a slap and tell myself to cheer up, I so don't want to go to docs and get anti-depressants.
Any advice appreciated.

Hi Amy,

I've just started the process in tayside myself and the last I can say is that at least you get to see a psychologist quite quick, the one I ended up getting referred to seemed to know a decent amount though wasn't a gender specialist but after seeing her a few times she agreed that I  want suffering from any mental health issues. Difference is that I have already gone full-time and dealt with coming out to everyone which was easy on my circumstances but I think talking about it with a professional was helpful,especially since I phoned sandy ford in September last year and have a long wait myself before I get seen.

Also slight aside,  seems there are few software engineers in this thread not sure if that is indicative of anything, just interesting to see.

I certainly sympathise  as I have a two year old myself - it must have been so difficult for you, I couldnt last past his first birthday without breaking down and going to my gp because it all felt so wrong. I think being referred by a gp may have also helped things speed up rather than self referring. You've started the journey though, it can only get better from here X

I have also noticed an interest in software and a few Warhammer girls here too, might be something to do with being able to escape socially and lose yourself in a task where gender makes no difference. I know when I'm painting a model or creating assets I'm lost in the task alone and the outside world can be shut off. Just a guess though

The longest wait for me was the first appointment at Sandyford. That took a year but there was no need to apply via a GP. After the first appointment though things did go at a reasonable pace. From first appointment to first prescription was approximately 8 months. The guilt thing? Yeh that's the hardest. Telling my 15 stone 6' 4' tattood son was probable the most difficult. Took a few drinks and several cigarettes (I don't smoke by the way). As it happens I should have known better than to fear the worst. My wife has been wonderful but the guilt just sits whirring away constantly in the back of my mind.

My first experience at Sandyford was just a tad embarrassing. I left in plenty time so as not to be late but when I go there it just looked so different from Google map. I phoned to say I couldn't find the clinic, that I was near an Indian restaurant and I was due to see a doctor. She asked the name and I said Mr Sings to which she replied, "The name of the doctor not the restaurant ya daftie." I was easy to spot at reception...... Scarlett.

Thanks everyone, I was so close to phoning the GP for appointment this morning, banging my head against the shower wall wanting my thoughts to stop and then crying. Oh dear what a state, I seem to be feeling better again, it seems that wave has crashed for now, wonder how long till next one :).

Yes, I think when I was younger coding was a good way to escape myself, I loved to make games and still do as a hobby but I find myself without really enough energy and time to do what I would love to do.

I may give Sandyford a phone tomorrow and see where I am on the waiting list and quiz them about being in Tayside. When you told GP how much did you tell them,  I have a male GP and though he's very nice I may well be his first Trans patient, fact he knows who I am and family connections, arrgghhh. It's why I didn't want any GP involvement unless I have no other option to take hormones to fix me.

Only 3 and a bit more weeks till I can drink wine again :)

Well I just took the first appointment with any gp that was available once I finally room that first step, I just kinda told him that I am female and want to start transitioning. He was also a male  gp though I'm not sure for me if it made a difference compared to finally getting into a mental state that I would be finally doing something rather than come up with excuses like I did for years to not do anything.

I sought out a new (female) doctor when I decided that I had to see someone about my GD.  Is it possible that you could make an appointment with a different doctor at your surgery (a female one if that would make you more comfortable, as it did me), and when you see her, explain the delicate situation regarding your knowing the other GP outside of the doctor-patient relationship, and ask her to be discreet for the time being?  I'm sure she would understand. 

Only you and the healthcare professionals will be able to decide whether hormones are for you in the longer term, but for now it sounds like you just need to talk to someone.  We all know what you're going through and it sucks, but hang in there.  One way or another you will figure something out that works for you.  Really you just need someone qualified to listen right now.  That may be the counsellor you're talking to on Skype, and maybe you'll be ok with just them until you get to Sandyford.  Just remember that there are other options available if you need them.

Quote from: Cat on March 05, 2015, 10:08:13 AM
I sought out a new (female) doctor when I decided that I had to see someone about my GD.  Is it possible that you could make an appointment with a different doctor at your surgery (a female one if that would make you more comfortable, as it did me), and when you see her, explain the delicate situation regarding your knowing the other GP outside of the doctor-patient relationship, and ask her to be discreet for the time being?  I'm sure she would understand. 

Cat`s advice is excellent, and that`s what I did when I approached our family Doctor`s practice, 'way back then' as a young teenager.......I wrote her a letter explaining that I was imminently coming to see her, and then telling EVERYTHING I felt and knew about myself and my gender-identity predicament. I then hand delivered the letter to the surgery the morning before my booked {double length} appointment, under the assurance that the letter would be given personally and unopened, to the G.P.......When I arrived for the appointment, she had indeed read it {several times, evidently} and was very ready and willing to help...........that supportive relationship lasted 37 years until her retirement.
Doctors are people, they feel for their clients and go into practice to 'make a difference'......they also find interest in individual-difference and often like a challenge, just think how many ordinary clinic appointments they hold, where it`s all just coughs and colds?....A client presenting with G.D is a 'challenge', and one where they can see they`ve really helped!

Be brave and confident, Amy.

Best wishes,
Deb.  :-*

Thanks, I woke up so depressed this morning, my wife cheered me up by putting some of her lippy on me as she left for her work , with the kids around. My counselling went well with some tears in between , looks like I need to see my GP and get properly on the transition path, having wine tonight and need a big talk with my wife, wish me luck :) x

On a related note, going to see Dr Myskow for the first time today.

Wish me luck :-\

J

Best of luck, I was wondering if I should pay to go see her myself but then if I do end up getting hormones it would cost quite a bit but hopefully eventually I would get them on the NHS.

Good luck to you both. :)

Dr Myskow went really well. Spent the whole weekend afterward feeling elated and little high :)
At one point I was qualifying something I said with "you know...assuming I go ahead" and she just looked at me and said "I think we both know you're going to go ahead". If anything she found the plan I had written out a little conservative.  I'm finding myself looking to the future with a sense of brightness and enthusiasm I haven't felt in years.

Amy I can thoroughly recommended her to you. Though I would say that in Scotland a consensus was reached that a person has to be pretty much living in role before hormones are prescribed and the private providers possibly err on the cautious side after what happened to Dr Curtis down in London with the GMC.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on March 05, 2015, 05:31:13 AM

I have also noticed an interest in software and a few Warhammer girls here too

I was into both Warhammer and programming as a teenager as well. Though I always gravitated toward the side games for some reason (Epic, Man-o-War, Necromunda) I've had a plan on the back burner for years to teach myself programming a new language by writing a man'o'war game :)

Anyway, bubbling over a bit here. Thanks for being there girls.

Jessica

Oh Im so glad it went well, thanks for the update, that's what I thought that she would require RLE to prescribe hormones and being married with kids I cant do that so I guess I will just have to ride the GD waves, last one was the worst I've ever had, I was trying to dress a bit androg with skinny jeans but my wife lost it with me and told me to take them off as I looked ridiculous, last week I got told no to a jumper of hers but she can wear mine. Anyway after a blazing row I went off for a walk with dog, she apologized when I got back but felt blue all day. Somehow though I've woken up today and the wave seems to have spent its energy, I feel good, got energy and happy, I so forgot what it felt like to feel "normal" again so I'm trying not to think about how I will deal with next wave.  It so hate having to hide who I am, maybe I could manage part-time , go away for odd weekend but I would want to have my facial hair removed and counsellor said sometimes just low-level hormones without transitioning can often help with the emotional side but there isn't a pathway for that on NHS its pure binary, you must transition then you get hormones. If I wasn't married with kids I would be straight to GP and on the pathway.

Sorry if I sounded a bit of a misery guts the other week, I hope everyone is getting on fine and would love to hear how things are progressing. After my row with wife we made up and I went into man mode for a few weeks which ended yesterday, SO SO good to be dressed and feel true again, the man mode feels more and more like an act but I can handle that for now, I think :). My wife even agreed to see me/Amy and didn't run for the hills so progress of sorts I think. Trying hard with makeup , less is more I feel but how to hide the blue beard shadow under the skin with the least amount of makeup, I would be grateful for any advice there? :)

No need to apologise Amy! It's a rough time you're going through and we can all appreciate that ♥

I'm glad things are getting better with your wife, from back in the thread you can see things started off pretty rocky between Sarah and I too. We're separated now, but a lot closer than we were before. Hopefully you guys can work out something between you that works best, whatever that may be.

And I wish I could give you advice on beard shadow while being minimal :/ I'm usually caked in makeup to cover mine as I have dark hair and light skin: Concealer, foundation and powder. I suppose it works best if you can get something that matches your skin tone well and work more to blend it in with your skin rather than try to cover it up entirely like me. I have quite bad bags under my eyes, always have, and I find it looks best if I actually use more foundation at the edges to try and blend the shade into my cheekbones, rather than trying to recolour the entire area.

http://stylebakery.com/stylebakery/beauty/how-to-apply-concealer-trish-mcevoys-triangle-of-light-method/

Of course, this is not what you asked - just thought it may be relevant in applying makeup to darker areas of your skin and blending them. Practice, practice, practice!

Thanks Sandra,
Sorry to hear you are separated, but glad you are still close, I'm trying to keep the Amy side of me limited but its so hard, I keep telling myself if I can wait till 55, kids all left school I can maybe transition then and blow my pension pot on FFS lol. Will have to try part-time and get out in the real world and see if I can handle it. Yes concealer , foundation and powder is what I usually use, I've been googling tonight and dermablend has been mentioned so will maybe see if can get some of that :). Practice, Practice as you say.

And thank you so much for replying.

Hugs
Amy x

I thoroughly recommend going out part-time at some point, it will make it clear if this is for you. The first time you are referred to as ma'am (or in the case of us Scots girls 'doll' or 'hen') you will realise if this is something you need or not. And I'd say sooner rather than later, things like this fester if not dealt with and it's important that people you love don't bear the brunt of the pain you're feeling.

Only my silly opinion though, please don't take it as gospel. If you're going to speak to Sandyford soon then make sure they understand what you've said here to us. Also, bug them incessantly. Seemed to get me seen to faster :p

Yes I think you are right, I've been to a makeover down near Glasgow and was so good to be dressed 100% female with makeup done and everything, I still remember that time when I first saw myself. I was just so so happy, it was like the weight that had been crushing my all through my life had been lifted and I knew then what it was that had been getting me down through the years. Its like I had been stuck in a mist , I remember describing it like that before I started dressing a few years back, knowing some thing wasn't right. I've kept myself so busy with work, marriage , kids that it didn't seem to matter but now, WHY NOW, lol.
It does. Anyway that first time I saw myself in the mirror, it was like OMG I look like my sister. I've always been a bit jealous of her and I think I know why.

Since then I've been trying to balance things but I seem to be carried along on waves, sometimes it feels like Im in shallow water and can let them crash through me and Im fine, but more and more its like Im in deeper water and I have to swim hard to keep afloat, if its doing one thing its teaching me how to describe my feelings :).

So yes I do need to get out for real, its so scary though. I guess I need to get to a trans meeting maybe in Edinburgh, T-Monthly I think its called.
I put my name down for Sandyford last summer, self referred but I think I read that there may be issues if in Tayside. I just want someone to tell me , diagnose if I really do have Gender Dysphoria or I'm somehow imagining and fantasising all this.

I love your knew profile pic , that colour really suits you :)

Its so sunny outside at the moment, looking forward to taking my dog for walk during my lunch-break. One of the perks of working from home :)
Thanks again
Hugs
Amy

I wonder what the issue is with Tayside. That seems strange. Do you know that there is a walk in clinic the Sandyford on a Tuesday I think it is. You may have to wait in a queue but you will be seen (and they are really lovely people). I'm also interested in where you got the full works near Glasgow. I've often toyed with the idea myself but tend to guddle by on my own. Just for your information there is an area within Glasgow in which there are a clutch of gay and lesbian bars. Not the same thing I know but it's quite relaxing to be able to stroll about a bit from one place to another without being judged and commented on. Speakeazy, Underground and Katies Bar are all on John Street just off George Square. They all have their own unique feel and atmosphere. (and not expensive  :) )

That would be so much fun if I can pluck up the nerve one day, though Edinburgh is easier to get to for me I haven't heard of many places to go out there. I think Dundee is maybe too close to home at the moment as I'm not out to anyone but my wife.

Hi ladies!  :) Scottish girl here to, from up north in Aberdeen. I've been on HRT for just over a year now and just recently had my two confirmation letters sent away for GRS ;D excited but anxious for the wait! Anyone on here from up in my area, and what stage is everyone at?

Look forward to hearing from you all  :D

Thanks Amy, I don't think I'll ever go back to being a boring brunette now! Maybe we'll get another drink/meetup in the summer when things are a bit warmer X

Hi Lucy! Welcome to the thread! Been transitioning for a while, 3rd month on HRT for me, so I'm still a little girl. I'm from the Lothians  X

Love the profile pics on both of you! So many beautiful ladies here X

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on March 26, 2015, 12:54:58 PM

Love the profile pics on both of you! So many beautiful ladies here X

One reason why I chose to go with a cryptic graphic.   :(

None of that Pollypagan! I'm sure you're far more gorgeous than you're giving yourself credit for X

Here is the reality. I am in the process of trying to get a half decent picture of myself for, a picture of myself for..............I hate even saying this or typing it; a half decent picture for my......... imminent bus pass! So so depressing.  :( I just want to hide. Just run away and hide. It just absolutely sucks big time being "born" 58 years old. I have a cheek going to see Avenged Seven Fold, Papa Roach et al.
I should really be going to see Sydney Devine or Daniel O'Donnell with all the other walking corpses.

I can sympathise Polly, although I suspect you would be somewhat scathing of my identification of 'old' in my thirties.  I still feel it too, though. :/  As for me, I have hated having my photo taken, or looking at pictures of myself, my whole life (since teenage years at least, for obvious reasons).  And although I'm fairly happy with how things are progressing, I'm a long way from being comfortable with doing *that* yet. 

Anyway, small bit of news from me is that Sandyford called today to say I'm at the top of their list, and they offered me an appointment three weeks from now!  Yay!

Oh and hi, Lucy!  I am fairly early in the process here.  I will hit the six month mark on E in about ten days, but I'm only just up to my maximum dose now and we're just looking at getting started on the AA shortly.  I did go full time last June though, so hopefully I can be considered for referral for surgeries and stuff this summer.  Congrats on getting your confirmation letters!

Went to see Dr Myskow for the second time today.

I walked there en femme which is the first time I've ever gone that kind of distance from my house. Also the first time I've interacted with people in face to face as Jessica.

Was really nervous crossing the Dean Bridge but don't seem to have been clocked (or if i was no one gave a sh*t)

Receptionist was super nice, complimented me on my handbag :) and Dr Myskow was lovely as always.

Left me feeling pretty awesome tbh


Also told my best friend last weekend. He's gay and had come out to me before his parents a few years back. He was great. Really supportive. Though did suggest I sleep around with men , women and other members of the trans community to try different things on for size  :o

Pretty good week after a string of ->-bleeped-<-ty ones (wont go into the details)

Thanks for listening lasses.

Love

Jessica

Hi ladies!

I thought I'd post here to update everyone, been a stressful few weeks for me with health problems so I've been away from the board for a bit.

Got my deed poll and name changed, going through the rounds of letters and forms to change names with banks and everything right now.

Anyway, I met up with Jessica last weekend and we had a good chat with some coffee and we were thinking about another meet up for everyone? Maybe in Edinburgh, the last place we met up for lunch on Sunday? We'll be there so if anyone wants to join we're glad to have them. Post away if you want to join us or have any ideas where!

Hello to all Scottish ladies posting on here!  after lurking on this forum for quit a bit I thought I'd better gather up the courage and post myself!,  a little about me-I'm 28 years old and live in Edinburgh and first started my transition about 16 months ago, I'm full time now but can't say it has been all smooth sailing up to this point, a few bumps on the way and still get serious moments of depression, but you just have to stay strong and break down the walls and make your dreams come true.

A couple of pics from this morning before going out to enjoy todays nice sunny weather!
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FhuBwNqV&hash=ac9693ba6d7b6ace03330fd646de9f77c634049d)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FHqlipBh&hash=8d65a8051410a63e83d75584710d45a67b2458aa)

Hi there,

I'd be happy to meet with you ladies. I'm from Glasgow but it's no problem to come to Edinburgh.

Although I identify as female I present as male, mostly  :(

Julie xx

Helloo ladies X

Stay strong Charlotte, I've only been full time since October last year. Have you started hormones yet?

I'm happy to arrange a meetup between us in Edinburgh and all are welcome, no matter what they choose present as on the day x

Just send me a private message and we can discuss where or when :D

Hi Sandra,

I'm unable to message, probably because I'm a relatively new member.

Is it possible for me to post my email address?

Julie x

Sure honey, you can post a throwaway address if you want. Otherwise I think messaging will unlock at about 15 messages.

Or if you want to email me you can get my email through my profile I think xxx

OK after talking through some messages we've laid out some plans to meet up for a coffee/wine in Edinburgh on Sunday 13th of September? Message or respond with any ideas or problems, I'm thinking about 11AM?

Ok I've managed to find work again (yay!) but it's nightshift (boo!) and requires that I work on Saturday night (Mega boo!) I've not heard back from anyone except for private messages so I'd like to ask if we can put it off for a week? I can still make it but I will be dead as I can get.

Any issues for the new girls? It's awfully quiet here...

Hi Sandra,

20th would suit me better.

Julie x

Hi all
Happy new year

Just looking to revive this topic so that new lasses know it's here

XX
Jessica

Hi,
Just saying a quick hello, I was on here last year as Amy but I had a lot of ups and downs and tried to stop, purged etc but couldn't and finally went to see GP.   I had self referred to Sandyford and after a year I got a top of list appointment last June but when I phoned to make sure I was told Ahhhh you are from Tayside you need to go via GP and I went into a bit of a meltdown after that. So November I finally went to see GP, I'm married with young kids, wife knows about my issues, anyway she told me a few weeks after getting some anti-depressants that I need to go to Edinburgh from Tayside and referred me but nothing about the mental health pathway which I was told from Sandyford I need to go to. Then after Xmas hols, at catch up appointment with GP she said she had got letter back from Edinburgh to say they are full and got to go to Sandyford, ARGGGHHHH!!!!!  I also asked her to check out if I need to go through the mental health pathway for tayside.

Anyway I went out for first time fully dressed in Edinburgh , went to T-Time which was lovely and went to a quiet bar for a drink after I was so nervous but after a small while it felt so normal. Was on such a high!!!

Now I've hit the low, just wishing I had been born female

Hi everyone! Hope things have been going well for you all x

AmyRose - I can understand your pain. I had ONE interview with my gender therapist last year, as she had spinal surgery that took her away for about 8 months and the NHS couldn't do anything to fill the gap she left. As I understand it she was the only full time gender therapist available at Chalmer's Street and they had to run with weekend cover from a therapist from Sandyford. Stay strong honey, you're on the journey now and nothing can stop you x

Was T-Time fun? I've always thought about showing up to one of those events but I'm a bit apprehensive about eventsI'm not in control of lol. I'd like any excuse to get out of the house though!

So everyone, how about we try and arrange a lunch/dinner for a meet up? It would be nice to meet up when the weather isn't as foul x

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 16, 2016, 04:18:43 AM
Hi everyone! Hope things have been going well for you all x

AmyRose - I can understand your pain. I had ONE interview with my gender therapist last year, as she had spinal surgery that took her away for about 8 months and the NHS couldn't do anything to fill the gap she left. As I understand it she was the only full time gender therapist available at Chalmer's Street and they had to run with weekend cover from a therapist from Sandyford. Stay strong honey, you're on the journey now and nothing can stop you x

Was T-Time fun? I've always thought about showing up to one of those events but I'm a bit apprehensive about eventsI'm not in control of lol. I'd like any excuse to get out of the house though!

So everyone, how about we try and arrange a lunch/dinner for a meet up? It would be nice to meet up when the weather isn't as foul x

Hi Sandra,
Do you stay in Edinburgh, the T-Time there was very friendly and welcoming, I had an online friend I had been chatting to for ages and finally arranged to meet her there.  I'm going to the Edinburgh trans women meet in march, I don't know anyone there and so a bit nervous but now I've been out a little bit, last month at T-Monthly was the first time I drove dressed, had to change on route , and then park in Edinburgh and walk to the place alone in public for first time, was so nervous but no one seemed to bat an eyelid as I walked past so my confidence is up and thought I would take the plunge to meet new people.

Dinner would be lovely, do you know any nice places to go?

Amy.

Hi Amy xx

I live close to Edinburgh so those meetups would be the ones I'd aim to go for - if I can show up to the next one I will x

I'm so glad you got out there properly dressed though, it's such a freeing feeling to be yourself xx your new avatar pic looks gorgeous so I'm sure you passed with no problems at all.

I know Edinburgh, but not that well? Hopefully some local lassies can clue us in on a quiet place to get dinner when we meet up x

I have Scottish ancestors. Not all that far back. I sure would like to visit some time. That is the only thing on my current bucket list that I have not done.

Quote from: Cindi Jones on March 02, 2016, 01:15:57 PM
I have Scottish ancestors. Not all that far back. I sure would like to visit some time. That is the only thing on my current bucket list that I have not done.

We'd love to have you xx Better holding off until there's some nice weather though, might get a whole week of sun this year!

I live in the sunshine state. We are always wishing for more rain. We seem to be in the middle of a several year drought. I can certainly deal with some good old fashioned rain and fog. ;)

Hello, just thoguht I would put my name back into the ring with this group...I spoke before in it when I was dealing with hings better and was just wondering if any are still around. I live on the West coast, in Troon, but we can still chat a bit..

Chris

Heya Chrissydr glad you're back xx

Ive had no messages about a meetup or anything and Im not going to post information about one on the open forum. I'm in edinburgh a lot but I can meetup most places x

I'll pop into edinburgh next week, anyone interested in joining me for a gossip please send a message xx

Hi there,

It's good to see this thread come up again. I'm in Glasgow but will be happy to meet up at some point either here or in Edinburgh.

J xx