Hey girlies :)
So, i had my first meeting with my doctor's practice councilor. He was a lovely guy and said he'd gladly organize my referral to the Gender identity clinic in London... Who do a two part assessment (two different professionals) to determine if i can start HRT. The waiting list can be up to 6 months(!) for the first appointment.
I was wondering what experiences / approaches other UK girls have had / taken, whether there's another (faster / closer!) route i can take... I'm based in Wiltshire (South West)
Either way, i wanted y'all to know i was moving forward and 2014 is MY year! :D
xxx
If you have the money things move faster going private.I self medicated(not advising doing it as I think some of my health problems today come from this)
Quote from: big kim on January 04, 2014, 05:23:49 AM
If you have the money things move faster going private.I self medicated(not advising doing it as I think some of my health problems today come from this)
So... contact a private clinic from the start? I'm not exactly on a high paid salary, but it's a consideration to add to my list (yeah... i need to start a list ha)
xxx
If a guy can butt in, from the sounds of it you've been referred to Charing Cross, which has quite a long waiting list, and longer waits between appointments even once you start being seen by them. It might be worth looking into The Laurels in Exeter, where the wait is normally around 4 months for a first appointment. You've just got to be aware that the NHS takes its own sweet time. I've been waiting just under 3 months and still don't know what's doing on between my GP and local mental health team.
I went private for my HRT since the NHS rules with regards to prescribing HRT are a cruel joke. Oh and they are slow as anything. It took over 6 months just to get my first NHS appointment.
@Lxndr
Yeh, i'll check out The Laurels tomorrow (been a long day out shopping with mum :D)
@Seras
It's not sounding too hopeful then on the NHS... which is crazy as we pay for it!! Could you tell me a bit more about your experience going private? And why NHS rules are such a joke? I'm hearing the same thing from a lot of places about how slow they are... but is there more? Do i have to fight a giant purple dude and 50 ninjas first?
xxx
I will outline the whole process for you:
NHS:
1) See GP
->Couple weeks
2) Referred to local psych to make sure you are not a mental.
->Couple weeks
3) Assuming not mental, get referred to one of the gender clinics, in my case, Charring Cross, London.
->6 months
4)Appointment at clinic.
5) Get asked a bunch of stuff and told the requirements for HRT. Legal name change, RLE experience of 1 year.
->6 months
6)Next appointment
->And so on. Until you satisfy their requirements.
The private doctor I went to:
->Pay ~£250
1) Phone up get an appointment within 2 weeks.
2)Have interview type thing where he assesses you a bit. Agree to have another appointment in 3 months and have a blood test (my GP was willing to get the blood test done on NHS) in the mean time.
-> Pay ~£100
3) Have a follow up appointment take blood tests results. Assuming all normal and you have seen a psych who has confirmed your not crazy within the last 6 months you get hormones.
Pay ~£100
4) Buy hormones for ~3 months (my GP was not willing to prescribe on his behalf so no NHS prescription).
5) Agree to follow up appointments with blood tests every 3 months for the first year at least.
------------
Hope that helps. I was with the NHS for a while I think I had 3 appointments, even went to my last appointment with them fully dressed and all even though I am not really sure how well I pass. Through London crazy busy rush hour on train. Apparently that doesn't show dedication though because my name is not legally changed and no RLE for a year. So no treatment for me.
Private I had hormones within 6 months and no problems or hassle or unfair requirements. If you have the money I would recommend private every time.
Quote from: Seras on January 05, 2014, 12:22:16 PM
I will outline the whole process for you:
NHS:
1) See GP
->Couple weeks
2) Referred to local psych to make sure you are not a mental.
->Couple weeks
3) Assuming not mental, get referred to one of the gender clinics, in my case, Charring Cross, London.
->6 months
4)Appointment at clinic.
5) Get asked a bunch of stuff and told the requirements for HRT. Legal name change, RLE experience of 1 year.
->6 months
6)Next appointment
->And so on. Until you satisfy their requirements.
The private doctor I went to:
->Pay ~£250
1) Phone up get an appointment within 2 weeks.
2)Have interview type thing where he assesses you a bit. Agree to have another appointment in 3 months and have a blood test (my GP was willing to get the blood test done on NHS) in the mean time.
-> Pay ~£100
3) Have a follow up appointment take blood tests results. Assuming all normal and you have seen a psych who has confirmed your not crazy within the last 6 months you get hormones.
Pay ~£100
4) Buy hormones for ~3 months (my GP was not willing to prescribe on his behalf so no NHS prescription).
5) Agree to follow up appointments with blood tests every 3 months for the first year at least.
------------
Hope that helps. I was with the NHS for a while I think I had 3 appointments, even went to my last appointment with them fully dressed and all even though I am not really sure how well I pass. Through London crazy busy rush hour on train. Apparently that doesn't show dedication though because my name is not legally changed and no RLE for a year. So no treatment for me.
Private I had hormones within 6 months and no problems or hassle or unfair requirements. If you have the money I would recommend private every time.
This is kinda an ideal approach. I'm not exactly 'well off' but to be honest... this is something definitely
worth spending money on! Thanks so much, i am sure this really will help. I'm going to start looking into private tomorrow (gotta speak with my dad as i used to have somewhat cover under his Honda plan lol) How did you go about finding in your private doctor? Do i need to be looking for one who specializes in gender issues, or d'you reckon a private practice will have staff that can sort this? :D I'm way more hopeful now! <3
xxx
1) go to your GP
2) get a psychiatric evaluation
3) referral to the GIC clinic
4) Hormones
Oh, and after 18 months of treatment, your GP might actually start reading the letters from the clinic and get the dosage right (I should have been receiving a testosterone blocker 12 months ago in addition to my oestrogen and it took me pointing this out to get my prescription changed)
I just searched about online for reputable ones. There were none local though so I had to travel to London (though for me that is only an hour). In fact the one I went with I saw mentioned here and she had good results with him so I went for him too. Don't wanna get ripped off. I have heard of some scammy "practices". My doc is specialised in this, he has a clinic where all he does is this kinda stuff. As a by the by some people have had great results going the NHS route, but for me going full time and name changing without any taste of hormones was not something I was prepared to do, and it was a point they were not prepared to bend on. So it wasn't for me. If you have time and are prepared to do that, then they can work for you. NHS is great for most things IMO, but for this? Not for me.
I would definitely find someone who specialises in this. Otherwise at the very best it will just take longer as they have to learn about stuff at the worst you will be wasting your money.
---
Good luck though wherever you go.
Quote from: Pippa on January 05, 2014, 01:15:58 PM
1) go to your GP
2) get a psychiatric evaluation
3) referral to the GIC clinic
4) Hormones
Oh, and after 18 months of treatment, your GP might actually start reading the letters from the clinic and get the dosage right (I should have been receiving a testosterone blocker 12 months ago in addition to my oestrogen and it took me pointing this out to get my prescription changed)
Yet another thing i'm not too thrilled about... low or incorrect doses! ¬_¬ thank you for the input :)
Quote from: Seras on January 05, 2014, 02:11:08 PM
I just searched about online for reputable ones. There were none local though so I had to travel to London (though for me that is only an hour). In fact the one I went with I saw mentioned here and she had good results with him so I went for him too. Don't wanna get ripped off. I have heard of some scammy "practices". My doc is specialised in this, he has a clinic where all he does is this kinda stuff. As a by the by some people have had great results going the NHS route, but for me going full time and name changing without any taste of hormones was not something I was prepared to do, and it was a point they were not prepared to bend on. So it wasn't for me. If you have time and are prepared to do that, then they can work for you. NHS is great for most things IMO, but for this? Not for me.
I would definitely find someone who specialises in this. Otherwise at the very best it will just take longer as they have to learn about stuff at the worst you will be wasting your money.
---
Good luck though wherever you go.
I gotta say, I'm with you on not liking the sound of
going full time and name changing without any taste of hormones!!
Interesting, so i could potentially still be traveling to London hah! Would you be willing to pass on your doctor's details please? If you aren't comfortable posting here, you could PM me :) if you aren't comfortable with that, no worries. I'm really thinking this is a better route for my well-being.
Thank you for the luck, I'm traditionally bad lucked ;0
xxx
Just wanted to point out that you no longer have to have the psych referral between seeing your GP and getting a GIC referral with the NHS. I know most of you are thinking of private now, but thought I'd mention it for anyone else who might be reading this.
Quote from: lxndr on January 06, 2014, 11:47:25 AM
Just wanted to point out that you no longer have to have the psych referral between seeing your GP and getting a GIC referral with the NHS. I know most of you are thinking of private now, but thought I'd mention it for anyone else who might be reading this.
Good to know, the councilor i saw basically just said i seemed in a good frame of mind and he'd look at referring me, so it was kinda something of nothing :p
Quote from: Seras on January 05, 2014, 02:11:08 PM
I just searched about online for reputable ones. There were none local though so I had to travel to London (though for me that is only an hour). In fact the one I went with I saw mentioned here and she had good results with him so I went for him too. Don't wanna get ripped off. I have heard of some scammy "practices". My doc is specialised in this, he has a clinic where all he does is this kinda stuff. As a by the by some people have had great results going the NHS route, but for me going full time and name changing without any taste of hormones was not something I was prepared to do, and it was a point they were not prepared to bend on. So it wasn't for me. If you have time and are prepared to do that, then they can work for you. NHS is great for most things IMO, but for this? Not for me.
I would definitely find someone who specialises in this. Otherwise at the very best it will just take longer as they have to learn about stuff at the worst you will be wasting your money.
---
Good luck though wherever you go.
Hey, thanks for the PM, I've booked in now for the 24th... How fast was that compared to NHS! (Still not heard from the councilor about even getting the referral off!)
I'll let you all know how i get on ^__^ Now to look at booking travel...
xxx
Good luck.
It is really easy to get to, really near Regent Street. If you take the train in you just gotta get off at your train station, you are west so I guess Paddington? Then jump on the tube to Oxford Circus or Regents Park. Not much difference in either. Then it is like a 5 minute walk.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or whatnot.
I went the Charing Cross route. It took about six weeks from seeing my GP to seeing the psychiatrist who says I'm not crazy. I was already full time by then. Then six months for the first CX assessment and another five months to the second. That's when I started getting prescription hormones.
Like many of us I wanted to do it the other way around so I was self medicating for a year before I went full time. This is not recommended because of a variety of risks. If you do decide to go this way make sure you are getting regular blood tests for liver function, PSA, etc. and learn about VTE! The attitude of CX to self meding is "You shouldn't do that but we know you do".
Quote from: MaryXYX on January 07, 2014, 07:41:49 AM
I went the Charing Cross route. It took about six weeks from seeing my GP to seeing the psychiatrist who says I'm not crazy. I was already full time by then. Then six months for the first CX assessment and another five months to the second. That's when I started getting prescription hormones.
Like many of us I wanted to do it the other way around so I was self medicating for a year before I went full time. This is not recommended because of a variety of risks. If you do decide to go this way make sure you are getting regular blood tests for liver function, PSA, etc. and learn about VTE! The attitude of CX to self meding is "You shouldn't do that but we know you do".
Yeh i gotta say i'm not at all interested in waiting a year + to be prescribed hormones! And i'm also not at all interested in self medication! :) Both are very unappealing...
Quote from: Seras on January 06, 2014, 06:04:39 PM
Good luck.
It is really easy to get to, really near Regent Street. If you take the train in you just gotta get off at your train station, you are west so I guess Paddington? Then jump on the tube to Oxford Circus or Regents Park. Not much difference in either. Then it is like a 5 minute walk.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or whatnot.
Hey, thanks, really. My mum's gonna come with me now and we're gonna make a day of it and do some shopping :D Nervous but excited!
That's what I normally do :D
Love London.
I study in London while I live in Asia - I recently saw a private Endo in Sg for the prescriptions - I am intending to bring my prescriptions to my GP in London. As a student, he can re-write those prescriptions and I can get them at a standard rate from Boots etc... so... if you ever go abroad maybe you can do that? I know private Endos in London charge an insane rate! As much as three times the rate in Asia.
Quote from: divineintervention on January 11, 2014, 04:55:01 AM
I study in London while I live in Asia - I recently saw a private Endo in Sg for the prescriptions - I am intending to bring my prescriptions to my GP in London. As a student, he can re-write those prescriptions and I can get them at a standard rate from Boots etc... so... if you ever go abroad maybe you can do that? I know private Endos in London charge an insane rate! As much as three times the rate in Asia.
Thanks for the tip :) I'll give an update after my first appointment next week. Still have a little while yet before i actually get to prescription stage but... getting closer ^__^
Hai girls! Finally have an updated on this.
So yesterday me and my mum took a trip up to London to the private clinic for my first consultation. It went very well, the doctor was lovely and I now have some goals to reach and then i can book in for a follow up... and hopefully get the girly pills! Overjoyed. Spent the rest of the day buying too many clothes! So i look prettiful and happy now :D
<3
x x x
Well done Corra. Buying too many clothes - will girls never learn? Probably not, I still go clothes shopping sometimes to celebrate and sometimes to console myself.
I am glad it went well!
He is a real nice guy, much nicer than the people at Charring Cross GIC.
I always have the problem when I go for appointments up there that I risk spending more in the shops than on the appointment :P
Quote from: MaryXYX on January 25, 2014, 11:50:32 AM
Well done Corra. Buying too many clothes - will girls never learn? Probably not, I still go clothes shopping sometimes to celebrate and sometimes to console myself.
Hehe i know what you mean, it was a double celebration, as whilst in London mum got a call to say she'd been accepted at a new job :D (trying to justify my clothes spree)
Quote from: Seras on January 25, 2014, 11:36:17 PM
I am glad it went well!
He is a real nice guy, much nicer than the people at Charring Cross GIC.
I always have the problem when I go for appointments up there that I risk spending more in the shops than on the appointment :P
Thanks Seras, your help has been so beneficial to me :D
Yes, i got the impression he was genuinely a decent guy. Very level headed and relaxed. I think it came close in terms of clothes/food and appointment, but *shrug* i'm allowed pretty things, i'm a girl right? :p
Hiya....I'm just wondering if it might be possible to point me in the direction of the doctor you went to privately? For various reasons, I can't go through the NHS, nor will I self medicate.....you sound as though you had a great experience, and being resident in London, it would be terrific if you could point me int he direction of where you went? Huge thanks in advance
Sara
Thanks Seras, much appreciated.
x
Is there any reason his name cant be posted up here? If that's not ok can someone pm me his name too, I don't think I'm ready for the girl pills but have been increasingly thinking I should pluck up the courage to talk to someone about things, so would be nice to have a name of a good doc for when that time comes.
Heyy girlies, sorry it's been awhile! Blood tests, therapist sessions... SHOPPING... I've been rather busy!! ^_^
To answer you, Debbie, I don't suppose there is? :D
http://www.transhealth.co.uk/
Enjoy! <3
I should also have mentioned... YAY ONLY 1 WEEK TILL MY NEXT APPOINTMENT!
*Hopefully* it's almost girly pill time :')
Thanks for the info everyone, this thread has been a big help, I was looking at seeing my GP but my mum says he might not be very helpful (seems sort of old fashioned have to go see the nurse for a check up before seeing him). So I think I'll see about going down the privet route.
Quote from: Trillium on March 02, 2014, 02:15:55 PM
Thanks for the info everyone, this thread has been a big help, I was looking at seeing my GP but my mum says he might not be very helpful (seems sort of old fashioned have to go see the nurse for a check up before seeing him). So I think I'll see about going down the privet route.
Haha no problem :) Yeah, i started with the GP... Who was clueless. If you get on well with your GP, I'd still see them. But look at GIC and Laurels (Both NHS places) and ask for a referral to one... Get that on the back burner, give yourself options! :)
Quote from: Corra on March 02, 2014, 04:00:56 PM
Haha no problem :) Yeah, i started with the GP... Who was clueless. If you get on well with your GP, I'd still see them. But look at GIC and Laurels (Both NHS places) and ask for a referral to one... Get that on the back burner, give yourself options! :)
Thanks, GIC sites looks good, Laurels doesn't seem to provide much info
I'm just waiting for my letter to come through them I'm off to London to see there team at charing cross to do a 2 part assessment aswell but the letter can take upto 3 to 6 months before i get a date
I believe its a three part assessment, at least it is in Nottingham. I think that's standard. The UK method of making people socially transition for usually a year or two before hormones is just cruel.
Richard Curtis is a GP who gives private scripts. If you get the right GP and show them the right documents you can get the same from a GP. I used the NHS guidance from here
http://www.england.nhs.uk/2013/10/28/gender-protocol/
and pushed a local GP and endo to agreeing to take up 'brieding endocrine treatment' as described in page 16. This section specifically
"In most circumstances, the patient will have completed their GIC assessment prior to the
GIC physician making a recommendation for hormone therapy. Typically, this will be
around six months, but no less than 3 months, after the patient's first consultation.
However, the GIC physician, the patient's GP or another medical practitioner involved in
the patient's care may prescribe "bridging" endocrine treatments as part of a holding and
harm reduction strategy while the patient awaits specialised endocrinology or other gender
identity treatment and/or confirmation of hormone prescription elsewhere or from patient
records.
There is no requirement for the patient to have commenced a social role transition before a
recommendation is made for hormone therapy. "
They will would rather let the GIC deal with it so you will need to be prepared to be pushy. I did it though and I have been on hormones for 10-11 months. I still would not have seen a bean from the GIC for at least another 2 or three, probably even longer, had I waited for them.
Also, while I am here, look at the guidance for laser treatment in the document, which recommends that free hair removal is provided at the beginning of transition.
Good luck!
Quote from: Trillium on March 02, 2014, 04:31:29 PM
Thanks, GIC sites looks good, Laurels doesn't seem to provide much info
I had heard (from personal experiences around Swindon area) that GIC was the less preferred choice over Laurels, and also that the waiting list for GIC was much longer... Which is why i chose Laurels, but to each her own, best of luck babes :)
Quote from: <3Ronnie<3 on March 07, 2014, 08:23:24 AM
I'm just waiting for my letter to come through them I'm off to London to see there team at charing cross to do a 2 part assessment aswell but the letter can take upto 3 to 6 months before i get a date
Ahah, yes... NHS waiting lists! This is why i had decided private may be better to 'double track' with the NHS. Aaaand it seems to have paid off** See below comment :3
Quote from: kira21 ♡♡♡ on March 07, 2014, 08:52:50 AM
I believe its a three part assessment, at least it is in Nottingham. I think that's standard. The UK method of making people socially transition for usually a year or two before hormones is just cruel.
Richard Curtis is a GP who gives private scripts. If you get the right GP and show them the right documents you can get the same from a GP. I used the NHS guidance from here
http://www.england.nhs.uk/2013/10/28/gender-protocol/
and pushed a local GP and endo to agreeing to take up 'brieding endocrine treatment' as described in page 16. This section specifically
"In most circumstances, the patient will have completed their GIC assessment prior to the
GIC physician making a recommendation for hormone therapy. Typically, this will be
around six months, but no less than 3 months, after the patient's first consultation.
However, the GIC physician, the patient's GP or another medical practitioner involved in
the patient's care may prescribe "bridging" endocrine treatments as part of a holding and
harm reduction strategy while the patient awaits specialised endocrinology or other gender
identity treatment and/or confirmation of hormone prescription elsewhere or from patient
records.
There is no requirement for the patient to have commenced a social role transition before a
recommendation is made for hormone therapy. "
They will would rather let the GIC deal with it so you will need to be prepared to be pushy. I did it though and I have been on hormones for 10-11 months. I still would not have seen a bean from the GIC for at least another 2 or three, probably even longer, had I waited for them.
Also, while I am here, look at the guidance for laser treatment in the document, which recommends that free hair removal is provided at the beginning of transition.
Good luck!
Thankfully, as I've now had my 2nd appointment (today!) and I'd completed the requirements Dr. Curtis asked for, he is now writing me a letter for my local GP to help get me a script for girly patches!! :D Rather elated! But, if the GP isn't happy to, Dr. Curtis will prescribe and post within UK.
I'm so happy, not long to go!
Congrats :)
If your GP is not receptive it costs like around £100 or something for 3 and a bit months worth. Just so you know, if you don't already.
Quote from: Corra on March 07, 2014, 05:49:13 PM
Ahah, yes... NHS waiting lists! This is why i had decided private may be better to 'double track' with the NHS. Aaaand it seems to have paid off** See below comment :3
yeah i know its horrible they want me to start my RLE now or nothing is going to be done about hormones i think making someone go out completely in the opposite gender wile they still look 100% there born gender without even being on hormones is wrong its like them saying go out in female clothes if you're a male and get laughed at and abused by everyone i personally am gradually getting into going out in the opposite genders clothes by wearing a bit of both some female some male but I've been spoiling myself with loads of new clothes from new look haha i would like to go private but with tattoo removal,clothes,electrolysis,makeup and normal living bills i can't really afford it and i can't ask my mum to help because she still thinks I'm only seeing a therapist to help me learn to live like this as male i still can't bring myself to say I'm going to start my transition it would break her heart but my brother and nan know but I'm just gonna give her a book to help her understand it more
I initially went to my gp before being referred to a local psychologist for counselling and assessment. I could have requested initial referral to sandy ford gender clinic in Glasgow. Working for social work and already working professionally with workers in Glasgow I decided against this for now. Psychologist after 2 sessions has diagnosed me as transgendered. She has notified my gp and made a referral to Edinburgh gender clinic in chalmer street. My gp is sympathetic but unwilling to prescribe hormones. She compromised and did prescribe spironolactone anti androgens. I stopped them due to fears of bone density loss . I have osteo arthritis. Now have to wait on appointment with Edinburgh gic despite already having diagnosis! So frustrating. I guess I have to be patient but worry about getting effective changes and looking like a male in drag! I'm 49 and not getting any younger!!
There is a lot about the UK system that is backwards. Especially having very narrow definitions of what 'presenting' is. Depending on where you end up, you will quite possibly find they expect skirts and full make up for girls and any deviation is a sign that you are not serious and gets your RLE reset and therefore your time to hormones too.The same for having a job and being evidencibly out of the house in public all the time. So, for a year or two, before you get hormones, you should drag your 5 occlock shadow out everywhere in your best impression of a drag queen, becuase, well, if they can put you through that and you are still there, then you must be serious and they are not going to get rid of you.
Don't get me started on 'Dr.' Curtis and that lot.
Wow Kira you look fantastic in your avatar pic! You've changed so much :)
Dr Curtis is a GP who 'specialises' in Gender treatment. Essentially he is a GP who is ok with prescribing hormones after the standard therapy sessions and all the boxes have been ticked. Tbh i feel far more comfortable seeing an endocrinologist who specialises in transgender HRT.
And the problem with that is?
You can call him a "Dr" but the fact is that he is a doctor so that is just farcical.
Beats the GIC hoop jumping in Charring Cross.
The problem with that is that he is a gp, not an endo, not anyone who has done anything above bachelor degree in medicine. Outside of GP doctors, who get the title because of tradition, not study, the title dr is reserved for those who are specialists in an area... PhD specialists with an ability to research. He doesn't not have this background or ability, or any qualifications above a basic bachelor level in general practice medicine. If you read anything he has written, you would see that is plainly obvious. I think that, without the proper research level and background his doctor title is misleading. It is for that reason, if I am a doctor of technologies, I am not aloud to use my title doctor when publishing in medicine, as it is misleading and lends undue credibility to my work.
So, no, I do not believe it is farcical to question his title of Dr in this area.
Quote from: castle of glass on March 09, 2014, 07:57:11 AM
Wow Kira you look fantastic in your avatar pic! You've changed so much :)
Dr Curtis is a GP who 'specialises' in Gender treatment. Essentially he is a GP who is ok with prescribing hormones after the standard therapy sessions and all the boxes have been ticked. Tbh i feel far more comfortable seeing an endocrinologist who specialises in transgender HRT.
Thank you! :-)
Yes it's good that we can get to it that way, but we shouldn't have to is my point. I don't think they are doing the service other than because they spotted a way to make money out of people who feel they have not other choice.
I see, but when I am speaking of a doctor in the medical sense I am not referring to the level of their degree as to whether or not they hold a doctorate. I mean a doctor, as in a physician, someone who practices medicine. Which he is. Maybe I am unusual in using the word doctor this way but somehow I doubt it.
I do agree though we should not have to resort to the private medical establishment for these treatments, but I am happy they are there and would rather use them than the NHS on this stuff. I got strung along by them for way too long. Maybe they are there to cash in but so is every other business in a capitalist country.
Thanks for the explanation all the same.
I know that you are not usual in your understanding of the title dr, but that is the problem. His title lends him credibility that his study does not warrant. His title doctor is a title from study, none of which would have been relates to trans issues and, being highly general, it wouldn't have been totally great level on related issues. It's general practice... Cuts burns, antibiotics, antidepressants, pain relief, etc. Yet we trust him as a qualified gender specialist when he is a GP.
I suppose it's all down to need and opportunity. For various reasons, I am unable to go the NHS route, and after speaking to Dr Curtis' office will be making an appointment to see him.
I think the fact that he has actually transitioned himself, indicates to me, that he is a little more likely to understand the hurdles.
I'll certainly pass on my feelings regarding the meeting after the appointment......
xx
I had a first meeting with Dr Curtis. I just wasn't all that confident in his ability to treat me on an individual basis. I wasn't too impressed seeing the majority of the women in the waiting room leaving with bag fulls of progynova.
Since i made the decision to privately see an endocrinologist who specialises in transgender MtF, i believe that i have come along leaps and bounds.
Quote from: Corra on March 07, 2014, 05:47:52 PM
I had heard (from personal experiences around Swindon area) that GIC was the less preferred choice over Laurels, and also that the waiting list for GIC was much longer... Which is why i chose Laurels, but to each her own, best of luck babes :)
This is a bit old, but I'm very confused by what you're trying to say in this. The Laurels
is a GIC (presuming you're meaning Gender Identity Clinic), so unless you mean Charing Cross by GIC I have no idea what you're meaning.
Quote from: lxndr on March 09, 2014, 04:13:28 PM
This is a bit old, but I'm very confused by what you're trying to say in this. The Laurels is a GIC (presuming you're meaning Gender Identity Clinic), so unless you mean Charing Cross by GIC I have no idea what you're meaning.
Hey, sorry! Yes, i meant Charing Cross when i referred to 'GIC' sorry for being confusing! :embarrassed:
Ok, so update:
Dr. Curtis has written a letter for my GP with recommendation to start HRT. Failing my GP's support, he is happy to provide Estradot patches whenever i'm ready! :D
The NHS may be slow, but they do it right. They care about your well being even when you are vulnerable and prone to making poor decisions.
I saw psychologist about my depression, where I talked for the first time. Then GP, then local psychiatrist then referral to gender clinic (charing cross). First appointment was a disappointment And i felt worse after it, but I was honest and did not answer with what I guessed they wanted to here from reading forums, etc. The nurse made me fell much better after that first appt. I also attended a positively trans workshop.
An appointment with the endocrinologist was arranged before my second appointment for a few weeks after the appointment.
2nd appt was around 6 months later, and was much better, and psychiatrist said he would recommend hormones. Endocrinologist recommended hormones on a low dose, and the letter to my GP took a frustrating month.
I have been on estrogen gel for one week now and I am deluding myself that i can notice changes already. :)
The most surprising fact in all this for most of you will be that I do not present as female, and did not present as female at the clinic. And have not been asked to do RLE. I am not even clean shaven.
Bottom line - be honest with the doctors. They can help.
So I presume you did not have to go to Charring Cross GIC.
Quote from: discovery on March 12, 2014, 07:01:40 PM
The NHS may be slow, but they do it right.
I have had to fight to get the NHS to do anything. I think you will find that is not unusual. I was chatting to another trans person on here who had to wait nearly two years for hormones, after their first GIC referral, not including all the local psych and GP and what have you before you get there. They were full time before the GIC visit too with name change and everything. From others I have spoken to that is not that unusual. No wonder most the trans people I have met in the UK at the various support groups and the like have self medicated until the GIC started scripts.
Generally, the GIC sees you for a total of three hours over 9-12 months and that is the full extent of your 'therapy' and their appraisal. We discussed very little of any meaning during the sessions I went to. I spent my first meeting having my choice of name questioned as it wasn't obviously female enough (look at my skirt and make up and big ass dangly earrings - do I look I am trying to be male?), and almost all of the second one discussing the merits of progesterone. I don't feel that they have done anything for me other than make me wait around to prove that I am not going to go away. Also, their archaic notions of transsexuals and how we are supposed to present, that I was warned about, were clear. Luckily for me am a very girly girl, but still it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
I am sure some people think that its fine, hell, I have got what I needed from it and the gnrh scripts are much better than than other countries, and some of the surgeries are free, but I wouldn't say they do it right. There are some basic, basic changes that they could make that would make things go a lot better, most specifically a move to the informed consent model and I don't think a monthly therapist visit would be too much to require.
The saga of my 3 yr NHS battle has been posted many times on this forum so i'll try to keep it brief so as not to bore everyone ::)
Due to severe eczema I cannot wear makeup or have laser to remove facial hair, I had been advised to wait until HRT started before starting electrolysis to reduce the amount of sessions required & therefore reduce the risk of aggravating my skin.
In spite of wearing female clothes to the GIC appointments my HRT was held up for 2 yrs due to me not presenting as female (as we know every single woman in the world wears loads of makeup!!).
Late last year the protocols for HRT on the NHS were relaxed so THEY CAN NO LONGER EXPECT YOU TO PRESENT AS YOUR NEW GENDER TO GET HRT (sorry about the caps lock but I wanted to make sure everyone saw that), as soon as the rules changed I was prescribed E.
A request went in last September for funding for electrolysis, the new rules state that you are entitled to 8 electrolysis sessions on the NHS but over 6 months later i'm still waiting for the fundoing to be approved, my GP is not happy about this & 2 weeks ago she said she is going to do everything in her power to get this pushed through asap, I have an appointment to speak to her about this again in 2 weeks. I also have a blood test next week as she believes that my HRT should be altered as i'm still on a low dose.
If you are going through the NHS route you will need to be patient, pushy & polite at the same time, it's not easy to be a patient patient, the speed & quality of treatment often depends on your GP & their staff, some surgeries that i've dealt with have been awfull but my latest surgery have pulled out all of the stops & I couldn't rate them high enough for their efforts.