I just have a simple question to ask: How long after first seeing a doctor, or whatever, did you start HRT? I just want to know, so I can have a referral point for myself. I want to start it as soon as I can, and I've got about four months that'd be the ideal time, and I'm seeing my GP for the first time next Monday.
I an informed consent state. Usually they take a blood test and schedule a follow-up visit a few weeks later.
If there is an issue of health, mental or physical then there can be a delay.
It took me 6 months because I was suicidal when I did intake.
About 4 months from seeing the GP to getting the referral for the therapist and then getting the letter and then getting into to see the Endo. The endo wrote the scripts that day. Hugs
Mariah
Same as Mariah here! :)
I'm sure they will give them to me immediately ::)
ugh then i'll be closing in to another year, noes!!! thanks for the reference.
My timeline has been a little different, but I am probably much older than you are, and my life circumstances dictated very deliberate steps. I personally acknowledged to myself that this is who I am and this is the path I want to take (i.e. transition) around December of 2013. It took me a few months to gather myself and decide to see a therapist, which is what I consider my first "official" step, in August of last year.
I decided with my therapist that HRT was a reasonable next step for me in April. My therapist gave me a list of trans-friendly endocrinologists in my area, and the one I picked had a three-month waiting list to get to see him. I am seeing my primary care physician this week to get the blood work done (this was required for the initial endo visit) and I will see the endocrinologist at the end of June. So, around ten months from my initial therapy session to first my endocrinologist appointment, but as I said, this was mostly due to my plan for slow, careful steps. I have children and a career, and I don't want to lose either, so I am being very careful.
Endo waiting times for appointments seem to be pretty cray-cray! Mine had a 7-month waiting list...
But back to your question. I came out to my wife 9 weeks ago. It was about 3 weeks after that when I had my first therapy appointment. I've been to 4 sessions so far. My therapist is reluctant to write a letter since this is "technically" a new thing in my life. The realization of what I've actually been going through my whole life that is. It's always been with me, but I've suppressed it, felt ashamed of it, yet still secretly desired it always, I just didn't know what is was. She doesn't know me real well yet, so she's holding off for now. I get it.
I got tired of waiting after 8 weeks of coming to terms with my situation and decided to go the Informed Consent route. I had my doctor's appointment on Friday, got my blood drawn yesterday, and should be getting my prescriptions in the next day or two after the results come back. Granted, I went over all of this with my doctor and explained my life situation to her. If I'd come to her 8 weeks ago she might have wanted to wait as well, but I can't really know for sure.
Hope that helps! Going Informed Consent will always be faster. I can see 3-6 months being the "average" for a more traditional path of therapy, letters, and referrals.... Just don't forget that if it takes 6 months to get a referral letter, and then 6 months to get an appointment, that's a year.... Try to get a referral to the endo sooner so you can get your foot in the door while you wait for a letter. That's what I did at first and I still plan on seeing my endo too.
My endo had a 1 month waiting time for an appointment (over the winter holidays, too, so I guess I got lucky with the wait). That amounted to basically two months from the time I decided to transition. I met with my therapist during that time, but he was not involved in my obtaining HRT or transitioning except in providing general support.
Started spiro the evening of my endo appointment, and waited one week for the estradiol only because I needed to be tested for a potential clotting condition (Factor V Leiden).
I'd like to say thanks to everyone who's replied, you've all been very helpful. I keep forgetting that before you can start HRT you need to have a blood test. Well, if there was ever anytime I got over my fear of needles, it would now. One other point I need a bit of help on: when seeing my GP for the first time, what should I say? I've always been very bad at talking about myself, and my personal stuff.
Perhaps it will go like this.
You- I am transgender and I want to transition.
Doc- What does that meant to you?
You- (explain what that means to you).
Doc- Thank you for sharing that. I know that was hard and I am honored you shared this with me. How can I help you?
You- I want to be placed on HRT or CHT (counter hormone therapy).
Doc- Ok, I will give you a referral.
You- Can I do the blood work the endo will require?
Doc- Yes, here is the order and where to do.
I've had extremely good luck just being forthright and pretending I'm comfortable in the situation. It has gone pretty much the way Cynthia Michelle described it.
When I made my endo appointment, I called up the OB/GYN office where she works and when they answered, I just said (in my very male-sounding voice) that I'd like to make an appointment. There was a brief awkward pause, but then the receptionist recovered. She asked the standard, "Why are you coming in" question (i.e., it was not a "what the hell are you coming to us for" thing, just a question they ask every new patient) and I simply answered, "for transgender hormone therapy." She didn't give any indications that she was bothered or concerned with the reply, just continued setting up the appointment.
When I got to the endo, everyone was extremely polite. There was no one else in the waiting area, which it turns out is shared with a physical therapy office so nobody would have thought anything was up anyway, but it was still nice to have some alone time to get ready. The nurse called me in, took weight/height, and then went to a room to take vitals, medical history, etc. She asked why I was there, and I answered again, "I would like to start hormone replacement therapy," and we continued. Things were slightly but palpably awkward for the first 5 minutes or so, but as we talked and took the history, that went away. I think it helped that I was able to just have a conversation like I would with any other doctor, and I think my comfort rubbed off on her.
Then a resident came in for the first part of the "real" appointment. I was concerned at first because she was a young and extremely attractive woman, and I worried that might make it uncomfortable, but it was an unfounded worry. She was super comfortable and even enthusiastic in a way that really put me at ease. She again asked (3 times so far if you're counting) what I was here for today, and I gave the usual answer without fanfare. I don't recall what she replied, but it was positive and non-judgmental, and she then proceeded to do a 10-15 minute interview about various elements of my medical history, gender identity history, and current situation.
Then the real endo came in, and we just talked nuts and bolts (excuse the imagery).
At no point did anyone judge me for what I said, push back on the truth of my statements, etc. They were at worst neutral, and at best super-positive about everything. The same was true at my follow-up 3 months later.
I first saw a therapist in the begining of February of this year, it was a 2 hour appointment. I got an immediate referral to an MD for HRT. I saw the MD a couple of weeks later and since I was already taking Avadart and Fenstride I didn't need any additional T blockers. I got my blood work done and was back to his office a couple weeks or so after that to show him I could give myself injections because that was my preferred method for HRT. So, for me, it was about 30 days from my first therapy session to my first injection. It was 120 days from my first therapy session until I had my drivers license in my new name and gender and 127 days until I was full time 24/7. I think my time line may be a little quicker than most.
Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on June 16, 2015, 06:14:18 PM
Perhaps it will go like this.
You- I am transgender and I want to transition.
Doc- What does that meant to you?
You- (explain what that means to you).
Doc- Thank you for sharing that. I know that was hard and I am honored you shared this with me. How can I help you?
You- I want to be placed on HRT or CHT (counter hormone therapy).
Doc- Ok, I will give you a referral.
You- Can I do the blood work the endo will require?
Doc- Yes, here is the order and where to do.
Seeing my experience with doctors and trying to acquire drugs. Yeah, one can dream.
I suppose my story will be convincing enough though.
Now to muster the courage ::)
I went informed consent. 2 weeks for the appt wait time and another 2 weeks for blood results and prescriptions.
Informed consent for me. I started Spiro after I got the first doctor appointment. Unfortunately my blood pressure has been high and spiro didn't bring it down enough. So..... Three months now and probably another before I can get estrogen. My doc is a specialist for this and we discussed doing injectable because my liver can't take the pills and I'm not thrilled about patches.
Slow start, but I still have hope. [emoji3]
Ella