Hi everyone. I am feeling a bit depressed. I want to know if there is a way that testes can be damaged to prevent them from producing testosterone. Are there medications that can make them stop producing testosterone? Do thry just produce it no matter what? Xxx
Anti androgens, plus or minus estrogen.
Quite simple. See your endo.
I would see my endo if I actually had one. Unfortunately in my miserable country I have to travel a million miles and wait 2 million years to get one. I am surprised most of us aren't dead before we get treated. The governemtn hates us xxx
What country are you in darling?
The UK xxx
Believe it or not the UK NHS has one of the best services in the world for transgender people. It is slow, but safe, costs nothing and is comprehensive.
You need to convince your treating medics in the UK that your condition is not a 'fad' but a life threating condition. You and I know it is. Once you convince them you will move forward.
Time? Well in Australia it takes 12 months to see a therapist for the initial consult. It is much the same everywhere.
Hardly a million miles then...
If you want things to move quicker you just need to pay for a private consult from someone like Richard Curtis or Michael Perring - both of whom I know socially.
The NHS will take about 6 to 9 months to get you sorted - but in this context that really wont make much difference unless you are under something like 14 because if not then the damage has already been done and the changes that the aaditional 6 to 9 months will cause are pretty minimal - meanwhile there are plenty of things you can be doing to speed your transition along - such as starting electrolysis which can take forever to get done - and which ironically is probably also the biggest single thing which will change the way you are seen.
I know its stressful, I've been there - and in my case, back in the 1970's the wait was from when I was about 14!!! to when I was 24 in the 1980's - so don't think I am unsympathetic because I'm not. Its just that changing the NHS system is a bit above my pay grade. I'm only a medical student and even a consultant would struggle with that task.
Oh and PS - private consultations for HRT arent that expensive... although for SRS it is quite a lot, and thats why most people do wait for the NHS.
Oh okay. I understand. I an sorry about this. I just get upset sometimes. I am not very stable emotionally. I need a hug and to be told I'm prettyeand that I'm a real girl. Xxx
Oh honey!
You are a wonderfully gorgeous young woman!
You will get through this - you have two old broads like Jenny and I with you!
Quote from: tesseract49 on July 01, 2015, 09:08:59 AM
Oh okay. I understand. I an sorry about this. I just get upset sometimes. I am not very stable emotionally. I need a hug and to be told I'm prettyeand that I'm a real girl. Xxx
Well if thats your own photo - as someone who grew up more or less in female role - and transitioned early - but is now 55 year old I'd give a GREAT DEAL to look so good as you do.
I see a very attractive young lady there no doubts at all.
As for being real - the best any of us can hope for is to be "really ourselves."
As my mother used to tell me when I was growing up and fretting about the same things "Don't worry about comparing yourself with others. Just concentrate on being the best you that you can be... and people will see your beauty for themselves" - It works too.
Hugs are difficult over the net - but here is a Virtual one all the way from Tooting South west London. <<<<Hug>>>>
PS - we have a girl on our medical degree course, who looks just like you. Are you sure I don't know you? ;) :P
Well Tess if you can get a hug from Tooting, here is one from a long way away. Adelaide, Australia
Aww thanks so much *kisses*. Can you be my friends? I want hug all of you. I always use face creams and limot my exposure to the sun to preserve my beauty. I hope to age beautifully and still look like a girl xxx
Quote from: tesseract49 on July 01, 2015, 09:08:59 AM
Oh okay. I understand. I an sorry about this. I just get upset sometimes. I am not very stable emotionally. I need a hug and to be told I'm prettyeand that I'm a real girl. Xxx
Hey you look very nice 😊.im from UK to
Aww you look beautiful too. I wish I looked like you. My photo is taken by professoonal equipment in perfect lighting from a lighting kit and is one of 50 photos I took. In real life I don't look this good xxx
You know something about looking good?
Both you and Yenneffer have. Looking good is in you eyes. You both have gorgeous eyes.
Aww that's a lovely thing to say. I want to hug you *hugs* :) xxx
It is very early in the morning in Australia and I need some sleep. But I'm with you in my thoughts.
Hugs
Quote from: tesseract49 on July 01, 2015, 09:40:28 AM
Aww that's a lovely thing to say. I want to hug you *hugs* :) xxx
Hugs everyone hehe
Right blink and you'll miss this - just for you Tessa - here is my pic for a few minutes... THIS is what a 55 year old woman who transitioned at an early age, with a trans history looks like.
For the record other than SRS I never had any surgery or enhancements and I use NO cosmetics of any sort - so what you see is 100% natural.
Think you can live with looking something like that at 55? I hope so... :)
Aww you look beautfiul. You don't even look 55. I hope I look as beautiful as you when I am that age *hugs* :) xxx
Hey Tess
Hopefully not breaking rules here, I'm UK too, however I started self med and at a VERY low dose primarily more to see if a) low dose therapy would help my GD and b) see if i could I could reduce the ridiculous morning erections which I hate.
I'm happy to say that both worked, after a month though and already aware of the health risks, I approached my GP and blurted it out (due to reading too much online and worrying of health!) - probably in the most awkward kinda way as I started then tried to retract what I said etc (but glad I did), however she was fully understanding. She suggested that I get my bloods done (all fine) and then proceeded to refer me to a local GID centre - Charing cross.
Yep so the long wait has begun, however my GP has been supportive (although she has emphasised her concerns re selfmed) and despite not in support of the self med is willing to accommodate the blood tests to ensure I'm not causing my self harm. As I say I'm V low dose but having her support who due to my circumstances accelerated me to referral to CHX, it has been a positive outcome.
As others have said before, the UK does provide a good GID treatment but there is a wait for it. The 12 month average is better than going alone or nothing at all. I certainly do not condone selfmed purely to jump the system as I was lucky that my GP was so supportive and doubt you'll get anything quicker unless you can affird to pay thousands to go private.
It is not always the case that a GP will be supportive of self med, in fact very rarely, as you are taking a risk with your life and many friends have mentioned that their GPs deny the tests after the initial one so as not to encourage this behavior.
All that aside, the NHS is supportive and will help, but it does take time. Their reason is sensible (aside from being under resourced) they want to ensure you have enough time to really consider what you are doing before starting down the road of transition and before you are likely to blurt out to family and friends etc before really understanding what transition means and potentially losing a vital support network regardless.
If you're serious which you sound that you are, stick with it and use the time to learn make-up skills, practice voice etc and plan how to either transition at work or a new job. you can also use it as a good time to build up your wardrobe etc without suddenly hitting the real life period, and be able to slip into life fulltime as you more easily.
I.ve kinda gone on for longer than I hoped, but hope what I've said is usefull.
Best wishes with it all and remember to become beautiful takes time (although you've got a great head start!!)
BW
Amy xx
I wish you the best of luck Amy. *hugs*. I think telling my GP that I am already on hormones should accelerate the process a bit xxx
Quote from: tesseract49 on July 02, 2015, 03:55:40 AM
I wish you the best of luck Amy. *hugs*. I think telling my GP that I am already on hormones should accelerate the process a bit xxx
Are you self medicating because if you are don't bother my gp got nasty and said she won't give me a blood test.i told my therapist about this and he said she was breaking the law by not giving me one
It will not!!
Do not self medicate. It may ruin your dreams totally.
The easiest way to convince your medics? Live your life as you. The woman you are. The psyche will assign you straight away as you have shown total commitment.
Quote from: Cindy on July 02, 2015, 04:06:36 AM
It will not!!
Do not self medicate. It may ruin your dreams totally.
The easiest way to convince your medics? Live your life as you. The woman you are. The psyche will assign you straight away as you have shown total commitment.
Not in the UK they love gate keeping
Oh okay. I'm sorry to hear that :(. *hugs*. I am not self medicating. For a time I took boryh control pills on recommendation of a friend but after I got bad side effects such as feeling dizzy and fast heart rate, I switched to getting estrogen patches and finasteride from an online private sercice whoch is ran by an NHS gp. My medicatuon at the moment is completely legal and prescribed for me xxx
Quote from: Yenneffer on July 02, 2015, 04:07:56 AM
Not in the UK they love gate keeping
That's unfair Yenneffer - Its true some of them are not easy to convince, but not all psychiatrists or GIC's operate on the same basis, some are a lot more sympathetic than others. Indeed even leaving aside myself as a medical student, I know for a FACT that there are transpeople in the UK who are qualified psychiatrists and doctors and are seeing gender patients - so perhaps instead of complaining you should try finding one of the more sympathetic doctors.
It is your right as a patient to choose a doctor you are happy with. I can't guarrantee that changing will improve things of course because I don't know the background to your case, nor do I want to, but if you are a straighforward case with no complicating factors I assure you that there are doctors in the UK who will not wish to gatekeep.
I have had so many problems with the nhs including non trans related Problems
Quote from: Cindy on July 02, 2015, 04:06:36 AM
It will not!!
Do not self medicate. It may ruin your dreams totally.
The easiest way to convince your medics? Live your life as you. The woman you are. The psyche will assign you straight away as you have shown total commitment.
They have told me I have to wait a year for hormones, even do I've been full time women for months. Here in the UK they just don't want to help, I've tried 3 doctors and they all at the same.2 of them doctors was from gender clinics
I have no choice but to self medicate and has been doing so now for about a week, I have told my doctors and they will not blood test me.
Quote from: ChristineShearing on July 02, 2015, 04:50:36 AM
They have told me I have to wait a year for hormones, even do I've been full time women for months. Here in the UK they just don't want to help, I've tried 3 doctors and they all at the same.2 of them doctors was from gender clinics
I have no choice but to self medicate and has been doing so now for about a week, I have told my doctors and they will not blood test me.
You may find having a copy of the NHS guidlines available will help your cause - they state that typically the wait should be around 6 months - and if you have been documented as full time already for two years that time does count...
I would post a link but as I dont have the necessary post ranking I cant - but if you google NHS guidlines on transgender treatment you should find the document in question. If you print it and take it with you, you can show the doctor that you are aware of what it says...
It's on my paper work that I'm full time women, I have many guidelines in PDF format I've had to use but it's no help they simply say I've got to wait.
We had a discussion on self medication as I said I'll likely do it and yes they adviced me not to. I asked will this effect my treatment they said it wont effect it but it will delay things because I have to wait for the hormones I take to return to normal yuky male state which takes time.
As I can't live with the stress of being a ugly man I decided to start my own course if treatment. Started with electro hair removal and now switched to laser, I've contacted surgeon and had a face to face interview and been quoted a number that makes feel suicidal. And now hormones.
I have been on them for about 2 weeks now and first effects are kicking in and I'm so pleased.
I'm worried that hurt my self but I did try to do it correctly the right way and when they come up with nothing I had to take things into my hands. I feel light headed alot now and lots of head rush but I'll keep going even if I drop dead as it is a risk I'm willing to accept. My heart rate has lowed.
I wish they would just assign me hormones but they won't yet and they don't understand how a year feels trapped and is filled with heart ace and suicidal thoughts , it's far too long to wait for something so simple.