Hi, I'm 18 and I've been pretty sure that I wasn't male since I was around 12, I'm hoping to transition as soon as possible but first I have two questions to ask:

Question 1. How hard is it to transition under the NHS, I realise that in general they can be very harsh but I was wondering how things panned out for any British members. I may be getting horribly confused but (i just need to add that I'm fairly genderfluid and I dont know exactly how everything will work out in the end) I wasn't sure whether you have to be full time when/as you begin HRT. Just general information would be great thanks!

Secondly, gender therapists in Wales? Anyone know any/ where I find one. I also want to know ( under NHS conditions) how long the therapy went on for and how people's therapists were, I'd just like to hear you story ( even if you're one of our American friends.   

Thanks,
MangoJuice

Yes, you have to be full time, name changed, everything really before you get any real treatment.

Other than getting a bi-yearly appointment and offering group support meetings which I am not interested in they do nothing in terms of treatment till you have satisfied their criteria.

I entered the system about 2 years ago and have since had 2 appointments because my GP messed up and did not refer me properly for 6 months. My third appointment is this month.

I got nothin to show for it except what I have done by myself and if they do not recognise my progress this coming appointment I am going private at great expense (read £200+ for an initial 1 hour consult).

Quote from: Seras on January 09, 2013, 06:17:55 PM
Yes, you have to be full time, name changed, everything really before you get any real treatment.

I suppose I can get having your name changed legally beforehand, maybe, but what does full time entail? Walking around in a dress when you're pre hrt and clearly still a man physically? Seem's kind of harsh, would androgynous clothing do?

I believe it depends on the particular doctor you get, but yes. That's pretty much how it is. I mean it does not have to be dresses and stuff I hope, cause that really is not me. But you have you be presenting female fully all the time. That is what they told me anyway.

Course if your a dumbass and self medicate hormones then they prescribe to you straight away. I am not that idiotic however so here I am still no HRT.

---

I know right...

Thanks, I guess that's our punishment for free health care.
I guess you could pretend to self-med 

Quote from: MangoJuice on January 11, 2013, 04:32:21 PM
Thanks, I guess that's our punishment for free health care.
I guess you could pretend to self-med 

I wonder how many people try this, I suppose they can check with blood test's or something tho?

I had a blood test on my first appointment.

From what I've heard it varies a great deal depending on who your medical team are. I told my GP in June,  saw a psych in September and should be seeing the endocrinologist later this month, early next. Im a fair bit older than you and have already done the breeding thing so I may be having an easier time of it.

Going full-time before any treatment is much, much scarier on the outside. I have been pleasantly surprised about the level of acceptance I have experienced.

If you're in Wales then the situation is a bit different from England. There was a report done for the Welsh assembly that lays out the general care plan as well as how they intend implementing it. It's a bit of a whatnot to find so I'll post a link later when I'm sat at my computer.

Oh, and best of luck, enjoy the journey.

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

Scotland is a bit different from England as well. According to new rules, you don't need to start the 12 month period before you will get the hormones. They basically stated that its alot easier for the person if they get a bit of help transitioning before they are forced to out themselves so to speak to the world.

Heh!  That'll teach me for being cocky.  I was mis-gendered in the supermarket today for the first time in months - gentleman indeed!.  Thankfully my bullet-proof self-confidence came to the rescue.  Quip to save for the next time "you're half right, I'm very gentle".

Anyhow, the link to the Welsh Assembly report: http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/documents/s7981/P-03-301%20WHSSC%20Report%20on%20Gender%20Identity.pdf.

I'm not sure how far through implementation they are but I should be seeing Dr Jamil late this month or early next (I'm covered by Aneurin Bevan being in Sir Fynwy) when I intend to get a few more details.  I'll update this thread following or meeting.

Rx.

Thanks!
This is really useful and I'll be sure to keep an eye on here for your post!

Well this has taken a little while but given it's the NHS delays are to be expected.

I've seen Dr Jamil who seems like a pleasant enough person who is having to operrrate within the confines of an unbearably unwieldy bureaucracy.  In summary none of the report has really been implemented and nothing much has changed.

To give a bit more detail, I'll be going full-time as soon as I can take care of arranging things at work.  Given I would have done this sometime within the next few weeks anyway as the Monday morning boy-mode blues were beginning to get a little out of hand.  After (a bit more than) three months of this I'll be seeing Dr Jamil again at which point we (might) start treatment.

The NHS will provide hormones, lower surgery and (maybe) breast augmentation but nothing more.  Hair removal, voice training, tracheal shaves, angioplasty and the rest?  You will have to find funding yourself.

Rx.

In the US, you're own your own unless you have great health insurance, so maybe count your blessings. You could be RLE for 15 years and insurance companies would not care here. And as far as SRS, never. Again unless you have great health insurance, which must don't.

I've been waiting for six months now to hear from CX. My doctor an ex-psychologist have actually contacted them about once per month, each time they say something different. The latest check, two weeks ago, was the first time they claimed to have no record of me

I agree with you entirely Joanna in that we are lucky to have the NHS and should count our blessings. After all there's always the option to go private (if only for the initial prescription) if things are moving too slow.

However if it looks like you have been promised something and it turns out you were not then having a right old grump is understandable I would say.

In Scotland where things have been improved after you're full time they will still be complete tools to you went to the clinic today for the first time since I came out and went full time six months ago wanting to get information about and the process for referral for aesthetic treatment (breast augmentation FFS) was.
They said I needed to provide proof I was full time (letter from my employer or something similar)

I really despise them.

Well I've hopefully just been accepted on Nottingham gender clinics care pathway, I find out tomorrow at my appointment!! I've been told that I have fulfilled all the criteria, but I'm still nervous about it.

The process is very long winded and you do have to jump through the hoops they set to fulfil their criteria.  The most important ones are:
•   You have a history of gender dysphoria happening for a sustained period of time. They find this out during the sessions, and with a "gender story" that they ask you to write were they want you to detail when and how you have felt throughout your life, or rather from the time you realised that you was questioning your gender.

•   You have to have begun your Real Life Experience.  This is supported with evidence that details your name and gender change markers on documentation, as well as talking about the experiences you've encounter whilst been in your acquired gender.
•   You have good support, and you don't have any existing mental health problems that may exacerbated by the stressful transition.

After fulfilling their criteria, they take over your health care, and give you HRT. To get through this process has taken about a year.  I have been receiving HRT external to the NHS; and no, self-medication does not make them take over the care any sooner. Some clinics will say that you have to stop self medication prior to them accepting you on the care pathway, so be aware!

Once you begin RLE, and have proved to them that you have, they begin the countdown.  They are weary about signing letters giving their consent for any surgery before one year of RLE (doesn't mean you can't go find private surgeons who will, or go abroad), the big one is that no SRS surgeon will accept you anywhere before 1 year.  The NHS will refer you for their SRS at the two year mark (assuming you fulfil their criteria, again!).

Hope that helps detail the keys steps.

Thanks for the great info guys!

The one thing I'm not sure about is that I dont feel I'm really binary in gender. I'm not sure how a RLE would go and whether id be able to get low dosage hrt. I'll try to get an appointment with my nearest and best therapist (I think it's Dr Jamil).