Quote from: Lisbeth on June 12, 2007, 12:57:02 PM

Quote from: Feral Cat on June 12, 2007, 12:45:23 PM
She did mention she was planning on going to Bangkok for her SRS.  If that is the case, there is no need for her to waste money on therapists just to get surgical letters.  All she would need is six months living full time and letters from her hormone doctor.  $100 could pay for almost two hours of electro.

Assuming all that worked, you have now knocked the price down to $295/month.

My total out-of-pocket so far is something like $8000.  I started assuming that the final price tag would be $45000.

The less expensive Surgeons in Thailand still require therapy letters.  In terms of therapy, mine has been quite cheap.  I spent a grand total of $160 on therapy ($60 for first, $100 for second) for getting my 2 letters.  It really depends on which therapist(s) you go to.

Quote from: Melissa on June 12, 2007, 05:15:23 PM
The less expensive Surgeons in Thailand still require therapy letters.  In terms of therapy, mine has been quite cheap.  I spent a grand total of $160 on therapy ($60 for first, $100 for second) for getting my 2 letters.  It really depends on which therapist(s) you go to.

I have to disagree with this.  I am scheduled with Dr Chetuwaut (sp) in Bangkok this November, and the only thing he has asked for was letters from my endo stating that I have been on HRT for at least six months and am living full time as a female.  I think there may be one surgeon over there that follows the Benjamin SOC, but most of them don't.

Pam

Yes, it is a good plan.  You will refine it.  Define the objectives, write them down, and post them on your fridge.  Keep the next one on the list in your mind all day long.  You will be surprised at how fast you can accomplish anything you want.

And if life throws you a cinder block or two, revise where you need, and move on.

S

By the way. I factored in the Electro and the Hormones( my job has a mail pharmacy that will allow me to purchase the 90 day supplies for less. I already pay $120 a month for therapy. And Yes, I do need it. It has helped me greatly.

I know that there will be sacrifices. I have become quite adept at being poor.

Quote from: Kara on June 12, 2007, 06:51:21 PM
By the way. I factored in the Electro and the Hormones( my job has a mail pharmacy that will allow me to purchase the 90 day supplies for less. I already pay $120 a month for therapy. And Yes, I do need it. It has helped me greatly.

I know that there will be sacrifices. I have become quite adept at being poor.

Then I would say your plan is much more realistic.

Kara,
From what you are stating before you were African American.
Laser will be cheaper than an Electro in the long run.
But if you do laser it will have to be a YAG laser. 

It would be a $5000-$15,000 savings.

I know it is odd to be pressing this, but its the truth.

Melissa, I am very jealous therapy has been inexpensive for you.  It has been a high cost for me (but worth it nonetheless).

Quote from: Feral Cat on June 12, 2007, 05:33:44 PM

Quote from: Melissa on June 12, 2007, 05:15:23 PM
The less expensive Surgeons in Thailand still require therapy letters.  In terms of therapy, mine has been quite cheap.  I spent a grand total of $160 on therapy ($60 for first, $100 for second) for getting my 2 letters.  It really depends on which therapist(s) you go to.

I have to disagree with this.  I am scheduled with Dr Chetuwaut (sp) in Bangkok this November, and the only thing he has asked for was letters from my endo stating that I have been on HRT for at least six months and am living full time as a female.  I think there may be one surgeon over there that follows the Benjamin SOC, but most of them don't.

Um, I'm scheduled with him too in March.  I just looked at his site and yes, he does support endo letters.  However, not all endos would provide a recommendation for surgery though.

Quote from: Amy T. on June 13, 2007, 09:39:02 AM
Melissa, I am very jealous therapy has been inexpensive for you.  It has been a high cost for me (but worth it nonetheless).

That was just for the surgery letters.  To get HRT, it cost me $550 and then I continued going for a couple more months, which cost me another bundle (another $500-$1000).  After that, I couldn't afford it, nor could I make it there during the available hours.

     Dr. Chettawut also has access to a local psych. So in the event of a patient who shows up with no letters they then can pay the locals to do a psych eval. Though ones own therapists are preferred.
     I had my own letters when I went to Dr Chettawut last year. Lets see a cost breakdown as best I can remember it for now. Hotel and food $1,300.00 (all costs in USD), SRS and BA was around $8,200.00 at that time, Airfare was less then $900.00, Airport tax around 500 Baht (ok not all costs were listed as USD in my head right now lol). Last minute Aids test xrays and lab tests were around a hundred and fifty dollars USD if I remember correctly (I did them over there as it was cheaper then over here).
     Not much else I can think of at the moment.
Rashelle

Quote from: Rashelle on June 13, 2007, 02:44:30 PM
     Dr. Chettawut also has access to a local psych. So in the event of a patient who shows up with no letters they then can pay the locals to do a psych eval. Though ones own therapists are preferred.
     

Are you saying that Dr Chet made you produce therapist letters?  His site says just to provide endo letters, and all the girls that I know didn't have therapist letters.

When I sent my deposit check I only sent endo letters and he seems to be ok with that.

Pam

I did have to bring the letters with me. To me it seemed more along the lines of covering his hind end thing as far as letters are involved. There is a therapist available for personnel without the psychiatric letters. (So that in effect a local psychiatrist gives an eval and writes the letter there). There are like with more and more Dr's ways around the letters requirements. I haven't heard of anyone ever being turned down from having their srs once all the other requirements are met. Though it does seem to me that everyone I knew that went to Dr. Chettawut did so with at least one letter. Though from my memory there was a local psych available as needed for those without the letters. Arrival before SRS is days ahead of time to make sure of lab tests and other things such as letters and stuff. I can't say for certain but it does seem more and more surgeons are leaning towards time in RLT with HRT as being of more importance then letters. Though letters go as part of the "proof" of such.
     Something else I was trying to remember to say is make sure one's bills and such are paid ahead of time for like three months worth before leaving for SRS. I wednt and made large overpayments on rent, electricity, water, phone, etc. before leaving country. I came back and then didn't have to worry about anything other then healing. Don't forget food costs and other normal things too.
     Get a menu from the restaurant downstairs for being at the Baan Sirii. It is like super thick and has much more choices then the room service menu and they will deliver all of it to the room. In fact the food there is good and so also is the food from the restaurant outside but still on the premises. Other then the breakfast you can eat a different meal every meal for your stay there. Well ok other then the liquid diet and laxative schedule the Dr. puts you on days before SRS heehee.
     Something I'd suggest would be make friends with other patients upon arrival and help them out with groceries and such before you go have your srs then ask for their help when you get back from the hospital and they can pick up groceries and such for you especially lots of water. Besides it good to visit with others when there too.
     KFC and mcdonalds and such does deliver too. The KFC is actually pretty good.
Rashelle

Thanks Rashelle, I can use all the tips I can get.  I am *sort of* a member of Dr Chet's yahoo group, but it is run by an illiterate drunk lady with a very mean disposition, so I doubt that I will stay there long.

I make friends where ever I go, so I am sure I will make some friends when I get there, and will be sure and help out where I am able.

Meanwhile, Im going to have to email Dr Chet and ask him about this letter thing.  I was under the impression I didn't need one.  Geez just what I need, more expenses  lol.

Pam

     Yw Pam. some of the Dr's do seem to make exceptions depending on circumstances. Lab tests and stuff were relatively inexpensive over there compared to here.
     I'm still in contact with friends I made while I was over there for my SRS and am  in contact with one of the girls from when I went over for my then G/f's SRS with Suporn. It's always a good thing to make friends.
      I left that particular group due to it being overtly anti US, etc.
      Oh you've probly heard of the grab bags of goodies from that group though. I went and got a electric kettle while I was there and passed on all my extra foodstuffs and stuff when I left and think of that as good ideas to do for others too. The kettle was good for making extra tea and stuff for me and I think when I go there with Melissa for her SRS in March we might grab a toaster or something along those lines then too and then pass them on too others when we leave.
     Remind me later and I'll redo a things to bring to Bangkok list I had made on a different website in here for going to Dr. Chettawut. (I just don't feel like doing that much thinking at this particular moment lol).
Rashelle