Arghh. Ok it is good news in respect to the fact i know my referal to the gender clinic has been sorted. But when i spoke to them earlier they told me my my appointment would probably not be untill June. why the hell does everything in this damn country always take forever. I'd try going to a private consultant but cant afford it (can barley pay my bills as it is).

Sry for the rant. Just needed to have a bit of a vent dont think this weather is helping (suffered with depression for years and gets worse in the bad weather SAD). A bit of sunshine would be nice so i can open up all the windows and let the fresh air in. Seriously considering self medicating if i can find enough cash to order hormones over the internet. I dont really want to do that as i would like to go about things in the proper way, but im fed up of waiting and want to start my transition proper.

I feel your pain, due to my last employer refusing to give me time off for appointments i'll have been waiting for two & a half years to start HRT by my next appointment, even then there's no guarantee that they'll start me on HRT as I can't do full time yet

Quote from: Shannon1979 on March 20, 2013, 11:44:02 AM
Arghh. Ok it is good news in respect to the fact i know my referal to the gender clinic has been sorted. But when i spoke to them earlier they told me my my appointment would probably not be untill June. why the hell does everything in this damn country always take forever. I'd try going to a private consultant but cant afford it (can barley pay my bills as it is).

Sry for the rant. Just needed to have a bit of a vent dont think this weather is helping (suffered with depression for years and gets worse in the bad weather SAD). A bit of sunshine would be nice so i can open up all the windows and let the fresh air in. Seriously considering self medicating if i can find enough cash to order hormones over the internet. I dont really want to do that as i would like to go about things in the proper way, but im fed up of waiting and want to start my transition proper.

It's worth the wait to do it properly. Self medicating is a very bad idea. Please try to have patience. I know how you feel. I don't want to wait till September to start testosterone, but it's in our best interests to have it done by a professional and have the progress monitored.

Things do take a while, but as Gene says, self medicating is a bad idea, not least because it will give a rather convenient excuse to refuse to treat you at all!

Another girl I know of is also frustrated by the wait, but even more so when she finally arrived for her appointment, the consultant cancelled at the last minute.

Perhaps if you look at it a different way. It's one of the hurdles. I know that's frustrating but the most important thing is not to get impatient with these people. Keep them on your side, whatever you have to do.

I totally understand how you feel as I am in a very similar position myself, but as the saying
goes 'Good Things Take Time' so just hang in there!!

Quote from: Shannon1979 on March 20, 2013, 11:44:02 AM
But when i spoke to them earlier they told me my my appointment would probably not be untill June. why the hell does everything in this damn country always take forever.

We all want to get on with our transitions as quickly as possible. I complained about this to the NHS last year: I pointed out that by the time we've plucked up the courage to seek medical attention, we're usually at crisis point within our lives and we need to be seen yesterday. Being made to wait ages is simply cruel, especially since NHS guidelines state we should be seen within 18 weeks (even that feels way too long!).

However, a little perspective might help. You're actually quite fortunate if you're going to get into a GIC by June. Many people in this country are having to wait at least a year - sometimes longer - for their first appointment. I waited 8 months before cancelling my referral to a particular GIC because they're so inundated that they hadn't even processed the paperwork, let alone offered me an appointment. I got my doctors to pull a lot of strings so that I could get an early appointment at a different GIC... but even then, I'll be waiting almost a year between seeing my GP and attending the GIC. That's the downside of living in a catchment area with a lot of other trans people.

Just make sure you keep chasing them up. If you don't keep on top of it, they'll treat you like just another number on their system and they'll happily let you wait until they can be bothered to see you. If you make yourself known to them, you're much more likely to be seen sooner. And that's true for anything within the NHS.

And please bear in mind that many GICs take a dim view of people who self-medicate. You could find it actually slows down your progress. Self-medicating can be dangerous so even though I understand how awful it is to be made to wait ages before you can see anyone, hopefully it will only be a couple of months before you can start to safely transition.

Here it takes even longer than that. About a year to "examine" you if you are a TS or not (even when law says 6 months) and then probably several month wait to get referred to HRT clinic.

Thus, many if not all who just have the option resort to DIY.

It also somewhat seems, that it's encouraged here, as it makes it more easy for the clueless doctors to wash their hands and give the diagnose.

Crazy world, but yeah I know how it feels to wait 

Well, for me it was pretty good. I asked my doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist to make the decisions if I would be ready and able to start HRT.
Not sure how long it will take or how many meetings I will need to actually start HRT but I'm determined I will this year. From the time I asked until the time I got my letter and appointment date was less than 6 weeks.
So I will be seeing the psychiatrist next Thursday for my first appointment and everything will move forward from there.

Hope it picks up for you as well, I consider myself really lucky to have gotten an appointment so quickly, I almost hit the roof when I got my letter. 

Go back to your clinic & let them know you need to change/correct your body. Each day of the wrong T hormones is poison for your growth into a nice female. They all move slow. Go back & tell/show them you need the poision removed.  Good luck, smile, be happy/proud, pretty, girl friend

Quote from: FrancisAnn on March 25, 2013, 10:07:23 PM
Go back to your clinic & let them know you need to change/correct your body. Each day of the wrong T hormones is poison for your growth into a nice female. They all move slow. Go back & tell/show them you need the poision removed.  Good luck, smile, be happy/proud, pretty, girl friend

Yea im gonna do something along those lines. Thanks everyone for the support ive been a bit lax on posting recently (other stuff going on) so sry this was a bit late.

OK Shannon. But remember, be very calm and don't let them feel they are being pressured or undermined.

Massage their egos. Try to show them that they will be helping you and how very grateful you will be.

If they turn you down, don't get upset. Just thank them for their time and say you will attend as arranged.

Shannon, I just noticed your post again. Do not delay, whatever $ available should be used on Estrogen of some type for your body, you are young & thin & pretty. Push the therapist to move with your letter or find another one asap.

Good luck young girl.