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Hi, newbie here

Started by Eris, February 13, 2014, 08:18:49 PM

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Eris

Hi, I'm not really sure what to write so I'll just say a little about myself.

I'm from Scotland, 22, currently male and I've been questioning my gender since I was 13.
About a month ago I finally mustered the courage to come out to my family and confess my feelings. I'm still shocked that they took it as well as they did.

I have an appointment to speak to a specialist from the NHS within the next 5 weeks or so (I hope). Ideally I'd like to start on HRT as soon as possible. I have been bottling this up for so long and now I am impatient for my body to reflect the person I feel that I am on the inside. I'm concerned however that as I've been hiding this so long that I do not have a well-documented history of Gender Dysphoria and I'm afraid that I'll be turned away or told that there's something wrong with me.

If there's anyone from the UK (particularly Scotland) who's had experience with the NHS I would love to hear from - and hopefully be reassured by - you.

Thankyou for listening.
I refuse to live in fear! Come hell or high water I will not back down! I will live my life!
But you have no life.
Ha. Even that won't stop me.

I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.



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Jessica Merriman

A big warm welcome to the family baby! I am so glad you have joined us and hope we can help with your journey. I am across the pond in the States. Over here we do not have to have a long "track" record of Dysphoria to find treatment. Once you are diagnosed you are off and running. While you are here feel free to ask questions, rant, vent, share the good news and find a caring shoulder to cry on if you need it. This is a very safe place thanks to our great Moderator staff who protects us and keeps peace in the family. Here is a BIG HUG ( :icon_hug:) to welcome you and start you on your journey. Good luck! :)
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Jamie D

A Scot!  Greetings from southern California.  I was just chatting with another moderator about my Scot heritage.

These links will help you navigate the site:


A very warm welcome to you.
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Eris

Thankyou for welcoming me to the forum, I must confess I was surprised to receive a reply so soon (I forgot about time differences XD).

Thankyou for the links Jamie they were most informative :) I'd be happy to answer questions about Scotland if you have any.

Thankyou for the hug Jessica) :)

I hope that I'll soon have something to contribute to the community myself.
I refuse to live in fear! Come hell or high water I will not back down! I will live my life!
But you have no life.
Ha. Even that won't stop me.

I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.



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Padma

Hi Falconer, I'm in Devon, so the other end of the island, and happy to see you here! (I have several trans friends in Scotland). Do you have a name you'd prefer to be called? Or is that still something you're thinking about? I just want to encourage you to take all the time you need to become more yourself as safely as possible. I hear good things about the gender clinics in Scotland, apart from fairly long waiting lists. Your system is somewhat more direct than in England/Wales, and more patient-driven.
Womandrogyne™
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Eris

Hi Padma, thanks for making me feel welcome :)

I do have a name I'm considering. I scrolled through lists of girls names, wrote a few down and read them out to see how they sounded to me. I was considering Emma, then I asked my mum what she would have called me if I'd been born in the right body and she told me Erin.

I like it and it means Peace, hopefully I'll be able to find some :)

Yes, the wait at the main one in Glasgow is currently 13 months for a first appointment. I may or may not be fortunate to reside in another part of the country where they deal with it in a different way. I'm hopefully going to get to speak to someone within the next five weeks (I'm 3 weeks waiting for hopefully an 8 week appointment).

What I'd like to do would be go onto HRT for a year before starting my RLE. I think the RLE is one year here as opposed to two in England. Ideally I'd like to have SRS before I'm 25.

Apparently all of the surgery clinics are in England though so if Scotland becomes independent (not looking too likely but could go either way) then I could be in some trouble as I can't afford to go private :(

On the subject of being safe, I'm going to tell one friend who I trust next week. I'll see how she takes it and I'll wait a while before telling anyone else. I have one big friend group and I'm not sure how some of them will take it and I'm going to be sharing a flat with three of them next year. :(
I refuse to live in fear! Come hell or high water I will not back down! I will live my life!
But you have no life.
Ha. Even that won't stop me.

I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.



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Padma

Good plan - start with a few people you can trust, so that later on, if you tell more people and someone is a wanker about it, you've got the perspective of "Oh, but it's just them, lots of other people are fine with it." Because people who are transphobic often try to paint their personal reaction as being a General Response instead, so it's very important to have good allies to remind you that not everyone thinks the way that person does.

And just be comfortable in yourself, because I've found that people respond very positively to anyone who's obviously being their true selves. Figure out what kind of woman you are, and be that woman (and let it change if it wants to) - don't be pressured by cis- or trans-peers into trying to meet some expectation of What A Young Trans Woman Should Look Like™. You can be a princess, or Tank Girl, or Shane McCutcheon, or whoever you really are. There are billions of kinds of woman, you get to be your kind. The people at the gender clinic will also sense when you're being you, and respond well to that.
</soapbox>
</mother-hen>
Womandrogyne™
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