Quote from: chrissydr on January 31, 2014, 03:33:36 PM
Might be good to have a few going through it with them to help each other out.

Well we have somewhere we can post updates now! I want to hear any updates regarding transitions lol

Quote from: KateConnors on January 31, 2014, 05:30:48 PM
Fast forward a few years, I started transition at 32 (it's not too late! ,

Really? I'm having to wait a year but I'd love to be transitioned enough to be full time by 35, already kinda part time and making trips out. You look gorgeous, is that your daughter too?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 01, 2014, 05:47:50 AM
Really? I'm having to wait a year but I'd love to be transitioned enough to be full time by 35, already kinda part time and making trips out. You look gorgeous, is that your daughter too?

Thanks    Yes, that's my daughter, who will be turning 4 next week.  To say that becoming a parent and transitioning was correlated is correct.  This was my flipping point, I had to transition to be the best parent I could be.

I remember thinking that getting on hormones couldn't happen fast enough and it felt every passing day was another day wasted.  Remember it's not all about your age; a healthy diet and exercise will also help, and genetics go a long way. Then there is of course making sure your face is hair free, you're likely looking at a year before this is done, and it is a hell of a lot easier to present as a girl when you don't have to worry about the beard. This will also show to any therapist that you see, that your committed to this path and will likely get you in HRT sooner rather than later.

Chin up! (as my wife says to me)

Quote from: KateConnors on February 02, 2014, 02:47:13 PM
Thanks    Yes, that's my daughter, who will be turning 4 next week.  To say that becoming a parent and transitioning was correlated is correct.  This was my flipping point, I had to transition to be the best parent I could be.

The birth of my son was certainly the tipping point for me, he was the one thing I felt I couldn't fail.


Just can't get a good picture of the both of us! He makes me look so ugly lol! (beard shadow doesn't help...)

Just got a new job that offers private healthcare, so maybe getting laser or electro through them would be a bit easier or quicker than the NHS. So much research to do!

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 03, 2014, 07:13:43 AM
Just got a new job that offers private healthcare, so maybe getting laser or electro through them would be a bit easier or quicker than the NHS. So much research to do!

There is a place in Aberdeen I found that does electrolysis for a reasonable price

http://www.beautyfountain.co.uk/PriceList.php

I'm going to go there some time this month and report back, I have very fine hair on my face anyway, so hopefully I won't need toooooo many sessions to remove everything, but we shall see

I would rather start now, that wait another 8months to get into sandyford, even if it's not 100% gone, I can at least get a start on it, and it's another thing that you can show to prove you are committed when you walk in the door for the first time.

First off I have a salon appointment to sort out my hair tomorrow...-squeeeee-

I e-mailed the salon owner in advance explaining my situation (because I didn't want to blind side some poor hairdresser who would have no idea what to do with me).

The salon owner has been amazing so far, she took me in for a private consultation to talk about what I needed and wanted, and form a sort of "hair plan" for the next year or so. Looking forward to it!

Interesting update for all Scots

I put in a request at my local NHS infertility clinic a while ago, basically I wanted to see if the NHS would cover the costs of storing sperm samples etc for use in the future.

My GP cautioned me against getting my hopes up, as the chances are that they wouldn't, since it walls somewhat outside of their regular mandate.

But lo and behold! I got a letter through this morning saying that they will cover most of the costs!

All I need to do is pay £300 up front for the first 3 years of storage, and £100 a year after that, and the NHS will take care of the rest! Including any future IVF treatments I request for a partner in later years (which is REALLY good, cause that costs a fortune!)

So it's worth looking into for those who are interested, I don't even honestly know if I would ever use IVF to have a child, but for less than £10 a month, I like that I will at least have the option

While I don't have the luxury of the NHS, I used sperm banking myself prior to starting HRT.  My wife is trying to preggers now from the frozen sperm.  It's kinda weird having parts of me frozen thousands of miles from where I live (I lived in Boston when I froze it).

Hey all,

Status update from me!

I have officially completed that weird additional "Tayside Gender Identity Disorder Pathway" that threw up a barrier on my way to Sandyford.

It took 5 hours across two psychologists, but I finally managed to convince them that I am not insane...or at least...sane enough that I should be seeing gender specialists, and that I in fact do not have a little voice in my head saying "hey...you should really wear women's clothing...and maybe their skin".

As a fun note, I requested to be added to my psychology team's correspondence, which resulted in me being sent a huge document including a complete psycho analysis and breakdown of my case!

It's a really fun read...like an episode of "This is Your Life"...but with all the celebrity appearances and witty anecdotes replaced with psychological analysis and recommendations for the future.

I have also been assured that my referral date will be back dated to when I originally self-referred in September of last year, so I haven't actually lost any time on the waiting list in the grand scheme of things ^^

All in all it's been a fairly painless experience to be honest, all the people I saw appeared to agree that the additional screening was an annoyance and they just wanted to get me through the system as quickly as possible to get me to Sandyford where I could actually get the specialist help I need.

How is everybody else doing?

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on February 03, 2014, 07:13:43 AM
The birth of my son was certainly the tipping point for me, he was the one thing I felt I couldn't fail.


Just can't get a good picture of the both of us! He makes me look so ugly lol! (beard shadow doesn't help...)

Just got a new job that offers private healthcare, so maybe getting laser or electro through them would be a bit easier or quicker than the NHS. So much research to do!

Awwwe, what a cutie ...

and the baby's not bad either 

Hi all,

I'm aware this is a bit of an old thread, but I didn't really want to start a new thread just to talk about updates.

So I self-referred to Sandyford after hearing that Chalmer's had a 12-18 month waiting list, and finding out that I hadn't even been put on the list was a bit of a bummer.

So imagine my surprise to receive a letter from Chalmer's, inviting me to an appointment on the 24th of May!

Honestly, I'm a bit confused as I asked to be taken off their list (I didn't want to be taking up two spaces on the list, it's long enough and I didn't want anyone else to have to wait longer) even though I was technically never on it.  And now I'm not only on the list, it only took about four months to get an appointment!

So I have an appointment with Dr Gerber, who I think is a psychiatrist from Glasgow - I'm having a little trouble finding any info online. Has anyone else spoken to or dealt with this Doctor? Honestly I'm pretty excited to talk to a professional regarding this so I don't really think I need any info, but it's best to be informed I suppose.

How's everyone else doing? Are things moving forward for anyone else?

And Jamie D - I never noticed your reply, thanks honey! He's only gotten cuter too X

Dr Gerber is who I am seeing. Its a bit of a pain to getan appt with him as he is almost never in Glasgow. He is pretty nice and seems a bit understanding about the whole ordeal. I am just waiting for the specialist to om me for hormones. I am a 'special' case as my hormones are ->-bleeped-<-ed up to begin with. I would have hormones months ago if not for this problem.

Good luck and you will be fine. I was nervous but hes fine and it will be ok.

Ok, Dr Gerber was fantastic it felt really good to put my cards on the table and just talk about how I felt. He said he had no problem putting me on hormones, that I had done my research and understood it. Going to another appointment for an interview with the second doctor before it's confirmed though.

And it turns out I'm on both waiting lists, so I'll call sandyford to remove myself and hopefully someone will move up the queue

My friend gave me a lift on his bike too!


The ultimate transgender accessory this season! Ruins your hairstyle though.

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on May 24, 2014, 02:09:02 PM
Ok, Dr Gerber was fantastic it felt really good to put my cards on the table and just talk about how I felt. He said he had no problem putting me on hormones, that I had done my research and understood it. Going to another appointment for an interview with the second doctor before it's confirmed though.

And it turns out I'm on both waiting lists, so I'll call sandyford to remove myself and hopefully someone will move up the queue

My friend gave me a lift on his bike too!


The ultimate transgender accessory this season! Ruins your hairstyle though.

congrats

Quote from: Sandra_Dickinson on May 24, 2014, 02:09:02 PM

Love that jacket! And congrats.

Awesome, def good news. Def a nice helmet, but as you say, horrible for the hair.

I'm seeing dr sarah Kennedy at chalmers clinic in Edinburgh this week! I have already had my gender dysphoria formally diagnosed by local psychiatrist. Hoping therefore that this gender specialist who is also a psychiatrist will give approval for my gp to describe hormones. Really don't want to repeat whole psychiatric assessment again? Any thoughts?

Quote from: Elizabeth1 on May 25, 2014, 09:36:41 AM
I'm seeing dr sarah Kennedy at chalmers clinic in Edinburgh this week! I have already had my gender dysphoria formally diagnosed by local psychiatrist. Hoping therefore that this gender specialist who is also a psychiatrist will give approval for my gp to describe hormones. Really don't want to repeat whole psychiatric assessment again? Any thoughts?

Dr Kennedy was in the office next door and is the Doctor I'll be seeing to confirm HRT. To be frank, I was just honest with the Dr. Gerber about what I'd done and been through and he said he was happy to prescribe once I'd gotten the other Doctor's agreement. If you've already been diagnosed as transgender I can't see them putting any obstacles in your way, as I hadn't been formally diagnosed as transgender just referred by my GP.

Good luck XXX
(You don't need it though)

Everything turned out alright at chalmers clinic. Arrived on time and saw both dr Kennedy and her colleague named Daniel. It went well but both insist that a final opinion is obtained from dr gerber. Both reckon this is a formality and a letter has now be sent to my gp to have blood tests in readiness for hormone therapy. This will be concluded within next 4 months. Frustrating but I can deal with this. Slowly but surely!

Elizabeth1 : Great to hear things are moving, and it's good that you got a timeframe at least as I'm still waiting for correspondence and have no idea how long it will take. When I spoke to Dr. Gerber he said he worked primarily in Glasgow and only really worked in Edinburgh when their list got too full and needed help - which was why I ended up seeing him on a Saturday rather than a weekday.

Anyway, I hope things get sorted for you quickly and you can get the help you need

ftp://Sandra- thank you! Just got to be patient now. Blood tests wil be done shortly at local medical practice. I think I will have to go to sandyford to see  dr gerber! Chalmers clinic staff all put me at ease. One kindly escorted me to my car when leaving after I initially got lost trying to find the car park where I parked in fountainbridge!
Wishing you the best! You are looking great. I'm 50 in 2 weeks so this is my last chance in making real changes to my physical appearance!

Elizabeth1: Thank you so much <3 You're looking great too doll XxX Thanks for keeping me updated, it's so hard to wait for updates from the NHS without discussing it with someone - it just takes too long to even receive confirmation letters. I know what you mean by last chance, but I suppose all of us feel like that at some point. X

Keep me updated as things move along, I love hearing other people's journeys. Mostly because I'm a nosy bitch, but it also helps me be more patient regarding my own