Hiya, I was wondering if anyone has ever visit the Callen Lorde  center in NY.
I'm going there this upcoming Tuesday, Is there anything I need to expect?

You should like take me with if my pcp cant contact my endo xD

I go to Callen Lorde (but I'll be there on Thursday). I didn't start hormones there, so I don't know what that process is like. I do know that I go there about once every 6 months to a year to check up on blood work and see how I'm doing. I think there might be 2-3 appointments needed (at a minimum) before they can prescribe hormones.

I go to Callen-Lorde and I started T there (I actually have an appointment this Wednesday for my shot and a doctor's appointment). I believe if you're 21 or younger you can get into the HOTT program (Health Outreach to Teens) which I got into last year when I was 21.

Basically when I first went there the process to start T was like this (to the best of my recollection): you have to fill out forms first, and then answer some questions with someone who works there. Then you get an appointment with one of the medical providers and they take your medical history and tell you the effects and risks of T, etc. I think they do a blood test at that point as well. Then you have one appointment with one of their therapists to go over the effects and risks again. The therapy appointment is pretty short and not a huge deal in my experience (and it's not really a therapy appointment, per se, just a meeting with a therapist). Finally you'll get another appointment with your medical provider and you will sign the consent form, get your prescription and have it filled in the pharmacy on the first floor, and then get your first injection by one of the nursing staff right after.

It's a pretty straightforward process and nothing to worry about. The only thing that can be tough is time between the initial appointments. They have a lot of patients and so it could take a few months to have your first shot just because they don't have any open appointments for a while (and the entire process to start T takes maybe 3 separate appointments). I should also note that I don't know whether they are accepting new patients or not (I assume they are and you can always call to find out if you haven't already), and because I started the process a good while ago it's possible changes have been made. Regardless, they will explain it all when you go. It's a great place, and everyone there that I've interacted with is really cool. It's probably the one doctor's office that I don't mind going to.

By the way, the HOTT program is on the second floor. You can go up the stairs next to the big reception desk you'll see when you walk in and it'll be right through the door at the top, straight ahead. Good luck, and feel free to ask me any other questions you have.

I go to Callen-Lorde for my HRT that I started in December. They are wonderful and will even help with legal/name change, gender marker change down the road. (I'm just waiting for my court order to go into effect on the 23rd of June and I'm ready for the DMV!)

Generally here is how it works at Callen-Lorde (for MtF, for FtM it may be slightly different)

• First meeting is a interview to ask questions and give you a ton of information. Then they will take blood for checking levels and other general health and then setup a appointment with you HRT doctor within the next week. If you need financial help, they offer a sliding scale payment and you will need to bring in a pay stub.
• Second meeting is with your actual HRT doctor. You go over the same thing as the first meeting, but talk extensively about medical history, risks of HRT and the procedures. This it when you actually sign the Inform Consent forms. If everything checks out and your in agreement, you start HRT. If you are going for injections, they will teach you a few times and then when the nurse feels you can do it on your on, then you can do it yourself at home. Then you schedule you next HRT doctor check a month later. Usually the first month is half dosage.
• A week before the checkup appointment you need to come in for another blood test.
• At the 1 month checkup if everything is fine and looks good, then you go on full dose
  
• Afterwards you have a checkup every 3 months.

My therapist who deals with a lot on Transgender patients recommended Callen-Lorde over any private doctor in NJ because she believed I would get better care and I believe she it correct on that. My Dr (Dr Eunmee Chun) is wonderful and she is an Internal Medicine doctor not a Endo, which I feel in better since an Internal Medicine doctors field of study is much more broader. She even suggest I get a Hepatitis A and B vaccine as my blood work showed I have never been vaccinated for either one. (It was never a requirement for school/college for me.) That's a doctor that is looking out for you.

I happen to live in the area but I have never been to Callen-Lorde before.. does anyone know their minimum age to start T? I really should look into this...

Quote from: Maleth on May 25, 2014, 07:31:43 AM
I happen to live in the area but I have never been to Callen-Lorde before.. does anyone know their minimum age to start T? I really should look into this...

No idea. Give them a call.

So far, good remarks from you guys, I gonna try and go this week.

Would they accept horizon nj? I know they in new york but maybe they can work woth my insurance. Of so than imma just go to them and until i can see my endo

Quote from: Brianna Umiko Liliana on May 25, 2014, 11:35:58 AM
Would they accept horizon nj? I know they in new york but maybe they can work woth my insurance. Of so than imma just go to them and until i can see my endo

I do not know, but you can call them on Tuesday to find out.

...I don't have insurance....
Totally forgot about that.
I hope they have a payment
plan :I

Quote from: echo_artist on May 25, 2014, 12:44:34 PM
...I don't have insurance....
Totally forgot about that.
I hope they have a payment
plan :I

they have sliding scales but you'd have to tell them what you can pay and they work with that

I've used their sliding scale and I think I qualified for their lowest income bracket. I paid $20 per appointment (but if you only have like $10 you can pay the rest a little later). My blood work when I didn't get T levels was around $60, I think. The T test cost a lot. I think I only did that once.

i have all my stuff, my letter with my diagnoses, and my blood work, so would i need to make a second visit or would they set me up with my hormones that day?

Quote from: Brianna Umiko Liliana on May 25, 2014, 01:30:17 PM
i have all my stuff, my letter with my diagnoses, and my blood work, so would i need to make a second visit or would they set me up with my hormones that day?

I'm not sure. Call them. You might need to sign a HIPA form so they can receive old medical records.

Quote from: Nygeel on May 25, 2014, 02:06:19 PM
I'm not sure. Call them. You might need to sign a HIPA form so they can receive old medical records.

but there isnt anything in my medical files about me being transgedered o.o i was just diagnosed wednesday. oh well if it can get me one step closer to getting my meds, i might as well

Quote from: Brianna Umiko Liliana on May 25, 2014, 02:10:35 PM
but there isnt anything in my medical files about me being transgedered o.o i was just diagnosed wednesday. oh well if it can get me one step closer to getting my meds, i might as well

You said you had blood work. If the blood work was for T that might help you out.

Quote from: Nygeel on May 25, 2014, 02:19:21 PM
You said you had blood work. If the blood work was for T that might help you out.

i had the full hormone panal done, my endo even gave her seal of health on it so, yea, i maybe able to start tuesday if i can get myself in as well lol

Quote from: Maleth on May 25, 2014, 07:31:43 AM
I happen to live in the area but I have never been to Callen-Lorde before.. does anyone know their minimum age to start T? I really should look into this...

I'm pretty sure that they don't start hormones until you're 18, but I'm not positive. But they definitely do trans friendly healthcare and mental health stuff for folks under 18. If you're under 18, you'd almost certainly be going through the HOTT program, which I've had a great experience with. One thing to know is that they give T through the informed consent model--aka, they make sure you know medically/emotionally what you're getting into before they let you start, but they don't require you to be diagnosed by a therapist or anything. I had one appointment with a counselor (plus some other medical appointments) before I started T.

Another thing is that there's usually some wait time between your intake (when you first go in and fill out paperwork and tell them you want to start T) and your first appointment with a doctor, and then there's usually a few weeks to get a few appointments before you can actually start. So if you wanted to start as soon as possible after you turned 18 I would recommend doing an intake at least a few months earlier.

Also, for folks who would be going through the HOTT program and who don't have insurance/aren't sure whether insurance would cover it: if your insurance doesn't cover it, then they ask that you pay $5 per visit until you're 22 I think, and then they ask you to pay $10 per visit (until you're 24 and too old for the program). If that isn't affordable for you, then they'll also work with you on that. Aka, if you cannot afford to pay anything then they will not charge you.

Also feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions about the HOTT program and I can do my best to answer them.