Hi everyone,

I had my second assessment at Leeds GIC today. My first was last month, with a really friendly guy who will serve as my main contact/liason throughout the process. Today, he was there along with a Dr who's job it was to confirm the diagnosis. He did do (yay!) and so I'm now officially on the care pathway, and the countdown to surgery can begin.

I have been full time since November last year and have been on hormones (privately) for about 6 months. I think this is why the assessment period was so quick, because they were able to see how I'd responded to nine months of RLE and the hormones. I had been on the waiting list for a year before my first appointment.

I'm just posting this because theres not much info out there about the GICs and what there is tends to be a bit negative. My experience so far is of people who do genuinely care about their patients, and I think that if you are in a good position to move forwards then they don't hold you back without good cause. Obviously the wait to see them isn't great and I've heard it's getting longer, but at least I am on my way now. I can't even begin to explain how happy I feel right now .

 A big congrats

Congratulations on moving forward with transition, I hope each step brings you considerable joy and comfort! You're inherently entitled to it. *waves flag*

Also, I agree that it's quite important to highlight the positives of GICs too so that the negatives don't dishearten potential patients too much. While they have issues due to massive underfunding and their focus on cissexist gatekeeping can be an issue, many seem to be staffed by truly wonderful and empathetic people. For instance, my own experience with Sheffield GIC has been astoundingly positive. I have quite severe anxiety issues but the nurses, psychiatrists, psychotherapist, and general staff put me at ease quickly via their obvious willingness to listen rather than judge whether I would fit rigid time-scales or stringent criteria. They heavily involved me in drafting any notes during sessions and explained every act so I remained informed.

Having said this, local NHS funding issues mean I was on the waiting list for Sheffield from 2007 until 2013... so swings and roundabouts!

I would think that the people who work at the GICs feel frustrated about the funding problems. It's not great and I've heard the situation definitely isn't improving, but the people who work there aren't at all like I expected.

They said to me that I'm looking at a 16 month build up to surgery. Whilst I'd get it done tomorrow if I could, I think the timescale is pretty good actually, it gives me time to get myself in shape, and to hopefully see a bit more change from the hormones. It's just a great feeling to know that it's in my future now!

I have my FFS in one month, so there's big changes ahead. I had to go and get my new passport the other day and ended up comparing my new photos with the one on my old passport. I can't believe how much change there's been; nothing I can put my finger on exactly, but it's nice to see. I just hope it carries on like that