I got my first appointment next week to discuss HRT and just want to know if there is anything I should know prior to my appointment?  I already pretty much know what drugs I want Im just wondering what questions should I ask or if there is anything I should do or bring with my to my appointment? I've had so much stress and anxiety for the past month just waiting for this appointment. I just want to get this whole thing started already, I know its just a first and i wont actually get any hormones but I'm just terrified, freaked out and hope this Im not making the wrong decision about hrt.  any advice would be great.

Before I was even referred to an Endocrynologist I had to see a psychiatrist, but I think a psychologist or gender therapist is much the same. I would imagine he would want you to do the same. My experience is everyone's quite cautious (which is good) to make sure we're making the 'right' decision. And so my Endocrynologist awaited a letter from my Psychiatrist containing a diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria.

A question to ask, at least if your MtF, is around your blood work. There is a specific test they should be conducting around coagulation. I then had a specific test which uncovered something called Factor V Leiden mutation, a genetic predisposition to clotting. There's a protein in my blood that doesn't switch off my clotting mechanism within the blood. And so with eostrogen increasing the risk of blood clots, this further increases the risk.

I would just suggest to ensure you get all your bloods check including anything that would crease your risks.

Quote from: BreezyB on September 30, 2014, 06:45:01 PM
Before I was even referred to an Endocrynologist I had to see a psychiatrist, but I think a psychologist or gender therapist is much the same. I would imagine he would want you to do the same. My experience is everyone's quite cautious (which is good) to make sure we're making the 'right' decision. And so my Endocrynologist awaited a letter from my Psychiatrist containing a diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria.

This for sure unless they operate under Informed Consent. Here is a great place for HRT info.
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/clinics/transgender-medicine/guidelines/

If you go under Informed Consent you will have to show familiarity with HRT and understand the risks, so study all you can before hand.

I'm pretty sure my state has informed consent so that shouldn't be an issue and if I end up needing a letter I'm sure my therapist will gladly write one. I'll check out that site thanks. I'm also worried about blood clots as im pretty sure I also have a higher risk and I'm worried about that. But I guess that just means I can't slack off on getting my blood work regularly.

I don't think we have informed consent in Australia, they all seem to follow the WPATH clinical guidelines so I do hear it being a long process sometimes.

Usually if you've had blood clots before or your parents did then the Endocrynologist will talk to you about that. Because my tests showed I had the Factor V Leiden mutation I was sent to speak with a Haemotologist who went through all the risks and mitigation option. Unfortunately as I get older there's no too many other options other than Warfrin 

I'm unfortunately in the small percentage of people (I think 4% of the population) with the blood disorder. This increases the chance of clots by eight times. It sounds worse than it is, as the risk increases as your age increases. And so when you do the maths, and using an adequate sample size, the chances are still marginal.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_V_Leiden

Well tomorrow is the day... I'm scared, nervous and keep thinking, what the hell am I doing to myself? I still have some internal trasphobia and I really don't want to be labeled as trans, I just want to wake up and be happy with my self and body. I'm also nervous that I wont actually go to my appointment, I tend to freak myself out that I end up letting my fear take over and paralyze me.