UGH!

I am under 18 and have recently been referred to Tavistock clinic in London.
Last week, I got a phone call to say that I could attend an appointment, which was open due to somebody cancelling (I couldn't make it, I was asked two days before the actual appointment which was at 8:30am, and I live in the midlands)

I'm at an age where my body is literally growing more... "male" every day. Even blockers would be a relief 
How long would I have to wait to 1)get my initial appointment 2) actually START HRT.

I haven't considered going private yet, because I think I've come a little too far to start over.


Or, is it best for me to self-medicate spironolactone, and then approach my doctor so he provides me with a more suitable dosage? I've heard of many t-girls doing that in order to skip the whole waiting process that the NHS so kindly likes to put us through.
It just sucks to know that if I lived in another country, I could have started developing as I always should.



Any response would be greatly appreciated.

They will offer you another appointment. Just wait. Messing around with hormones is not a sensible thing to do.

Quote from: amnwyd on December 14, 2014, 09:08:01 AM
They will offer you another appointment. Just wait. Messing around with hormones is not a sensible thing to do.

I can't just wait. It's honestly killing me everyday. I'm scared that one day I'll wake up and I won't be able to pass anymore. The NHS is a complete joke when it comes to trans patients.   

If you are 16 or under then Curtis will not see you. The other private clinic is staffed by those dreadful NHS people (who are actually very nice and good at their jobs)

A few more months will make no difference.  They might phone up tomorrow with another cancellation.

And do NOT be tempted to  try contraceptive pills. The mix of hormones is completely wrong as they are intended to suppress ovulation rather than feminise you.

Just be patient.

Quote from: amnwyd on December 14, 2014, 09:36:39 AM
If you are 16 or under then Curtis will not see you. The other private clinic is staffed by those dreadful NHS people (who are actually very nice and good at their jobs)

A few more months will make no difference.  They might phone up tomorrow with another cancellation.

And do NOT be tempted to  try contraceptive pills. The mix of hormones is completely wrong as they are intended to suppress ovulation rather than feminise you.

Just be patient.

I'm already in their books, so they are willing to see me. I was referred in either October or November.

I would never take anything dangerous to my health. I would NEVER self-medicate female hormones, just blockers. I just need to pause puberty, that's all. That's all I want. I don't care if I have to wait even 6 months to start estrogen etc.

Pausing puberty with blockers us dangerous because your body needs either testosterone or estrogen to function correctly.  The two "blockers" that are mentioned here - dpiro and cypro - have side effects. Cypro in particular can cause liver or kidney damage.

UK clinics use a drug called a GnRH analogue which is much safer but costs £300 per jab and has to be administered by a nurse ir doctor.

You will get there. You best option is to get an early appointment

Quote from: amnwyd on December 14, 2014, 09:49:54 AM
Pausing puberty with blockers us dangerous because your body needs either testosterone or estrogen to function correctly.  The two "blockers" that are mentioned here - dpiro and cypro - have side effects. Cypro in particular can cause liver or kidney damage.

UK clinics use a drug called a GnRH analogue which is much safer but costs £300 per jab and has to be administered by a nurse ir doctor.

You will get there. You best option is to get an early appointment

Would the fact that I'm already living full time, I'm out and I have already trained my voice, how I walk etc have any impact on the time I'd have to wait to start HRT? I'm also changing my name officially in the summer, once my exams are over.

If you were an adult then the fact that you are doing all thesr things would help. I did all my changes before I went to a GIC and it helped speed up my transition.  What it did not change was the fact that I still had to be assessed but I only needed the minimum assessment and I was on hormones within a few months of my initial assessment at the clinic.

The best thing you can do is to get this initial appointment. Phone up and ask for an afternoon cancellation and tell them how many days notice you need.

I presume that you have sn adult who can take you there? Find out how much notice they need to get you to London.  If need be, skip a day at school but getting the process started is the key

Quote from: amnwyd on December 14, 2014, 10:04:39 AM
If you were an adult then the fact that you are doing all thesr things would help. I did all my changes before I went to a GIC and it helped speed up my transition.  What it did not change was the fact that I still had to be assessed but I only needed the minimum assessment and I was on hormones within a few months of my initial assessment at the clinic.

The best thing you can do is to get this initial appointment. Phone up and ask for an afternoon cancellation and tell them how many days notice you need.

I presume that you have sn adult who can take you there? Find out how much notice they need to get you to London.  If need be, skip a day at school but getting the process started is the key

The only reason I couldn't go last time is because my mum is a nurse and was working nights, so there's no way we could have got there in time.

My mum seems to think that I'd need to have an appointment soon because I was contacted (something about there having to be a limited amount of time between the appointment i couldn't make and the one I could)

Missing a college day is fine. My college are very much aware of everything.

Could I be on hormones by spring?

I transitioned as an adult (probably older than your mum) so I do not know how they assess you for hormones in puberty. I knoe that the first priority is administration of a puberty blocker like Zoladex or Decapeptyl, but I cannot say how long they will make you wait.

The fact that you seem to be transitioning socially will help your progress. In the adult system those who turn with nothing done can take years. I had everything done before my first appointment and I went through the NHS system in less than 18 months.

Preparation makes a difference.

Quote from: amnwyd on December 14, 2014, 10:28:32 AM
I transitioned as an adult (probably older than your mum) so I do not know how they assess you for hormones in puberty. I knoe that the first priority is administration of a puberty blocker like Zoladex or Decapeptyl, but I cannot say how long they will make you wait.

The fact that you seem to be transitioning socially will help your progress. In the adult system those who turn with nothing done can take years. I had everything done before my first appointment and I went through the NHS system in less than 18 months.

Preparation makes a difference.

I first approached a GP in May, had two assessments with CAMHS in September and October, and got referred to Tavistock in October too.
I can't help but think my initial assessment will be in something stupid like March. I really do think the NHS needs to alter it's process. The waiting time can truly be damaging.

Remember that you can only transition as fast as your body changes. Puberty normally lasts 5 to 7 years so expect your transition to last that length of time.

You cannot speed your body up. You will need patience, we all do. A few months nakes little difference.