Quote from: vpfpty on March 27, 2015, 02:29:35 PM
You must have a different definition of fun because to me it seems little more than a rant by a very bitter person. Phrases like "Remember: even if they recommend HRT, they are still c**ts and not worthy of your respect " or "They will spend 45 minutes to an hour chatting about the most irrelevant nonsense and at the end of it they won't even do anything for you " should be pointers as to how seriously this "document" should be taken.

If the person that wrote that went into their appointments with that sort of attitude then I am not surprised that they had trouble with "the system".

With one exception, all the transitioners I know went through nothing like this. The big problem with the UK service is funding which means delay, but the clinicians do a good job.

I only read it, I did not write it.
After dealing with the staff over the telephone, they certainly are not friendly, or have any measure of politeness, regardless of how respectful and polite you are to them. My appointment will be soon, I am preparing myself for a very rough ride.

Quote from: firestarter on March 30, 2015, 06:26:16 AM
I only read it, I did not write it.
After dealing with the staff over the telephone, they certainly are not friendly, or have any measure of politeness, regardless of how respectful and polite you are to them. My appointment will be soon, I am preparing myself for a very rough ride.

I completely disagree. That article was rude, poorly written, contained partly inaccurate information and achieved nothing but exude negative attitude. I'm with VPFPTY on this, if someone presented at CX, or any other GIC for that matter, they wouldn't get far or deserve to. I just hope no one is influenced by it as they stand to give other patients a bad name.

CX is not without it's problems from an administrative point of view but they do try their best. Like any other NHS facility if you treat them with respect you will get respect returned. To give one small example; I was on the way to an appointment and got seriously delayed on the Tube due to a security scare. I phoned them expecting to be told to come back another day. They thanked me for letting them know and offered to see me later if I was willing to wait for a while using my appointment time for other patients. I think that's pretty reasonable. 

Quote from: CB on March 30, 2015, 07:15:53 AM
I completely disagree. That article was rude, poorly written, contained partly inaccurate information and achieved nothing but exude negative attitude. I'm with VPFPTY on this, if someone presented at CX, or any other GIC for that matter, they wouldn't get far or deserve to. I just hope no one is influenced by it as they stand to give other patients a bad name.

CX is not without it's problems from an administrative point of view but they do try their best. Like any other NHS facility if you treat them with respect you will get respect returned. To give one small example; I was on the way to an appointment and got seriously delayed on the Tube due to a security scare. I phoned them expecting to be told to come back another day. They thanked me for letting them know and offered to see me later if I was willing to wait for a while using my appointment time for other patients. I think that's pretty reasonable.

Like I've already said, I read it, I didn't write it.
Regarding your views on people being polite and respectful towards people whom are polite and respectful to them, I wish that that was true. I have been on the phone with them several times, always polite to them, but over 50% of the time they have been so rude to me, and have told me blatant lies regarding my upcoming appointment. I will still go there with the right attitude and approach, but I would be telling "porkies" if I said that I wasn't scared. I will let you have the last word as I am not going to unecsessarily keep repeating myself. Your obviously not even reading my whole post, and seem to be writing yours without even stopping to think about what it is I have actually written.

Let's keep it civil, folks.

Calm down folks - remember this is a support forum

Quote from: Jill F on March 30, 2015, 07:00:51 PM
Let's keep it civil, folks.

You beat me to it!

Just to mention on the notion of these guides of what to say and what not to say...

I went along to my first GIC appointment not knowing what to expect. I was rushed and didn't have time for little more than a dab of foundation and a tiny touch of eyeliner. My hair was also styled poorly and my presentation was androgynous. I was also incredibly nervous and scared and babbled a lot. I think I opened with questioning whether or not I even had gender dysphoria and then just laid things out honestly - from childhood experiences to preferred pronouns (at that time it was anything but masculine) to how presenting in a more feminine manner made me feel. At the end of it all I was still pretty nervous and stupidly asked my practitioner for his opinion as to whether or not I had gender dysphoria. That was given as an affirmative with his suggestion that I had a transsexual but genderqueer / non-binary identity. At the time I hadn't even considered that and I am so glad that I was introduced to such concepts.

What was more interesting was that this seemed to break down some of his barriers to chatting in a more relaxed manner for the last 5 minutes or so of the appointment. After talking a little bit about identities I raised the question of how he could be so certain. At that point he made it very clear that he, and others providing such a service on the NHS, are aware of resources that inform people of the "correct" things to say to get onto hormones or access additional services (I've had no problems with this aside from waiting times). I can only infer from this that such standard responses are noted and probably adversely affect chances of getting treatment or taken seriously.

I think the best advice is simply to be yourself. Be honest. Even if that means digging up some painful and perhaps embarrassing memories. You also don't need to neatly fit into the typical ideal of a transwoman or transguy to get treatment on the NHS.

Thank you Erin for your take on things, it was helpful and reassuring. Maybe I just need to relax, I've waited so long for the appointment with CX, and I have now worked myself up into a right tizzy. 

Good luck with your CX appointment. I think relaxing is key although easier said than done! I know it's repeated over and over but just being yourself and honest is the best and only thing you need to do. At my first appointment there I was so stressed I fumbled, dropped my bag and belongings all over the floor while the psychiatrist just sat there bemused by my panic. After apologising for being late he just said "well you're here now" and got on with the questions. I do believe for the most part they're OK although there is one I've heard bad things about. If you don;t mind me asking who are you seeing? (don't answer if you don;t wish to)