I'm in the process of getting a referral to the Tavistock and Portman clinic in London atm (I live in Wales so it takes longer than expected). If I was to get a referral by June 6th (the day I should get one) and be seen around December from what I've gathered from the waiting times, would I have enough time to start hormone blockers and T at Tavistock before I turned 18 and got discharged? (seeing as from what I know you have to be on hormone blockers).

I turn 16 in September, so I'd be 18 at the end of September (26th). I don't know how they work it there so some help would be appreciated

Here may be an alternative if you want to go private:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,208198.msg1845578.html#msg1845578

Here is a resource specifically for UK transgender youth, you might ask them too:

http://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/


hugs

Quote from: Laura_7 on April 27, 2016, 01:06:31 PM
Here may be an alternative if you want to go private:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,208198.msg1845578.html#msg1845578

Here is a resource specifically for UK transgender youth, you might ask them too:

http://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/


hugs

Thank you I was going to go to Transhealth initially but they changed the age limits which sucks, seeing as money was never really an issue for us.

Quote from: Zeno on April 27, 2016, 12:45:25 PM
I'm in the process of getting a referral to the Tavistock and Portman clinic in London atm (I live in Wales so it takes longer than expected). If I was to get a referral by June 6th (the day I should get one) and be seen around December from what I've gathered from the waiting times, would I have enough time to start hormone blockers and T at Tavistock before I turned 18 and got discharged? (seeing as from what I know you have to be on hormone blockers).

I turn 16 in September, so I'd be 18 at the end of September (26th). I don't know how they work it there so some help would be appreciated

Hey, I'm a fellow ftm currently at Tavistock.
I got a referral from my GP in about February and my first appointment was in August. After that were monthly sessions where we explored gender, sexuality, how the trans thing affects life, etc. A bunch of other trans kids and I (and parents) then had an information day together in February (I think), where we had a blood test and a bone density test to see if we can go on hormone blockers. It's usually fine, a lot of people just have a slightly low bone density so have to take some vitamin D tablets. A warning - by the point where they start seriously discussing hormone blockers, they will start talking about fertility a lot as well. In March we had a private meeting with the endocrinologists where we talked about results, and by mid April the GP has the blockers and I am free to start at any time. I've personally chosen to wait until after GCSEs to start the blocker, and then it's a year minimum until you can go on T.

I'd say that the chances of you starting T by the time you're 18 is very good. Personally, I've had a fantastic experience with Tavistock. Although everything takes forever, the people there seriously care about what they do and about you, and are working as hard as they can to make changes higher up to quicken everything up. I suddenly became surrounded by support, and I personally found the whole trans experience to be less overwhelming when I could see the time frames and had appointments and so on. Feel free to PM me if you want  more info or anything, especially on the blockers. Maybe you're better with Google than I am, but I found that there wasn't a lot out there in terms of info out there.
Good luck, I hope things are going well,
Nyzha

Quote from: PizzaPie on May 07, 2016, 03:39:12 PM
Hey, I'm a fellow ftm currently at Tavistock.
I got a referral from my GP in about February and my first appointment was in August. After that were monthly sessions where we explored gender, sexuality, how the trans thing affects life, etc. A bunch of other trans kids and I (and parents) then had an information day together in February (I think), where we had a blood test and a bone density test to see if we can go on hormone blockers. It's usually fine, a lot of people just have a slightly low bone density so have to take some vitamin D tablets. A warning - by the point where they start seriously discussing hormone blockers, they will start talking about fertility a lot as well. In March we had a private meeting with the endocrinologists where we talked about results, and by mid April the GP has the blockers and I am free to start at any time. I've personally chosen to wait until after GCSEs to start the blocker, and then it's a year minimum until you can go on T.

I'd say that the chances of you starting T by the time you're 18 is very good. Personally, I've had a fantastic experience with Tavistock. Although everything takes forever, the people there seriously care about what they do and about you, and are working as hard as they can to make changes higher up to quicken everything up. I suddenly became surrounded by support, and I personally found the whole trans experience to be less overwhelming when I could see the time frames and had appointments and so on. Feel free to PM me if you want  more info or anything, especially on the blockers. Maybe you're better with Google than I am, but I found that there wasn't a lot out there in terms of info out there.
Good luck, I hope things are going well,
Nyzha

Thank you

I'm also at Tavi but at their Leeds base.

It took me from July 2015 - Feb 2016 to get my endo appointment for blockers. I started blockers at the start of April, so less than a year in Tavi for blockers.

Then after 12 months of blockers, Tavi will be happy to prescribe T, which will be before I'm 18.

It is likely that you'll be able to get T while at the Tavistock, just try to get through the system as fast as possible to get on blockers ASAP.

(I was 15 and a half when I entered Tavistock, now 16 and a half)



Good luck!

Quote from: Meowt on May 12, 2016, 07:39:04 AM
I'm also at Tavi but at their Leeds base.

It took me from July 2015 - Feb 2016 to get my endo appointment for blockers. I started blockers at the start of April, so less than a year in Tavi for blockers.

Then after 12 months of blockers, Tavi will be happy to prescribe T, which will be before I'm 18.

It is likely that you'll be able to get T while at the Tavistock, just try to get through the system as fast as possible to get on blockers ASAP.

(I was 15 and a half when I entered Tavistock, now 16 and a half)



Good luck!

Thanks

 

Quote from: PizzaPie on May 07, 2016, 03:39:12 PM
Hey, I'm a fellow ftm currently at Tavistock.
I got a referral from my GP in about February and my first appointment was in August. After that were monthly sessions where we explored gender, sexuality, how the trans thing affects life, etc. A bunch of other trans kids and I (and parents) then had an information day together in February (I think), where we had a blood test and a bone density test to see if we can go on hormone blockers. It's usually fine, a lot of people just have a slightly low bone density so have to take some vitamin D tablets. A warning - by the point where they start seriously discussing hormone blockers, they will start talking about fertility a lot as well. In March we had a private meeting with the endocrinologists where we talked about results, and by mid April the GP has the blockers and I am free to start at any time. I've personally chosen to wait until after GCSEs to start the blocker, and then it's a year minimum until you can go on T.

Hello, I'm in the process of getting a referral, and was wondering a few things?
I'm under Camhs and I'm seeing their doctor on the 9th June. They can choice to refer me or not!
Once I have been referred, and I am at Tavistock, will I have to explore gender and sexuality with them? I've already done all of that work with Camhs, as they said they needed to before I could start blockers/hormonal therapy. So, does everybody regardless, have to explore those things? Or can they skip it and move straight to blockers? As I've already done that work.

 

Quote from: OzBunny on June 01, 2016, 02:38:19 PM

Hello, I'm in the process of getting a referral, and was wondering a few things?
I'm under Camhs and I'm seeing their doctor on the 9th June. They can choice to refer me or not!
Once I have been referred, and I am at Tavistock, will I have to explore gender and sexuality with them? I've already done all of that work with Camhs, as they said they needed to before I could start blockers/hormonal therapy. So, does everybody regardless, have to explore those things? Or can they skip it and move straight to blockers? As I've already done that work.

I'm not sure I'm afraid - I skipped CAMHS and was referred straight from the GP to Tavistock after some mental health assessments.  I'm going to assume that there will be some exploration to hear it first hand, etc, but I'm not 100% sure because that hasn't been my experience. Sorry I couldn't be more help!

Quote from: PizzaPie on June 10, 2016, 06:32:13 PM

I'm not sure I'm afraid - I skipped CAMHS and was referred straight from the GP to Tavistock after some mental health assessments.  I'm going to assume that there will be some exploration to hear it first hand, etc, but I'm not 100% sure because that hasn't been my experience. Sorry I couldn't be more help!

Hello! I've been told I'll most likely have to do the work over again... Huh.
But my referral is in the making! We just need to gather some past evidence that I have been feeling this way for quite a while and then we can start writing it up! Thank you for the help.

Hello again people! I actually come with a question myself this time. If you've gone through the blockers already, when did they start doing tests and things if you're planning to go on hormones? I'm only a month in, but I'm really curious about the lead up later on. Thanks!

Sorry if this is the wrong place for it, but how long does it normally take to get an appointment at Tavistock booked? I spoke to a GP on the eleventh of July and I've had no news back about it. Also, in regards to waiting times, are those from when the appointment's been booked or from requesting a referral?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this was the wrong place.

Quote from: Layla_UK on August 17, 2016, 09:37:06 PM
Sorry if this is the wrong place for it, but how long does it normally take to get an appointment at Tavistock booked? I spoke to a GP on the eleventh of July and I've had no news back about it. Also, in regards to waiting times, are those from when the appointment's been booked or from requesting a referral?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this was the wrong place.

The time between asking the GP for a referral and first appointment at Tavistock seems to vary somewhat. I waited 7 months, but unfortunately I do know someone who waited a year (but they are older than me so perhaps waiting times are decreasing?). All the information I have is my own experience, I'm afraid, but I hope that's helped.

Quote from: Layla_UK on August 17, 2016, 09:37:06 PM
Sorry if this is the wrong place for it, but how long does it normally take to get an appointment at Tavistock booked? I spoke to a GP on the eleventh of July and I've had no news back about it. Also, in regards to waiting times, are those from when the appointment's been booked or from requesting a referral?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this was the wrong place.

It takes around 6 months to get an appointment I think. So you should hear something around November/December. I've not had an appointment yet either, but I only had my referral sent a month ago.