Feeling good - yesterday I declared 'gender dysphoria' to my doctor and long story short, it went well.

I'm now being moved onto the next level of a specialist clinic, though I can expect the usual long waiting times etc... but hey, it was worth the nerve-wrack of making the initial appointment & keeping it. I guess I also got lucky timing wise, as this was a stand-in Doctor and she was progressive thinking and seemed to know enough about the whole topic to ask many questions and where I wanted to go with it?

In response to some of these: I told her I wasn't depressed at all but totally relieved at coming out to myself & the local community, also that I wanted to go on HRT and I would cross the bridge of yes/no to surgery when I come to it further down the line.

That's another wee milestone passed along the way and I'd advise anyone who's not sure about doing the same to take the plunge, it's not as scary as you think.

Many of you have been here before, but for me it now begins for real, slow progress forwards, one step at a time...

Congratulations!  I did the same not so long ago. It is a weight off your mind. But be warned, my GP doesn't fully understand it despite what he said initially. The second appointment I had with him, he was less accommodating... but at least I am in the system now.

The problem is that the waiting list is soooooooooo long. But well done on taking the first step.

love
Alice

I initially did a couple of years back, but last week asked for a referral for hormones.  The first time I was nervous, but not the 2nd.

Congratulations!!  I look forward to following your progress. I myself am just starting the process too.

Jenny

Thankyou all, everyone for the warm support & good wishes. I'll keep you all updated, though you know how the waiting times are...

Hugs,

Johnni xoxo

Congratulations Johnni 🌸🌸🌸 this is a big step for all of us, to feel comfortable enough to be open, not just to others, but to ourselves.  Once you start HRT, it will become easier as your body slowly morphs into someone you knew was there as you look in the mirror.
Each step you take brings you closer to your reality.

Good luck, Jess

Hello Johnni Gyrl

Congratulations on visiting your GP and explaining your GD. I am so pleased it went well.

I know that in England & Wales there is permanently a long waiting list at GICs and anyone getting on a list now would not be seen till 2020. I aware that NHS is delegated to Scotland and believe the waiting lists are long but not as long as those of England & Wales.

If you cannot secure an appointment with GIC in Scotland within a reasonable time, then you may wish to consider going private with GenderGP. Although I have great admiration for our NHS system, it simply is not adequately funded for transgender care (at least not in E & W anyway). I am very happy with service provided  by GenderGP and I have a Shared Care Agreement between GenderGP and my NHSGP and therefore I obtain my medication under NHS.

There are several GenderGP threads here on Susans and many Susans members are registered with them.

Your decision to consider of course and either way, I wish you well on your Journey.

Hugs

Pamela

Thank you Pamela, that's great info. I will use it ;-) xoxo

Coming out is one the most liberating moments in our journey. The fear of being rejected or misunderstood is high, yet the outcome is usually the opposite. My personal belief is a lot of the fears we have are in our head.

Congratulations on this huge step. Also, keep this experience in the forefront and rely on it for future. It will only strengthen you.

Thank you for sharing your story.

A few weeks ago, I told my physician that I am transgender - she was the 3rd person to know. I wasn't nervous when she first walked in the room, but my nervousness grew exponentially as it came time to tell her. I gave her a copy of my coming-out letter, thinking it would very quickly answer many of the questions she might have. I'm probably the first person ever to have gone to their doctor with an essay.


She wasn't hostile, at all, but I do think she was "caught on the hop". She's a quite young doctor, and it seemed clear that she had never had an MtF transpatient. I told her that I was interested in HRT, but I don't think she had any more idea how to move ahead with that than I did. In the end, she gave me a few suggestions for transgender therapists.


So the appointment wasn't all that I was hoping for, but coming out to a significant figure like her was a great milestone to pass. It felt good. Since then, I've felt much more relaxed about doing so, and much more relaxed about myself.

I'm looking forward to hearing more of your story.

Thanks Bluestar, Nina & everyone else, there won't be much to report on the medical front for a while, waiting times are unbelievably long, but i'm sure you all know that already. The coming out process is really the biggie, and what a relief when you finally take the plunge and do it.

Socially also, I've made more progress by coming out on Facebook around 5 months ago, which pretty much covered my local town & beyond too. The statement I made is in my back posts, if you want to read it. I also have a female mentor, who shaped my eyebrows for me & I came out at the hairdressers too, for the sake of getting a more femme long hair style...



Women on FB have been commenting on how well I do my eye-liner, and the whole thing seems to be not the big drama I thought it might be. I suppose if/when I ever wear a dress in public, that will raise some eyebrows locally & the gossip will be in full flow. Otherwise, I'm not dressing that far removed from how I always did and the changes are so gradual, nobody seems to notice. It's all good ;-)

Hugs,

Johnni xoxo

Johnni, you look so happy! The waiting can feel (and is!) too long, but at least you know you are moving forward.

About wearing a dress in public, you say "if/when". I don't know if I ever will, either. My skinny jeans/jeggings are soooo comfortable. Maybe one day.

~Dee.

Johnni Gyrl,

I missed this. Congratulations on the big step. Next time it will be easier. Love your picture. You look very happy.

Moni

Quote from: Johnni Gyrl on November 28, 2018, 09:29:24 AM
Thanks Bluestar, Nina & everyone else, there won't be much to report on the medical front for a while, waiting times are unbelievably long, but i'm sure you all know that already. The coming out process is really the biggie, and what a relief when you finally take the plunge and do it.

Socially also, I've made more progress by coming out on Facebook around 5 months ago, which pretty much covered my local town & beyond too. The statement I made is in my back posts, if you want to read it. I also have a female mentor, who shaped my eyebrows for me & I came out at the hairdressers too, for the sake of getting a more femme long hair style...



Women on FB have been commenting on how well I do my eye-liner, and the whole thing seems to be not the big drama I thought it might be. I suppose if/when I ever wear a dress in public, that will raise some eyebrows locally & the gossip will be in full flow. Otherwise, I'm not dressing that far removed from how I always did and the changes are so gradual, nobody seems to notice. It's all good ;-)

Hugs,

Johnni xoxo

@Johnni Gyrl
Dear Johnni
Thank you for posting your good news update and treating us to your terrific and beautiful picture.
Yes, indeed, having a cis-female mentor to help with your female presentation, with eyebrows, hair, and makeup is a good thing to have. 
You are trying to learn the tricks of the female "trade" in a short time in comparison to the lifetime that she has devoted to becoming a woman.

Yes, for sure as you continue to come-out more and more, dressing and going out and about "en-femme" certainly the gossip will be in full flow as you say.  As you come out more frequently and more boldly it will become easier.... it will be like a big weight is coming off of your shoulders, you can live more openly and freely....  the timing of all of this is certainly your decision only...  enjoy the experiences.

Please continue to keep us updated.  We are your biggest fans, we are all rooting for you.

Thank you for sharing and posting.
Hugs,
Danielle