Hi everyone I am new here and really great full to have found some where people are going through the same things as myself. I have just started my journey at the age of 29 I have come out to my local doctor and he was great to be honest very understanding and professional He has sent me to the gender identity clinic in Nottingham which is close to me I'm getting a little nervous ahead even though I will be lucky to see a therapist before Christmas dose anyone have any experience at the clinic and what can I expect from a first session?

Thank you all

Jess

Hi Jessica,

Welcome to Susans !

Please read the T&Cs for the site at ... https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html

I'm South of London, so I don't have any experience of the Nottingham set-up...

...but don't worry about the first session too much, they tend to be mostly a "getting to know you" exercise.

The main thing is to write down what you want to ask, because like you say, nerves have a tendancy to take over. The NHS sessions will often be spaced a fair distance apart, so you don't want to forget something important.

I'll pm you some info links in a minute ...just click on the "My Messages" tab above when it flashes....Oh and unfortunately you will not be able to reply to my message on pm, until you have made 15 posts here on the forum... 



Chrissty

Hi Chrissty

Thank you for the welcome here and the advice to.

wow your photo is amazing to I hope to achieve some results anywhere near what you have.

I will look at writing down what I want to ask them about.

Jessica xXx

welcom hun congrats on your appointment there are lots of people here to answer any questions you come up with
jessica

Hi Jesse
Thank you for the welcome although I have referral I have phoned the clinic and found out that it will be march next year before I get to see anyone but at least I have a date to look forward to in the new year which gives me plenty of time to sort out my new look and really work on my deportment to.
.
I really like your hair in your Photo to.

Jessica xXx

ty jessica

I'm going to nottingham atm...

Basically they do a 3 appointment 'first session'. You see one Psych first time, then a different one second, and the third meeting is called a 'network meeting' where they both see you, and you have to take a 'supporter' with you to all discuss how mad you are 🙂 From my experience, they are nice people, friendly and helpful. Certainly not what I'd expected from a gender clinic as i'd been lead to belive on forums etc.

Im waiting for my network meeting now, had to cancel my last one last week because they gave me a week's notice to find a supporter to go with me... I have like, 3 people that know my past and would, and due to lack of time, none could come. Asking for a girl thats been full time 3 years to bring a 'friend that supports her transition' is like asking a racing driver to pick a pit crew after a race but hey.... Needs must.

Hi The None Blonde

I had no clue about the bring a supporter along that has me really concerned in a way as the only actual person I have told is my doctor in a face to face way no family or friends yet and I don't know anyone that has gone through this let alone anyone that's local to me all though my sister has been great with other things in my life to do with going to hospitals in the past for orthopaedic consultations but telling her totally throws everything I had planned out the window. it is nice to hear positive things about the actual clinic i will be going to.

Quote from: The None Blonde on November 13, 2009, 04:54:20 AM
I'm going to nottingham atm...

Basically they do a 3 appointment 'first session'. You see one Psych first time, then a different one second, and the third meeting is called a 'network meeting' where they both see you, and you have to take a 'supporter' with you to all discuss how mad you are 🙂 From my experience, they are nice people, friendly and helpful. Certainly not what I'd expected from a gender clinic as i'd been lead to belive on forums etc.

Im waiting for my network meeting now, had to cancel my last one last week because they gave me a week's notice to find a supporter to go with me... I have like, 3 people that know my past and would, and due to lack of time, none could come. Asking for a girl thats been full time 3 years to bring a 'friend that supports her transition' is like asking a racing driver to pick a pit crew after a race but hey.... Needs must.

Nottingham sounds like a vast improvement and very different to the experiences I had going through a NHS London gender clinic some years ago. I found the whole experience horrendous and I'm glad places like Nottingham are more helpful and supportive.

Unfortunitely the NHS classes GD as a mental illness in order to incorperate it into the NHS programming. But it can sometimes be a tough time fighting for referrals and surgical proceedure's both with GIC's and PCT's alike. From my own personal experiences the GIC system let me down.

But I found it was possible to be with the NHS and still get help and referrals without a GIC. This was the best decision I made in my long road through transition.

I can't comment on how helpful and supportive they are... I've not been with them long. I can say most of the comments transwomen on the net make about GIC's in general are unfounded. The place is quite good from what ive seen, and the psychs quite nice really....

A factor could be i was full time and on hrt when i came to them mind, so experience may vary.

The supporter thing is the 3rd session, they should tell you about it on your first/ second, either way you have a few months to come out to more people. The point of the session is to get you to come out. You need to... full stop. Its a great idea for someone thats starting out, but like i said above... the one size aproach really doesnt fit all.

Quote from: The None Blonde on November 14, 2009, 04:16:49 AM
I can't comment on how helpful and supportive they are... I've not been with them long. I can say most of the comments transwomen on the net make about GIC's in general are unfounded. The place is quite good from what ive seen, and the psychs quite nice really....

A factor could be i was full time and on hrt when i came to them mind, so experience may vary.

The supporter thing is the 3rd session, they should tell you about it on your first/ second, either way you have a few months to come out to more people. The point of the session is to get you to come out. You need to... full stop. Its a great idea for someone thats starting out, but like i said above... the one size aproach really doesnt fit all.

I think it is a postcode lottery regarding the NHS gender clinic sinario and I've heard good reports from both Glasgow and Nottingaham but that doesn't mean I shouldn't mention the horrendous experiences I had in London.

Quote from: The None Blonde on November 14, 2009, 04:16:49 AM
I can't comment on how helpful and supportive they are... I've not been with them long. I can say most of the comments transwomen on the net make about GIC's in general are unfounded.

That's quite an unfounded comment to make Rachel about someone's true personal experiences. Most of the negative comments made by many Transsexual women about the London GIC are absolutely spot on. How can you make any kind of acurate comment on a place you have never attended.

And vice versa.

First point... I was not aiming that at you. Unless your ego is large enough to encompas 'most'.
Secondly. The name drop was childish. oh, you win the argument!

Thirdly... its actually true from my experience. A LOT of comments made do not have the full story, or reasoning available. And its natural that the few hard done by shout louder than the pleased mass....

All the personal experience ive given, has been from fact, when i didnt know something, I said I can't comment.

This person asked about Nottingham, Not Charring Cross. Different PCT, different SHA.... and from what ive heard of chx, nothing like it.

Quote from: The None Blonde on January 02, 2010, 03:09:56 AM

This person asked about Nottingham, Not Charring Cross. Different PCT, different SHA.... and from what ive heard of chx, nothing like it.

Your right I can't really comment on Nottingham or Leeds as I've never been to their clinics. But CX GIC has got a very bad reputation which other forum members have highlighted in another recent thread in the therapy section. Saskia's experiences with CX GIC were quite a few years ago and mine also were more than 4 years ago but I doubt things have changed much at CX GIC in recent years.

I tend to agree with you that NHS GIC clinics other than London are very different in their approach, support and treatment of Gender Dysphoria.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on January 02, 2010, 11:31:15 AM
Your right I can't really comment on Nottingham or Leeds as I've never been to their clinics. But CX GIC has got a very bad reputation which other forum members have highlighted in another recent thread in the therapy section. Saskia's experiences with CX GIC were quite a few years ago and mine also were more than 4 years ago but I doubt things have changed much at CX GIC in recent years.

I tend to agree with you that NHS GIC clinics other than London are very different in their approach, support and treatment of Gender Dysphoria.

I'm sorry to hear that some of you had awful experiences at CX GIC. However, in the interests of balance, I'd like to say that I've been attending CX for the last (almost) 3 years, and have had no problems at all. Both the psychs I've seen have treated me in what I would consider to be an appropriate manner, and - apart from the length of time between appointments which can be very frustrating - I have no complaints whatsoever. Pretty much everyone else I know who currently attend CX would agree with this - CX have been aware for a number of years of their problems and have done a lot to rectify these.

I just wanted to post in order to prevent anyone who may be about to start attending CX from being afraid of what they might encounter there!

Quote from: Flameboy on January 03, 2010, 01:47:42 PM
I'm sorry to hear that some of you had awful experiences at CX GIC. However, in the interests of balance, I'd like to say that I've been attending CX for the last (almost) 3 years, and have had no problems at all. Both the psychs I've seen have treated me in what I would consider to be an appropriate manner, and - apart from the length of time between appointments which can be very frustrating - I have no complaints whatsoever. Pretty much everyone else I know who currently attend CX would agree with this - CX have been aware for a number of years of their problems and have done a lot to rectify these.

I just wanted to post in order to prevent anyone who may be about to start attending CX from being afraid of what they might encounter there!

Because you are F to M they may have a different criteria involved. My experiences at London's CX GIC were horrendous. I was flatly refused everything at CX GIC starting with HRT and then every medical and surgical proceedure I applied for. I complied with all protocals and the HBSOC. It got to the point where I had to take legal action against them going through the GMC, Healthcare Ombudsman and Healthcare Commission. The Healthcare Commission found out that CX GIC had been mixing up my medical file with another patient. I can honestly say hand on heart CX GIC was the worst experience of my whole life!

Quote from: Flameboy on January 03, 2010, 01:47:42 PM
..... I'd like to say that I've been attending CX for the last (almost) 3 years, and have had no problems at all. Both the psychs I've seen have treated me in what I would consider to be an appropriate manner, and - apart from the length of time between appointments which can be very frustrating.

Just to back this up, I would also say that more recent reports from CHX on UK forums have generally been of improvements, and that a lot of the bad press has been where people have had unrealistic expectations...

....However we still are not seeing enough regular counselling support once in the system, with most satisfaction being from a growing percentage of people who have already demonstrated significant RLE/self medication before entering "care". So the more desperate you have become and the less you openly question yourself when you enter the system, the better the chance of a positive response seems to be....

However when all is said and done, if your regional PCT is short of funds or is having a crisis of political ethics, then you will still struggle to get the treatment that you qualify for.

Quote from: Chrissty on January 03, 2010, 04:51:31 PM
Just to back this up, I would also say that more recent reports from CHX on UK forums have generally been of improvements, and that a lot of the bad press has been where people have had unrealistic expectations...

What do you mean by unrealistic expectations?

Quote from: Chrissty on January 03, 2010, 04:51:31 PM
However when all is said and done, if your regional PCT is short of funds or is having a crisis of political ethics, then you will still struggle to get the treatment that you qualify for.

Yes, but if you can't get the referrals from the GIC you cannot approach the PCT, it's a catch 22 situation.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on January 03, 2010, 04:45:28 PM
Because you are F to M they may have a different criteria involved. My experiences at London's CX GIC were horrendous. I was flatly refused everything at CX GIC starting with HRT and then every medical and surgical proceedure I applied for. I complied with all protocals and the HBSOC. It got to the point where I had to take legal action against them going through the GMC, Healthcare Ombudsman and Healthcare Commission. The Healthcare Commission found out that CX GIC had been mixing up my medical file with another patient. I can honestly say hand on heart CX GIC was the worst experience of my whole life!

I'm really am sorry to hear that, but as you said this was a number of years ago. I know many people, both FTM and MTF who currently attend the clinic, and noone has reported anything like that to me. That does sound like a truly horrendous experience, but hopefully the staff at CX GIC have learned as a result of this and have made improvements in the system.

Quote from: Flameboy on January 03, 2010, 05:04:18 PM
I'm really am sorry to hear that, but as you said this was a number of years ago. I know many people, both FTM and MTF who currently attend the clinic, and no one has reported anything like that to me. That does sound like a truly horrendous experience, but hopefully the staff at CX GIC have learned as a result of this and have made improvements in the system.

I doubt if any improvements have been made. I left in 2006 which isn't that long ago. I also know of quite a number of Male to Female transsexuals who have had very similar experiences to my own. But I've never heard of any Female to Male patients who have had problems?