Basically, I have no desire whatsoever to go through any sort of therapy. I have my FFS tomorrow, and after that I plan on living fulltime as a female (although I basically have been for the past 3 months anyways). I've been on HRT for 1.5 years now and I've had sperm frozen for just as long. I could easily spare the mere $1500 for orchi, which I really want done. Do I have any other options besides Thailand? For orchi, the travel costs would be more than the actual procedure, which seems a bit ridiculous considering it's such an incredibly simple surgery.

I have three surgeons in my immediate family capable of doing the surgery. Would it be any kind of violation for them to perform this procedure on me, or is this a possible option? Does Canada have the same laws? Basically, if I can at least get orchi done I can make a large amount of money dancing as it is the only feasible way for me to pay for SRS before I'm done with grad school, especially since I'm going to be in a large amount of debt already from my FFS.

Also, if I do end up needing to get the letters to get SRS done in the U.S., is it feasible at all for me to see a psychiatrist once and get a letter? Basically, I just want this done as soon as I can while avoiding therapists as much as possible. I'd love any ideas.

If you are just going to say, "You really should do therapy" or something to that effect, please, just don't reply. I'm a bit of a fascist and you truly are just wasting your effort. If someone is actually stupid enough to get SRS or an Orchi and regret it, then I hope they just kill themselves and rid the population of another idiot. FFS is a far more serious change than Orchi is in any case. I hate dealing with this country sometimes.

Most surgeons, who follow the SOC, will require two letters.  If you find one who would do it, then you would most likely you will have to sign an informed consent.

But you will get warned about not following the SOC yourself, mostly from here.  Because we follow the SOC.  Reread the rules and you will see.

But I know you are seeking information.  My surgeon required two letters and so do most all of the SRS doctors.  I do hope you are getting a regular blood work up to monitor your liver at least.


Janet

Quote from: Janet Lynn on January 05, 2010, 05:45:39 AM
Most surgeons, who follow the SOC, will require two letters.

And most require that the first letter states that you've been evaluated over a continuous, often long amount of time.

Oh, and that you've been living "fulltime" (hate that word and concept) for a year+.

The second letter (psych approval) can often be done in one session however.

I do have a prescription for my medications and I have been seeing a doctor through my school for the blood work and whatnot. He's more of a general practice doctor, but I have been regularly seeing him and talking to him somewhat for the past year and a half. Would he count for a letter? My main concern here is money and he is free for me to see. I don't mind jumping through the hoops if I absolutely have to. I also saw a counselor through my school that specialized in gender issues about 7 times or so (mostly for my girlfriend's sake, she came to several), but she only has her master's in psychology I believe (my school has no psychiatrists). If those both count...well then I think I'd be set; maybe I'll just have to pay a visit or two to her again once I'm fulltime.

So am I hearing that no doctors in the US or Canada will consider doing even an orchi without the letters and a year of fulltime?

My therapist has a Masters and is just a therapist and my GP wrote the other letter.  My surgeon did check with them to make sure that I had ask and they gave freely.

Depending on the surgeon I think they should work Ok.


Janet

Quote from: Jocelyn on January 05, 2010, 06:43:54 PM
So am I hearing that no doctors in the US or Canada will consider doing even an orchi without the letters and a year of fulltime?

Ah, I have no idea about orchis. For SRS, each surgeon sets their own requirements (generally close to the SOC), so it's best to call or email each office and ask what they specifically require.

If you insist on short circuiting the process, if you look hard enough, I'm sure you will find someone to do your orchi.

As for your members of your immediate family being surgeons, it probably depends more on the hospitals that they are affiliated with.  Most hospitals will not let any member of a surgical team operate on any patient that they have an association with.  But you'd have to check with them to find out.

There are ethical and legal issues involved that tie the hands of surgeons in the regard of SRS/orchi and the two-letter process provides due diligence and legal protection.

-Sandy

Jocelyn.

I don't have any suggestions but I do want to say how much I agree and sympathise with your feelings.

I'm in my mid 50s now. For many reasons, I didn't get SRS when I was younger.

I deeply resent having to ask permission from 'Sir'. 'Please Sir, can you remove these ugly growths?'

I spend 10 years as an RN. I've met many of these people and don't like or trust any of them. They are duplicitous, dishonest, untrustworthy and only interested in finding a box to put everyone in.

I accept I'm too late for SRS. For many reasons. But I would dearly love to have the smelly things between my legs removed so I can face the last part of my life as a complete person.

I don't really want a vagina. I'm too old to use it anyway. I do want a clitoris since I strongly feel that sexual pleasure is one of those things that makes life worth living.

More than that, I want to be a proper person. And not some soldier having to live up to the expectations of what is expected from a man.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for everyone's help so far, but there's still a question I really need answered. I think it would be possible for me to get the two letters if I really had to, but I REALLY, REALLY, want a way to somehow bypass the one year fulltime on the orchiectomy. It would open up so many more options for me, including the possibility of actually being able to afford the PhD from the school I actually want to attend among other things. I'm willing to bend rules or whatever, possibly even consider Mexico if there is a safe surgeon someone can recommend there, but with the large amount of debt I am already in I just need a way to get rid of these stupid testicles so I can start bringing in a steady income. Is there anywhere that perhaps offers the procedure with just 6 months of fulltime?  I'm getting pretty disgusted I can't find any surgeons that will do this simple procedure.

Quote from: Jocelyn on January 10, 2010, 10:53:17 PM
I think it would be possible for me to get the two letters if I really had to, but I REALLY, REALLY, want a way to somehow bypass the one year fulltime on the orchiectomy.

As long as you get a therapist to vouch for you you'll be fine.  You don't have to go to a therapist for a year to prove you have been full time for a year, and a (imho) good therapist will be able to hear your story and help vouch for you regardless.

Also, from my experience with the orchi, they didn't even really pay attention to the letter.  It's more of a liability thing on their part.

All I needed for my orchi was a referral from my GP...  I didn't need a letter from a therapist, or anything else.  It all depends on which doctor you go to what the requirements are.

I tried contacting Dr. Tuan Nguyen in Oregon about it, but he said that he requires 1 year fulltime. Could anyone make any suggestions to me for doctors that would do it in the Idaho / Oregon / Washington / etc. area that don't require the fulltime? Many thanks =)

Quote from: Jocelyn on January 11, 2010, 09:34:12 AM
I tried contacting Dr. Tuan Nguyen in Oregon about it, but he said that he requires 1 year fulltime. Could anyone make any suggestions to me for doctors that would do it in the Idaho / Oregon / Washington / etc. area that don't require the fulltime? Many thanks =)

I went to Dr. Nguyen for my orchi, and also used him for a letter to get my "F" on my passport.

I can't stress enough that all you need is to talk to a good therapist and they will be able to write you a letter regardless if you've seen them a year.