Sooooo excited!!!  I just got my recommendation letter for HRT in the mail!

I've been doing weekly chat sessions online with Melissa Leonhardt since the beginning of December and I guess she thought I was finally ready!
I know this might seem like a short time (as the WPATH SOC recommends 3 months of therapy), but personally, I thought I was ready before even starting the therapy sessions.  However, it was definitely nice talking with her about the few issues I was concerned about and being able to look at them from another persons perspective.  And, even though it was online, I felt that I was able to make a pretty genuine connection with her and I think it was definitely a lot easier to write my feelings out rather than speaking about them to a stranger.
And, seriously, I don't think whether you do your therapy online or in person matters too much (unless maybe you have some huge pressing issues) as long as you're being truthful and serious about your feelings!

Congratulations! Such an exciting step in your journey.

-Jace

Congrats! Now find yourself a good doc - a good doc can be a great "team member" in your transition! Having a bad doc, on the other hand, is no fun (I'd give anything to get my first doc back)

Congrats!

Thanks Jace, Claire, and Andrew!  I'm really stoked!  I have an appt set for this Wednesday with a doc that I found through my insurance provider and she has really good reviews (that I saw online), so we'll see.  The receptionist I spoke with said she has experience working with transgender patients, so hopefully she will be pretty knowledgeable about the whole process.  If not, I can always look for another doctor...ughhh but I hope not because it took a lot of calling around to find one somewhat close to me who would accept my insurance.

Ohh, and what happened with your first doc Claire?? Did you move or something?

My first doc was great - probably one of the most knowledgeable docs about TG issues in my metro area. First appointment, he talked with me for over an hour about things related to HRT, and then called several days later to make sure I was tolerating everything well.

He ended up closing his practice several weeks later for restructuring, and he referred me to this other clinic. The doc there was completely clueless, and it ended up being me managing my own therapy through him as he had no experience whatsoever - I don't know about you, but when I'm paying a doc for treatment, I generally like it when they are managing my care and not me. First words he said to me after I explained my situation was, "So you want a sex change?" in a baffled tone. From that point on, I knew I was not going to like this man...

I've been looking for a new doc lately and think that I have found one - I hate going back to the doc I have now. Unfortunately, there aren't many options for those of us who cannot use our insurance (my insurance is currently on my parents' policy, and they are uninformed and unsupportive).

Ohhhh, I see, wow that sucks..you find an awesome doctor then he closes up shop..And yea, that other doc sounds pretty disinterested..first impressions say a lot!  I'm hoping I get a good initial vibe from my doc..I can't wait!

And about the insurance thingy, I'm still under my dad's insurance and I have yet to tell him (as my parents are divorced), so I am hoping I can just make an excuse up if he asks what I had to see an endocrinologist for.  I'm debating about telling him soon, but not quite yet.

Congratulations, that's so awesome!  Hope the thing with the doctor works out and everything.  =]

Thanks Alyssa!
I'm soooo excited!  I hope it goes well, not too sure what to expect..thank god the doctor is female though..that makes me feel a lot more comfortable.  And I hope my insurance works out so I can put more money towards laser/electrolysis!