No Therapist Letter Needed?

[guest]

I had read through the standards of care and noticed everything was more of a suggestion than hard rules (with lots of "wiggle room")... so thought it might be possible to simply get a doctor to start seeing me.

Well, I called the LGBT center close to me and made an appointment to get things moving. I went down there the other day and apparently I was right! No note needed (but, they did say therapy was available if I wanted). I was actually a little suprised it was so easy to bypass the letter issue (I was expecting a little bit of a fight and needing to convince them). Maybe it is my location? (I am in LA)

Anyhow, appointment with the doctor to get all the tests is in a couple months (she is really popular, Dr. Maddie? I think I have seen her listed on a few sites). But, I plan to see another clinic before then to start on the hormones a bit earlier (I'm impatient ).

[Carolyn Marie]

Congrats, Ivory! I'm glad the Womanhood Express is going full throttle for you.

It is true that the SoC are guidelines and recommendations, not hard and fast rules. There is a lot of good in them, though, and I personally believe that a few sessions with a G.T. are important, if for no other reason than to make sure you understand what you're embarking on (and I'm not just talking about hormones. There is much more to transition than the physical changes).

But yes, there are doctors who subscribe to the "informed consent" model. My own therapy group does.

It avoids the necessity of a prescribed number of therapy sessions, and does away with the letter.

I see Doctor Maddie (Dr. Deutsch, actually) myself, and I can attest to the quality of her care. She knows this stuff really well. I presume you also know that she is trans. So is the office manager at the Center's clinic, who treated me with wonderful care and respect.

I wish you luck. Please do PM me if you have any questions.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Are you sure you want to bypass everything? If you are wrong, you may end up a bitter old 'supposed transsexual.'

Get therapy!

Lizzy

[guest]

Are you sure you want to bypass everything? If you are wrong, you may end up a bitter old 'supposed transsexual' with cynicism dripping off your posts!

Get therapy!

A therapist doesn't have all the answers They are just people using whatever current societal "understanding" is popular at the time (which, has a really bad track record for being crazy).

I can see how being able to talk with someone and be challenged with questions to think about might be helpful for some people... but for others, they do that on their own (like me .

I do need to talk to a doctor though, to get a better understanding of the possible options currently available That way I can make a better choice to get me where I would like to be.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

I totally disagree. I recommend you use a therapist.

My opinion.

Lizzy

[Guest Jenni_S]

Add to that, no reputable surgeon will touch you without those letters of recommendation, should you be planning for that at some point down the road. And there's only one way to get those.

[Guest KimberlyF]

I had read through the standards of care and noticed everything was more of a suggestion than hard rules (with lots of "wiggle room")... so thought it might be possible to simply get a doctor to start seeing me.

Well, I called the LGBT center close to me and made an appointment to get things moving. I went down there the other day and apparently I was right! No note needed (but, they did say therapy was available if I wanted). I was actually a little suprised it was so easy to bypass the letter issue (I was expecting a little bit of a fight and needing to convince them). Maybe it is my location? (I am in LA)

Anyhow, appointment with the doctor to get all the tests is in a couple months (she is really popular, Dr. Maddie? I think I have seen her listed on a few sites). But, I plan to see another clinic before then to start on the hormones a bit earlier (I'm impatient ).

This is where the world is moving. Your Dr. happens to have been working with a bunch of other Therapists/Doctors/Professionals to issue suggestions to the APA on DSM-5.

http://gidconcern.wordpress.com/biographies/

Madeline B. Deutsch, MD

www.DoctorMaddie.com

Maddie Deutsch, MD has directed the Trans Health Program at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center since 2009. Prior to that she had a small private practice where she treated over 300 trans persons from across all spectra. She sits on the Medical Advisory Board for the UCSF Transgender Center of Excellence. Dr. Deutsch is active in research on informed consent processes in hormone therapy and in trans identities which do not fit typical narratives. Dr. Deutsch’s background is in emergency medicine, which she still practices half-time in San Francisco.

I can not believe a woman like this is going to guide you to hormones and not help you to get what you need for surgery down the road if that's what you eventually need.

Esp. since one trans specific services they bother to post about as a 'such as' on the www.DoctorMaddie.com page is: Post-surgical care for those who have undergone sex-reassignment surgery

Kim

[Guest oogie292]

There are actually many reputable surgeons in Thailand that do not need letters of recamendation for SRS because there rules are different from those in the West.

Im very happy that you did not need a recamendation for hormones. I have a friend whose DR wouldnt recamend hormones so now she buys tem online. If the truth be told humans will find a way to what they want no matter whats stopping them. I think giving access to hormones is ten times better than using these alternative routes of online medication and herbal estrrogen.

My best of wishes, Madison.

[Guest Pamela5]

My opinion is you need to sort things out with a therapist. There are no downsides. My therapist knew right away I had GID but I learned much about myself and others like me. She recommended HRT after 3 and a half months. You do need one who is highly experienced with GID.

Pam