Time At Therapist

[Guest jamiejcmo]

Just an observation. I'm curious if my visits are the norm. In the beginning you go every two weeks for several months, then start HRT and go once a month. After a year of HRT and blood test monthly I was deities to every 3 months. I know it's required but the sessions are getting routine. I show up and she says"how are things going?" great! " how are things at work?" better than expected. "any problems? No " how are you feeling?" great. This takes 5 mins and then we just talk about clothes or furniture(decorating) or what's going on in local trans community. So we have to keep this up just so I can get a letter? Just wondered if this was what everyone goes thru? Jamie

[Guest Donna Jean]

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Honey, I'm not sure what you're asking....are you talking about your surgery letter?

Everyone gets their letters at different times...but, SOC asks that one have 3 months (or 12 hours) to get the HRT letter..Some get it sooner and some later...

The surgery letter? Well, when the therapist feels that you're ready...there are some therapist that never give you any letters until you ask...they reason that you must want it enough to ask for it....

Have you asked them about it?

Good luck, Dear...

Huggs

Donna Jean

[guest]

Yea, if you aren't really discussing anything... why not simply ask her "soo.... i think we have sorted through all the trans issues... mind giving me the letter for srs now?". Seems pretty reasonable, why keep going if you just chat about clothes? o.O

[Carolyn Marie]

I agree with Ivory; time for a chat with your therapist. If you don;t have any ancillary problems you're dealing with, and she just wants an update, then every six months seems like it ought to be enough. That means two visits and you should be done, for your 12 months of RLE.

Don't forget, Jamie, she works for you. Unless she gives you a good reason, you get to decide how often is often enough. Good luck!

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Elizabeth K]

ASK for your letter. They sometimes require that.

Lizzy

[Guest jamiejcmo]

Yes it just seems like a waste of time to me. We have spoke about the letter for srs and she said I would have given it to year already but we have to finish 12 months RLE to meet the SOC. Issued about the surgeons requiring 2 letters and she said yes we have done that before. I asked about the second letter from a therapist and she said you will need to see one for 6 months. I asked what I was going to get out of that since I've been see her(psyc) for a couple of years now. Her reply was "nothing but another letter". I am in no hurry for srs but it seems like a waste of time just to follow the SOC guidelines. So if I don't decide to have srs for several years then I keep waisting her time and my money. It just doesn't make sense!

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Guidelines - they are only guidelines! Have her consult with other GTs.

Lizzy

[Paula ult]

I did weekly sessions for just over 3 months before i got my letter for hormones, my Endo did blood tests at the first visit then six months later and now once a year, my therapist and i decided to go with every other week after those first 3 months, then it was once a month, i did get my two letters for surgery after one year RLT, now i go once every three months unless something comes up, and like you i now pretty much just talk about how things have been going since my last session, it seems almost every therapist is different, and yes it is the hoops we have to jump through just to be ourselves

Paula

[Guest jamiejcmo]

Don't get me wrong , she is great Dr. And has been doing this for 20 years and knows a lot. She has several other mtfs and ftms right now and she says my case has gone extremely well. She says others have more time in than me and are still having problems.

Paula, I'm glad to hear you got you letter. Are they good indefinitely? Or do you have to use them in a certain timeframe? I know I do want srs for sure but everything is going so well right now that I'm enjoying life and do not really want to be recovering from srs for 3 months right now.