Question?

[Guest Hayley21]

Hello to all hope your having a great week so far Um, I was

looking around on the internet for a srs doctor, well I found

Dr. Marci Bowers, My question is would she be a good Dr? I have

done my research an I personally think she would be the Doctor

for me. See my primary Doctor is a "she" I just felt I'd like

a female SRS Doctor as well. I'm 20yrs old an looking to start

my "RLT" as soon as I can, And Looking to have my surgery as soon

as maybe 2013. If not oh well I'll just continue trying. I'm not

rushing things its just I feel so strongly about myself that to

me as of alot of you its my final peice of the puzzle. I dream

about my srs, I dream about myself in the female world etc...So I

know its the right thing to do. I have a great outlook on life,

myself an others. I know society will be harsh, mean, an harmful.

But as one TGirl told once, as long as you don't bring attention

to yourself, your ok "in some cases". But anyways thank you for

taking the time to read this

Hayley

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Are you under the care of a GT?

Lizzy

[Guest Hayley21]

Hi Lizzy, please forgive me on not knowing all the abbreviations.

What do you mean? Sorry

Hayley

[Guest Hayley21]

I have another question lol, sorry for asking so many. But I was

wondering does medicaid an or medicare pay for the SRS?

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Hi Lizzy, please forgive me on not knowing all the abbreviations.

What do you mean? Sorry

Hayley

Sorry - GT = gender therapist

Lizzy

[Guest Hayley21]

Lizzy,

I maybe going at this all the wrong way, I mean I have done some

research on transgendered people, I mean I've read some of the

ts-road map. To answer your question the doctor I'm seeing is just

a primary doctor "family doctor", She has done research on the

HRT an is helping me by taking blood test each month, an giving me the

right ammont of dosages. I live to far to see a gender therapist,

I wish I could I guess, but the doctor I'm seeing now is ok I guess.

I'm on ......estradiol. I've been on it for 2months now. BTW I

shoulda known what GT was, I was like DUH!!! When I saw it LOL

Hayley

Edited February 4, 2011 by Carolyn Marie
Dosage amount deleted

[Guest kelise]

As for question 1, I went to Dr. Bowers for SRS and LOVE the results. Many have said her aftercare presence leaves some to be desired, and I can kinda see that, but in the end, the final results are all that matter, right?

I have no idea about Medicaid or Medicare (though I doubt they do), but my Cigna policy (through Disney) covered it in full.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE see a GT, sweety. Especially now that you're on HRT, there are going to be some severe stressors coming your way soon. You will need to see at LEAST one GT for your SRS letter anyway, and most American surgeons (including Marci Bowers) require two letters. There are GTs who offer on-line or over-the-phone sessions if you live too far.

[JJ]

The last I read, any gender related procedure is specifically excluded from medicaide and medicare. Perhaps as attitudes change that will change too.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Sorry it took so long to get back, this topic slid down off the list and I didn't notice.

Kelise (Keiri) is pretty much on target. It's okay that you are on estrogen, but are you on testosterone blockers? Those are just about as important. Perhaps your doctor knows about them.

BUT

A Gender Therapist is required by all surgeons to okay that you are a diagnosed transsexual. The won't touch anyone who has not followed the SOC (Standards of Care) under a qualified therapist.

And as Keiri has pointed out, on HRT you will essentially be all over the place, emotionally and body-change-wise. There is a terribly upsetting period of androgyny, which really throws you a lot to handle.

I hope this helps. PM me if you need to talk.

Lizzy

[Guest nonamesleft]

It will be a long time before society comes around far enough for SRS to be covered by medicare/medicaid, definitely not before the economy turns around...which will be a long time. Better to try and get a job at one of the many companies that cover it in their health insurance (plenty of lists with this info floating around the web). Or else you are just going to have to scrimp and save like the rest of us. To qualify for the surgery, it depends on the doctor or location, but generally a letter from a psychologist/psychiatrist and some form of proof that you have been living full-time as a woman for 1 year is sufficient. You do not need years of therapy to qualify, but it helps to at least speak to a therapist a little about it before making such a grand and irreversible decision. As far as choosing a doctor, there are a few very good ones in the USA, one in Canada, and a few very good ones in Thailand. If money is an issue, Thailand is cheaper, and the care/aftercare is 100x better than in the USA, but if you have insurance which does cover it, you may be limited to USA doctors. There are plenty of advocates for each of the well known doctors, but you really need to do your own research and decide for yourself, since you are the one who will live with the consequences. No need to rush to any decision, you still have a few years left to decide, and you can do plenty of research in the mean time. For now, just enjoy the HRT ride and see how it works out for you. Just take everything a day at a time and good luck.

[Guest Hayley21]

Thank you so much for all the information, I seriously need a GT,

Like I said the doctor I'm seeing is a primary doctor I mean she's

doing her research about this, But the thing is, I'm not sure if

Arkansas has a gender clinic I haven't found one if they do. But

I will try

Hayley

[Guest kelise]

But the thing is, I'm not sure if

Arkansas has a gender clinic I haven't found one if they do. But

I will try

Hayley

There are GTs who offer on-line or over-the-phone sessions if you live too far.

[Guest Ann Onymous]

Thank you so much for all the information, I seriously need a GT,

Like I said the doctor I'm seeing is a primary doctor I mean she's

doing her research about this, But the thing is, I'm not sure if

Arkansas has a gender clinic I haven't found one if they do. But

I will try

I am probably one of the minority but I don't concur that one NEEDS a 'gender therapist.' A therapist yes, but one associated with a 'gender clinic' No.

None of my providers were associated with what one would classify as the gender community. My endo was found through a GLB yellow pages and an intro letter I sent (did not want to waste the money on an appointment if it was going to be a no-go). He also did what he could to provide pharm samples where and when available as we worked on getting my meds dialed in (I have a strange metabolism and even routine antibiotics often require three times the recommended dosage since the body processed it so quick).

The primary therapist was also a referral through the gay community. The secondary was a college psych prof with whom I came out to through a series of papers. I had taken issue with some of the textbook materials and eventually we spoke in the office at length and he even had me lecture his grad classes.

My surgeon had no issue with the fact that I did not present for surgery by way of the normal gender mills. Getting outside of the box can help mitigate costs as well...not all persons seeking surgery have deep seated issues that require a bunch of therapy. They just need a letter. And a good therapist can tell when one is otherwise well-adjusted.

[Guest Hayley]

on the Laura-Playground main site there is a list of Therapists.

http://www.lauras-playground.com/gender_therapists.htm

Arkansas

Ralph Hyman, Ed.D.

The Psychotherapy Center

210 S. Pulaski

Little Rock, AR. 72201

Phone : (501) 374-3605

Margaret Morgan-Cohen, LCSW

210 Pulaski St.

Little Rock, AR. 72201

Phone : (501) 255-0561

Website : http://www.margaretmorgancohen.com

Gender therapist in Little Rock, Arkansas working with Dr. Ralph Hyman.

Sam Wallace, MS, LPC

4257 Gabel Drive Ste 3A

Fayetteville, AR. 72703

Phone : (479) 957-8546

Email : [email protected]

Website : http://www.nca-therapy.com

"I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience in the field of human sexuality. I am a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and serve as the Section Leader of AASECT for Arkansas. I follow the WPATH standards of care and offer a supportive and respectful approach to the diversity of human sexual experiences."

Hope it helps, and GL!

Hayley Rivka

[Guest Jenni_S]

My surgeon had no issue with the fact that I did not present for surgery by way of the normal gender mills.

"Gender mills?" Really? Wow, I could have saved so much time...