Wow It All Happened Really Fast- T News

[Guest Evan_J]

Not sure why I feel I should put this in the FTM board but here we go....

A while back (not that long) I started gender therapy along the way I had....an incident (?)....with my gyno that promted me to come out to her as trans -actually it was because she wanted to start me on progesterone treatments for a prob I got and I knew I would eventually start T, anyway...... still and all the experience of coming out to a doc was kind of a powerful thing. I was like "wow, maybe I need to do this now with my regular MD" lol. A bunch of stuff happens in the middle and eventually I get to see a primary care giver, lay out the trans testosterone deal and do ya know what happened?

He gave me a prescription for testosterone.

Yes, I realize in the world of FTM that means happy dance and yet.....it just seemed too easy. I actually am sitting here with it traveling through my blood wondering if I followed the "correct procedure"?

Yes, I'm kind of anal and "do it the correct way" centered. So tell me, am I nuts? Should I be worried or not? What does this do with regard to therapy? As far as I can tell I still need it so I can get top surgery and all, no?

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

Whoa man... That does seem weird to me too. Never in a hundred million years would I have imagined that it would be that easy! That's crazy.

I don't know what medical issue you have, but maybe the ease with which you got the script was because it could be treated with either hormone. Maybe? I've got no clue.

Is your doctor going to monitor your T levels and all? As long as you do that, then you should be fine I think.

Yeah, you do have to stay in therapy to get the surgery letter. Most reputable surgeons require one. I think the rule is 6 months of therapy before the surgery letter, but maybe they are a bit more flexible with T. Definitely talk to your therapist about the T scrip and see what he/she thinks.

Well, congrats on the T!!

[Guest raydub]

Evan.

Congrats dude. Dont freak. Sometimes people need things to be easy. On the flip side, some people need some things to be hard. Just all part of the process of living if you ask me. My opinion? Still do therapy whether you "need it for sugery" or not. The world feels different...or rather, I feel the world differently and im sure part of that is because of the T. I think therapy will help sort all that stuff out.

I havent seen my therapist yet since ive started T and just too g** d***ed much has happened. I think ive dealt with it fairly well.. but its.. just different... I dont really know how to explain. somehow though..i think youll get me. pardon me if you dont though

feelin weird...

Ray

[Guest DZyg]

I understand your apprehension. Sometimes it's creepy when things seem too easy.

But, in a way, it's almost like you're "lucky" enough to have a seperate, non-trans issue that T can help. (I'm not a doctor, and I don't mean to minimize any potential illness/issue you may be dealing with.) It's kinda like when DRs prescribe birth control pills because the hormones help control severe acne. I wish I had a mild condition that would allow me to get T without going through the therapy hoops.

Just a different perspective...

Stay strong

Dino

[Guest Evan_J]

Thanks guys. I definately feel "wierd" and "creepy" like I've been straining to get Docs A, B, and C to do x, y, z and now all of a sudden "stuffs happening" (though not in the order I thought it would.....) and I'm just standing still wondering "why are they all doing stuff?" Very bizaar feeling. Especially bizaar since my gender therapist only got to hear a smidgen of the gyn story the last time I saw him. And has zero idea suddenly T is in the picture. (I had to miss last weeks apt cuz my car decided it needed immediate intensive care treatment ) But yeah, it'll be monitored and in fact its the gyn wanting the whole bloodwork.

.... Still do therapy whether you "need it for sugery" or not. The world feels different...or rather, I feel the world differently and im sure part of that is because of the T. I think therapy will help sort all that stuff out.....

If anything I feel like going to my therapists and asking to move in cuz a lot (it feels like) is going on and I just want to stay "within the program" you know what I mean?

[Guest Grady]

That's pretty intense man. Congrats! =D

Kevin.

[Guest CharliTo]

For me, as an MTF, I was able to get estrogen shots way before I finally got a therapist. All I did was talk to my general practitioner, who directed me to the AIDS specialist (who also happens to handle any transgender therapies) and after one meeting, I was getting shots every two weeks.

I remember being suprised how fast I was able to get it, but after I asked my doctor/nurse, they said that (at least in Hawaii), you don't need any letters to receive HRT...I'll just need it for the surgeries.

Well, the simplest way I could think is that, if it's a legal doctor giving it to ya, I'm sure it's legal.

After about a two shots, I was worrying about how I wasn't seeing a therapist and when I finally did, she had an easy time making me decide whether to do HRT or not . (I already did it for her :3)

I guess I could relate to you a lot about wondering if I did the correct procedure...but I think we should just do happy dances :3.

[Guest skyy]

wow, thats so not fair. i've been in theapy for loke 3+months and they are STILL afraid of giving me anything. i wish i could just walk up to my doc and ask for it and get it just like that. i dont know if its the fact i'm 16, or if its just a Tennessee thing, but they are so worried about how i MIGHT react to the changes that they arent even giving me the chance to try. oh, congrats to you on getting your T, hope you enjoy it

[Guest Evan_J]

....Well, the simplest way I could think is that, if it's a legal doctor giving it to ya, I'm sure it's legal. .....

And this is what I'm telling myself. While I'm wondering what the gender therapists opinion will be. Again, why is it we can't just go to sleep and wake up "fixed" lol. I honestly hate all the stuff we gotta do to get there.

[Guest Nekomata]

i dont know if its the fact i'm 16, or if its just a Tennessee thing,

It's both.

And this is what I'm telling myself. While I'm wondering what the gender therapists opinion will be. Again, why is it we can't just go to sleep and wake up "fixed" lol. I honestly hate all the stuff we gotta do to get there.

Congrats. Don't worry about it. Just because it came easy, don't 2nd guess yourself that you don't deserve it. The doctors probably deemed you mentally healthy, old enough to make your own decisions, and financially secure, so they cut all the red tape. I think doctors/therapists are biased towards age. I'm 28, I told a good story, was mentally stable with no acute signs of distress, so I got my HRT letter on my 1st visit.

[Guest jantonio]

Congrats Evan! Woot! I feel that as long as the Dr. will monitor your hormones level then I don't see an issue with it. Some surgeons require that you be on T but not necessarily. All they need is a letter from your therapist stating that he or she is ok for you to have the surgery. But I guess it differs among the doctors.

Anyway, that's awesome man.

Jose Antonio...

[Guest Kristian]

Congratulations. I'm really happy for you. You deserve for it to work out like that. It's kind of hypocritical for me to say, since you of all people would know how I feel about rules and order and everything, but... I don't know. I keep thinking it'll be alright. Who knows? Maybe it's some kind of weird cosmic blessing or something. I say run with it, anyway... even though it might seem weird. Best of luck to you.

[Guest mikethepunk]

Wow dude so not fair. I am HELLA jealous. I have been going to gender therapy for 3 years and because I just finally made up my mind to go on T, I still have to wait the 3 months for the letter. So I decide to start the ball rolling and get everything ready so when I got my letter I could start. Anyway I went to the DR today, who is an FtM himself by the way, and he said I would have to wait 3-4 months for my letter. I was like HOLD UP, my counselor who he trusts and he told me so, said that I only have 1.5 months to go before she will give me my letter. I told this to him 3 times and it seemed like he just didn't get it. I don't know what his deal is but there is no way I am waiting another 3-4 months to get my letter. He is out of his mind! I am 36 and have wanted a sex change my whole life. Not until 4 years ago did I realize it was possible. I have PTSD directly related to my transgendered issues. I am tired of suffering in this jail cell of a body. I have been ready for this since I was freaking 9 years old. It is either T and Surgery or suicide, I am at the end of my rope.

HE better not make me wait longer than when I get the letter in 1.5 months. I have been going to counseling for many, many years. Most transguys I know only went for 3 months to get the letter and then stopped so if anyone deserves to get T it is freaking me.

Anyone have any advice for me on this?

thanks

michael

[Guest RainBird]

Gongrats Evan!

Your soo lucky, I had to wait a over a year before I could start E because of living in such a remote area, I even had a psychiatrists report well before, I was almost about to pack my stuff and move down south to Sydney then, all of a sudden, my HRT became available here.

Lucky timing I guess. lol

I'm very happy for you!

xo

[Guest raydub]

Anyone have any advice for me on this?

mikethepunk...relax. take a few deep breaths and talk to your guy about it. ask him straight up why he would want/expect you to wait an extra three months after all the time youve been in therapy. demonstrate to him your level of understanding of hormone treatment. show him your knowledge of changes (permanent and reversible). make sure he knows of all the work youve done around it. who you have come out to? who you have to support you? your level of stability at work and in your living situation.

generally people only delay (or "keep you from") hormone therapy out of genuine concern for your life and your well-being. keep this in mind and just talk it all out. please remain willing to listen with this. if his concerns arent warranted then there is of course another more stern (on your behalf) conversation to be had

dont be discouraged. itll work out.

i hated it when my buddy said it to me but.. "youve waited THIS long.. an extra couple months wont kill you"

take care and please consider what ive said...

love

Raymond

btw.. nice to meet you. Welcome to the Playground.

rw

[Guest theEND]

Wow, well I don't know if it's the correct procedure or not, but it seems pretty cool to me. Congrats!!!

[Guest skyy]

It's both.

you just got points for brutal honesty. i guess like many things, its a combination of events, not one sole cause.

[Guest Evan_J]

Anyone have any advice for me on this?

Verifying that I understand you correctly....

Your shrink is giving you your T letter in a month and half but the med-doc doesn't want to act on it then?

Find a different med-doc. My therapist says any MD can prescribe it. Doesn't have to be a specific type as long as he (or she) is a doctor.

[Guest Jackson]

In terms of prescribing hormonal treatment, any physician can prescribe it. Estrogen is not a controlled medication, but testosterone (due to the abuse of anabolic steroids) is a controlled medication. Any doc can prescribe it for any reason.

The reason that some physicians are so restrictive on prescribing hormones for gender reassignment therapy is that they want to be sure that the person is mentally sound, the reason for gender reassignment is truly desired and warranted, and other issues are not involved in the person's desire to transition. My therapist knows of people who have not gone the recommended path and have done hormone treatment and surgery to learn that they are not happy in their new genders.

My primary care physician did not have any experience in prescribing testosterone and had no knowledge of the kind of monitoring that goes along with it. I ended up getting a therapy protocol from my prescribing physician for my primary doc so she would have some idea of what one needs to know in prescribing testosterone. There are serious dangers to one's health from taking testosterone without any kind of monitoring.

Sorry, got caught up in work again. Jeez. You'd think I would have learned by now.

[Guest Evan_J]

In terms of prescribing hormonal treatment, any physician can prescribe it. Estrogen is not a controlled medication, but testosterone (due to the abuse of anabolic steroids) is a controlled medication. Any doc can prescribe it for any reason.

The reason that some physicians are so restrictive on prescribing hormones for gender reassignment therapy is that they want to be sure that the person is mentally sound, the reason for gender reassignment is truly desired and warranted, and other issues are not involved in the person's desire to transition. My therapist knows of people who have not gone the recommended path and have done hormone treatment and surgery to learn that they are not happy in their new genders.

My primary care physician did not have any experience in prescribing testosterone and had no knowledge of the kind of monitoring that goes along with it. I ended up getting a therapy protocol from my prescribing physician for my primary doc so she would have some idea of what one needs to know in prescribing testosterone. There are serious dangers to one's health from taking testosterone without any kind of monitoring.

Sorry, got caught up in work again. Jeez. You'd think I would have learned by now.

Therapy protocol...I made a note of that phrase (wish I'd had it before friday lol) but my two docs are working together it seems. I just got the assurance that all the blood works etc will be mutual between the two.