Endocrinologist Appointments - What to expect

[Guest OutOfSorts180]

Hey everyone who has already started HRT. I was wondering if during the initial appointment you will leave with an Rx prescription for the hormones? Or will there first be a need to give medical history, get blood work and wait until the lab blood results come back? And then hopefully on the 2nd appointment you get the script?

[Guest Leah1026]

Depends on the doctor. Some do the former and some the latter.

My doctor examined me, asked me a few medical questions, a couple trans related questions, read my letter of referral from my therapist, gave me some lab slips and wrote me a couple prescriptions. Then I saw him 4 months later for my first follow-up, but in the meantime he sent me a letter informing me of my lab results and saying he was looking forward to seeing me again. Since then I only see him once a year.

[Guest OutOfSorts180]

Thanks Leah for responding. I sure hope my initial appointment goes the same way. I really don't want to have to do lab work and then go back to get the script.

Because of the other medications I'm taking for high blood pressure and cholesterol, my current primary care doctor has me do lab work every 6 months or so. In fact, I just had blood/lab done about 3 weeks ago. I'm going to bring those results with me to the endo. Hopefully it will "help."

Also...to Leah and others, just curious, when you girls went to your first appointment (or follow-ups), I presume many of you were still in boy mode? And if so, I presume to some degree it was some embarrassing/awkward if other women patients are also there in the waiting room?

[Guest Jaded1]

My first appointment she sent me off to do some labs and then 2 weeks later when I came back she explained the lab results to me and told me that that is what we are going to use as a benchmark for my hormone levels. She started me off on the lowest doses of spiro and premarin and then I went back a month and a half later where she doubled my dose of premarin but did not want to alter my spiro dosage as she wanted to see what just the premarin will do and didn't want to cause to great of a shock to my body.

I am PERFECTLY on board with her treatment method as it makes perfect sense to me.

Remember, I know you are impatient, all of us were, but the journey will become such a great part of this "adventure" you are embarking on. Trust me when I say, slow and steady are the words of the day. You are almost there.

And I don't know about you, but I was given the option of patch, pill or poke and I chose pill simply because that way every day I feel I am actively doing something to forward my transition, but everyone is different.

[Guest Leah1026]

Also...to Leah and others, just curious, when you girls went to your first appointment (or follow-ups), I presume many of you were still in boy mode? And if so, I presume to some degree it was some embarrassing/awkward if other women patients are also there in the waiting room?

I think I went in boy mode the first two appointments and never again after that

I can understand being nervous, but the other people in the waiting room have no idea why you're there. They shouldn't ask you any questions in front of other people. They should call you into an office somewhere to ask you questions... away from anyone else.

[Guest OutOfSorts180]

Hey again Jaded1.

I guess if you read my response to your other post in the other topic, you'll know why I ask this question here. In any case, I do appreciate your response. I have another session with my GT this Friday and I intend talk to him about my thoughts on this and the timing of coming out.