I've had a bad day :( it looks like hrt isn't as accessible as I thought.

[hmillerrr]

Hey guys! It's been a bad day. I see an endocrinologist for thyroid issues and stuff and I thought I'd ask about hrt and he told me that the only endo that aids in that stuff was in San Diego (as far as he knew).. it's such a setback. I started crying when I heard. I don't know what to do anymore I can't live like this anymore. ? hes gotta be wrong he's got to. How to i go about finding out for sure if san Diego is the only endo that can help me? I live about 2 to 3 1/2 hours from there ? and while that isn't that bad it is for someone who is barely if not at all independent financially yet. I need helping finding out where I could look or search to find my answers. It doesn't help that my therapist doesn't know anything about trans related things or that this isn't simply a "want" like getting a dog...

Ugh.. I'm sorry you guys. I don't mean to dump my problems on anyone. This revelation has just been weighing on me all day.

-Trevor

[Charlize]

   I can certainly understand your frustration.  When i made the decision that i was ready for HRT it seemed that obstacles simply kept jumping up in front of me.  Looking back perhaps that was a good thing.  I had a good chance to have therapy with a therapist who knew a great deal about gender issues.

   Try to take a deep breath.....breath out as well.  I'm beginning to feel that transition takes a lifetime.  Taking one step even if it is simply talking to your endocrinologist or therapist is a step.  Others will move you farther.

You are not alone.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Kirsten]

I was told there were no endos near me that administered hrt when I started as well. By my doctor. So I made the hr+ ride to the city for it. But now after finally finding a close by gender therapist I see an endo and pcp that we’re both IN MY DOCTORS PRACTICE that do all my hrt stuff. Makes me mad, but I doubt he really knew. There’s even closer ones. Like 15 minutes away, but I go where I do now because it’s close to my work.  Look up endos near you and call. Start working your way out. Maybe you’ll find a closer one. Just because someone says something doesn’t make it true. 

But if you do end up having to go to San Diego, it’s not as bad as you think. All the lab work can probably be done closer to you, and after the first 3 visits it’s like 2x a year and that’s it. So the distance isn’t as much of an issue as it seems.  

[hmillerrr]

9 hours ago, Charlize said:

   I can certainly understand your frustration.  When i made the decision that i was ready for HRT it seemed that obstacles simply kept jumping up in front of me.  Looking back perhaps that was a good thing.  I had a good chance to have therapy with a therapist who knew a great deal about gender issues.

   Try to take a deep breath.....breath out as well.  I'm beginning to feel that transition takes a lifetime.  Taking one step even if it is simply talking to your endocrinologist or therapist is a step.  Others will move you farther.

You are not alone.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

Thank you @Charlize you're definitely right. This is definitely gonna be a long journey but I'm sure it makes it feel all the more great in the end. I appreciate this tons! *hugs*

Trevor

[hmillerrr]

9 hours ago, Kirsten said:

I was told there were no endos near me that administered hrt when I started as well. By my doctor. So I made the hr+ ride to the city for it. But now after finally finding a close by gender therapist I see an endo and pcp that we’re both IN MY DOCTORS PRACTICE that do all my hrt stuff. Makes me mad, but I doubt he really knew. There’s even closer ones. Like 15 minutes away, but I go where I do now because it’s close to my work.  Look up endos near you and call. Start working your way out. Maybe you’ll find a closer one. Just because someone says something doesn’t make it true. 

But if you do end up having to go to San Diego, it’s not as bad as you think. All the lab work can probably be done closer to you, and after the first 3 visits it’s like 2x a year and that’s it. So the distance isn’t as much of an issue as it seems.  

Ahhh this gives me hope, ur right in definitely gonna have to start with a gender therapist and see what doors will open. I appreciate all the feedback, it really helps to gather information when I hear others ' experiences. Thank you @Kirsten

[Kirsten]

Anytime

[illisson]

Kirsten and Charlize already said it, but I'll third it: definitely do your own research, because doctors and therapists aren't reliable yellow pages.

 

The first therapist I went to in my current city had "gender identity" listed as one of her areas of expertise (both on her website and in her listing on my insurance company's directory of therapists), and her office was super close to my apartment, so I scheduled an appointment with her. Turns out she knew almost nothing about gender identity issues, didn't write letters of support for HRT or surgeries, wasn't aware of any local support groups specifically for trans folks, and didn't know of any endocrinologists or surgeons who could perform top surgery. For the record, I live in a big city that absolutely has all three of those final things.

 

So I thanked her for her time, did some more looking, and am now much better off for it. My new therapist is a little farther away (which is why I'd not chosen him in the first place), but finding someone with actual experience and expertise is worth the extra bit of driving. Today my therapist even mentioned that he'd texted Dr. Curtis Crane--whom I want to have perform my top surgery--about something, and I felt a bit starstruck. My first therapist hadn't even heard of Dr. Crane, but this one is on a texting basis with him! Heck yes.

 

Long story short: doing your own research is the way to go, for sure.