HRT

[Susan]

So i was doing some more research onhrt and who to go to and i found something interesting. There is a thing called informal consent for hrt. From the way i read it , there are some doctors out there that don't require a letter for hrt. They will explain the the side effects and any other things of importants but they leave it up to the patient. And yes they do follow WPATH protocal. Ihave found one doctor here in Boise Idaho that does it this way, but i do think i see a therapist as well because. i know i will still need help. Comments? ??? Thanks all

[Kirsten]

This is how my office is here in Boston. They ask you a lot of basic questions when you go in to establish that you are not crazy, and understand what you are doing. But they do recommend therapy. And they are really cautious still I think. Basically they’re doing both jobs. The therapist and the doctor. And actually my doctor is an RN not a doctor. It makes things easier in some ways. But either way you’ll still end up in the same place. 

Happy and healthy!!! 

❤️Kirsten 

[Susan]

well the one i found seems to know alot about transgender also. i guess i will find out . the bad thing is insurance wont cover it. ?

[Alex Skelton]

my therapist brought this up to me as well. its honestly pretty cool that people dont need to get letters anymore to get on hormones and such. I still think that you do need to get a letter if you want any surgeries though. That may very from surgeon to surgeon.

[Kirsten]

Will they cover it with a letter @stbSusan? I know my insurance covers my meds, therapy, and some surgery. I have no letter but my therapist would write one if I needed. And I believe I’ll need that for bottom surgery. But I’m not positive. That’s still years out. 

[Raven1981]

Most insurance don't really cover HRT and no insurance that I know of covers therapy.  Some insurance does cove HRT and they only cover one way but if change mind it wont cover to go back.  Insurance is very tricky.

 

I would still go to a therapist and ask the therapist what doctor they recommend.  Reason why I say that is cause I meet another trans that was very anxious and also did not have a lot of money so they bypassed the therapist and bypassed the letter, went to a doctor in a clinic to get hormones, they were over dosed instead of easing into it and 8 months later on the patches that are supposed to be safe and slow, they got a blood clot and now they have a bunch of medical problems to deal with and are taken off the hormones till they are well enough to go back on the hormones.  They are going through withdrawals and want to take hormones once again and even want to self medicate but they now have medical problems since they weren't being watched correctly and got into a rush.

 

I am just putting in my 2 cents and this is something that needs to be taken at a slow pace and ease into it to make sure the body reacts correctly.

 

Lots of Love

 

Amy 

[BrandiBri]

I agree with Amy, a therapist is instrumental in guiding you through the process. Having the right doctor that is knowledgeable about trans issues is absolutely necessary

Hugs,

Brandi

[Raven1981]

So I want to add for myself that I am on injections and I give myself a once a week injection.  I do it every Wednesday and usually on Tuesday like today I am going through withdrawals where I want to give myself another injection early.  I get anxious at times as well and want to give me another injection a day early but I have to keep on reminding myself that I have to wait till Wednesday.  I want to give me a shot but I cant till Wednesday.  I cannot wait till July 23rd to do my lab work to see where my numbers are at now that I am on injections and cannot wait till July 30th to see my doctor and see how things are going and talk and make sure everything is fine.

 

Lots of Love

 

Amy

[Jani]

Many physicians are using the Informed Consent model.  The thought is we can make up our own minds after getting information about the pros and cons.  

 

As Amy notes the injectables do enter the body differently than transdermals (patches or cream) and therefore you can get mood swings due to less E in your system near the end of the cycle. 

 

Jani

[Charlize]

I received one letter to start HRT and then my provider spent a long time explaining both the effects of HRT and things i should do health wise as a trans woman .that differ from previous healthcare.  For surgery i needed a second letter.  My therapy certainly helped me with finding and then accepting myself.  I had to pay out of pocket but it was money well spent.  Oddly it was perhaps having to pay for it that made me be as open and honest as i could be right away.  I'm a bit of a cheapskate.

I am on a transdermal and since i get my E on a daily basis i have avoided the mood swings that others speak about.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize