GamerGuy,
I know exactly where you are coming from. I am in the VA system and that was nerve racking at first. Imagine a Marine and a veteran being transgender. However I was fortunate to first clear my dysphoria through the mental health perspective with a great VA psychiatrist and psychologist that were treating me at the time for PTSD. They have been so supportive and I could have not done this without them. (My VA psychiatrist also gave me a lengthy psychology evaluation as required by their policy).
Then the VA wanted to clear me medically through the health (physical) side of the system and that was fine. Next they sent me to see the endocrinologist at a regional center. I went to the regional center and I was so nervous that I thought I would have a panic attack. First I had to get blood tests and to be checked out in the endo clinic by a nurse and later by an intern. The intern asked why I was there on that day. He didn't even know that I was there seeking HRT. After the initial interview with the intern he left the room and I sat there on pins and needles.
Then the actual endocrinologist comes in the exam room with the intern and says........... So you have gender dysphoria and according to your chart we agree. This was because my mental health team had paved the way. (I am so thankful I live in an area where I get great care through the VA). He (the endocrinologist) asked me a lot of questions about GD and if I had any knowledge about how the treatment might progress. Well, I had done a lot of research about DHT, different hormone regiments, and how they might affect my body in the long run. I think knowledge presented to professionals goes a long way in their making a decision on approval. Know the side effects with such things as tobacco usage, DVT, and the unlikely possibility of harm that HRT may present.
Early on during the interview with the endocrinologist he set me at ease. He saw that I was sincere with my decision and he supported me 100%. Most all doctors are compassionate and are not looking for a confrontational visit. They want what is best for you in the long run. They have to ask some tough questions before HRT to assure that you are sincere and understand the consequences of your decision.
As I stated, in just a few minutes with the doctor I felt at ease and ultimately was prescribed an anti-androgen (spironolactone) and estradiol transdermal. I had to drive 90 miles home with the biggest smile on my face that I ever had. Imagine that!
Today my breasts are filling out and the pain in them is surprisingly refreshing. My nipples and areolas have expanded and I have some breast buds as well. I just wish this had happened twenty years ago. However, the VA did not recognize gender dysphoria then and offered no treatment.
The one thing I can't understand about GD is how some of us want to just have tits and some of us want a vagina as well. For me I want to be totally female and that includes SRS and all that goes with it. That is just me and I don't expect anyone to agree with me if they are not in that mindset. GD is an individual consequence of who we actually are. One size never fits all. But for me I have always saw myself as a woman and nothing less other than a physical impairment that we all call a penis. "To each their own"! That moment I put my sister's panties on at the age of 8 I became that little girl that was trying to escape from my disfigured body. It never would let go and I thought I should die than admit that I was a weird person. I even shot myself at one point to try to get away from the pain I was feeling. That is the one thing that I could never out run…………the pain of feeling abnormal and being a freak.
I have finally accepted the reality of my dysphoria many years later and don't regret my decision to begin HRT. After one year I hope to have SRS and to fulfill my dream to be and die as a woman. Individual choices are what we all must make at some point in our lives.
I wish all of you the best and hope you succeed in your journey whatever it might be. Stay brave and don't let this condition defeat you. Today anything is possible. You have to want it bad enough to actually do it. And, it sure ain't easy! Most things in life never come easy for those of us that are different from the mainstream. You know that because you are here looking for answers. Yet we also know that we were born this way and cannot change who we are.
Kindest regards to you gamerguy and all others on this board,
KellyT
I know exactly where you are coming from. I am in the VA system and that was nerve racking at first. Imagine a Marine and a veteran being transgender. However I was fortunate to first clear my dysphoria through the mental health perspective with a great VA psychiatrist and psychologist that were treating me at the time for PTSD. They have been so supportive and I could have not done this without them. (My VA psychiatrist also gave me a lengthy psychology evaluation as required by their policy).
Then the VA wanted to clear me medically through the health (physical) side of the system and that was fine. Next they sent me to see the endocrinologist at a regional center. I went to the regional center and I was so nervous that I thought I would have a panic attack. First I had to get blood tests and to be checked out in the endo clinic by a nurse and later by an intern. The intern asked why I was there on that day. He didn't even know that I was there seeking HRT. After the initial interview with the intern he left the room and I sat there on pins and needles.
Then the actual endocrinologist comes in the exam room with the intern and says........... So you have gender dysphoria and according to your chart we agree. This was because my mental health team had paved the way. (I am so thankful I live in an area where I get great care through the VA). He (the endocrinologist) asked me a lot of questions about GD and if I had any knowledge about how the treatment might progress. Well, I had done a lot of research about DHT, different hormone regiments, and how they might affect my body in the long run. I think knowledge presented to professionals goes a long way in their making a decision on approval. Know the side effects with such things as tobacco usage, DVT, and the unlikely possibility of harm that HRT may present.
Early on during the interview with the endocrinologist he set me at ease. He saw that I was sincere with my decision and he supported me 100%. Most all doctors are compassionate and are not looking for a confrontational visit. They want what is best for you in the long run. They have to ask some tough questions before HRT to assure that you are sincere and understand the consequences of your decision.
As I stated, in just a few minutes with the doctor I felt at ease and ultimately was prescribed an anti-androgen (spironolactone) and estradiol transdermal. I had to drive 90 miles home with the biggest smile on my face that I ever had. Imagine that!
Today my breasts are filling out and the pain in them is surprisingly refreshing. My nipples and areolas have expanded and I have some breast buds as well. I just wish this had happened twenty years ago. However, the VA did not recognize gender dysphoria then and offered no treatment.
The one thing I can't understand about GD is how some of us want to just have tits and some of us want a vagina as well. For me I want to be totally female and that includes SRS and all that goes with it. That is just me and I don't expect anyone to agree with me if they are not in that mindset. GD is an individual consequence of who we actually are. One size never fits all. But for me I have always saw myself as a woman and nothing less other than a physical impairment that we all call a penis. "To each their own"! That moment I put my sister's panties on at the age of 8 I became that little girl that was trying to escape from my disfigured body. It never would let go and I thought I should die than admit that I was a weird person. I even shot myself at one point to try to get away from the pain I was feeling. That is the one thing that I could never out run…………the pain of feeling abnormal and being a freak.
I have finally accepted the reality of my dysphoria many years later and don't regret my decision to begin HRT. After one year I hope to have SRS and to fulfill my dream to be and die as a woman. Individual choices are what we all must make at some point in our lives.
I wish all of you the best and hope you succeed in your journey whatever it might be. Stay brave and don't let this condition defeat you. Today anything is possible. You have to want it bad enough to actually do it. And, it sure ain't easy! Most things in life never come easy for those of us that are different from the mainstream. You know that because you are here looking for answers. Yet we also know that we were born this way and cannot change who we are.
Kindest regards to you gamerguy and all others on this board,
KellyT