Hi all, first thread in this section from me, and I've been thinking a lot about transitioning.. and well made up my mind as well.
Before my story I've written a comparison (from my point of view) between getting the necessary help in the US vs. Norway, as my current actions are not of which you'll agree on (-either way, but this may shed some light on it).
So from what I've understand in the US when a trans* person feels the need to transition part or full time s/he will often consult their GP at first which will send them on to a therapist/psychiatrist who will evaluate them and if seen necessary set up for an endocrinologist where hrt evaluation and treatment will be received.
The timespan for getting on hrt from you first contact your GP or a therapist as far as I know can be weeks to months (or more?) depending on waiting times, sessions needed and the patients certainty and will to move on.
In Norway the first part of all this is quite the same, contact your GP, be forwarded to a therapist, be evaluated for further treatment.
The next step however is where this country fail at helping most transgenders who are in need of help.
After the evaluation from the therapist you will not be sent to an endo for treatment but rather to Rikshospitalet in Oslo, Norway where you will meet 3, and only 3 people that are to re-evaluate you and decide if you really have the diagnose TransSexual Type F.64.0.
If you are diagnosed F.64.1-9 you do Not receive any further treatment and are simply sent back to your previous health care/therapist.
There will be No follow-up on people failing the evaluation and really no second opinions either (as you can only complain about the diagnose received to the 3 people that gave it to you in the first place, and they're done with you).
If you do get the F.64.0 however you will have to start RLE right away and disclose your new gender to everyone you know - work, family, friends and live as the gender you are transitioning to for one year.
During this period you will need to show you can be stable and meet the diagnostic criteria. After which and if successful you will receive an endocrinological evaluation and likely get on hrt.
And here again is where this differs from other countries (eg. US); There is no "part" transition in Norway, there is Full or Nothing.
After you've lived yet another year, this time on hrt though you will be set up for SRS and if necessary/wanted FFS, breast implants and other surgeries.
There may also be a waiting list in all this and the transition may take 8-10 years to complete.
And from statistics I've read, about 25% of the trans* people being sent to Rikshospitalet for an evaluation to transition gets a "yes".
The remaining 75% gets a "no" and is simply sent home, as said; no follow-up, no second opinion and no help - ever.
Most of those getting the help lies or avoid saying too much in order to increase their chances for getting through, and will have to agree to get the full package (SRS/castration) which is the Only deal.
(On the bright side if you get the help through them you'd be getting everything for free though).
There's been a few articles in the news I've seen from the last few years complaining about that Rikshospitalet is putting way to strict requirements on people wanting to transition, and that they (the 3 people) have monopoly for the help and fate of every trans* person in Norway.
I can only hope that with the uprising of the trans community it will become easier to get the help needed here in Norway too (rather sooner than later).
As for me I wish to transition at my own pace and only a "part" transition until further, but the dysphoria I've been feeling (self-hate/disgust, unease, fear, short depressions?, aggression, loss of focus/concentration) have had to be dealt with somehow. In turn and going against all risks, I have chose to take the route of self-administration of whatever I can get across the border into this country (With extensive research to ensure my safety as far as I can of course).
I do have an appointment with my GP on 1th of July and will bring everything I'm taking then and taken so far and discuss the issue and possibility of (hopefully) getting the blood work done etc. to ensure my general health even though it is self-administrated.
And even though no GP can prescribe any medication for this diagnosis, I guess there's a slight change another semi-related diagnosis could be used to at least get one of the medications needed prescribed under that instead, but still probably getting my hopes up too much here now, as she'd have to agree to it all in the first place anyway.
Summary of the Norwegian health care system to date is: Top of the world - unless you are a Trans* person.
Thanks for reading~Amalie
