Maryanne_sa
02-24-2010, 05:33 PM
The good.
On Friday last week, I had my appointment, arranged by my doctor, with the Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton.
I had my eyebrows shaped in the morning, partly as I wanted them to look nice for the appointment, and partly because I was overdue for a salon visit. I had some other waxing done at the same time,
I dressed in my black skirt, a floral top, red jumper, black opaque tights, and black shoes, red coat, make-up & wig, and off I went. I caught the 493 from Southfields which stops right outside Queen Mary's. I was about 30 minutes early, so I had a coffee in the coffee bar downstairs to pass the time.
During the appointment, we covered my childhood, childhood friendships, (I had boy and girl friendships when I was young, which they thought was unusual as most children are friends mainly with the own sex at that age - they said!) relations with my parents? When did I started dressing, What was my relationship with my father, mother etc? Was my father the dominant figure in the household (No, he was not) Who was my female roll model. (my grandmother) She was the one who saw the female in me, and often said I should have been born a girl.
Had I had any homosexual experience? (No, I have not, and have never been attracted to males). Had i seriously contemplated suicide.?
What did I call my private parts? Nothing, I just want them gone!. The Pscyhologist said that I was embarrassed talking about my body. I agreed and said that's because it's the wrong body.
We then had a discussion on what I wanted doing. - hormones, surgery, laser hair removal, femininine facial surgery ( I said I realise that the NHS would not pay for this one.) My appointment lasted for about an hour and 20 minutes. Eventually, they said that they did not need to see me again and would refer me to The Charing Cross Gender Cllinic. There is probably quite a lot of stuff, I left out in the above synopsis, but this is the jist of the appointment.
Feeling really happy and relaxed after the appointment, I took the bus back and decided to go to the pub and have a half a laager as I did not feel like going home yet, but also due to my decision not to be scared to do and go everywhere in public as the women that I am.
I was quietly sitting in the corner, thinking about the appointment and other things I should have said, when a somewhat inebriated gentleman, on his way to the loo, stopped at my table and said 'Awright Girl?' 'Yes, I'm fine thank you', I said, and he trundled off up the stairs to the loo.
Abouth 15 minutes later, the same gentleman, on his way to the loo again, stopped at my table and said 'awright girl?' 'Yes, I'm fine thank you' I said. 'Are you alone girl?? 'No, I said, my friend will be here soon' I said.' Well, don't worry', he said, patting my arm.'I'll look after you'. and off he trundled up the stairs. It was difficult not to laugh. Anyway, I finished my half a laager, and decided at this point that discretion was the best option , so I left, before he came trundling down.
The Bad,
I have just read Carole Cross's post that says it has taken a year from her referral to Charing Cross, to get her first appointment. It's wonderful for her to have a date, but terrible news to read that it has taken a year!, and I am really down about this as I am of more advanced age, so, as the Psycholgist said, time is of the essence. I will have to find another way. I can wait for surgery, but I won't wait a year before I can go on hormones. I will have to look at the cost of going private, which I can ill afford, especially as my wife and I seperated in November and there are now two households to support. Oh dear! What to do? Ah well!!! Right now, the tears are welling in my eyes, and I could not feel more down.
Maryanne,
On Friday last week, I had my appointment, arranged by my doctor, with the Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton.
I had my eyebrows shaped in the morning, partly as I wanted them to look nice for the appointment, and partly because I was overdue for a salon visit. I had some other waxing done at the same time,
I dressed in my black skirt, a floral top, red jumper, black opaque tights, and black shoes, red coat, make-up & wig, and off I went. I caught the 493 from Southfields which stops right outside Queen Mary's. I was about 30 minutes early, so I had a coffee in the coffee bar downstairs to pass the time.
During the appointment, we covered my childhood, childhood friendships, (I had boy and girl friendships when I was young, which they thought was unusual as most children are friends mainly with the own sex at that age - they said!) relations with my parents? When did I started dressing, What was my relationship with my father, mother etc? Was my father the dominant figure in the household (No, he was not) Who was my female roll model. (my grandmother) She was the one who saw the female in me, and often said I should have been born a girl.
Had I had any homosexual experience? (No, I have not, and have never been attracted to males). Had i seriously contemplated suicide.?
What did I call my private parts? Nothing, I just want them gone!. The Pscyhologist said that I was embarrassed talking about my body. I agreed and said that's because it's the wrong body.
We then had a discussion on what I wanted doing. - hormones, surgery, laser hair removal, femininine facial surgery ( I said I realise that the NHS would not pay for this one.) My appointment lasted for about an hour and 20 minutes. Eventually, they said that they did not need to see me again and would refer me to The Charing Cross Gender Cllinic. There is probably quite a lot of stuff, I left out in the above synopsis, but this is the jist of the appointment.
Feeling really happy and relaxed after the appointment, I took the bus back and decided to go to the pub and have a half a laager as I did not feel like going home yet, but also due to my decision not to be scared to do and go everywhere in public as the women that I am.
I was quietly sitting in the corner, thinking about the appointment and other things I should have said, when a somewhat inebriated gentleman, on his way to the loo, stopped at my table and said 'Awright Girl?' 'Yes, I'm fine thank you', I said, and he trundled off up the stairs to the loo.
Abouth 15 minutes later, the same gentleman, on his way to the loo again, stopped at my table and said 'awright girl?' 'Yes, I'm fine thank you' I said. 'Are you alone girl?? 'No, I said, my friend will be here soon' I said.' Well, don't worry', he said, patting my arm.'I'll look after you'. and off he trundled up the stairs. It was difficult not to laugh. Anyway, I finished my half a laager, and decided at this point that discretion was the best option , so I left, before he came trundling down.
The Bad,
I have just read Carole Cross's post that says it has taken a year from her referral to Charing Cross, to get her first appointment. It's wonderful for her to have a date, but terrible news to read that it has taken a year!, and I am really down about this as I am of more advanced age, so, as the Psycholgist said, time is of the essence. I will have to find another way. I can wait for surgery, but I won't wait a year before I can go on hormones. I will have to look at the cost of going private, which I can ill afford, especially as my wife and I seperated in November and there are now two households to support. Oh dear! What to do? Ah well!!! Right now, the tears are welling in my eyes, and I could not feel more down.
Maryanne,