RachelDee
11-18-2010, 07:38 PM
If you've read a few of my previous posts you probably know that my current path through therapy/transition is going to be through the NHS.
However, I have also been trying to find out what private routes there may be within my price range. Obviously things like surgery etc are going to be £1000's (if not tens of) and thats a much bigger financial commitment that i wouldnt be able to do at the moment. Those things are far off anyway.
I was trying to find out if the Charing Cross or Nottingham's GIC did private assessments. I have had varying estimates on time frames through the NHS with them, and none of them good. I am not sure private funding decreases your waiting time either. They seem to be busy places...
My own personal goal is (if im going to do this) be on HRT/HT before im 29. Then at 30 (or before) be doing RLE. In the year between that id be preparing myself, and sorting things out like voice/walk/hair and so forth. Not to mention working out what make-up to use, what suits me, what clothes would be flattering (and helpful to passing) and all the other million things it seems like there are to do. Not least my hair growing out too! I am not going to pass with short hair, so i need to allow that to grow. All this would be building up to the eventual full-time transition, and having a year to experiment and ease myself into it.
I think thats a realistic goal for me personally.
I have wasted 5 years already, and id like to get this started in my twenties (maybe the difference of 2 years wouldnt be much? but it feels like it to me).
However with the GID waiting list estimates of 4 months (NHS says) to 14 months (actual people say), then at least 3 visits 3 months apart, that could take me almost 2 years before i get diagnosed and approved for anything. So i may well be blowing out my 30th birthday candles as Robert. I'll have lost it way before then :eek:
Anyways, so through various links ppl on here have given me and hunting around i stumbled upon http://www.transhealth.co.uk/ -Trying to get info from various transgender forums/websites it seems they are quite good? This forum even has a sticky of info from the Dr that runs it.
I had a look at their website, and they actually list prices. I can actually afford to do this right now. There are still 3 visits 3 months apart, but id hope the waiting time would be cut down quite a bit. The comment i saw online was that an appointment was gained within a week..... which would be fantastic.
I am going to bring this up with my GP next week. I have to go back to tell her about my choice to go ahead with the referral. I was unaware that she had to apply for funding when i went last time, I assumed id be sent to someone to chat about the issues first.
My question right now is has anyone on this forum used Transhealth?
Anything they can tell me about it would be great.
Im unsure what to expect, even if i have read up a bit. In many ways reading NHS guidelines it feels like i have to becareful what i might say, and that i need to 'prove myself worthy' of treatment. I don't want to lie to anyone.... why would i.... but its like, you wait so long to get to see anyone, and if u dont conform to their standards/requirements they may boot u off. Those are not thoughts & pressures i want to be feeling when im trying to work out such serious questions about myself and my future.
Who wants to be thinking "Now if i say 'X' is this going to count against me? If i share 'Y' will that make them think this...." etc. You want to be able to tell someone how you feel fully and not be concerned with being denied treatment, you want them to help you understand yourself. Not judge if you are worth their time :straightface: (perhaps i have this all wrong?).
Maybe im just scared i wont be diagnosed and will find myself without any options. If someone tells me im not TS and i still feel i am, what then? Do i accept the diagnosis and make the best of being male assuming these feelings will fade? :straightface:
Hmm.... rly need to stop ranting in these posts :o
So, anything anyone can share about this place would be helpful. It is quite a ways from me in London, but it seems to be popular.
Does anyone think that i should still get my GP referral to the Nottingham Clinic still? (though from what ive read Charing Cross is better, its just quite a long way away).
I am slightly confused about what happens if im going to Transhealth for diagnosis and support, when the GIC are going to be diagnosing me too in X period of months? Suppose thats something i need to ask the GP about. Times like this i wish my family knew so they could help me work stuff out, lots of things to think about.
However, I have also been trying to find out what private routes there may be within my price range. Obviously things like surgery etc are going to be £1000's (if not tens of) and thats a much bigger financial commitment that i wouldnt be able to do at the moment. Those things are far off anyway.
I was trying to find out if the Charing Cross or Nottingham's GIC did private assessments. I have had varying estimates on time frames through the NHS with them, and none of them good. I am not sure private funding decreases your waiting time either. They seem to be busy places...
My own personal goal is (if im going to do this) be on HRT/HT before im 29. Then at 30 (or before) be doing RLE. In the year between that id be preparing myself, and sorting things out like voice/walk/hair and so forth. Not to mention working out what make-up to use, what suits me, what clothes would be flattering (and helpful to passing) and all the other million things it seems like there are to do. Not least my hair growing out too! I am not going to pass with short hair, so i need to allow that to grow. All this would be building up to the eventual full-time transition, and having a year to experiment and ease myself into it.
I think thats a realistic goal for me personally.
I have wasted 5 years already, and id like to get this started in my twenties (maybe the difference of 2 years wouldnt be much? but it feels like it to me).
However with the GID waiting list estimates of 4 months (NHS says) to 14 months (actual people say), then at least 3 visits 3 months apart, that could take me almost 2 years before i get diagnosed and approved for anything. So i may well be blowing out my 30th birthday candles as Robert. I'll have lost it way before then :eek:
Anyways, so through various links ppl on here have given me and hunting around i stumbled upon http://www.transhealth.co.uk/ -Trying to get info from various transgender forums/websites it seems they are quite good? This forum even has a sticky of info from the Dr that runs it.
I had a look at their website, and they actually list prices. I can actually afford to do this right now. There are still 3 visits 3 months apart, but id hope the waiting time would be cut down quite a bit. The comment i saw online was that an appointment was gained within a week..... which would be fantastic.
I am going to bring this up with my GP next week. I have to go back to tell her about my choice to go ahead with the referral. I was unaware that she had to apply for funding when i went last time, I assumed id be sent to someone to chat about the issues first.
My question right now is has anyone on this forum used Transhealth?
Anything they can tell me about it would be great.
Im unsure what to expect, even if i have read up a bit. In many ways reading NHS guidelines it feels like i have to becareful what i might say, and that i need to 'prove myself worthy' of treatment. I don't want to lie to anyone.... why would i.... but its like, you wait so long to get to see anyone, and if u dont conform to their standards/requirements they may boot u off. Those are not thoughts & pressures i want to be feeling when im trying to work out such serious questions about myself and my future.
Who wants to be thinking "Now if i say 'X' is this going to count against me? If i share 'Y' will that make them think this...." etc. You want to be able to tell someone how you feel fully and not be concerned with being denied treatment, you want them to help you understand yourself. Not judge if you are worth their time :straightface: (perhaps i have this all wrong?).
Maybe im just scared i wont be diagnosed and will find myself without any options. If someone tells me im not TS and i still feel i am, what then? Do i accept the diagnosis and make the best of being male assuming these feelings will fade? :straightface:
Hmm.... rly need to stop ranting in these posts :o
So, anything anyone can share about this place would be helpful. It is quite a ways from me in London, but it seems to be popular.
Does anyone think that i should still get my GP referral to the Nottingham Clinic still? (though from what ive read Charing Cross is better, its just quite a long way away).
I am slightly confused about what happens if im going to Transhealth for diagnosis and support, when the GIC are going to be diagnosing me too in X period of months? Suppose thats something i need to ask the GP about. Times like this i wish my family knew so they could help me work stuff out, lots of things to think about.