Can some one please help me?

[Nicole Brown]

I have been a member of this forum for quite a few years and yet have never posted a thread in this section. Quite a bit has changed for me in the past few weeks and I find myself entering into an area which I have long dreamed of, but wasn't ready to admit to. I now find myself ready to accept who I really am and how I need to live the rest of my life. After a few years of regularly scheduled meetings with my therapist, I am finally in possession of my HRT letter.
This letter was a long time coming, and until I finally received it, I kept questioning myself. This questioning was of course foolish as I always wound up at the same place and with the same feelings and needs. Well, my soon to be X left for a week to visit our daughter and this has allowed me to live full time for the entire period. Being myself for 7 full days just seems so totally natural and honest to me, that i wonder how it has taken me so long to get here.
Last week, I drove out to New Hope, PA for a few days to meet a friend, look for a condo and most importantly for an appointment with Dr Sherman Leis. Dr. Leis spent about 2 hours with me and at the end of the meeting he simply asked me, so when do we start your surgeries. He said it as if he already knew that I would be beginning my transition.
During our conversation, Dr. Leis asked me who I planned to use for local medical care. This made me start thinking and I came to realize that I need to identify and contact several new doctors as I move forward.
I would appreciate it if any of you ladies have experience with and would be willing to make a recommendation for doctors in the central New Jersey area. I of course am looking for doctors who are experienced with girls like us and are board certified. So, I need to locate an Endocrinologist and an Internist to start with.
Thank you all in advance for any help that you can provide.

[Jorja]

Not too long ago there was a thread about doctors near New Jersey. The one that sticks in my mind was The Callen-Lorde clinic in NewYork City. http://callen-lorde.org/contact_us.html I don't know if that is close to you or not. Hopefully some local girls will be along shortly.

[Nicole Brown]

Thanks Jorja, You know, I kinda remember that post myself. I was trying to avoid going into NYC or Philly for local care as each is between 60 and 90 minutes driving time depending on traffic. Hopefully, one of the girls will know of the doctors I need a little closer.

[MC-lite]

Yup. That was me telling Emmicd where to go to start HRT. :)

What you could do is go to the closest local hospital and make an appointment to see an endocrinologist there if they have one. Or, you could go to a medical center near you and get a referral. Just make sure that the endo understands HRT as it applies to trans people. Of course you need to feel comfortable with the doctor as well.

Callen-lorde handles my transition. Even if they fast-track you, you'll get an initial psych eval, a physical and initial bloodwork (To establish baseline horomone levels and to drug test you), and at least one session with the gatekeeper therapist. If all goes well, you'll get an appointment for meds. Remember that this will all take place over the span of a few months.

Good luck with everything.

:Miki.