Therapy

[princessheather86]

Hey everyone, Heather here. ^_^ I just wanted to post an update on my progress regarding transition.

Long story short, my therapy session didn't go that well, it was very short and I didn't raise the gender issues I was having. I kept meaning to but I just couldn't get the words out, and then it was over.:sad: But, it doesn't really matter anyway because the counsellors provided by my college can't make a diagnosis or write a referral, so I would've needed to find a GP/psych on my own time.

So I did. I found a clinic nearby to where I live that specifically caters to the LGBT community, and found a GP with specific expertise with gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. I emailed them to confirm this, (they mostly deal with patients living with HIV/AIDs, which doesn't apply to me) and today they told me that seeing a GP regarding gender dysphoria would be no problem!:)

So that's about it. Still kind of going slowly, but it's progress of a kind. Thank you all.

~Heather

[mbmeen12]

Crawl, walk, run or the oldest adage, Rome was not built in a day:) Great job in getting assistance too. //Kara//

[PaulaQ]

You are doing just fine Heather. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You'll be at this a while, and you did learn something on the process - not every therapist can / will help you.

[Lisa O]

Hey Heather.

You have made a really good and sensible start.

The Melbourne "process" is easy(ish) once you have the GP lined up - either Prahran or Northside. I rang for an appointment at Northside. They sometimes have a system of prioritising patients especially if they are new. I told the practice manager that I wanted a 30 minute appointment to see a GP for a Psychiatrist referral for GD and she immediately named one of the GPs and said "oh, he is very good at those". We talked for 20 minutes and the referral took 2 minutes! I also got a "treatment plan" letter to a gender therapist I was seeing (Psychologist). With both referrals in place, Medicare covers a large portion of that cost meaning I didn't need supported treatment through the Monash Gender Clinic. The Psychiatrist however needed the GP referral before I could get in his door. Given the HRT sign-off from him seems to be required, I just went with the process and from May to October (17th to be precise) 2013, job done. Yummy blue pills. My advice? Drive the bureaucratic process yourself and the rest will (should!) look after itself. By the way, my GP is a keeper!

Good luck.

[princessheather86]

Thank you all for your replies. ^_^

I am glad to meet a fellow Melbournian here, Lisa O! :D Since you mentioned it, Northside is the clinic I spoke to. I found a number of recommendations for them online while searching for a clinic in Melbourne, preferably not too far from where I live. Fortunately, Northside is only a 30 minute motorcycle ride from me.

I would like to ask, since you're in Australia too, exactly how much of the cost of transition is covered by Medicare? HRT, etc? I have actually never had to seek medical treatment for anything serious in my adult life, so I'm rather in the dark about how it actually works.

Thanks everyone!

~Heather

[Lisa O]

Hi Heather,

I was like you when I was younger - never involved myself with the medical profession. From about the time of my vasectomy in 2000, I have been a much more regular client (eye disease, gout and exercise injuries most of all!!) but still didn't really understand what happens.

For HRT, E (mine is Progynova) is on the PBS list and is subsidised. Comes to about $20 per month for my current dosage. Spiro I am not sure about but I am on a pretty low dose so it lats for ages anyway. P I haven't got to yet and will discuss this when I next visit at the beginning of April. With a diagnosis from a Psychiatrist (Dr Harte or Dr Erasmus are the main ones, may be others), I believe all prescriptions are covered by Medicare but this doesn't mean you pay nothing, it just means they are subsidised. If you have concession status, then they are cheaper still. Blood tests are all free. I even got the chromosome test done for free - not sure how my GP got that to happen! GP visits at Northside are bulk-billed so no direct payment there either.

Psychologists sessions are subsidised of you get a treatment plan from your GP. This is really just a referral and covers you for up to 10 visits per year. Mine charges $110 per hour and Medicare picks up $85. Without the plan, my health insurer pays out up to $300 per year. Psychiatrist? More expensive but Medicare does refund a certain amount. Haven't been for a while and can't remember exactly how much. Might be the same as for the Psychologist.

Regarding Northside, as long as they are aware you are after transgender care, you will get a GP who knows what they are doing. My GP does all the prescribing and as a result, I do not see an endo.

Enjoy your journey!

[BOBBI G.]

For what it's worth, when I started therapy, one of the first couple questions my brain crusher asked were, "Why are you here, and What are your expectations?" Two sessions later I had been referred to an Endo. Since then it has been a great road of discovery.

Bobbi

[Kaitlyn Michele]

You are doing fine!!!

All you can do is your best and you are young. At some point you can expect that everything will "click" and you'll realize you've made much more progress than you thought!

[princessheather86]

Well, I called Northside but they are very busy and not accepting new patients until the 1st of next month. :( :( :(

[PaulaQ]

I'd sign up anyway hon, I had quite a wait to get into see my gender therapist.

[princessheather86]

Yeah, they told me just to call them on April 1st to arrange an appointment, so that's what I'll do. It's only 2.5 weeks but it seems like so long. Heh, I guess I just need to be more patient. ^_^

[PaulaQ]

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of transition for me, hon. Get used to it - it happens a lot. :(

[Lisa O]

This.

For a city of around 4 million people, having 2 GP groups that focus on LGBTI health is spreading it too thin. It is what it is though. 1 April will be here very quickly. Remember too that Northside is the best place to start and waitinf a few weeks now is better than dealing with people who really aren't the best for your needs. However, you will need to discuss what you want and how best to get there. There will most likely be hoops to go through and at times it feels like gatekeeping. It may help to work out what you can do yourself and productively use the times you will be waiting. That all said, I am reasonably certain my own messing around (not counting the decades of not even being honest with myself) has resulted in more delays than the medical community has. And then there are all those other things life has you doing like working, raising a family, studying, travel... life has a habit of moving along.

[princessheather86]

Bump for great justice;

Today, I called Northside again and booked an appointment for 1:30PM tomorrow. Unfortunately the GP I wanted to see is not available, but I told them it's about gender dysphoria and they made an appointment with someone else. So excited and nervous!

[Janelle_C]

Heather I'm so happy for you. You'll do great I felt the same way on my first visit. Try and think ahead what you want to talk about, I know it's a little harder when you get in there and all these thoughts are going throw your head. It's a journey so enjoy it! Janelle

[princessheather86]

Well, I just got back! I spoke to the GP and she gave me a referral letter for a psychiatrist, so I will call them tomorrow and see how soon I can arrange a session. I'm also going back for a blood test tomorrow so they know about any medical issues that would interfere with HRT, for when that happens. Hopefully the psych will be able to see me soon.

[rob921]

I've told one person so fat bout my dressing and she unfortunately was psychology major in high school so her response was, "well we learned about the issued that cause that and how it effects people" but I don't see it as an issue I see it as a personality thing, oh you like the color blue and were t-shirts, well I like to wear women's clothing that doesn't mean there's an issue there, it's just what I like, and since then I kinda threw me since now I don't wanna tell other people because I thought she if anyone should understand bit didn't, so it's rough from there