Will The Doc.?????

[deebra]

If you get an appointment with a hormonial Doctor, walk in in male or drab clothing and ask to get started on male to female med's will they write you a prescription? This would be high estrogen with a testrozone blocker. If you request as high a dose as is safe with routine monitoring, will the Doc. prescribe it?

[ClosetED]

If that is all the physician has to go on, that you say you want female hormones, then the physician could lose their license prescribing that. Now if you came with a letter from a local psychiatrist that you have been diagnosed with Gender Identify Dysphoria, and have completed enought therapy that they suggest it, you might have a better chance. If you have lived as a woman for a year, then a much better chance.
Ellen, M.D.

[2B Natasha]

Isn't there a lot of blood work they need to do prior to prescribing anything related to hormones and or T blockers? Not really a question I know they have to. Just adding it to the post above.

[Tina955]

My therapist gave me a letter recommending low dose hrt, so I went to one of the doctors that was on a list of doctors who can prescribe hormones. Went in male mode, and this doctor was taken aback, saying most who come in for hrt, are already presenting as female. So he wanted me to get blood testing done first to see where my testosterone and estrogen levels were at. He kind of made me uncomfortable, so I never got the blood test or went back to see him. So I put it all on the back burner and am still frustrated and depressed. Procrastinating on going to another doctor. So living in limbo at this point.
Tina

[Heidi Stevens]

My experience Deebra, is similar to Tina's. Where things differ is once I got the letter from my therapist, the therapist suggested an Ob/gyn that she works with. I made the appointment and showed up drab for my first meeting. The Doctor was not surprised or in the dark about why I was there. I am on a low dose regimen now, but my first blood test won't be for a couple of weeks. At that time adjustment will be made. Both the doctor and the therapist are following the latest WPATH standards, so maybe for once we're ahead of the curve in this backwater!

[Beverley Sims]

Deebra,
No, to understand you only need to read the replies already submitted.

Tina,
I feel the doctor felt that you are not quite ready yet. He did correctly want blood tests to see where you are at the moment, by you being made uncomfortable, maybe the desire is not great enough yet. Your therapist may have been a little hasty in judgement too.

I say go back to the doctor when you are ready and feeling more confident of your desires.

[kimdl93]

Seems you've skipped over a few steps, as Ellen, MD notes above.

A letter from a behavioral health professional does not obviate the physician's obligation to obtain the clinical information needed to determine if HRT is medically appropriate and if so, to determine an appropriate, and safe dosage.

[Tina955]

Beverly, I am sure you are right in the doctor not thinking I am ready. I started seeing the therapist because my GD is running my life. The idea was to go on a low dose hrt to help calm my GD. I was under the impression a low dose would help with my GD and not cause any real noticeable physical changes. My therapist gave me the letter since he believed the same. But according to the doctor, hrt will start secondary female characteristics to begin.
True I am not totally ready to transition, due to not being out to any one yet and other issues like work. Was hoping a low dose would be able to calm me and clear my head as to be able to decide if transition is what I really need at this point in time. In my mind, I do feel I am destined to live my life out in depression unless I do something, and I thought the low dose would be a way to start to deal with the GD and depression. So without hrt, how do I go about getting out of this quagmire I am in. I can't look at a woman without thinking they are the lucky ones and I am just an ugly duckling never to be able to be the swan that they are. Lately I have been consumed with thoughts of coming out to my children and my siblings, but just can't seem to pull the trigger. So that just leads to thoughts of hoping my life will end sooner than later and I will be relieved of this burden. I don't know, my head is just spinning out of control as of late and I just try to get thru one day at a time living in this clouded world I feel I am in.
Tina

[Kate T]

Deebra, yeah, a little bit of a silly though common question. see previous replies obviously.

Tina, umm... Are you being truthful with your therapist? Really, you may or may not have GD, but you do seem to have anxiety because you have no one to talk to and are carrying around this huge secret. You need to focus with your therapist on dealing with why you haven't been able to communicate with your loved ones about this.

My PERSONAL opinion is that "low dose" HRT is a placebo. Those who take it feel better because they are taking actions to start resolving their psychological distress over being incongruent and deceptive. I'm sure they feel better but it is unlikely we are going to know whether they do because of the hormones or because of the decision. To an extent it doesn't really matter, at least as long as the individual is fully aware and happy with the possible consequences of taking hormones i.e. the possibility of feminisation, increased risk of stroke, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia etc.

[Tina955]

Adina, unfortunately I don't see the therapist anymore due to a change in med insurance that he doesn't carry. And he is the only one I could find in my area. As far as having GD, I am sure I have it bad. Never in my 59 years have I felt like a man. Just someone who had to put on an act for everyone. Did get married and had 2 children, but never really felt like a real husband or father. Just kind of hid behind it all. Now that my wife is gone and kids are just about middle age, I find everything has come to a head. I envy all trans women, and can't get it off my mind that I will never be truly happy unless I transition. 59 years of never being truly happy in any aspect of my life is taking its toll on me.
Tina

[deebra]

I don't get it, who are they to decide what's in your head, write the prescription so you can start become more feminine, if after some time you the patient decides to stop just stop, no damage done. It's not surgery. I know a 10 year post op male to female that says therapy was just a waste of her time and money. She knew exactly what she wanted and didn't need a Dr. to tell her so.

[Kate T]

I'm afraid the problem Deebra is in your lack of understanding of the consequences of taking a medicine. That is why most developed nations have prescribing laws.

Medicines are not lollies that you take or eat for a bit to see if you like them. Notable consequences of hormone medication include increased risk of stroke, adverse effects on liver function, increased risk of developing diabetes, hyperlipedemia, possible long term effect on spermatogenesis to name a few. Are you fully aware of those. Do you have other risk factors that could impact those risks? What are your current T levels, how do you know they are working? All that is why you just don't walk in to an Endocrinologist (we may as well use the correct terms here) and just ask for feminising hormone prescriptions.

[Eryn]

At a bare minimum, the endo will require informed consent forms and blood work to establish that you have no issues that contraindicate the prescribed therapy.

In addition, many if not most endos will require a letter from a qualified therapist stating that you have received gender counseling and are a candidate for hormone therapy.