First visit with the Dr.

[Emma Beth]

I needed some time to digest exactly what happened yesterday, and I'm still taking it all in.

I went to my appointment at 10:30 yesterday as scheduled. It was my initial visit with my Primary Care Physician at the VA.

I checked in 45 minutes early, which is 15 minutes earlier than they ask; and I waited.

While I waited, I got more and more antsy and nervous. Eventually I was more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. This would be the first person I have spoken to about this in the Health Care field and on any kind of Professional level.

I got called back around 10:45 and the LPN had 30 minutes to put me into the computer, she normally had an hour for this, and I informed her as to my primary reason for my visit when she asked me one of her many many questions. She was wonderful and very professional about it. We connected. She even made arrangements for me to be able to talk to the Clinic Therapist.

Then I got in to see my Primary Care Dr. and she was the same. Very understanding, kind, and Professional.

After I finished with her, I then got in to see the Clinic Therapist and I had a great talk with her. She openly admitted that she had no experience with Gender issues and that she would find someone that would be better qualified to openly discuss it with me.

Of course she had to ask the usual questions about suicide, alcohol consumption, and so on. She then had me fill out some paperwork. While I was filling out the paperwork, she was on her computer already looking up whatever she could find and she informed me that it looks like there is a VA Directive that states that someone seeking HRT at the VA doesn't need a Therapist Letter to start HRT. She wasn't 100% sure about it and that she would also look into that for me and she said that she would be in contact with me by Friday. If she didn't get back with me then giver her a call.

Before I left, she even asked me about name and how I identified as well as how I prefer to be addressed and called for. I told her that I have been going by my Grandmothers name a lot of places online and that I prefer Emma as far as names go.

As I said earlier, I'm still taking it all in; I'm very relieved though.

[JanePeterson]

Sounds like a great experience!!! Almost worth getting out just to have the support of the VA :)

Good luck on your journey - for all the crap they get, most folks I know who work for the VA are extraordinarily dedicated and caring people.

[AllieSF]

Congratulations on a very successful double appointment. It is wonderful when an organization turns out to be the almost direct opposite of what we may have anticipated. I have always heard disparaging remarks about the VA, and then a good friend of mine and a member of this site has been working her transition through the VA with, as far as I know, minimal or zero problems. Good surprises are always welcome especially when we had been expecting the worst. Are you ready for HRT, or ready to work with the therapist to find out or get prepared? Thanks for sharing this important milestone in your changing life.

[Emma Beth]

I'm ready for HRT. If that directive is still active and it hasn't been changed then I will ask them for it. However, I still plan to visit with the new therapist anyway; even if I'm already on hormones.

For the most part what the VA is really bad about is the long waits. Once you get in, the care is great. I've been working on getting this appointment since last August. I had it originally for November 25, but the Dr called in that day and they rescheduled me for yesterday.

Not to mention, I saw the fantastic care my Dad received from them before he passed away. I learned from my Dad that you just have to be very patient and persistent with them, among other things to navigate through that system.

A few minutes ago, I had a very long and deep conversation with my Mom about my appointment yesterday and she almost made me cry tears of joy by the way she opened up to me and let me open up to her.

[ErikaS]

Emma
I have been seen by the VA here is WI and have been on HRT a short time but all in all very good reaction the people are great and are helping me. When I was ready for HRT my therapist asked if i would like to start and it was done. I would also ask if you can see the Endo at your VA as most GP at the VA don't know much in the relm of HRT but you never know. Congrats on taking the step.

Erika

[Emma Beth]

Thank you Erika. I will be seeing someone in Endocrinology as well as a Gender therapist. I already learned that the people I have already seen need some educating, which I have already done some.