first visit to charing cross

[DebsD]

Hi, finally getting round to my first visit to charing cross, I first went to my gp October last year and got referred to a physciatrist who immeadiately reffered me to c x, trouble is they keep cancelling my appointments due to staff availability!! My appointment now is booked for mid Jan, hope not cancelled this time, Anyway my main point is any advice would be greatly appreciated, I`m not yet living full time, do I go as Debbie or do I stay in male mode for first visit? What can I expect there? looking forward to it but also v nervous at same time!

Also only just realised no pics of me on here, will sort v soon

[Suzy Harrison]

Hi Debs

Without a doubt, turn up as a female everytime. Dress well, but not over the top, be confident - even if you don't feel it and be in control.

You have to make sure that everyone who sees you only sees a female - or at least, a budding female. I'm not full time yet either, but my doctor, physcologist, endocrinologist, voice therapist and style advisor have never seen me as anything except Suzy Harrison. You have to be consistant and make them understand you are 100% determined.

If it's anything like it is over here: your physciatrist has referred you to an endocrinologist. His job is to check your health and to medicate you - so expect a medical on the day - and he will also send you to get heaps of blood tests. Once the results come through and it shows you're in good health then it hormones time girl !

:hugs: Suzy

PS: and don't be nervous - the only reason he is there is to help you :)

[Steph Butterfield]

Hi, finally getting round to my first visit to charing cross, I first went to my gp October last year and got referred to a physciatrist who immeadiately reffered me to c x, trouble is they keep cancelling my appointments due to staff availability!! My appointment now is booked for mid Jan, hope not cancelled this time, Anyway my main point is any advice would be greatly appreciated, I`m not yet living full time, do I go as Debbie or do I stay in male mode for first visit? What can I expect there? looking forward to it but also v nervous at same time!

Also only just realised no pics of me on here, will sort v soon

Hi Debs

Charing Cross have seen it all before, go as you feel comfortable, remember the first appointment is your opportunity to tell the specialist how you feel about your gender feelings. A recent development is a yahoo support group for TS patients who have been referred to the clinic.

I'm sure the girls and boys on there will answer all your questions as that is what it is meant to do help and support C X patients.

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/CX_Gender_Identity_Clinic/


xx



Stephanie

[MJ]

when i saw my shrink for the first time i was dressed. you should Dress well, be confident as you can. you should present as a woman at all times.

just be open and honest about yourself best of luck ...

[Louise C]

Hi, finally getting round to my first visit to charing cross, I first went to my gp October last year and got referred to a physciatrist who immeadiately reffered me to c x, trouble is they keep cancelling my appointments due to staff availability!! My appointment now is booked for mid Jan, hope not cancelled this time, Anyway my main point is any advice would be greatly appreciated, I`m not yet living full time, do I go as Debbie or do I stay in male mode for first visit? What can I expect there? looking forward to it but also v nervous at same time!

Also only just realised no pics of me on here, will sort v soon

This is a question which occurred to me yesterday.
I have never been out dressed, but wondered if that is what they would expect if i get referred to charing cross after my visit to the therapist. The thought scares me but i'm desperate to show i'm not messing around here......:sad:

[John]

Hia Debs,


trouble is they keep cancelling my appointments due to staff availability!!

gah! I know they're know somewhat for doing that. Hope they quit that soon...


My appointment now is booked for mid Jan, hope not cancelled this time

I'll be crossing my fingers for you!


Anyway my main point is any advice would be greatly appreciated, I`m not yet living full time, do I go as Debbie or do I stay in male mode for first visit? What can I expect there? looking forward to it but also v nervous at same time!

I just had my first apoitment last week, so I'll offer what I can.

How do you dress... however your comfortable, but I'd recomend going dressed femail enless you think you'd be really really nurvous. Don't worry if you need go in mens cloths though, you won't be the first, not by a long shot. They're uest to it, they know it's a hell of a learning curve, that transitioning takes time, they won't hold it against you.

What to expect? Well, as your NHS you'll no doube be doing what I did, which is an 'assesment' type thing. I had a hour to pretty much tell my life story and the gender-relevent highlights to a doctor there, and they'll tell you what services/treatment they can offer you.



If it's anything like it is over here: your physciatrist has referred you to an endocrinologist. His job is to check your health and to medicate you - so expect a medical on the day - and he will also send you to get heaps of blood tests. Once the results come through and it shows you're in good health then it hormones time girl !

Over here isn't like over there, I'm affraid to say. 'Charring cross' is a gender identity clinic atached to charring cross hospital, not an endocrinologist; they are the people that will send you to endocrinology. I was sent for a blood test on my first aptointment with the idear that I may get hormons at my next apointment (5 months off), but that's because I've been living full time (doing the Real Life Test) for 8 (or 18 if you don't define it by legal name chainge) months. NHS treamtnet folows a Standards of Cair practice which dictates that you must have compleated 1 year of RLT before they'll give you hormones, and not on your first Charring cross visit (wheras if you go to charring cross clinc privatly you need 3 months RLT, hormones on the first apt). I think the chances of getting hrt from a uk doctor before your full time is slim to non...

[DebsD]

This is a question which occurred to me yesterday.
I have never been out dressed, but wondered if that is what they would expect if i get referred to charing cross after my visit to the therapist. The thought scares me but i'm desperate to show i'm not messing around here......:sad:

I have been out dressed many times looking good sometimes not so good others, but still want them to take me seriously however I go, I am 90% certain to go as Debs I really want to,

Thanks for everyone`s advice, it`s a great help,need to find a new job as my current freelance one will not take the transition! Idea`s on a post card please, that is my only current obstacle to the rlt.

Love Debs

[MJ]

This is a question which occurred to me yesterday.
I have never been out dressed, but wondered if that is what they would expect if i get referred to charing cross after my visit to the therapist. The thought scares me but i'm desperate to show i'm not messing around here......:sad:

yes you should go out dressed. and theres nothing to it. easy as pie ... or is that cake? anyhow you look amazing Hun and should have no problems :hugs:

[Suzy Harrison]

Over here isn't like over there, I'm affraid to say. 'Charring cross' is a gender identity clinic atached to charring cross hospital, not an endocrinologist; they are the people that will send you to endocrinology. I was sent for a blood test on my first aptointment with the idear that I may get hormons at my next apointment (5 months off), but that's because I've been living full time (doing the Real Life Test) for 8 (or 18 if you don't define it by legal name chainge) months. NHS treamtnet folows a Standards of Cair practice which dictates that you must have compleated 1 year of RLT before they'll give you hormones,




Wow - I'm glad I'm in Australia - it's much easier and faster here. I don't know why they would make things so difficult in the UK

No real life test for hormones, quicker appointments - and the sun shines all day long too!

[Deborah_UK]

Hia Debs,



NHS treamtnet folows a Standards of Cair practice which dictates that you must have compleated 1 year of RLT before they'll give you hormones, and not on your first Charring cross visit (wheras if you go to charring cross clinc privatly you need 3 months RLT, hormones on the first apt). I think the chances of getting hrt from a uk doctor before your full time is slim to non...


I go to the Nottingham Gender Clinic under the NHS Standards of Care and you can start Hormones three months into the RLE not a year - but I still think that's a cruel way to deal with us.

[Lauren78]

Debs, I live by Charing + so if you need someone to come with you just ask, ok sweetie!!

[tori-e]

do I go as Debbie or do I stay in male mode for first visit?

Seeing is believing

The first few months I saw my trans doctor, I went as a guy. I always felt he didn’t believe I was trans. The first time I went as a girl his attitude seemed to change radically.

I’m sure that a doctor would not want to admit it, but seeing is believing.

If you are MTF go as a girl!

Terri