Questions & Issues for NHS/United Kingdom Members

[Serana]

Let me add to this.

I'm planning on not asking the NHS for the operation here, as I have plans to go Thailand. The surgeon there on the website says 12 months HRT and 12 months RLE. I mentioned this to the specialist I'm saying and was told that they followed WPATH and that it could be complicated. I've een continuously mentioning my plans to go elsewhere for surgery since the day I walked in there, so I don't think it's a lack of them knowing.

However, for some reason, they seem to feel the need to keep telling me that a lot of people end up going by the NHS, even if they plan otherwise. Now I don't know if it's ignorance or trying to keep me forewarned, but I have also been bounced over from one specialist, to another, and now to another. Annoying. I'm wondering if this is why there is a problem perhaps. I just feel like I'm not persuading them to see it from my side just yet.

As opposed to what you've said, and as to my guidelines, I've been mainly reading from Harry Benjamin 'guidelines'. What my issue here is they're saying I have to follow their route when I'm going to a surgeon with different procedure. As in, different times requested for HRT and RLE. I don't need a referral in the since of getting the surgeon involved, I'm trying to bridge the gap between NHS and my surgeon of choice.

I also find it funny how you say I have a choice for timing, when there's a yes and no behind that. One of Dr. Suporn's papers that he wrote on teh matter says two years on hormones is about he best time, so I'm trying to work it a closely as possible to two years. If I end up having to wait until getting a pair of referrals during my time doing my dissertation, then I'll have to wait even longer, and it'll end up being about 2 years and 8/9 months on HRT. Besides it being inconvenient, it also means I'll not be very happy, and the disappointment in the way the NHS will have been may even effect my academic standing. But this is besides the point.

What I'm asking for is advice that may perhaps persuade them, not to be told things that I already know. I don't mean to be rude, but if I didn't know -that- stuff, then I wouldn't even feel I deserved to see anyone about it. I try to keep clued up the things that involve me and my life, after all. Common sense~.

Seri-chan~

P.S. yes wires were crossed, mainly because I failed to add info I'd said in a different thread and totally forgot to add it.
P.P.S I see Harry Benjamin's SOC is WPATH, because WPATH is the old SOC, just made worse. Not sure I'm happy that they're fiddling about and making it longer. Seems odd to me they'd do that. Actually, that's bloody frustrating. :/
P.P.P.S I've just read the WPATH gudelines, and it seems it's still 12 months as far as WPATH are converned. SO why is my GIC saying 18 months? And claiming to be following WPATH. Thoughts ideas anyone?