Hey - I am just posting on here because I am pretty nervous about an appointment I have at Charing Cross later this month. What should I expect from a first appointment? When might the second appointment (hopefully) be and how long is it (if it all goes to plan...) before you get hormones after your (various) appointments, if you have already done a RLT?

Oh - questions about RLT - my psychiatrist seemed to think that what I have done already counts as RLT and I was wondering whether he was right. I have been dressing as a man since forever but obnly binding my breasts for the last two years. My friends and work all know me as Luke now and refer to me as he. I use men's toilets etc However, in the last year I have had to take a few months out due to depression and psychosis (which, incidentally, lifted more and more the further down the path to Charing Cross I got. Each time an appointment letter came through things got a lot better).

Ok - this has been quite long.. sorry about that... Will now stop typing.
Luke

In the first appointment it will be a general assessment- questions about your life, childhood, family life and how gender issues affected you and from when. You usually get a second appointment around 6 months after the first one, and usually get prescribed T on that one if you meet their requirements.

If you have already been living as male (telling people you are male, using your male name) and are in work or education then it counts towards the RLT.

i went privately and they didn't ask for proof because i think it was clear i had been living as male for a long time but the nhs are usually more strict, so i'd bring anything with you that proves you are full-time (pay-slips, school/college/uni reports, bank statements, counsellor letters- bascially anything you can get your hands on, preferably with dates). it isn't necessary, just would help things along.

although as i understand on the nhs no one gets prescribed on the first appointment anyway and with the 6 month wait in between you have plenty of time to fufill the HB standards of care.

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forum moderator

Aargh! I just wrote a reply to this, and then when I went to post it, I got a message saying the post didn't exist! Oh well, here goes again...

First appointment - expect the doctor to ask you questions about your childhood, your family, your adult life, how long you've felt like this, when you last wore "female" attire - that sort of thing. My advice would be to answer honestly and just be yourself. They'll probably also tell you stuff about the efects of hormones, and clarify the process at CX, and then send you for a blood test at the main part of the hospital.

Nowadays, they make the second appointment before you leave, and you get to choose the date and time. It's usually about 6 months gap, so expect them to offer you something in April/May I guess. If your blood tests show up anything unusual, you may get called in to see the endo in between (I did) but that's nothing to worry about.

If all goes to plan, you should get the approval for hormones at your second appointment. The second psych you see will write to your GP and recommend they prescribe T, and the dosage.

As regards the RLT, I'm not sure what they consider. I was under the impression that a legal name change is one of the factors, but I'm pretty sure they take each case individually. Even if you haven't changed your name legally yet, if you do so soon after your appointment it should still be ok - but I'm sure whoever you see will be able to clarify that further. I'm pretty sure they also look at how long you've been living and working as male as well.

Good luck!

Dave

ohhhh its ment to be a 6 month gap? coz in my first appointment the lady said to expect a 3/4 month wait then my appointment letter came through and its a seven month gap from my first to my second appointment.

your descriptions of the first meeting are just how mine went, having the blood test was funny, i had a trainee and i'm notoriously hard to get blood out of.

good luck! it should all go well, i'll have my fingers crossed for you.

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僕は男の人です

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forum moderator

hey - i had my appointment yesterday (and am now back in berlin until my next one...) and everything went really well I have my next appointment near the end of Feb, so that isn't too far away... and the guy seemed to think that they will prob prescribe hormones after that one so all is well with the world Thank you for your messages and stuff on here - I really appreciate the info!

Hope everyone is alright!
Luke

what I have done already counts as RLT and I was wondering whether he was right.

This is definitely and advantage but it is unlikely to knock any time of their official guidelines

the RLT in most cases starts when you have seen at least 2 psychiatrists at CX and then you will be monitored for 2 years have to change documents and so on with regular appointments to update your psychiatrist about your progress after all people can and do change their minds

the doctors at CX are very different today compared to the stuffy folk of the past

and although they take their jobs very seriously they are often quite a good laugh and will make you feel at ease IMHO

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Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)

Excellent news mate - and the end of February isn't long at all. Sounds like you're well on the way to getting T! Just out of interest, who did you see, by the way?

Dave

And a friend of mine also saw Davies when he went in last week, and also got an appointment in Feb.

I also went to see Dr Davies yesterday; my next appointment's not until the end of March though. They had one at the beginning of March, but I wanted an afternoon slot Strange how a few hours difference in initial appointment times ends up with a month difference in our second!

Glad it went well for you.

i cant remember who i had the first time but she was really nice. can't remember the name of who i have this time either lol.
i'll see when i get there if i cant find the letter

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僕は男の人です

I'm seeing Dr.Davies tomorow.

Has he got the contract for tzone members? LOL

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Chrissy
Forums Moderator.

Always have faith and believe in yourself.
Never run from the truth.
Have the will to change your fate and your spirit will never die.
Check out the tzone team bios here: http://www.transgenderzone.com/bio.htm

I suspect their performance indicators are most honest here than within the NHS

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Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)