tzone

JMQ · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

Hi - I'm new to these boards; got directed over here from a NZ list.

Short introduction: my name's Johnny, I'm a 20yr old ftm.

I'm a NZ citizen and UK citizen - I'm moving to the UK in about a month (London-area) and I don't know what I should be doing to make sure I can get T and councelling, etc., over there. I've been on T for just about two years now, so I've already been through the NZ requirements. I don't know what sort of a difference that makes.

Anyone have any advice for me? General advice on the UK'd be great too, if any comes to mind.

Thanks everyone.

Scaeme · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject:

Well, I'd make sure you have letters from your existing doctors and endos about your diagnosis and treatment and as soon as you hit the tarmac here in the UK, get on the NHS direct site, get a GP and give them those letters )

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I look back at most of my life and think "WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?!??"

**Reenie** · Reporter Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3577 Location: Glasgow

I spoke to the Claybrook gender clinic in London and they told me I could continue my transition with them if I transferred from Scotland, provided all the paperwork was up together.

You don't really want to have to start all over again.

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The Daily Turnout - King of the Throne Room

**Flameboy** · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:32 am Post subject:

Hi Johnny, welcome to tzone!

As long as you have letters from your NZ doctors, you shouldn't have any problem continuing on T. I'm not exactly sure about the procedure, but I've got friends who moved to the UK from elsewhere after starting T so I'll check up with them about what the procedure is.

Are you pre-op? I can also find out what you need to do if you're looking to get referrals for surgery over here also. You're obviously entitled to NHS care, as a UK citizen.

There's an FTM group in London who meet regularly, so if you're looking to meet up with other guys, it's worth getting in touch with them. Full details are on their website.

By the way, where in NZ are you from? My partner's a Kiwi living over here, so I've been over there a couple of times now.

Dave

JMQ · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

I am pre-op, so any info you've got on referrals would be great - though I don't know when I'll have the money to actually get it done. Is there a way to get it at least partially paid for through the public system?

I live in Auckland, but I don't really know many guys 'round here.

Yeah, I'll be sure to bring my doctor's letter along with me. The guys on the NZ mailing list said it'd be a good idea to bring a 3 month supply of T with me when I fly over - any idea how that would play out, going through customs?

Skyler · Tzoner Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 934 Location: Canada

I flew into the UK in January and my T wasn't a problem at all. I brought it in its box with the perscription information on it and neither it or my needles caused any problems.

**Flameboy** · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:07 am Post subject:

JMQ wrote:

I am pre-op, so any info you've got on referrals would be great - though I don't know when I'll have the money to actually get it done. Is there a way to get it at least partially paid for through the public system?

Over here, you can get surgery entirely paid for by the NHS - so as a UK citizen I'm pretty sure you'll be entitled to that. Very Happy

I will check up for you, next time I see my mate (probably over the weekend sometime).

JMQ wrote:

I live in Auckland, but I don't really know many guys 'round here.

My partner's from Auckland originally, though she really considers Wellington "home" now. I liked what I saw of Auckland though - it had a good feel to it, if you see what I mean. And the Sky Tower's good to jump off! Wink

JMQ wrote:

Yeah, I'll be sure to bring my doctor's letter along with me. The guys on the NZ mailing list said it'd be a good idea to bring a 3 month supply of T with me when I fly over - any idea how that would play out, going through customs?

As Skyler said, that shouldn't be a problem. Obviously, don't put needles in hand luggage - but that goes without saying really!

Dave

JMQ · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

Quote:

Over here, you can get suregry entirely paid for by the NHS

Score. Over here we've only got a small fund that pays for one guy's surgery every four years or something impossible like that. I was wondering if I'd ever manage to get the money to go private (as I'm going down the starving artist career track). Funded surgery would be excellent.

Yeah, I hear that in the scheme of things, Auckland's a really friendly, safe place. I've been warned dozens of times by my European friends not to let anyone take advantage of me over in the UK. Not to trust strangers. That sort of thing.

I haven't done the Skytower jump, to be honest. Closest I've come is bungee jumping down where they do the Zorb.

**sgian** · Advisor Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 194 Location: london

hello,
i used to be a nurse at middlemore hospital in auckland.i hope you enjoy london.there is a group that meets every 3rd tuesday at gays the word book shop near euston station.its for male and female trans people and is called translondon if you are looking to meet other people.
rachel

JMQ · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

Quote:

there is a group that meets every 3rd tuesday at gays the word book shop near euston station.its for male and female trans people and is called translondon if you are looking to meet other people

I really might. I've got some real interpersonal issues (maybe mild schizotypal personality disorder - but that's a self-diagnosis, and shouldn't be taken too seriously) that make it really difficult for me to connect with anyone, so I've always been extremely wary about actually going to anything like that (Isn't the internet great for this stuff?). But I would like to meet other transpeople. I just get paranoid to the nth degree about it. Trying to get over all that, get out, socialise.

So yeah, I'd like to give it a try.

And am really relying on the sort of board this is here, for that level of self-disclosure to be ok. Internet or not.

**Reenie** · Reporter Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3577 Location: Glasgow

JMQ wrote:

I'm going down the starving artist career track...

Been there, done that and it's no fun unless you enjoy being hungry.

Don't give up the day job.

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The Daily Turnout - King of the Throne Room

JMQ · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

The plan is ----

Well, I've got my best friend, who I write with. We both wanna work 3 days a week, write 3 days a week, have one day off. If we can.

The day job'll be whatever we can survive on, working the same 3 days a week as my friend. I get really antsy if I don't have enough time to myself ---- to be honest, not just antsy ---- I get fucking suicidal if I feel trapped. I don't know what to do about it; I've been seeing a councellor for the last two months. But I don't know what I really want to find. Just something to help me.

I really admire all you guys who really know what you want. I only know what I don't want; what I want is just for people to see me as me.

I can't give up the artist side of things; the day job, sure, whatever pays the bills. The real job; fuck, I don't know how I could last. I can survive anything as long as I'm doing what I really, really think matters to me ;_;.