Self-Med vs GenderCare

[Vicki]

Well, how people change! I never thought I'd self-med as I saw it as reckless and dangerous but after spending a lot of time reading the forums, as wel as noticing the limitations of prescribed HRT here in the UK, I have decided I'll be self-medding as opposed to doing what an endocronologist gives me and now I am unsure whether I should even pay the big bucks to see the specialists and would appreciate your help.

I'd appreciate it if responses are focussed on my dilemma instead of debating my planned HRT regime - we can always start another thread about that

I'm booked in with GenderCare in April. It's private and not free as per the NHS. Here you pay £220 to see the psych and if he's happy then you pay another £220 to see the endo. After that it's 6/12 monthly checkups with the endo (at £220 a go). Now, originally the main selling point of going through these guys was the HRT - as I assumed private HRT to be prohibitively expensive -and also being overseen by specialists who know what they're doing. However, private HRT isn't expensve at all and I'll be able to access HRT that UK docs can't prescribe (even though they wish they could) so as I'm likely to ignore what they give (AA and oral estradil) and go my own way with injectable estradil and progesterone, is there any benefit to paying these guys a minimum £440 in consulatation fees? After all, if the psych wants three evaluations then that's £880 just to get started! Wouldn't it make more sense to save the bulk of that money and just pay for an endo to run my bloods eveyr 6 months?

The only benefit I can see of going thorugh with paying these guys is a) there's a legal/official record that I'm transitioning and b) shared care with my GP so that if anything goes wrong (or I get rushed to hospital) my medical file will detail HRT and all that.

Thanks in advance.

[Ice Maiden]

Truth is there is so little data on long term effects of hrt in trans* patients they are shooting in the dark really.

What they are doing is trialing you. They try something out and see how you get on. If you feel OK, and they test your BP and bloods and they seem OK well... um lets keep using that then.

This all sounds very tawdry for a caring profession. Like some malware cryptoware bitcoin scam - I know it isn't But when we are throwing around figures such as these. I mean £220! For what? You would be better off asking for an NHS referral and getting your meds for what £30 a pop(?) ( or free on benefits!).

You GP can do blood tests and BP at regular intervals for free, just go in and ask - even the practice nurse will do that for you.

Then it is simply down to buying from a trusted source. There are plenty out there (http://www.transgenderzone.com/research/hrt.htm) but read up on it first http://library.transgenderzone.com/ .

It just feels very exploitative to charge you these sums and I for one would rather use my GP!

[Ice Maiden]

#Replies

[Vicki]

Truth is there is so little data on long term effects of hrt in trans* patients they are shooting in the dark really.

What they are doing is trialing you. They try something out and see how you get on. If you feel OK, and they test your BP and bloods and they seem OK well... um lets keep using that then.

This all sounds very tawdry for a caring profession. Like some malware cryptoware bitcoin scam - I know it isn't But when we are throwing around figures such as these. I mean £220! For what? You would be better off asking for an NHS referral and getting your meds for what £30 a pop(?) ( or free on benefits!).

You GP can do blood tests and BP at regular intervals for free, just go in and ask - even the practice nurse will do that for you.

Then it is simply down to buying from a trusted source. There are plenty out there (http://www.transgenderzone.com/research/hrt.htm) but read up on it first http://library.transgenderzone.com/ .

It just feels very exploitative to charge you these sums and I for one would rather use my GP!

Thanks for the info. A few questions:

Hasn't HRT been used in trans for at least 20 years? Isn't that enough time to generate data over?

My GP can do blood tests but a) can he refuse - on principle or lack of trans-experience? and b) is he going to be able to decipher them and guide me HRT-wise if he's not well-versed in this area?

I get your point about asking for an NHS referral but GenderCare is the private practice for the people the NHS refer you to - the GIC - and I booked with them as a referral is between 14 and 48 months. Hence the £220 is the fee for a private consultation with top-of-their-game gender docs.

[Tabi]

Hiya, thought I'd tag my question on here instead of posting a new topic.

I'm on the verge of self-medicating because of all the distress this long waiting list is causing, along with further delay from having multiple appointments before any prescription is issued. I've read that if you present to your GP as self-medicating then they can issue a bridging prescription--while you wait to be seen by the GIC--and monitor you to check the drugs aren't killing you. Does anyone with experience know how willing GPs are to do this? Could just be wishful thinking from a wide-eyed trans girl at the prospect of starting HRT as soon as possible. Any insight would be great, thanks!x