Little Big Step

So I had my first appointment with a gender specialist on thursday, the 1st of December at Sandyford in Glasgow. I’m only posting now as I had a hell of a migraine on Thursday night and was working on Friday.

So anyway, my appointmet was with Dr John Ewan, who was really very good. We spoke for about a half hour, he asked me about my history, my ‘story’, and what I’m hoping for. He explained that the normal procedure for transitioning with the NHS is to have 6 months ‘real life experience’, where I have to come out to family and work and start living full time as male, this would involve changing my name.

I’m fortunate to have a name that is traditionally a male name and I have the male spelling too, so we talked about changing my middle name, which is unfortunately very girly. He did comment that I shouldn’t have too much trouble ‘passing’ during this time as I’m quite tall and heavily built, my voice is already quite deep and I dont have delicate little hands!

After the 6 months ‘RLE’, they would start me on testosterone and then top surgery. I asked how long after starting hormones they would offer surgery, he said as soon as possible, but it would likely be around 6 months later. He mentioned lower surgery as phalloplasty, but I did say I thought the results with meta were better and I didnt like the scarring that happens with phallo, especially as I have a tattoo on my inner forearm and have more planned. He seemed fine with this, but I have heard of other NHS clinics being reluctant to offer meta as many guys end up wanting phallo afterwards. He did say lower surgery is best done after about 2 years on hormones to allow for downstairs growth, I guess to give them something to work with.

I need to have another appointment with another doctor, a colleague of his, to have a second assesment to ensure I’m suitable for treatment. All in all, the whole thing was very positive and although I know he can’t tell me there and then I can be accepted for treatment, but I was left with the impression that everything should be ok. I’m not sure when I’ll have the appointment with his colleague but I’ve to go back and see him in February.

I spoke to my brother again about coming out to my parents and family. He asked me before to wait until I’d spoken to a doctor and we agreed it would be best to wait till after christmas. My birthday is about a fortnight after christmas so we decided it would also be best to wait until after then, not to put a downer on the happy mood. I think it’s also best to wait a little before telling my work, I only started a week ago. So it looks like I’ll be starting my RLE around the end of January and starting T in the summer, and who knows, maybe by the end of the year I’ll be off for top surgery?

Result.

  1. becomingkeltik posted this