Okay, so it’s been a while sine my last post about me and my
transition but that’s really been because there’s not that much to talk
about. I’ve spent the last coupe of
months trying to get my psychological referral from my doctors to the gender
clinic. After being on the phone for
hours and talking to dozens of people chasing it up it finally gets into the
hands of the people that need it.
That’s when the problem came up. The person dealing with my referral at the gender
clinic informs me that the referral letter they have isn’t from a proper
psychologist but a standard counsellor.
Backtracking through my records she tells me that after my initial
meeting with my doctor, sixteen months ago, that my case was handed over to the
community mental health team.
Instead of handing my case over to a psychologist however,
they sent me to a counsellor. The result
of that means that everything I have done towards my transition and moving my
referral forward over the last year has all been for nothing.
Perhaps that’s being a little harsh, the gender clinic has
my case on their desk now and are working on getting things resolved for me but
the fact that I have spent so much time chasing things up and jumping through
loops only to find out that what they have in front of them now is ‘useless’ is
a big blow.
I cannot help but feel that everything I have done over the
last year has been useless. I feel like
I’ve been treated like a joke by the NHS, that when I went to them with my
problem they just didn’t take me seriously.
Instead of handing my case over to the people that I should have been
sent to I was sent somewhere else, almost like ‘well, it’s not a real
problem. They’re probably just
depressed. Send them to counselling.’
I’ve spoken to a lot of trans people, I’ve read dozens of
books and documents and personal accounts and all of them seem to agree that
the worst part of the whole process is the wait. Having to try and carry on with your life
when you feel like things are falling apart and you’re just stuck waiting on
other people to help you.
Being stuck in that kind of limbo, of trying to cope with
the every day dysphoria that’s always invading your life and driving you crazy
is hard enough as it is, without finding out that all that time has been
wasted.
Everyday things seem to get worse and worse, the feelings of
a broken and painful life just increase, with every day feeling like a waste
because I’m not getting to be me. I feel
like I’ve lost out on so much of my real life already and time still keeps on
passing by without anything getting better.
I know that the people who know me will probably disagree,
telling me that ‘at least they’ve got your case now’ or ‘people know you’re
trans and are treating you as Amy’. All these
things are true, but it’s not enough. I
still hate who I am and that’s not going to change until I do.
I don’t know what’s going to happen with my referral now, I
have no idea what kind of time frame I’m looking at or how far back to the
start of the process I’ve been pushed.
What I do know though is that each and every time something like this
happens my depression and hatred for my life gets worse.
I don’t want to sound like I’m overly dramatic or looking
for sympathy, that’s not what this is about.
I’m not looking for people to comment and give me sympathy, this is just
me venting. I jut don’t know how much
more I can take before I reach breaking point.
It’s just getting too much for me.
Amy.
It is is sadly familiar story. Too many GPs and practices actually have no idea what GD is, and no clue what really to do. And too often it's us who have looked up the available info and given them guidance. It isn't good enough, it really isn't. We are classed as for mental health assessment and then left in limbo or to our own devices as if there were no psychological element at work. It feels to me like institutionalised incompetence. The truth is that the mentally fittest of us do survive. But how many do not? The whole business of psychiatric referral, then two more long queues of unknown length for first and second proper (?) opinions about what we already know, bears no relation to the known experience of having GD. Add "real life experience" with zero practical or psych support, and again, those with contacts, imagination and courage still make it, those without have hell and more delays because they don't meet the criteria of "imposssible hero". Sometimes it feels like one of those stories where the goodie faces death if they can't perform the obviously impossible task set by the baddie who appears to hold all the power. I'm not demonising the people we eventually get to see, but this is NHS dysfunction writ large and people like us suffer badly. But we keep our heads down and shuffle along in line in case we get noticed for belligerence and taken out for questioning about our troublemaking. Not a good picture of good health and social care. Why not just get us started on proper care with a steady watch on how we are doing? Everyone is safer from mistakes and mental health is properly looked after. Those with the genuine need of GRS, hormones etc. will be clear to see. Those without will realise more easily and safely and have a safer and supported withdrawal route.
ReplyDeleteI shall walk into my second clinic appointment having transitioned well over a year, full time job, and on self-prescribed hormones (they already know) for over 10 months. Not everyone can do it the way I have, but I'm asking what else do they want of me to believe me?
Sorry to hear that it's so hard to transition in the UK.
ReplyDeletesorry yoy had a problem. I gave my GP imfomation panflets from "The Gender Trust" 6 months to see the psych twice then 8 months to my 1st appointment with the Gender clinic Mr Barrat was an asshole you have to stand your ground. 2nd appointment i was perscribed hormones because i said I've been self medicating for a while.in all it took me 3 years till i got my op. Another tip demand Mr Thomas for a surgeon NOT Bellringer he rushes to fast cuts too many nerves It took me 3 years to get any feeling
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