The Big Visit
Today was the visit to the transclinic to see the psychiatric senior doctor. I was very nervous for two reasons: I was almost late even when I reserved 45 minutes to this 15min trip, thanks to morning rush hour and tram construction, and the fact that I was going there. The doctor was more calm than she was 6,5 years ago, at least what I remember from that visit.
She started with "Well, I read the reference and we have talked 6,5 years ago but I would like to know what do you think about your gender identity by yourself". I wasn't sure what to say as not much has changed from last time, other than I'm very sure what I want now. We chatted a bit and during it she wrote almost two A4 pages of notes. Unfortunately that text isn't yet readable from national health database system (omakanta), or from that part any citizen can access, as there is delay between that database and PSHP (Pirkanmaan SairaanHoitoPiiri, Pirkanmaa Hospital District in english) health record system. I might do separate blog post about that after it is accessible. I should get paper copy in mail as well.
But that is not the point. The point is that she said just out of the blue that I'm adult and it is useless to raffle off so if I'm certain that I want this, she will write F64.0 diagnose for me and references to needed places. So, I got the transgender diagnosis in little over half an hour! In first visit! After saying that, she said that we will do treatment plan, which was actually more like in which areas she need to write references. I said that I want hormones, help with voice projection and rid of my beard. So, three references and new time to transclinic for their specialized nurse in half a year as it will take 2-3 months before I'm invited to those treatments. But that kind of wait time is more than normal here as basically all but occupational health services go through public healthcare.
So! I will go to see gynecologist (if I understood correctly) for hormone replacement therapy, and my current state will be checked first of course. So some blood tests and such. I will go to see phoniatrician to be sure I'm practicing my voice in a correct way so I won't do any permanent damage to it. And I'm very happy that I'm brunette as laser hair removal will be most effective if the hair is dark. Although I have to get rid of my pubic hair by myself but that should be similar story. And I hope that IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) will do the trick as it is very much cheaper than laser.
Now begins the yet another waiting for actually get into those treatments. But I kinda guessed something like that would happen, like I have speculated in previous posts (#5, #6, #15, #17). And I'm happy that it did.
She started with "Well, I read the reference and we have talked 6,5 years ago but I would like to know what do you think about your gender identity by yourself". I wasn't sure what to say as not much has changed from last time, other than I'm very sure what I want now. We chatted a bit and during it she wrote almost two A4 pages of notes. Unfortunately that text isn't yet readable from national health database system (omakanta), or from that part any citizen can access, as there is delay between that database and PSHP (Pirkanmaan SairaanHoitoPiiri, Pirkanmaa Hospital District in english) health record system. I might do separate blog post about that after it is accessible. I should get paper copy in mail as well.
But that is not the point. The point is that she said just out of the blue that I'm adult and it is useless to raffle off so if I'm certain that I want this, she will write F64.0 diagnose for me and references to needed places. So, I got the transgender diagnosis in little over half an hour! In first visit! After saying that, she said that we will do treatment plan, which was actually more like in which areas she need to write references. I said that I want hormones, help with voice projection and rid of my beard. So, three references and new time to transclinic for their specialized nurse in half a year as it will take 2-3 months before I'm invited to those treatments. But that kind of wait time is more than normal here as basically all but occupational health services go through public healthcare.
So! I will go to see gynecologist (if I understood correctly) for hormone replacement therapy, and my current state will be checked first of course. So some blood tests and such. I will go to see phoniatrician to be sure I'm practicing my voice in a correct way so I won't do any permanent damage to it. And I'm very happy that I'm brunette as laser hair removal will be most effective if the hair is dark. Although I have to get rid of my pubic hair by myself but that should be similar story. And I hope that IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) will do the trick as it is very much cheaper than laser.
Now begins the yet another waiting for actually get into those treatments. But I kinda guessed something like that would happen, like I have speculated in previous posts (#5, #6, #15, #17). And I'm happy that it did.