So some other girls in this community mentioned that they had their first appointments regarding transgender questions and such, and so did I.
To preface this, I’m from Germany, so don’t take any advice from this post please as every journey is different and is dependent on where you life, what healthcare options you have and such.
So, I went to an independent, donation based, center which deals about everything LGBTQ+. First it was pretty easy, going up to the door looking for the ringer, and then I suddenly stop in my motion. I hesitated and asked myself: “Am I really ready for this, to question everything?” My finger pressed the ringer and the Door swung open.
A super cheery woman was waiting for me and showed me the room where we would get to know each other and had to leave me alone for a bit as she had to deal with something else first (it was also 10 minutes before the actual appointment, I like being too early than being too late).
Then we talked. About all of my immediate concerns regarding transitioning, not only socially and medically, but political and work related as well.
I didn’t know that public healthcare in Germany can cover so many things (when you have a diagnosed ICD-10 F64.0 that is). From HRT, to surgery to hair removal, vocal-chord surgery…
Pretty amazing. Buuuuut, getting that diagnose is a pain in the butt, even though I’m in the third-biggest city. There are just too few specialized therapists and the queue times can be years long. But that’s not where it ends, I have to go through at least 5 sessions, 50 minutes each. And then I can get the diagnosis to get my medical journey started. Firstly, I want to go on HRT, getting those hormones and the body changes; they sound super promising. I’m not certain yet about the steps after that. But changing my legal name will, currently as a new law is in the making, take legal council, examination and some months to think it over, and then an appointment at court. WTF? The new law can’t come soon enough.
So yeah. It has been good talking to a sister regarding those questions and my concerns, as the political climate isn’t looking spiffy right now, and it only gets worse.
In any case, if you have questions or need help regarding trans* please seek out your local community as they can be really helpful and supportive!
Wow that sucks that you have to wait so long. Here in the US I only had to wait a little over a month and then I got gender dysphoria put on my medical record at the first appointment however it cost almost $800 but insurance brought it down to around $400. I still have to wait 8 more months and then see two therapists and prove my transness to them before I can get surgeries that will cost tens of thousands. I don’t know if I’d rather have to wait several years but not have to pay as much or have to forgo being able to afford to buy a house lol. At least we got this community to support each other. Feel free to voice your concerns here too!
Yeah true… its great that the public Healthcare providers have to pay for the proceedings, but it sucks that it takes a while to get a therapist and then it takes several strenuous sessions where I have to mind strip… either way it sucks.
yeah I have never been happier to have found such lovely community like the blahaj zone, even though I’m from a different instance entirely XD