Non-binary transition on the NHS (UK)

[Zebedeee (imported)]

I saw my therapist this afternoon and spoke to her about my wish to try chemical castration. I was with her for about an hour, and was able to go into great detail why I thought this might be right for me, what medication I’m planning to take, doses, side effects, etc.

When I asked her if it’s possible to be prescribed the medication I require on the NHS, she told me that she didn’t think it would be a problem and has referred me to the doctor at the local gender identity clinic. They do now apparently recognise non-binary transition, but she did warn me that there is a waiting list. It may be a few months before I get to see someone.

Honestly I’m thrilled! If I can do this with the assistance and care of the NHS it’ll be well worth the wait.

I’ll put on hold my plan to purchase Androcur and Tamoxifen online for the time being. But I’m very much keeping it in mind as a plan B if the waiting list is ridiculously long, or the doctor I’m referred to isn’t as helpful as my therapist.

[CastratedTomcat (imported)]

Trying out Androcur is no big thing and if it is helping you, you can say it a doctor, if you meet them and say him, it helps.

It makes the things easier for all.

[Zebedeee (imported)]

If the waiting list is only two or three months, I’ll be patient. But much longer than that then I’ll get it for myself, and if it’s right for me I’ll simply ask the doctor for a ‘repeat’ prescription!

[Zebedeee (imported)]

I’ve just seen my GP and told her that my therapist has referred me to the gender identity clinic. She also mentioned that there might be a bit of a waiting list. Hopefully I should find out roughly how long to expect next time I see the therapist in a couple of weeks.

Given that at this stage I don’t know how long it’s likely to be before I get my appointment, never mind how long they’ll take before they’re willing to give me a prescription, I’ve booked blood tests with the GP practice this Monday for testosterone, liver, etc., so that I’m ready to go ahead with self medicating with meds purchased online if necessary.

My GP obviously has to advise against self medicating, but she understands why I’m may do it. I’ve told her that I will keep her fully informed of anything that I’m planning to take. Which I think is especially important as I’m on other medication for high blood pressure.

Hopefully things will move along reasonably quickly and I can get an NHS prescription for Androcur and Tamoxifen or similar.

[Zebedeee (imported)]

How quickly my expectations change…

My GP happened to mention that I would be referred to the London gender identity clinic, so this evening I googled it. Looks like the waiting list is about a year, and many of the reviews are simply dreadful. Put simply if you don’t tick all the right boxes (like turning up in a dress..!) you don’t stand much of a chance of being taken seriously. Now, whilst I realise that google reviews don’t necessarily tell the full story (unhappy customers often make the loudest noise), I think I may have to take matters into my own hands after all. Not least because I could wait a year only to find myself rejected and back to square one.

A bit more googling found a private clinic in London which looks much better (I guess you get what you pay for…), with prices which I can afford. The waiting list is still measured in months though.

I think that it will have to be plan B after all!

Next week I’ll order Androcur & Tamoxifen from Alldaychemist (which seems to have the best reviews - though not the cheapest), so I can start a trail later this month. Which was the original plan anyway. If it works for me then at least I’ll know I’m on the right track, and I may then book an appointment with the private clinic in the hope of getting a UK prescription.

If chemical castration doesn’t work for me, then at least I’ve tried.

Glad that I’ve already booked a blood test to check I’m healthy and find out my testosterone levels before I start.

[MikeGrant (imported)]

I asked you for an update about this on another thread, so disregard. My Androcur is winging its way from India at this very moment! My searches seem to indicate the best way to take it is two 50 a day, morning and evening meals, for a week then drop to one a day. What have you found? I have a Dr visit on the 19th for kidney function and T levels, and will probably start the last week of January, as i have 10 days off work to see any adverse effects.

[Zebedeee (imported)]

Very sorry, must have missed your question - not being rude, honest!

Anyway, as you gather I’m going to go ahead and self medicate. I have a blood test tomorrow lunchtime, which crazily enough I’m looking forward to! It’ll be interesting to find out what my T level is. If I had to guess I’d say it’s perhaps the low end of normal, as while I have a reasonable libido it’s nothing like I remember from when I was younger. I seldom wake up with much of an erection, if at all, and I’m not aware of any during the night. But I guess it’s quite hard to judge for yourself. I do consider myself to be pretty much asexual, so my cock may have just given up pestering me for attention! I should have the blood test results by the end of the week or early the following week - hopefully it won’t find any problems…

As for Androcur dosage, that sounds about right. I’ll be getting Tamoxifen 20mg to go with it and they come in packs of 90 pills. So, I was thinking 2 x 50mg Androcur for the first 10 days, then 50mg a day after that, taken with 20mg Tamoxifen a day throughout. That way I have 90 days supply of both medications. I’ve already started taking daily calcium & vitamin D supplements, just to be on the safe side and look after my bones. If I like being castrated I plan to stay on the medication unless I have any serious problems. I’ll be totally open with my GP about it, so I have proper monitoring of my health throughout.

You ordered from Alldaychemist at the right time, as I see that they’ve just put their prices up (now $155.92 for 100 pills). As I’ve never ordered from an online pharmacy before, and I’ve heard of the occasional problems with card / bank fraud, I’ve opened a separate current account for the transaction. It should be up and running by the end of the week. I’m probably being a bit paranoid, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.

How did you pay for your meds? I’m planning to use a bank transfer which I think should be safe, especially from an account which isn’t used for anything else.

[Zebedeee (imported)]

I had a chat with the nurse today while she was taking blood. I told her that I was planning to try chemical castration and my reasons for it, hence the blood tests. After I had explained why I was doing it, she agreed that it was well worth a go as it might just work for me. She also told me that I had nothing to be embarrassed about and that the GP’s surgery would give me all the support I need.

It’s funny that after all these years of doing nothing because I’ve been afraid about what people would think, I really needn’t have worried.

[MikeGrant (imported)]

I have an appointment with my Nurse Practitioner at an LGBGTQ medical center. He put me on PrEP a couple of years ago because of my risky behavior. Been on calcium tabs, as it has the side effect of reducing bone density, since then. Going to talk to him about reducing the drive for the behavior rather than using PrEP to protect against it. Will see what he says, I will be doing it anyway.

You either have to pay by E cheque or actually send a cheque. I have bought from them before and didnt have any problems.

[Zebedeee (imported)]

You either have to pay by E cheque or actually send a cheque. I have bought from them before and didnt have any problems.

Thanks!

The more I hear about people purchasing their medication without a problem, the happier I feel about it. I’m kinda the risk averse type…

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