At my last appointment with my TG doc, she referred me for a Urology appointment.

That finally happened yesterday, with a nice doc who spent quite a while with me. He didn't seem to think there was a lot that could be done about my leakage issues other than cathing more often (I agree that I should but it's difficult to actually do it). I asked about a urethral sling as that had sounded promising when I read about possible options online, and he had several reasons he thought it would not be a good idea.

Then we got to discussing my surgery, and what I wanted to accomplish with it, and he had no issues with it, and discussed what the likely options would be in fairly specific terms. However he said it was not the area he particularly specialized in, so he was referring me to another doctor in the Urology dept. that he said was their TG specialist in doing the surgeries, and who worked closely with their plastic surgery people...

So now I'm waiting to hear from them about getting to see the next doc.... However I feel like I'm at least a tiny step closer to getting

In the mean time I have another appointment with the TG doc next month. That will be nine months since I started chemical castration w/ Lupron, and six months on E, so I'm getting close to the SOC 8 recommended minimum 'test-drive' time

Hopefully won't be to much longer...

WheelyCurious

Had another visit with the TG doc this afternoon... It looks like another small step closer to surgery...

She says the Urology doc that handles gender-affirming surgeries has seen the notes from the doctor visit I mentioned above, but he is extremely busy (in her opinion over-booked) which is why I haven't heard from him. She said there is a second hospital in the same network that also has a TG program, and I *MIGHT* be able to get surgery there sooner, so she has put in a referral there as well, so we will see which one can get to me first....

She said that SOC 8 notwithstanding, the insurance companies still need two psych letters, and she has put in referrals for me to see shrinks that work with her program.

The insurance may also still require a year on HRT, but it's a bit unclear what they will count as the starting date... However given the likely time it will take to arrange scheduling, I'm unlikely to get anything before July, which would make that a moot point.

I also started raising the question about recovery time - I know what folks here have said, but that involves stuff like walking, which isn't a concern for me - I need to worry about being able to do transfers and load bearing on my arms. In addition what I am wanting for surgery is not really something I've seen discussed... I want the orchie, w/ scrotectomy, but also to have them do something to 'UNbury the penis and make it more accessible for cathing... Presumably this is more complex and might take more recovery time than just a nut & sack job, but not as much as a nullification... Any thoughts???

They also tested my levels - T is still <12ng/dL, but the E has gone WAY high, not sure why it says I was at 393pg/ml, or almost 3X the 125 I was at in November... I'm asking about reducing the patch, but haven't heard back yet.

WheelyCurious

More small steps forward... I just got the 2nd appointment w/ a shrink through the TG center so I will hopefully be getting my two letters by the end of the month....

I haven't heard from either of the two possible surgery places / doctors, but that may be waiting on my getting the letters, or just that they are overly busy... I haven't been pushing on that since I don't have the letters yet, but probably will once I've gotten them.

WheelyCurious

Wish me luck.... Having the first shrink appointment to hopefully get my letters tomorrow!

I'm not expecting any problems but it still makes me feel a bit nervous....

WheelyCurious

Good luck!

Good luck!

Thanks...

I just got off the Zoom consult w/ the doc, and it looks good, she said she will be writing the letter later on this afternoon. No problems and no difficult questions... Basically filled in my background of how I got to the point of wanting surgery, any concerns I have about it, and stuff like that. She mentioned risks and that sort of thing.

Overall not a big deal...

So I'm now another step closer....

WheelyCurious

Well done.

I hope it all goes well for you

Thanks, I have now gotten the letter and it is VERY thorough and complete, with approval, saying in essence that I've checked all the boxes that she went through in the appointment, so no reason NOT to get the surgery....

I've got one more appointment later this month on the 30th with a different shrink in order to get the second letter, but I don't expect it will be much different as both docs are referrals from the TG center, so used to this sort of thing, and will probably be easier given the first letter.

WheelyCurious

Congratulations on your progress. I hope that it will become easier for those who follow you. You are clearing the path for others.

Thank you Jesus....

I did mention your name as related to SOC8 in passing along w/ EA and that I chatted w/ you online here on various occasions... I don't think that made a huge difference beyond helping demonstrate that I'd "Done my homework" on being aware of what all this meant... (I didn't mention your handle beyond saying it wasn't hard to figure out...)

I'm glad to be blazing the trail, and at the same time showing that it is relatively low pain beyond being time consuming...

WheelyCurious