A quick midweek update on my appointment with the Local Mental Health team. The verdict.........(drumroll please).......I HAVE MY REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!! WooHoo!!!! To say I'm happy is an understatement! :):):)

I was very apprehensive before going into the appointment as I didn't know what to expect, the reactions I would receive or if I'd even get a referral. Luckily for me, the doctor had worked at the Local GIC (Gender Identity Clinic) for a number of years. This gave them a greater understanding of what I was going through and what questions to ask with regard to an initial diagnosis. There were lots of questions about my childhood, teenage years, marriage, family and much, much more. 

The doctor was very thorough and explained to me the processes involved in changing gender. Real life experience, hormone therapy, what the protocol is for the treatment. Luckily, a friend of a friend, a Female to Male transgender, emailed me a copy of the NHS protocol for the, and I hate the word, treatment of transgender patients. This had given me a good insight into what to expect and the some of the timescales involved. It's not going to be a quick process - I reckon about 5 years at least. 

One good thing is that I frequently go out as me 2.0 in a variety of situations. When you start the Real Life Experience(RLE), you have to demonstrate that you have been through various experiences, ie: Work, family gatherings, social gatherings etc as your chosen gender. I have deliberately put myself into certain situations as I realise that I would have to go through them on my own as part of the RLE. Situations like getting a bus, train, walking through my local town, shopping etc. It's all well and good in a group of people, but I will need to tackle a lot of situations on my own.

The outcome was that they had no hesitation in referring me to the GIC because as far as they could see, I was Gender Dysphoric. The relief I felt at that point was instant and heart warming. The journey was finally starting. The doctor was going to write up the notes and I have to have a blood test, for Lipids, Cholesterol and Testosterone. Provided that here are no major issues with the blood test, I shall wait for that letter of referral - which will probably be sometime early next year. The waiting game now starts in earnest.........