I mean, I get the rational reasons for it, I do. Planned Parenthood is the only provider around here that actually knows anything about transitioning so I went to them. Then I got this spiel about how they help people who "aren't medically complex." I get it, I have cancer, it's already fucked up my life, so much so that I'm finally feeling brave enough for this... to get kicked to the curb and to go to a fucking endocrinologist that will take three fucking months to get in to? She has to ask her fucking director for permission since I basically begged to not just shuffle me off, but it sounds more like they'll just kick me back to endocrinology and I'll have to wait months for my referral to go through.

Anyway, fuck everything about this. My stomach feels sick and empty at the same time. Why does every little thing have to be so fucking stupid and hard.

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[–] 4 points 6 hours ago (1 child)

Yeah I was just hoping maybe you could just tell your doctor you want the prescription and tests ordered and kind of self manage, or do that with planned parenthood. That's what I had to do with my current primary doctor since finding any with experience is rare since they're all full up on patients. I live I a fairly progressive area to the point that it's become a sanctuary for the whole country and it already had major doctor shortages. So this doctor is pretty new. Unfortunately, you'll fond regardless of where you go, you have to learn enough medicine to treat yourself most of the time. They just don't teach it in medical school and it's hard to find what little data there is of you're not explicitly looking for it and interested aa a doctor. I had a head start as I have worked in healthcare IT for many years and have done first aid and suturing and a few other classes because I wanted to be able to help people of needed and it's interesting to me. But I knew nothing about hormones, surgical techniques, vocal chords, and all the other stuff I've learned over the years.

And yeah definitely tell the oncologist, IMHO. HRT can definitely effect your metabolism and many other things that may or may not affect something as precise as cancer treatments which are basically barely nonlethal amounts of very lethal things, lol.

I did monotherapy (estradiol only) and avoided anti-androgens to reduce side effects, and I didnt want to do DIY. Mostly because I didn't start until later in life and I wanted to be a little more cautious and have more control and fewer side effects compared to someone younger who might be able to recover from issues more quickly.

My testosterone levels dropped on their own with just estrogen long before I had my bottom surgery. Doesn't work for everyone, but given your health concerns it may improve outcomes to at least start out that way. But again if doing DIY be sure to take care of what you're using and how much estrone or estriol you're getting from the less refined sources since most blood tests don't test for that and they can cause side effects including some evidence estrone being linked to breast cancer, though again those studies mostly done on women over 60.

Anyway, I hope it works out for you.

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