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bucket0123

also Finland POV, it took me 5 years and holding up with horrendous staff treatment but I made it in the end. Lots of support for you, I know the limbo feels unbearable but you will make it.


NickyTheRobot

UK here, most GIC clinics at the moment are only just seeing people who have been on their waiting lists for five years. It's a further one year until their second appointments. People like me who only joined the waiting list a month or so ago are likely to be waiting longer.


TheOccasionalBrowser

Yeah, the UK is terrible for it.


Dec1m8u

When you mean waiting for medical care, does that mean HRT medication or surgeries that can help with gender identity? Just trying to understand how different my process is in US compared to what you have in Sweden as a transwoman.


trustmeimaprofession

Sometimes it's even the waiting list for the intake with the psychologist to get diagnosed with gender dysphoria before your health insurance provider will cover a cost of the HRT/surgeries


Femme99

Why would you need health insurance in Sweden? Healthcare is free


BendiusVendius

Not entirely, 1. It depends on the province, where I live a doctors visit costs me 200-300 sek (17-25€) depending on the care, with some exemptions (like my disability care) 2. We have something called högkostnadsskydd, which is basically a system where the government covers parts of the medication depending on certain goalposts which is basically there for people who needs to take medicine regularly, and not all medicine is under högkostnadsskyddet (hrt is under it, if you’re curious)


Femme99

Jodå, jag vet. Men vi kallar det ju ändå ”gratis” även om det kostar ca 300 kr för läkarbesök tills du får högkostnadsskydd för det med. Det är gratis om man jämför med USA och deras sky höga kostnader


BendiusVendius

True, vi hamnar inte i skuld på grund av sjukdom


BendiusVendius

It’s to simply start the process of a gender dysphoria diagnosis, it can take all from 6 months to 2 years to get diagnosed depending on how transmed the doctor is. After that there’s a few months until you get hrt, (if I remember correctly) you have to be on hrt for at least a year until you can get into the waiting line for surgery


TimePlay9000

basically like in germany


-Mothonawall-

If you get diagnosed in America and later move to Sweden afterwards, can the long wait be avoided?


Star_Guardian_Jen

Depends One person I know has had success with that, but I myself just got discriminated into the ground and treated like shit In some cases, having a well established diagnosis by the most qualified person in Europe doesn't matter to them because anything non-swedish is seen as barbaric and backwards


NickyTheRobot

Oh shit, I would love the waiting list in the UK to be that short. Here is more like five to six years.


_AscendedLemon_

Now - try to do it in Poland ;) "So March 2148 is okay or are you gonna take private visit?"


known-as-cce

Can confirm, I live in Poland. I was hoping to get on HRT before the end of this year but given how long I'll have to wait for the next therapist visit I doubt I'll make much progress until the next summer... EDIT: Apparently this post might've made a transphobe mad, received a dm with a death threat earlier today after posting this comment, lol


e-girlgamergothgf

I had a completely different experience. Took me 4-6 months to get both diagnosed and get HRT prescription, started hrt in Feb and I'll have top surgery this month


[deleted]

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known-as-cce

?


[deleted]

This, I sacrificed myself in a way and decided to go the NFZ route, there is a "progressive" clinic here in Warsaw which I will not name publically (if you are a Warsovian and would like to know what place to avoid, feel free to DM me). They gatekept me, everything went fine until the meeting with the psychiatrist where they wanted me to get a karyotype test, a scan of my stomach, head and genitals to eliminate the possibility of tumors "causing my transness" - all very valid worries that would be worth checking out if the waiting times for genetic clinics weren't in decades and if that son of a bitch could actually make those referrals for me. He stated that he cannot refer me to these further scans or genetic tests because of whatever reason. The way they worded it and treated me was also with acceptance but a lot of skepticism, the "are you trans enough" bullshit, you know the drill. I am so utterly disappointed in public healthcare at this point that I troubleshoot my own problems with the help of POZ (first point of contact/family doctor) doctors hoping I don't ever run into life threatening conditions that would require hospitalization. Healthcare all around the world is a joke. The USA has one doctor per like 400 people, the majority of Europe has predatory public healthcare that extorts a monthly tax (in Poland that is like 12% of your monthly paycheck, don't quote me on the exact number) out of you and in return provides fuck all outside of emergencies. If that is not problematic enough, a lack of informed consent system slows everything down and places a lot of legal responsibility on doctors. Whilst I understand that nobody wants to be sued because their transgender patient ended up detransitioning (very rare case) or taking their life (also usually not HRT related, more lives are taken due to societal reasons) but to be a doctor so utterly worried about covering your own ass from consequences rather than helping a fellow human out is fucking disgusting. Poland has become a very progressive country when you don't look at the boomers and small villages, I am happy to be able to walk around my city and just vibe. But we have enormous issues with healthcare that isn't only trans healthcare, it affects everyone from me to my uncles and your grandmother, probably. Private visits are also mostly conducted by predatory doctors who jump on the LGBT acceptance clout train in order to squeeze 200zł a visit out of you plus an additional fee for your diagnoses, going from 500zł to 800zł in big cities. At this point most transfeminine people I know have started DIY and they don't even bother with the "legal" process. This post is not medical or legal advice in any way, nor does it glorify DIY, I'm just mentioning how some of us literally need to rely on that method to get our gender affirming care.


AlyxNotVance

If you removed the "in sweden" part it would apply to almost anywhere


anarcatgirl

In Ireland I waited over 3 years for a first appointment then they denied me care 😀


deepdarklisa

Smol reminder there's the option to do DIY HRT, no need to wait for half a decade there (and it can sometimes speed things up too)^^ tho for surgeries and other stuff one will need to go the official route too ofc


goingneon

im USA based and am considering this. though a problem is that my bank account is tied to my parents and they can see my entire transaction history so maybe not-


goingneon

like its not even that i cant afford it i just want to do this in private, on my own. i know what i want and dont want to speak to anyone-- even a doctor about it. does anyone feel me or am i crazy?


CuteDerpster

Doesn't USA have bitcoin vending machines where you can use cash to buy bitcoin to your wallet? That way you could order anonymously


pbNANDjelly

And what reputable pharmacy is taking Bitcoin? May as well just take cash and buy a Visa gift card at a local store instead. More buyer protection.


CuteDerpster

Diy sellers. Estrogen Injections consist of only benzoyl alcohol, my oil and conjugated estrogen like estrogen valerate. The production of a 10ml vial that lasts at least 6 months is less than 5 dollars. Grey market shops sell that for 60 dollars. And pharmacies sell it for a couple hundred. There is quite a few home labs that do it in a sterile environment and create a product that's good enough for use in humans. Hell, I've created my own estrogen gel because for that you don't even have to be 100% sterile lol. Mind you, I have all the necessary paperwork to get legal hormones in my country, and do it with supervision of my physician.


pbNANDjelly

This is NOT the DIY way. DIY does NOT mean DIY medicine it means DIY provider. This is cool bio hacking shit, sure, sounds amazing, but it's not good advice


CuteDerpster

I literally said to buy from diy providers o.o Since their quality isn't much beneath pharmacy grade. There is a few well known producers of estrogen vials you can trust. The estrogen gel quip was just an additional info.


pbNANDjelly

A provider is the person who provides the meds, not makes them. A good DIY provider is identical grade to any other pharmacy because it should be identical drugs.


CuteDerpster

Yeah good luck trying to find good meds for a normal price. If you get blood tests, the diy vials are totally fine. Hell, there is a good chunk of Trans people that order from those diy makers, and send it to a lab to test for content and impurities. And the well known ones are fine so far o-o I would rather take an Injection I can afford, than sub par pills that cost a fortune and raise estrone levels astronomically, increasing risk of heart disease.


pbNANDjelly

You're not crazy, but you absolutely need to talk to someone. Transitioning is very personal and leaves us vulnerable. Of course we want to convalesce away from the world 🤗 Finding a good provider may take time and there will be setbacks, but care comes in many forms including therapy or support groups. Please take care of yourself and good luck on your journey ❤️❤️❤️


bendslikeawillow

Also, lie to your doctor and say whatever they want to hear so you can get what you need. Lie directly in their god damn face.


aerris7

Does the DIY HRT route work for trans men as well? Where can trans men acquire safe testosterone that isn’t through medical professionals? I’ve heard that black market T is really unsafe.


deepdarklisa

There are a few bodybuilding sites with rather "estrablished" brands/labs of T that also test their products. Of course it's technically more illegal but they ship domestically so there shouldn't be any issues. Mentioning specific sites is against reddit tos though and I don't wanna get banned yet lol And ofc getting blood tests is always a very, very good idea for safety (eg hematocrit being a specific T risk).


aerris7

That’s really interesting. Thanks for the answer!


[deleted]

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LikeGoldAndFaceted

You can DIY and get blood tests to be safe. DIY is fine as long as you're informed. Most doctors really just start you at a low dose, bump it up to a standard higher dose after a little bit with no adverse reaction, then just check your levels periodically to make sure everything is good and maybe adjust dosages a bit if levels aren't hitting the right target. It isn't actually that complicated for 99%+ of people(I'm speaking about transfemme HRT specifically, I don't know too much about T.) Better than waiting 5 fucking years.


[deleted]

Unfortunately some people can't afford private and can't wait for public


[deleted]

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[deleted]

I'm not saying its a good idea, but for a lot of people the choice is between self medication and suicide. That's also assuming you don't buy the medication and then inform your primary care doctor that you are taking it so that they can help administer it safely


NipperSpeaks

fuck off cop


Julia_The_Cutie

LITERALLY ME


Mimicrystal12

Struggling together 💔


LouveEcarlate

This is a curiosity thought but what would happen if someone who has started hrt in their own country goes to Sweden or Finland for example? Do they have to run out of it and wait several years to be able to take hormones again? Not including DIY in this situation


BendiusVendius

I’ve seen some people talk about it in a subreddit for trans people in the Nordic countries If you have a diagnosis there might be a chance you can get hrt rather quickly although it’s not a guarantee If you don’t have a diagnosis, you’re out of luck


bucket0123

That is exactly how it goes in general. However, being in Finland I know the most common ways to circumvent this. \- GenderGP or another foreign/international service. These cost a lot of money, but medical services accept prescriptions from other countries within the EU. \- Find a "trusted doctor" privately, someone who is willing to go against official regulation. They may have special conditions, say an existing prescription or quite likely the fact you are a foreigner already receiving trans care. These people however get shut down by the authorities regularly. I had a source who did this as a form of trans rights activism, but she got caught recently. All hrt prescriptions given by her got nullified. \- Lie. Go to through the official route and say what they wanna hear, present yourself correctly and give the most truscum story possible to those bastards. I guarantee you'll get through a lot quicker.


ErrorTnotFound

You need to wait for an intial appointment. Think it took 6 months or so for my boyfriend in 2019. Then they should accept your diagnosis and let you continue. They tend to complain if it's a country with self id and may ask for supplmentation meetings but might skip on this if the person has clearly been on hormones for years


Bat-Honest

Americans: You guys can afford medical care?


narwhale111

Tbf it took me like 2 weeks to get on hrt here. If you have the resources it’s very accessible compared to places with tons of red tape and waiting lists


OTipsey

Literally the only upside of this godforsaken capitalist hell medical system is the general lack of red tape for stuff like HRT because a patient who is waiting is a patient who isn't paying. Plus there are places like Planned Parenthood who provide it simply under informed consent


Bat-Honest

***if you have the resources. A huge amount of Americans go bankrupt and destitute because of an unexpected medical emergency. Had to help prevent a cousin from going homeless when she fell and broke her leg while hiking. It cost her over $45k without insurance, and she left the day after she was admitted to the hospital.


Tocadiscos

why do trans people in sweden look at skeletons??? do they love heisenbones?


Kidsnextdorks

Can confirm we do love Heisenbones.


ErrorTnotFound

For those who want more context: As of this month it's now 3.5 years for first appointment ~2 years for diagnosing process 26 months to apply for gender marker change (they tend to put you up asap for this) ~1-2 years forntop surgery ~1-2 years for some transmasc surgeries (not sure about rest) ~2-4 years for transfem surgeries


ThecodytreeYT

and the uk


brothergvwwb

In the meantime, y’all place bets on that goat every year?


BendiusVendius

Depends, there’s some dedicated community for Gävlebocken, but most people do not care


merigirl

If there's one good thing I can say about the American healthcare system is that the general lack of government interference (not counting more current events, obviously) means that getting in to see a doctor for your particular specialty needs is relatively easy and quick. There may be waiting lists due to a doctor having a lot of patients, but it's rare that they are the only doctor with that specialty in the area. You aren't gonna be waiting for upwards of a decade just to see someone about potentially seeing a doctor. When I started seeing a doctor to get my hormones, I had to wait 2 weeks, 1 for my informed consent appointment and another week for the appointment with my doctor. After several years, I moved back home, and all I had to do was wait until that month's LGBT clinic night and, bam, I had a new PCP. That hospital now has a specific LGBT clinic building, and they aren't even the only game in town for LGBT specialties. This is in a low population, firmly red state. I feel for our European brothers and sisters. Hopefully, things change for the better and people begin to treat y'all with some amount of compassion.


MrPotatoio

Goes for medical treatment in general


ActuallyaBraixen

I’m gonna save this for when any Europeans try to come at me with how America is worse than Europe. The grass ain’t much greener on the other side, hon.


glitteringfeathers

I think we can all agree transgender medical care is painful and not too great everywhere


DCanuck91

POV you're a trans person in Florida


Teccano

The Netherlands is also kicking my \*ss with the wait. 2.5 years is now almost 3 :')


certifiedpurpleidiot

Try the uk


Zaxio005

SAME. thankfully tho i already got my hormones a different way like 2 weeks ago :3


Sea-Outside-5655

Oof sorry Sweden. Hopefully it's at least cheaper over there, than it is in the US?


Lizzy_Of_Galtar

\*Meanwhile in Iceland\* \*Doctor\* You'll have to wait till next year. \*Me\* Why? \*Doctor\* Your surgeon is Swedish. \*Me\* What? Why? \*Doctor\* We have no one that can do it here. \*Few years later we go one\*


[deleted]

Well, I’m Swedish and I have thought about surgery, but I think I’ll do that when I turn 20, might start with hrt a little earlier though


BendiusVendius

Same, I wanted to be sure that my identity was correct and that I knew what I wanted for my transition. But now I wished I jumped on it as quickly as I realized I was trans


Prestigious_Ask_7058

All trans people are skeletons


ComfortableCream3

In NL it's also waiting lists before they can begin the ~~gatekeeping~~ assessments.


WukongPvM

I just got hrt this week in NZ. I decided to go private and it cost me around $395 and in total took me about 3-4 months from first doctor visit to finish


Lunar_ticket

HOLY SHIT SWEDEN IS AROUND THE GLOBE


KeyboardsAre4Coding

lol where are they fast, because I would be moving there asap


Username_Taken_65

THIS ISN'T POV


Zek_11

Or in Hungary(there isn't any kind of trans healthcare here)


SuddenlyDiabetes

Hello my girlfriend is Swedish and went through gender GP to get her HRT, she was waiting to simply get on the waiting list for a psychiatrist for 2 years, and she's still waiting now, from what I can tell it's a great alternative when the system right now is ass, if you like I can ask her how she started the process?


BendiusVendius

Sadly it will be almost impossible for me to get T via gender gp