Life's challenges unfolded and unknown paths emerged on my way to becoming me...
It was nearly ten years ago to date when I first came over to the United Kingdom; to live and explore a new chapter in my life. I had no extended family to rely upon, like most of us Filipinos, but I was full of excitement and had a positive outlook. On the other hand, I was naïve and innocent up to the point of being ignorant, too. Yes, I was! However, it didn’t mean I was careless and dull not to understand the real meaning of being away from my parents and living outside of my nest.
Before I came over, I have been feeding myself with its history that helped me to understand more clearly what United Kingdom was all about. I even read about the publicly funded health care system which was founded in 1948 and referred to as the National Health Service (NHS). I have to admit that it was such an embarrassment to have assumed that England was United Kingdom and its historically famous London Bridge was falling apart, based on the nursery rhyme we used to sing in kindergarten.
I didn't have family nor friends to assist me while living a new chapter of my life in the United Kingdom...
When I begun integrating in order to know more about my new environment, I started from scratch. I didn’t like asking for help from other people but someone told me about registering at a nearest surgery, if I may be needing medical advice from a General Physician (G.P.). I set it aside and didn't give much consideration about the surgery for almost a year. Its because I have this idea, like when I was in the Philippines, that if ever I will be needing to see a doctor I will just find one nearby and pay at my own cost. Yes, typical of me! When I was running out of my oestrogen pills and panicking, that was the time I thought of the surgery and a General Physician (G.P.).
I visited a pharmacy and thought I could just acquire my hormones upfront. Sadly, I was told that without a written prescription from my G.P., they couldn't give it to me. Instead of getting irritated and sulking, I looked on the internet and found out how to register with a surgery as a new settler here in the United Kingdom and what contact number to ring, too. Luckily, I was accepted at the first surgery I applied and became their patient with black & white written formalities. They even immediately booked an appointment for me to see a General Physician. I agreed about the day and time of meeting a G.P. for the very first time and also, to end my misery about oestrogen pills.
When I first registered with my surgery I still had my birth name but I was already smoothly transitioning. The first time I met my very approachable and considerate General Physician, she was slightly surprised. Her eyes didn’t lie! I didn’t mind her reaction and it vanquished when I chatted to her and we started knowing each other. She asked essential information about me which was very understandable given I wasn't born here and have no medical records on their system. She was even curios with my strong American accent and how I learnt to speak well. We conversed and when the time came to ask for oestrogen pills' prescription, she declined to hand it over to me. She declined with an explanation and even raised the possibility of a private prescription. I was tempted to pay for the private prescription but when she explained about the Gender Identity Clinic referral, my mindset changed. Hence, I responded to her imperatively that I couldn’t wait for it!
She forwarded my referral with a name change and a week after, I received a letter from the Gender Identity Clinic. That was quite fast and even my appointment with the clinic was booked early, too. Thank you!
On the day of my first appointment at the Gender Identity Clinic, I felt eerie while waiting in their lounge. A few of their patients were staring at me and I could see through their eyes, the sufferings and pain. That was when I put one and one together, the clinic was mainly treating people with psychiatric disorder. I gulped and just looked straight up to the ceiling while waiting for my name to be called.
My name was called and a community nurse welcomed me with a smile on her face...
The community nurse was easy going and soft spoken while asking personal questions regarding my transition to becoming me, a woman. It went pleasantly and she also learnt new information (from me) regarding the transsexual men and women in the Philippines. She forgot the time because of our frolic but before we ended our conversation, she asked me politely if it was ok for me to be forwarded to another expert. I just said yes with an interrupted explanation from her. She said and I quote, 'It was just for formality purposes and to be assessed by another expert means, I couldn’t be accused of being biased with my remarks about you and your transition'.
Another letter arrived and an appointment with the same clinic was arranged for me to see a psychologist...
I was there once again but with no more spooky feelings. The community nurse I talked to last time escorted and introduced me to an intern female psychologist. I was very surprised as I thought a tough psychologist would handle me and be very critical about my transition and sexuality. I was utterly disappointed, just a joke!
My one on one dialogue with the intern psychologist went smoothly and she even complimented me on how comfortable I was when asked delicate questions. She was very glad and delighted at my well-balanced understanding of being a man and as a woman. That is why, we had a good laugh and even talked about a patient who slapped her for no reasons whatsoever. We finished our healthy conversation with a statement from her and I quote, 'You can't choose who you will be serving in this profession and that slap was part of the package'.
I know the words per see in the name, Gender Identity Clinic. However, I have no knowledge that this type of clinic existed until I first met and conversed with my General Physician. When I started my transition back in the Philippines, I didn’t have to see a General Physician in order to acquire for my oestrogen pills. I would just go straight to the pharmacy and buy it from them with no limits, for as long as you can afford the total price. That is why, to be assessed by experts from the Gender Identity Clinic was new to me but it gave me so much understanding why. Wish we have Gender Identity Clinics in the Philippines who would not just assess women and men like us but will also deeply understand our biological sex and gender identity. Actually, the Gender Identity Clinics here in the United Kingdom don't just assess biological sex and gender identity issues. They also offer support groups who will treat you with respect, guidance and love.
My surgery gave me a call and an appointment to see my dearest General Physician was booked on my behalf...
It was, more or less, a period of 2 months of assessments before I finally got to see my General Physician again. We chatted for awhile regarding my experience with the Gender Identity Clinic as she was very happy with the remarks from the experts. She then monitored manually my blood pressure while explaining another test I will do once in a year called, lipid blood tests. After that, she handed over to me my monthly supplies of oestrogen pills' prescription.
*Photo Courtesy of gendergp.co.uk
