For me I was in therapy for about 4 months before I could get my letter (about 6-8 appointments) then I went to the doctor I was going to have prescribe to me and I had my blood work done and was prescribed a base dose pretty much right away and then tweaked as needed. I have had my hormone levels checked on numerous occasions and it usually had a turn around of about a week or 2 for me to get my results. Now 2 things to keep in mind... First is that not all labs are created equally. Most places have to send their blood out to a lab and have the lab return the results, Mine does not. They have an in-house lab for most things. Second is the mail. Lets face it, the mail is not always the fastest in the world. So depending on the therapist, the doctor, the lab, so on, it can take some time and the turn around will vary greatly.

I've been going to a therapist once a month since March of 2013. I got my letter from her and gave it to the doctor I'm seeing. My blood test results are already in because they posted my results on their webpage, so even if my doctor doesn't have them, I do. But I did call my doctors office after I got my blood test done and told them the results should be in the next day, which is what the person at the lab told me. The only thing I could foresee not going my way is the doctors office asked my therapist for her records, and all my therapist really does is jot down notes and make a summary. But they have her phone number, they have my consent to contact her, so I just don't really see how anything could be held up during my next visit, yet during my first visit they said I might not be started til March/April. So that just makes me think, "what could they possibly do on Thursday, that would force them to have to wait til March?" All I want for the time being is just to start, even if it's at the lowest dosage. So I'll have to as for that, because I'll be one pissed off woman if I have to til March lol

How long it takes may vary from person to person, after the blood work, it only took me a couple of days, and then I was advised to speak with more doctors, and then I was prescribed my hormones afterwards.

how well do you know the prescribing doctors skills? I went to 3 doctors before finally getting permission to see the one I knew I would need to go through. I had to see my general practice who simply said he wouldn't have the slightest idea on where to start so he wouldn't touch it but if I brought him a doctors name he would refer me, So I brought the one I knew I would need to see, they couldn't refer from a GP to a GP, so I had to go to an endo, same thing had no clue where to really begin and I didn't feel like I wanted to be their guinea pig, so I went back again and they talked to insurance and all and got them to agree to cover the doctor who was out of network as in network and without a referral.

I write this because not all doctors have a clue what they are doing. If this is such a doctor he may be doing research and figuring out what he is supposed to be doing and that is holding you up. There is also the fact that body chemistry plays a HUGE part in it. There are those who the transition of hormones won't always go smoothly to start because of chemistry and they need to plan it more carefully so they don't cause a serious and life threatening situation. I guess my point is there are a ton of reasons why they are taking so long, from laziness to verifying safety of doing so on you. I guess ultimately if you are unhappy with waiting on this doctor you could seek out a new MD and go through them, the base work is done and so all that would remain is the script.

I started off by going to my general practice doctor in like August or September. I had back issues so I went in for that anyways, and then once that was over I asked him about it. He said he had very minimal experience and wouldn't know what to do. But he did say the doctor I am going to now, which is an endo, are some of the best ones to go to. And they did have a doctor there that handled transgender patients, it's just he retired. So now they dont have too much experience amomg themselves on how to handle me. So I'm sure they are consulting with some doctors and making sure it all goes well.

I just want to start on T-Blockers at the least so that my body can start adjusting you know? If I can get on the lowest dosage today and then just wait another couple months or so to get on a higher dosage, that would make me very happy because at least then I'd be starting.

Hopefully with my blood test in, they can do that. Otherwise, I dont see what the point would be in having me come in today for them just to say something like "we got your results and we're working on how much to prescribe you. That'll be $150 have a good day" Cause that is essentially what happened my first visit. If I have to wait a couple months to start hormones, I'd rather wait til then and save myself the $150

I suppose they might be willing to just put you on blockers, however I doubt it. Your body needs one or the other in a sufficient amount, so I don't think they would leave your estrogen down and then take down the testosterone. Just a hunch on my end, I am no doctor so like I said they may. That said, yeah it would be pretty crappy of them to make you go in for something they can talk to you about over the phone just to get some money. I don't think I would remain with a place that did that. To many others will just say it to you on the phone and see you when they need to... which I need to make my appointment with my doc to get my scripts refilled :P I better go do that. Anyhow, hope you get them today.

Well, thankfully I didn't have to ask because after waiting 45 minutes for the doctor to come and overhearing the nurse talking to the secretary about my lab results, I'm proud to say that I was given a prescription to start on hormones! :D

She's starting me off with 100mg or whatever the measurement was of Spiro and then estrogen. She wanted me to do an estrogen patch, but mostly everyone I've talked to was on the pill, so I went for that instead. So once my prescription is in at the pharmacy, I'll begin the rest of my new life :)

The patch is okay... not great. It has a trickle release so its a steady stream over the day, but the issue is keeping it on. Its going to be hit with clothing and all so yeah. The pills are just easier, slip em under your tongue let them dissolve and done :P

Let them dissolve huh? I wouldve figured just swallow them with water. Or is that just your trick to making them go down easier?

Taking the hrt with a glass of water would be a rush and increase the chances of side effects. Its better to dissolve them under the tongue, so that its not hard on the liver.

Ok thanks, I'll definitely do that

Oh gods, how do you ladies do it??? I just took my first pills, I tried dissolving the spiro under my tongue but it tastes so awful lol eventually I just shot it down with a cup of water

just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way.
not sure if it will work for that pill or not but ive used it with other meds and it helps. check for side effects first.

soooo, I don't dissolve my spironolactone... that one gets swallowed with the rest of them, its only the estradiol that I dissolve under the tongue and it really doesn't have much of a taste. You might want to switch to doing that :P I have never had issues with my hormone levels since starting them, so its not going to cause issues.

I can't stand the taste of pills by themself, so even when I was on Spiro and still to this day with estrogen, I always take my pills with something. May cause side effects and be damaging to the liver, but I'd rather risk that than to deal with a disgusting taste everyday. Sorry but having Asperger's everything I do is about comfort. Fashion, taking my meds, etc.

Don't feel bad about taking your meds with a drink Cbayne, not everyone can tolerate the taste.