I am now going to attempt to type out my experience with Dr. Curtis. It would have helped immensely for me to read something like this before seeing him, but no-one seems to bother - but I am. 8D
Also - I am currently in the process of filing an official complaint with my local PCT about their refusal to fund my referral to Charing Cross when I was 18-years-old, as well as seeking their support to fund my prescription. All is going well so far, I am being taken seriously and have been in contact with a lovely woman who has been great with working around my anxiety.
Wednesday 8th July
Adam (my fiance) and I headed to the station around 12PM, nice and early, for my appointment at 2PM. We travelled from Epping to Bond Street on the Central Line and arrived around 1PM. Despite having the most vicious butterflies ever in my stomach, we decided to head straight to the London Gender Clinic, nice and early.
It was very easy to find (with the help of Adam's iPhone) and I felt incredibly sick with nerves as we walked up Wimpole Street, Adam reading out the numbers of the buildings. (Weirdly they seemed to go up one street and down the other.) We finally reached '25 Wimpole Street,' Adam had already spotted it by guessing it was 'the place with the dirty columns.' I immediately recognised the big brown doors from the website photo.
In front of the doors is a little speaker thingie, with a long list of Doctors and their individual numbers. It appeared that the building had been split into many little clinics.
"Uhm, I'm here with Nathan Dale?" Adam spoke into the little speaker thingie, and I complained that he should have said that I had an appointment, and then we were 'buzzed in.'
We decided to take the elevator up to where the clinic was after reading a sign of the floors and their various Doctors, I believe Dr. Curtis was either three or four. (Awful of me to have forgotten.)
There were two massive brown doors, one of which was labelled with 'Dr Curtis' and so in we went. We were greeted by a young woman, I assume she was a nurse of sorts, and welcomed into the clinic to sit down. It was basically a small flat that was decked out to be a clinic, and managed to avoid being claustrophobic with a nice open reception area, and everything being painted white.
I immediately jogged off to use the toilet as my tummy was playing up with Super Nathan Nerves, and I met the tiniest little sink I have ever seen in my life. I had to take a moment to breathe deeply and calm myself down, splashing my face with cold water helped more than you could ever imagine.
Adam and I had to wait quite a while, because we were very early, and we had fun reading out the titles of the many transgender books and leaflets on the two book shelfs near by. There was a little table in front of us, we were on a two-seater sofa, and there were two more chairs to the side. Very small!
At one point Dr. Curtis suddenly appeared out of nowhere, wandering about the reception area and then back into his office. My heart started really pounding there as I figured out who it was, but honestly I was stuck in a state of disbelief. Eventually he asked, "Are you Nathaniel?" and explained that his receptionist was on his lunch break, and he got me to fill a form out. Said receptionist appeared soon and took my form, it was just some basic information and also asking for my consent for various matters.
There were two desks in the reception area, one at the front and one at the side - which Dr. Curtis sat at in a big chair, whilst the receptionist... Stood on his knees, using his computer. It was really funny, seeing the tall receptionist plopped on the floor like that, whilst the shorter Doctor was sinking in his big executive chair.
Finally I was called over by Dr. Curtis and bid farewell to Adam (who was off to go entertain himself), and I was invited to take a seat in his office.
It was very plain, and all I recall was his desk and things, and the big chair I sat in, at one end of the room. This is where I forget lots of details, but I'll try to remember as much as possible!
Dr. Curtis is even more attractive than he appears on his photos. He is very young-looking and incredibly well-kempt. He was wearing nice formal trousers, a nice shirt and a very cute sweater-vest over said shirt. I was expecting a jacket, tie and super-business-man appearance
like in his photos, but instead he was much less threatening.
The first thing he said when I sat down was, "So who was that, your friend or..?" and I replied, "My fiance." I was beaming quite a bit.
He asked, "So, what can I do for you?" And I replied that I was basically there to seek Hormone Replacement Therapy so he said, "Okay, well, I'm going to ask you some questions and then we'll get onto the gender questions."
I was then asked various questions, oddly enough! My age, whether I smoke or drink (he figured out that I didn't do drugs), whether I had any children, what my parents do, how many siblings I have, my height, my weight, etc, etc, etc. He then asked all about my gender history and transition - my experience growing up, what I had done about my transgenderism, if I had met any transgendered people in person before, was I a member of any transgender communities, what my partner's sexuality is, what my sexuality is, what I identify as, etc.
He also asked me, "How well do you pass?" As Adam later said - I should have replied, "You tell me." He also asked if I pass over the phone, which I do not.
He came across as very anti-obesity. I am a big guy, very clearly overweight but not too disgustingly so. I approved of his comments about my weight, he was blunt and honest but not especially offensive about me needing to lose weight, but admittedly I can see how he could have upset some people with his choice of words and whatnot (and I know that he has done so before.)
He then discussed the various effects of Testosterone with me. He mentioned the rate of changes, how most of the changes require lots of work and do not make you pass as male by themselves. He held a hand below his chin and stated, "It isn't difficult to make above here look male, but below is another story."
He spoke about working out and how one must never over-do it as although testosterone can increase energy and muscle strength and development, you can also damage your shoulder ligaments more easily.
He mentioned that you will receive clitoral growth, but tried to emphasise that it wasn't very much. (Leaflet I got from his says 2-6cm and hey, 1cm would be a massive improvement to me.)
He also mentioned that transmen tend to look forever young and stated, "I am 42-years-old and look like I barely qualify [as a Doctor]."
He showed me a little chart showing the different types of T after stating that the internet seems to focus purely on injectables (Sustanon, Nedibo, the gel, the patch, the pills, and one that isn't used anymore) and what levels of testosterone they give you, compared to that of a female and that of a 'standard' male. Sustanon was, like.. All over the bloody place. It was way too high, and totally zig-zaggy. Dr. Curtis claimed that various patients received awful side effects from Sustanon as well. He said that a half-dose of it is much safer however, and it is lower down but also zig-zaggy. The Nebido was slower to rise and then would fall in hormone levels towards the end of the dose, then slowly rise again with the next dose.
He clearly quite disliked Sustanon but said that the lower dose is usually fine, and seemed to favour the gel. (I personally am interested in Nebido, which is a three-monthly injection.)
He gave me two copies of a consent form (one for me, one for him) to sign when I see him next, basically consent for Hormone Replacement Therapy. I also received a leaflet on the effects and dangers of Testosterone (increased chance of liver disease, type II diabetes, and various other ailments, etc.) and also a price list of available drugs.
Basically, what shall happen now is this - I shall receive a letter in the post from Dr. Curtis as a result of the appointment. I can then give this letter to Dr. Hill and she shall try to find out if the NHS (PCT) will fund a prescription of Testosterone for me. She shall also arrange for me to have my bloodwork done and blood pressure taken.
I will need a copy of my bloodwork and blood pressure results to give to Dr. Curtis the next time that I seem him (which shall hopefully be in a month) so that we can discuss my obtaining Testosterone and whether or not I shall be getting it from the NHS or buying it from him.
Et voila. :'D
All-in-all I found him to be very pleasant. Every now and then he came across as a little 'superior-than-thou' and a wee bit arrogant, but he has a friendly smile and was incredibly helpful and easy to deal with.
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