Alyssa's Trans Bottom Surgery

Hi there, my name is Alyssa, I'm a Trans woman who has been transitioning for around 3 years in the dark, spooky lands of London and I need your help to fund my Trans surgery! ^.^

Transitioning for me, like many other transgender people has been a long and arduous process, and in some areas such as surgery, a near impossibility financially, especially in the UK where the NHS is under constant pressure, underfunding and is held back by outdated healthcare practices in regards to trans healthcare.

My first emotionally destressing experiences with Gender Dysphoria goes back to the start of puberty, when my body began to go through changes I couldn't control and didn't want (Voice Changes, secondary sex characteristics). I remember feeling disgusted and hopeless at my own body and tried to repress these feelings but I always knew something was wrong, and as these changes continued I only felt worse and more depressed by what was happening to me, with little to no way of preventing it.

By the age of 15 I finally had the understanding of what being Transgender was, it helped me to understand who I was and why I felt different to others, but I still repressed these feelings out of shame and fear of what others would think, especially with how trans people in the media and in my childhood would often be used as the punchline to a joke.

At 18 I knew I had to do something, I started to look for healthcare options within the NHS. And was happy to see that the NHS covered Hormone Therapy and Surgery. Despite this I still felt afraid of what others would think, especially my partner at the time. Admitting I was trans to myself was easy, but being open with others, my family and friends? I still couldn't handle it.

At 20 I approached my GP, finally ignored my doubts and asked to be referred to a GIC (Gender Identity Clinic) in the hopes of starting HRT and beginning my transition.

Unfortunately my GP was less than happy to hear this and refused to refer me, insisting that I wait 6 months and come back to him to see if I still felt that I was Transgender.

so, once again I returned to my GP six months later, and once again I asked him to refer me.

He denied my request again. :)))))))))))

At this point I realised I would need to try finding a different route to get treatment, fortunately I had some money saved and was able to approach The London Transgender Clinic and begin HRT within 2 months at the age of 21.

Thanks to being on HRT my GP finally referred me to the NHS clinic in 2021, which sounds like a good thing :) right? It is a good thing isn't it? :)

WRONG (the waitlists for the NHS are absurdly long)

Despite being referred in August 2021 I still haven't been seen for a first appointment, and am unlikely to be seen until I'm 30 with the current estimate of the NHS GIC waitlist. (this is the case for most Transgender patients awaiting treatment unfortunately)

One of the biggest points of dysphoria for me, has been my genitals, It's a difficult thing for me to talk about, but Its one of the things that makes me feel the worst about my gender and overall appearance. bottom surgery has been a goal for me for a long time, at first I didn't think I needed it or felt that I could just ignore the discomfort it gave me, but as I've gotten older it has become a stronger source of emotional and mental distress, that cant be ignored. I had hoped that I could get my surgery through the NHS, but with the current state of trans healthcare in the UK I feel that this will be impossible, and with my current income its getting harder to save especially with the cost of living crisis.

If anyone is able to help me in any way, it would mean the world to me, and would get me one step closer to finally feeling comfortable in my own body.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. :)

Love, Alyssa xx

<3