My Visit And Later Phone Call To The Va

[Guest Isabella_Anne]

Hello Vets,

I have good news and some bad news. Good news is I now have a full time counselor for mt transition. She has 14 years experience with transgender folks and she has a great attitude. The important thing is I like her and I think I can trust her.

As for the bad, the bad news is mainly from gross ignorance on the part of my Dr. nurse. She told me the VA does not help Transsexual's with drugs or counseling. I told her she needs to call my VA provided counselor and tell her to stop providing me service as directed by her supervisor who happens to be a psychiatric as well as the ranking Dr. at my VA. She was kinda speechless at that point. I know I dropped the hammer hard but she would not listen . I tried to educate her, but she would not have any of that. She told me my Dr. has no experience with hormones for Transsexual like myself. I told her my Dr. if your speaking for him needs to read the latest directive and be ready to provide me with hormones if and when I request them. She told me I had to go to an outside source for meds. I was loosing my patients with her at this point and I told her I will send her the link to the latest directive concerning Transsexuals, inter sexed and such. She at that point told me it won't make any difference. I plan on making a call to the VA complaint line. I'm tired of her insolence and ignorance toward my medical care. My personal opinion is she dislikes Transsexual. I just got that feeling. She will loose in the end. After a good meeting with my therapist and then that phone call I was a little down, but tomorrows another day Anyways I won't be pushed around or ignored. If my Dr. does not know how to prescribe meds for HRT he better find someone to consult with and figure it out. I should not be the one who tells the Dr. what to prescribe. Hmm

Isabella

[Guest Emily Ray]

I love your fierceness Isabella, we all need to stop accepting second rate care and demand what we have been promised. You will win in the end, but the battle is draining. That is why Lauras is so important to us. We can recharge and prepare for the next engagement.

Huggs

Emily

[Carolyn Marie]

Wow, you are one formidable foe, Isabella. Good for you! Don't take no for an answer, especially when that "no" is based on ignorance and prejudice. You probably have it already, but somewhere on this site is a link to the VA's new guidelines for treatment of trans vets, and it clearly states that everything short of SRS is covered and will be provided. If she can't get with the program, she needs to be disciplined. No employee has the right to go against Federal policy.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Gina9223]

Yeah, thats why this directive had to be written.

DO call the VA hot line and complain until the plaster falls.

THEN call your congress people and demand action from them on the local VA hosptial ignoring VA directives that they simply cannot ignore.

If you still don't get action, then its time to contact Lambda Legal and sue the ever loving **** out of them as individuals.

[MackenzieB]

Contact that VA Med Center and see if they have a Minority Patient Advocate. That's who handles Trans issues in the facility that I work at.

[Guest Isabella_Anne]

Contact that VA Med Center and see if they have a Minority Patient Advocate. That's who handles Trans issues in the facility that I work at.

Thanks for the advice all. As it is my therapist has taken care of most of my problems.

Isabella

[Guest Donna Jean]

Thanks for the advice all. As it is my therapist has taken care of most of my problems.

Isabella

The VA or your therapist....as long as someone is helping you through all of this!

Huggs

Donna Jean