The Paper Trail That Never Dies

[Carolyn Marie]

It's been at least five years since I came out to the medical staff at my HMO, and got my medical records changed with my new name and gender, and probably four years since I had any issues with them.

So I was unpleasantly surprised to find out that some medical records (apparently) never die, and I'll probably be followed around by them until the day I do.

I went to an ophthalmologists office yesterday for a first visit.  All went well, until, in the exam room, the nurse asked me about some (very) old paper records that were clipped to my chart, with my old name on them.  They were from 2008 and 1998, for heaven's sake!  I don't know where they dredged those up from.

In any case, I assumed that the jig was up as to me being trans.  She suggested I talk to my home office staff to get it straightened out, which I said I would do.

She left to get something, and when she returned, being curious, I asked her if I was her first trans patient. The light bulb went on over her head, and she looked at me and smiled and said that, until that moment, she didn't know that I was trans.  She thought the records belonging to the male person weren't mine at all, but some random person with the same last name.  

We laughed, and I was both amused and delighted that it never occurred to the nurse that I could ever have been anything other than the woman she saw before her.

But that old paperwork; I doubt I'll ever be completely shed of that stuff.     The past is always present.

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

[Jani]

Good story.  I have to get my medical records squared away relative to my gender marker. 

Jani

[Charlize]

 Great story Carolyn Marie.  Our old records just ride along with us.  Having lived in the same place most of my life he still gets the occasional piece of mail.  When he goes to the doctor they knew him.  Oh well i do get a kick out of the reactions at times when folks figure things out.  it still happens 5 years later and i suppose it always will.  Just part of life i guess.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[MarcieMarie12]

I'm seeing this with clients at work and vendors asking for <dead name>. With vendors I just say that person is no longer there. Clients, I just tell them with an implied wink "I changed my name amongst other things in my life."

I'm still getting the EZ-Pass notices for the transponder my ex uses in my dead name and I've given up doing anything about. I can't change the primary account name to her name.....

[Tejana]

Yep, paper trails & background checks (another, currently-active, thread)...a very tangled web....  [Sometimes I wonder if we try so hard to change society's perceptions about ts/tg stuff because so many of us are so terrified of not being able to completely, totally, 100% hide/bury our pas???.]

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

That happened to me at a walk-in clinic I haven't been to in over 15 years. The check-in lady was super nice and discreet about it, calling me up to ask me a question but really keeping the conversation to almost a whisper for privacy. We quickly sorted out that, yes, that used to be me and I thanked her for her discreteness with such a matter. 

[Guest Ladyinker]

Oh joy, things to look forward too.

 

Erin

 

[Guest]

On 4/14/2017 at 9:58 AM, Carolyn Marie said:

But that old paperwork; I doubt I'll ever be completely shed of that stuff.     The past is always present.

What a wonderful story, Carolyn. That brought a smile to my face.