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Orlando VA - Opinions on quality of care


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Hi everyone!

With new insurance premium hikes pushing in over $1k a month, the wife and I are planning to drop our health exchange plans at the end of the year.  She averages one OBGYN appointment every 6 or 7 years, so we're just going to rat hole the saved $1k /mo for when she needs medical attention, eat the Obamacare penalty, and I'm going to switch my coverage to VA. 

I signed up for VA coverage in Seattle many years ago, but I was young, didn't ever go to a doctor, and never used it.  Now we're in Orlando and I'm really concerned about the level of care that the VA provides here.  I talked to the enrollment lady yesterday, who signed me up and scheduled my first appointment for Wednesday the 21st.  The lady at enrollment and eligibility was really cool and didn't give me any weird looks, but I know "she knows!" because my DD214 still had my old name on it.  (My request to correct my DD214 is still pending before the review board at DoN)  My name and sex were already corrected in DEERS before I went to the VA.  Info on myHealtheVet have my corrected information, and list me as Mrs.  LOL  

Doctors have always freaked me out, so I'm pretty nervous in this situation because the VA will have full knowledge of my "M" past.   (My former GP and cardiologists did not)  Does anyone know, is the Orlando VA "trans friendly?"  Will I be treated weird by the doctors here?  Based on my pending medical needs at the moment, I will most likely need a primary care doc, and somewhat extensive care from a cardiologist, neurologist, podiatrist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist and maybe an OBGYN.  Am I hoping for too much?  Also, how easy are they for prescriptions?  (my old 2mg estrogen prescription expired)

I'm terrified, so any tips others can share would be greatly appreciated!

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Guest Kenna Dixon

Relax, Angie.  You have nothing to worry about.

I can speak with some authority on the subject of the Orlando VA, having been in their system for more than ten years.  I've experienced care at the center in Orlando as well as at the clinics in Daytona Beach and Orange City.

From the very beginning, when there was no official policy regarding transgender patients, I've received nothing but sympathetic and respectful treatment.  In the early days, I had found a medication regimen that worked for me and was very open with the physician's assistant whom I saw on my routine visits.  She - and later her replacement - made sure that my blood tests were evaluated accordingly.

When I moved to the Daytona Beach area, I was referred to a staff endocrinologist.  After talking with me, he was not at all hesitant about prescribing estrogen and an anti-androgen.  And the female doctor to whom I was assigned had more than one transgender patient.  Standards of care were being put in place then, and I was even asked how I wanted to be addressed when I came in.

It's not an exaggeration to say that I've never had the slightest problem with anyone I've encountered at the three Central Florida facilities.  Their attitude is very much "Thank you for your service."

 

 

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Thank you so much for the reassurance.  Paranoia must be setting in.  :blink:

Anyway, I went to the Lake Nona facility this morning to straighten out my records with VHA and VBA.  I took my driver's license, social security card, corrected birth certificate, certified copies of name change, gender change, and marriage certificate, and made sure everything in both databases was right. So far everyone has been absolutely respectful, just as you said it would be.  Next drama:  my first appointment on Wednesday, and waiting to see the picture on my VA healthcare ID. 

Thanks again for the reassurance.  I really appreciate it!  

Angie 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Angie, I am in the Orlando VA system and I am transitioning with their help.  The person to talk to, her name is Kerri Griffin from the Lake Baldwin Annex VA.  There is even a group starting this month for transgender veterans!  I actually came in today to let everyone know.  I get my HRT, my counseling and my support straight from them.  My Endo is great and everyone there is super supportive.  I even started voice training at Lake Nona too!  If you need some help getting around, let me know and I'll help with with what I can. 

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  • 1 month later...

Just wanted to update my situation about the Orlando VA.  After starting off smooth with my primary care doctor, I started running into problems trying to get my HRT prescription filled.  It started with my prescription not getting filled, then a call telling me that I needed to meet with Kerri Griffin "to get clearance" first.  After my meeting with her, I was told I had to meet with an endocrinologist (Dr. Yau) at Lake Nona.   During my meeting with him, he tells me that I need to sign a letter agreeing to all the terms for "transgender care" or he won't approve my HRT.   *sigh*  ID's, birth certificate, 15 years full time, all records showing female since before signing up at the VA and they still insist on hanging the trans label around my neck.  I can't win. 

Needless to say, I'm extremely disgusted with the Orlando VA.  I don't have the time to spend my Tuesday afternoons at group meetings.  I don't need more counseling.  All I needed was a re-write of the HRT I've been on since 2002.  (15 years)  Maybe it's just me, or is the VA really that much more difficult than any other place to get basic trans care? 

Maybe it's time to contact Two Spirits in downtown Orlando and see if they'll hook me up without hassle.

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