avoiding the doctor

[Guest Annutty]

I recently had to get a DOT physical (dep't of transportation - I'm a truck driver) for a new job i was applying for, but apparently I had too many proteins in my urine, which need blood work to determine the cause of. This would take more than one day, and my prospective employer had a policy that if the physical could not be completed in the same day with a passing grade, they would drop my application. So they did. The whole application process took over a year (lots of waiting for available positions) and would have given me a 30-50k a year raise. This was the final step. Needless to say, it hit me pretty hard. Not only did I miss out on the highest raise in my life, but now I found out I could have kidney disease or diabetes. 

 Now, a few weeks later, I'm back at my old job and trying to find time to take off to visit the doctor for the aforementioned blood work. You know, to see which chronic illness I'm going to be stuck with for the rest of my life. Or to see that the nurse practitioner was a joke and there was nothing wrong the whole time and he screwed me out of $50,000. I'm not actually sure which is worse. The problem is I don't have a doctor. I've never had a "primary care physician" or whatever they are called. I have a doctor I pay to give me estrogen prescriptions, but I have a feeling he doesn't even want me or any other trans woman there in his office. And his staff is completely incompetent. 

 So the mission to find a regular doctor is on! Except I think I would rather just die of whatever disease I have than let medical staff and doctors abuse me. But if I don't get this urine thing fixed, I won't be able to get a new medical card which means I can't drive (commercial vehicles) which means I'm unemployed by October. 

 So it's either let doctors touch my body, draw my blood, misgender me, look at me with disgust, and wonder if I'm a prostitute, or become unemployed and be forced to find not only a new job, but a new industry and career. With my non existent college degree.

 I guess it's just another one of life great "choices", like choosing to transition or choosing to love the gender you love. You know, the ones where it's not really a choice.

 

[Jani]

Oh, what a bummer to miss out like that.  I'm sorry to hear this.  I don't know if you're currently seeing a counselor but maybe they might have a line on transgender friendly doctors in your area.  I keep hearing there is a good sized trans* contingent in the Houston area.  I know TX is large but it may be an area you are in from time to time.    

I did google "transgender friendly doctors in Texas" and received a fairly good list of prospects.  Looking beyond the current situation, having a reliable primary care physician would be a good idea.   Best of luck. 

Jani

[TexasLibraryLady]

Where are you in Texas? I can give you a few leads in the Houston area. I can ask my friends around the state. I know it is scary, but I've honestly heard more good stories than bad. I had to make an emergency appointment with a dr. that was close by, it went fine and she even told me that I wasn't the first trans patient she'd treated.

[Charlize]

I am sorry to hear about your disappointment.   Perhaps finding out about a possible illness is a good thing.  It is always best to know even if it makes life difficult.  Hopefully you'll find a doctor who can help and at the same time show you the respect and care you deserve.  I had some trouble finding a cardiologist who was trans friendly but i'm getting great care now.  Keep trying to get good care.  Ask around and you'll find someone. 

Hopefully a good driving job will come up soon. 

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[DenimAndLace]

Is there any chance you could ask to be retested?  There are some very simple things that can cause elevated protein in your urine such as emotional stress, dehydration, hard physical activity and fever just to name a few.  I've had high urine protein which came back normal when tested again in a few days.  I've also had a glomerular filtration rate test done where the inject dye into your blood and look for it in your urine to see how well your kidneys are functioning.  It's the "ultimate" kidney test from what i was told and even that only took 3 hours.  Since even your current job is on the line, I wouldn't settle for a simple DOT test.  Assuming followup tests are fine and show there's nothing wrong, could you go back to the new company with results in hand and be reconsidered?

[tracy_j]

It's easy for me to say, but it would be a good idea to get a competant doctor onside. The balance of your body has changed with hormones anyway so a complete checkup is a good idea.

I like the idea of going back to the company, results in-hand.

Good luck

Tracy

[Guest Annutty]

On ‎7‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 5:52 PM, TexasLibraryLady said:

Where are you in Texas? I can give you a few leads in the Houston area. I can ask my friends around the state. I know it is scary, but I've honestly heard more good stories than bad. I had to make an emergency appointment with a dr. that was close by, it went fine and she even told me that I wasn't the first trans patient she'd treated.

I would welcome recommendations or referrals. Thank you.

 

23 hours ago, DenimAndLace said:

Is there any chance you could ask to be retested?  There are some very simple things that can cause elevated protein in your urine such as emotional stress, dehydration, hard physical activity and fever just to name a few.  I've had high urine protein which came back normal when tested again in a few days.  I've also had a glomerular filtration rate test done where the inject dye into your blood and look for it in your urine to see how well your kidneys are functioning.  It's the "ultimate" kidney test from what i was told and even that only took 3 hours.  Since even your current job is on the line, I wouldn't settle for a simple DOT test.  Assuming followup tests are fine and show there's nothing wrong, could you go back to the new company with results in hand and be reconsidered?

 The company to  which i was applying said in no uncertain terms that my entire application was dropped. I will have to redo the waiting, the phone interview, the physical interview, the truck inspection, the road test, the physical, and the background check. The hr lady even went out on a limb for me asking her superiors if there was any exception that could be made. She called back the next day with a "No". 

[Jani]

This is certainly their loss. 

[MarcieMarie12]

While the money may be good, I question a company being that inflexible. I am with Jani, it is their loss.

 

 

 

[Briana]

What a bummer!  ...And a pain.  But definitely get to the doctor.  As mentioned above, there are plenty of reasons why one has protein in their urine (called proteinuria).  Some can be minor like a kidney or bladder infection or from some medications.  Some a little more serious like Diabetes or chronic kidney disease.  Regardless, you want to find out so you can catch and treat as early as possible. 

The tests done for kidney function can be done and resulted same day.  They'd also want to check your fasting blood sugar to rule out diabetes which would have required you to be fasting for ~8 hours before hand.  Although a quick non-fasting check would most likely show and issue if you had one. 

Definitely their loss and yes, that sure is a ridged policy.  Hopefully an even better opportunity will come your way.

[Jani]

52 minutes ago, Briana said:

Hopefully an even better opportunity will come your way.

I've always seen that when one door closes, another opens.  

Jani