Got a New Doctor and....It All Worked Out!!!

[Carolyn Marie]

For the first time in years I was forced to get a new doctor for my HRT monitoring.  My PCP didn't feel qualified and wanted to refer me to a trans clinic at UCLA.  But the HMO said, "No way," and referred me to an in-network endo.  That endo said, "Ain't no way" and claimed she wasn't qualified.  "Sigh."  So, then, UCLA, right?  Wrong!  The HMO said, "Still no way!" and referred me to another in-network endo. 

 

Following along so far?  Good!  It gets better...really.

 

I went to see the endo today.  I was pretty skeptical and planned to grill her pretty good.  it didn't start out well.  Despite a 20 minute interview with her nurse, during which I told her about my orchie and meds and EXACTLY WHY I was seeing this doctor, the doctor didn't know that I was trans when she sat down in the exam room.  In fact, she assumed I had had a hysterectomy and was just another middle aged woman who needed extra female hormones for my health.  

 

I must have looked a bit exasperated at that point.   I said, "Doctor, I've never had female parts, I'm transgender, and I'm on female hormones because I'm a male to female trans woman!"   I think I saw the light bulb turn on above her head right then. 

 

It got better after that "Ah Ha!" moment.  The doctor's attitude improved, we had a nice chat, and she turned out to be, um, inexperienced but willing.  She had read up on trans health care, was a careful and thorough professional, and was interested in taking good care of me.  She knew what tests to order, talked to me about the dangers of estrogen, gave me a brief physical exam (wanting, of course, to check out the orchie for herself, but only after asking if it was all right with me).  She even asked about preferred pronouns and asked if it was OK if she put a "T" next to the "F" on my chart for gender to avoid future confusion.

 

What really made me feel good about this doctor is that a colleague in her practice is the pediatric urologist in charge of the Pediatric Trans Health Care clinic at UC Irvine.  She has, and will continue to get great advice and assistance from this specialist in taking care of me.

 

The moral of this (too long) story is this: screw ups and bad juju can happen even in trans-friendly places like California.  But once in a while, things turn out all right.  Doctors are like boxes of chocolate; you never know what you're gonna get.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Jani]

3 minutes ago, Carolyn Marie said:

In fact, she assumed I .... was just another middle aged woman...

Well, what do you expect?  Have you looked in the mirror lately?  That's who I see when looking at your avatar and other photos.   

 

5 minutes ago, Carolyn Marie said:

Doctors are like boxes of chocolate; you never know what you're gonna get.

Sounds like you got a good one!  Congratulations! 

 

Jani

[Rachael]

Good to hear things worked out well. 

[Cyndee]

That's great you've found such a nice care provider Carolyn

 

Way to go

 

Cynthia -

[VickySGV]

Great going.

[tracy_j]

That's great Carolyn.

 

I must admit that I think it sometimes must be a bit of a nightmare for medical staff these days, not only for coming across the gender change in it's clinical context, but also for likely embarrasing situations with these type of events. In my own experience I was often viewed poorly for not using totally formal (and professional?) dialogue with patients, preferring to take them in peraps a far more personal level and taking them as they come. This avoided most issues.  I remember a few weeks ago on a visit to my mother (who I have not come out to as such as she has memory issues and would not handle a discussion, but over time has got used to my feminine appearance). One of her carers, in filling out her visit notes fully and correctly, asked me how I would like to be referred to, and then went into some discussion over it. This in front of my mother. She did not say anything, but I do wonder exactly how much she understands, or more correctly, remembers. I am relaxed with things so take it as 'matter of fact', but this is not the first time I have come across a professional who makes assumptions about a situation.

 

Tracy