Hey all of you TG/TS Veterans- Your experiences with the VA

[SandraJane]

Maybe now's the time to open this thread again! Tell us about your experiences with the VA's TG Clinics and Services.

SandraJane

[Sarah Louise]

I might be silly, but I have only used the VA once and that was for my first home loan, I have never been to their medical facilities.

[SandraJane]

I never even did the Home Loan, just post Discharge Dental. But... there are those here that have experiences and it would be good to give them a place to be heard if nothing else.

[jesse]

sandra i will be following this thread my expierence has been positive so far
jessi

[SandraJane]

Jesse,

Please and feel free to add to it. It might take awhile but now we got us a "quorum"!

[Devlyn]

I'm going to contribute to the "I have nothing to contribute" group. I didn't use the home loan, never been to VA medical facilities.

[SandraJane]

That's helpful

[Samantha Stone]

I go to the VA for all my healthcare and I see a psychologist for all my mental health issues.  We do spend most of our sessions discussing transgender issues.  While she is not exslusively a transgender specialist,  she is very perceptive and is letting me evolve to a place where I am not sure where it will lead.  The care is outstanding and I have heard of others that might be receiving hrt In the future.

Samantha

[SandraJane]

I understand that the services are under the wing of the Women's Services, and the counseling/therapy, HRT, and Speech Therapy services are also offered.

SJ

[Renee_]

I understand that the services are under the wing of the Women's Services, and the counseling/therapy, HRT, and Speech Therapy services are also offered.

SJ

If anyone has anyone concrete information about this it'd be appreciated. My primary care doctor is completely supportive but also completely clueless on this subject. We're wading through blind. The new directive specifically references hormones but if speech therapy is also provided any information would be helpful.

[jesse]

i can add alittle to this a directive was given to all va facilities that they must treat trans vets including all related services mamograms hrt therapy you can also recieve your letters from them now heres some of the problems ive seen you have the same problem you have as the civilian world just because they have to treat you dosnt mean the therapist you get will be educated on trans issues you may have to educate him or her. i have been assigned an endo who currently has me stalled until i quit smoking her words exactly were meet me half way and i will prescribe the estrogen she already wrote me the scipt for the spiro and when i see her on oct 4 im hoping to get the e started not that i havnt got it already from anouther provider
jessi

[bojangles]

I use the VA for general health care, but not for trans-related stuff...yet.
My primary is supportive and offered to see if sending me to an endo for thyroid care might also result in having my T provided by the VA.
But that appointment has yet to happen. While it would save me money, I have to admit being a bit nervous about entrusting the VA with that. Would like to hear of other experiences.

Also, have any of you run into issues after changing gender on your records? I'm wondering about possibly no longer being eligible for certain clinics and old pronouns being stuck in medical records & causing confusion.

[jesse]

mope that same directive also added that the vetrans records will be admended to reflect the correct pronoun and sex please reference the nov 2010 directive issued to all vas
perhaps the opcan repost that link i believe she is the one who originally posted it to begin with i just followed it to its conclussion and have sincetransfered all my trans care to the va.
jessi

[bojangles]

Thanks for that reminder, Jesse. I had seen that posted, but didn't remember the details.

Had done name change but not gender, but recently sent in request for that, too. Was weird to get appointment reminders addressed to Ms. Male Name.
But I don't see anything in the directive about how/if that will effect pronouns already recorded in our records. Not even sure it's possible to change that. I can live with it, but am curious to know what to expect.

[jesse]

i forget were i saw it but it wasnt in the original directive but i followed several links in the op original link were i then stumpled apon it ill see if i can relocate it and provide the link for this discussion when i have a little moretime
hugz
jessi
ps speaking of which i have my next appointmet with my endo on the 4 th ill let everyone know how that goes the only script i have outside the va now is estrodial as the endo wont prescribe till i quit smoking which i did
hugz
jessi