How do you handle M/F questions for medical issues?

[kelly_aus]

I actually meant we are on anti androgens which is the same kind of medication they use to treat prostate problems.

Yeah.. but that doesn't mean there can't or wont be issues, hence why it stills needs checking on..

[Naturally Blonde]

Yeah.. but that doesn't mean there can't or wont be issues, hence why it stills needs checking on..

It's a new one on me! especially after well over a decade on anti androgens and HRT. I've been requested to go to the Breast scanning unit on a regular basis every year but I don't think I will ever get called up for a prostate check!

[MsDazzler]

Please don't hide your head in the sand and think you are guaranteed to have no prostate problems because you are on HRT. There are no guarantees, especially with your body. Even men who have been taking antiandrogens to combat prostate problems have not always been successful.

Even if it is a ghastly and miserable reminder of your old "male" body (assuming you got SRS), it is still important to go get prostate exams.

The prostate gland is homologus to the female's Skene's gland, so if it helps, just think you are going to get your Skene's gland checked, heh.

[eli77]

Estrogen is mostly not the only medicine transgirls are taken, the combination estrogen/androcur/and so on is quite clear, we're not fools you know, beside that we ask about operations in the past, we just want to know to give the best care one needed.
What is been said on the er, stays on the er, there is no need to keep secrets, and there is no need to be ashamed to have a trans history.
I see no reason to hide a part of your medical status when you're visiting a doctor, we don't care if you're yellow, purple or trans, it's not our job to make a judgement on whatever, it's our job to give the best care as possible.

My opinion on the medical community in general is rather low due to past experience, but suffice to say - no people don't have a clue what spironolactone/estrogen/prometrium means on a regular basis, and no they don't always ask for my surgical history. And no I haven't always been treated with respect after I disclosed.

I answer the questions I'm asked honestly. That's it.

Doctors and nurses are humans. Which means they suck as much and as often as any other kind of human.

[AbraCadabra]

Please don't hide your head in the sand and think you are guaranteed to have no prostate problems because you are on HRT. There are no guarantees, especially with your body. Even men who have been taking antiandrogens to combat prostate problems have not always been successful.

Even if it is a ghastly and miserable reminder of your old "male" body (assuming you got SRS), it is still important to go get prostate exams.

The prostate gland is homologus to the female's Skene's gland, so if it helps, just think you are going to get your Skene's gland checked, heh.

Well, now... since when did girls go for Skene's gland check-ups? There's plenty other internal stuff with a natal female to bother about. Plenty.

Next, I actually had issues with my prostate, which was slow in coming, from my mid 40s. There are two issues here - Prostate cancer, and BPH which I had.

The cancer is checked via blood test, one can not 'feel' it via the rectum (pre- non-op) as it grows from the inside out. Once you feel it, it's most often too late.

BPH (Benign Prostate Hypoplasia) is different, it makes the prostate more puffy AND you will find out long before any doc had his finger up your rear - you will have issues with peeing. BHP will start to restrict the urethra more and more, plus put a dent into the bladder, due to it's growth, so it will not fully empty as it did in a non-BHP male.

In fact my doc was not much into sticking his finger up there at all. He prescribed SPIRO, and by now, 1 1/2 years later, AND post-op, I'd be much surprised if he would have changed his mind on the subject - plus I have one VERY powerful stream going and no more issues with urine retention in the bladder either. This girl got fixed for sure :-)

In closing, with size 38A boobs I could not even think how they'd manage a mammogram, there's pretty little to squeeze in deed. If you're bigger, yes it's a good idea of course.

And as always... YMMV

Axélle

[Naturally Blonde]

Please don't hide your head in the sand and think you are guaranteed to have no prostate problems because you are on HRT. There are no guarantees, especially with your body. Even men who have been taking antiandrogens to combat prostate problems have not always been successful.

Even if it is a ghastly and miserable reminder of your old "male" body (assuming you got SRS), it is still important to go get prostate exams.

The prostate gland is homologus to the female's Skene's gland, so if it helps, just think you are going to get your Skene's gland checked, heh.

I assume prostate checks must be done quite regularly in America but in our country (the U.K) checks are less likely which is really bad. Thanks Axélle-Michélle for the extensive information which I will seriously take on board.

[Mister]

Doctors and nurses are humans. Which means they suck as much and as often as any other kind of human.

This.

[cindianna_jones]

I had a kidney stone once and was in immense pain. My hubby took me  to the clinic where they had access to my medical history. They left me in the waiting room agonizing on the floor for two hours while they treated other people with the sniffles.  This was in the bay area folks... probably the most accepting place in the US.... just the wrong clinic.  I now insist with my GP that all references to GRS never go to anyone else. I'd love to have her not even make entries in her records. My last doc was very good about NOT entering anything related into my records.

Face it.  Once the insurance companies get into your history, who knows what they will deny or cover. We still have a long way to go to get equal rights around the world. I thank the gay community for the support and inclusion they have given us in their fights for equal rights legislation. Were it not for them and a very few other brave transgender souls, we'd only be worth a sack of garbage to a lot of people in this country. 

Sorry to be so negative. I know that other people don't have too many issues. But I've had my share.

Cindi

[Mister]

I had a kidney stone once and was in immense pain. My hubby took me  to the clinic where they had access to my medical history. They left me in the waiting room agonizing on the floor for two hours while they treated other people with the sniffles.  This was in the bay area folks... probably the most accepting place in the US.... just the wrong clinic.

Where was this?

[MsDazzler]

  This was in the bay area folks... probably the most accepting place in the US.... just the wrong clinic. 
Cindi

sorry to hear that... but the bay area does NOT translate into San Francisco! There are pretty -plenty closed minded cities all around the bay. Only Berkeley comes remotely close to being openminded as SF is.

[Mister]

sorry to hear that... but the bay area does NOT translate into San Francisco! There are pretty -plenty closed minded cities all around the bay. Only Berkeley comes remotely close to being openminded as SF is.

No, but San Francisco is crap outside of the assigned DPH clinics.

[annette]

I see I have to reconsider my earlier replies.
Sorry girls, I live in another continent, things are different here.
I projected your situations to the place I live, my apologizes.
I'm truly sorry that some of you did have bad experiences for being transsexual.
IMO, if a doctor or a nurse act like that, they should been removed from the profession.
Sorry Cindy, kidneystones are hurting like hell, I know from experience, it's a bloody shame they keep you waiting.

Have a happy newyear all.
Let's hope things are gonna be better.