Doctors

[girl you look fierce]

k

[suzifrommd]

IMO, you should tell the truth to medical professionals. They determine their diagnoses and treatments by understanding the situation. Probably doesn't matter with a sore throat, but you never know, so to be on the safe side you should be honest.

In the US, it is against the law for your doctor to give out information about you without your consent.

[Devlyn]

I have to agree with Suzi. Withholding information from a Doctor isn't in your own best interest. Just put on the big girl panties. Hugs, Devlyn

[suzifrommd]

It's just really hard for me, I can't handle being out to people very well at all, it makes me very uncomfortable.

There is absolutely NOTHING shameful about being transgender. It's something to be proud of - we've dealt with issues that most people haven't even heard of.

Give yourself permission to wear your transgender proudly.

[JLT1]

For me, I tell the person doing the general intake everything except HRT.  I do tell them I will talk with the doctors about anything else.  Then, I am very upfront with the doctors and tell them my gender status and request that they not write that in my chart

[Ltl89]

Sorry but I just don't feel that way. I am just a girl and I don't want to be forced to tell people something else and have them think of me differently.

I understand 100 percent where you are coming from.  Yet, you need to tell the doctors about what medications you are on.  This is important because some medications may negatively interact with your treatment.  You really don't want to risk that. So please continue to be honest about your medical history.

Having said that, you don't need to disclose your trans status to the doctor.  Only discuss things that are relevant to them treating you properly.  '

Lastly, I wouldn't worry about any doctor outing you.  They have to be confidential and keep patient information to themselves.  And quite frankly, most people in the medical field have so many patients and situations to deal with.  You really wouldn't stand out like you think you would.

Hope your throat feels better

[Ltl89]

Thanks, yeah that is why I did honestly list the medications... just wish it weren't awkward. Luckily as soon as you pass, people seem to not want to believe or conceive of the fact that you are trans unless you outright tell them. I was just afraid she was gonna keep prying, but I guess at that point she realized it was unrelated.

I'm going to try to get a regular GP soon, I have been recommended to someone and I am going to try really hard to disclose to her but honestly it sucks and I think after SRS I will just tell medical people I had a hysto. My mom had one for polyps so it's not even that unusual.

I didn't think a dr. would out me I just don't want to be out to even them really I feel like as soon as people know they will never think of you the same way they would if they didn't know and I don't like that...

Trust me, I have lots of family in the medical field, they don't care.  They see much more interesting things than a transgender patient.  It really wouldn't register or be a concern to most people in the field.

I wouldn't lie about SRS.  You need to be honest because there are so many different variables that can have an impact on your health.  Honestly, don't worry so much about it.  Obviously you have told some medical professionals about your situation already.  Has it really been a problem?  I am guessing not.  So, don't feel plagued about what your GP might think.  If anything, you want the strongest rapport with them.     

[Kristen Wave]

I told my GP everything and he was fine with it. Though there have been times when I went to Patient first and have had awkward moments where they start asking about periods and stuff and for that I usually just go with it.

[Keira]

I feel like as soon as people know they will never think of you the same way they would if they didn't know and I don't like that...

Sounds like low self esteem/bad self image/confidence problems...

It's okay to be afraid of other people's reactions...but do you self hate? I mean, it's normal to self hate because we are a minority, we are discriminated against after all.

Don't you think that who you are outweighs the fact that you are trans?...that you, as a person outshine the label of being trans?

You are a very pretty girl! You probably also have a very beautiful personality and mind (if I knew you). Everyone is pretty in their own way.

Being trans is a part of who we are...not the whole person. And if someone is rude enough to judge who you are just because you bear the label of "trans"...they are willingly showing their own ignorance and stupidity.

Girl I know how you feel, but if you're transitioning...you must be a strong person inside. You'll get through this.

Hugs,

-Skye

[Jamie D]

"Should I lie and say I do get my period? "

"I was born without a uterus" is completely truthful.

[Kristen Wave]

Honestly if you don't have a uterus they don't need to know that because what you don't have can't hurt you. So if they ask if you've had a period say no and if they ask if you've ever had a period just say no and leave it at that. If your comfortable with it you can tell them more if they ask for it otherwise just tell them it's personal.

[Renee]

I quit going to doctors about 7 years ago.  I found out that while the doctor might be fine with things, their staff may well not be and they don't seem to hold themselves to the same privacy standards the doctor does. So look for good staff along with the doctor, cause chances are that you will have more contact with those folks than you do with the dr. anyway.

[StellaB]

I'm sorry but I'm with Suzi, Devlyn and the others on this one.

I'm always open with doctors to the point of correcting them when they assume I'm a natural born woman. I spent too many years in my life having to pass myself off as a cisgendered male and I resent having to pass myself off as a cisgendered female just for the sake of some perceived societal comfort zone. I'm a human being and have equal right to be myself in society the exact same as anyone else.

But in being myself and enjoying this right I also feel obliged to honour the fundamental responsibility of being honest and truthful when dealing with doctors, police officers and other public officials. Neither my being trans or having issues gives me any justification to lie or give false information about myself to such people.

[Ltl89]

Well, I do have no esteem in being trans... and probably not much self-esteem in general but...

Yes I do think who I am outshines being trans to ME, but not to everyone. With some people, as soon as they know, you will always be a "dude with a" .... ugh, you know. Even when they don't want to think like that, a lot of people will just see you differently somehow.

I don't know... why SHOULD I be comfortable with outing myself?

I will just never be that comfortable with it. Also I guess it's different in the UK or where you are but in the US doctors are not public officials.

But I don't feel like it is dishonest to not disclose being MAAB, and I do trust myself at least to know when it is relevant...

Okay, thanks I will do that

You don't have to feel comfortable outing yourself.  But you aren't outing yourself by answering questions to medical personal.  The questions they ask are to identify how to treat you without complications.  They are never going to point blank ask you if you are transsexual (unless, you are there for that reason).  Honestly, you are over thinking it.  Though I totally understand why.

Also, Doctors are not public officials, but they do have to keep patient information confidential.  Doctors really don't go around blabbing about individual patients.  Quite frankly, most of them hate discussing work when they are off hours.  Believe me, many work long hours and have many patients.  They just want to focus on other things while they are on their off hours.  No doctor is going to make a medical blog about you and out you.  One, it is against their oath.  Two, they don't care about it is much as you do. 

Having said all that, I understand why you feel the way you do.  But in this one circumstance it is to your advantage to be honest.  There is nothing to worry about.

[Keira]

It's never "comfortable" to "out" ones self...but it won't kill you either. (unless you're in the wrong country or talking to the wrong people)

I wasn't implying that we should go running around screaming "I'm Trans"...I just think you need more confidence girl. If we go around living our lives in fear, how can we open up to love and care about others? Living with constant fear is surviving, not living.

If you want to be out, be out; if you don't want to be out, don't say anything. Just don't live in fear of other people thinking differently of you, after all, everyone has negative thoughts about other people; and none of us can change what other people think of us (not US as transgender), everyone has the right to think what they want after all.

If you can't change it, why worry about it?

Besides if the assistants out you after you've given them your preferred/changed name, you can go to the people higher in the system and complain. There are always options and choices.

It's up to you if you want to tell the doctor that you are trans, it just makes the doctor's job easier if you are honest with them. Without all of the facts a doctor can't diagnose a health problem correctly, which could in turn harm you because you didn't get the proper care.

It comes down to...

Being outed Vs. Being treated incorrectly and possibly dying

[Joanna Dark]

But I don't feel like it is dishonest to not disclose being MAAB, and I do trust myself at least to know when it is relevant...

You're under no obligation to out yourself to anyone and I don't think it really makes much of a difference if they know or not. You can find out which medications have contraindications with HRT, memorize them and make sure to never take them. Other then that I can't think of a situation where men and women are treated different (other then the obvious OB-GYN issues). But then again I don't have a doctorate so yeah.

[Nicolette]

What does everyone else do??

I do what I do and have always done. I do a risk assessment. Recently, I needed a basic dental check-up and was asked whether I was on any medication. No, was my answer. It didn't feel it was pertinent and it wasn't. In other situations I have answered yes, and it led to a whole chain of other irrelevant questions. I was buying skin care treatment, fgs, and asked why I was on HRT at my age.

Do what you feel most comfortable with.

[Just Shelly]

Well I was really trying to avoid seeing a GP for things until I got my name change done and stuff, but I got a throat thing and by 3 days knew I had to go see one, I do not have a primary GP yet in my area so I had to do the walk-in clinic thing.

Well I signed in and she started asking me the basic questions and it went like:

Her: Okay ready to see [male name], and she looks at my boyfriend, I stand up
Her: Oh you're [male name]? Err, okay...
Her: So are you taking any daily medications?
*glance at photos of her 3 pretty daughters lining the wall* ughhh she is gonna realize
Me: Spiro and E
Her: What are those for?
Me: Umm just a hormone imbalance
Her: Is there anything underlying that or?
Me: I just have high testosterone
Her: Are you having periods right now?
Me: No
Her: Okay let's look at your throat

Then later randomly asked, have you ever had periods? I said no and she kind of shook her head in pity.

So it finished without being clocked but, still, that was incredibly awkward and  I kinda felt bad, what can I do to prevent that in the future? Is it okay to just not tell them I'm taking any meds if they ask my medical history instead? Should I lie and say I do get my period? I guess when I get a regular GP I will have to come out but I really want to avoid it where possible... 

What does everyone else do??

I'm kind of lost!! Did you not fill out any admittance forms? The form will usually ask what your gender is. If you don't have your legal name change done you should be listing what your legal gender is or that you are transgendered. If something were to happen to you they need to know who you are.

Doctors and nurses cannot!!! disclose protected health information (PHI) to anyone not involved in your direct health care and they rarely ask why you are taking a certain drug unless it may involve your treatment. If you have a therapist you had to disclose your born gender and if your being prescribed HRT you needed to disclose your born gender.

You only do this once for each provider and then its done! As you go through your transition there are going to be many more times where you will have to out yourself....believe me!! I have tried not to but there is no way to avoid it if you are going to change records and receive medical care.

I had to go to the clinic and was actually hospitalized in my in-between-stage!! this was not too much fun! I had to inform many people in the stages of my treatment of what medications I was on...it could of done me harm if I wasn't up front. Not one single time did any of the RN CNA's or Doctors ask me why I was taking a certain medication. It was even worse when my snoopy mother looked at my paper work and seen the medications I was on!!

Unless your birth certificate says a F or a "T" you will eventually have to say something. It will help if you are young...but there is still many records that you may not be aware of.