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finding a doc

Started by sam1234, March 06, 2015, 02:24:53 PM

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sam1234

Some of you already know that I've had problems with my current physician. I was supposed to have my levels checked every three months, but haven't been in for six. Over the years, I have some extra patches left from days when I was so ill with  a chronic medical problem that the patch didn't get changed.

After finding a page of transgender friendly Dr.s, I e-mailed some that advertised that they did their own levels and would script their own hormones. When I got the e-mails back though, they said that they did not deal with the hormones and I'd need to drive an hour from where I am to find an endocrinologist to do the hormones. One of those places was a large, local corporate medical group, the one my current Dr. is in. It seems I have two choices, go back to the Dr. I don't like or drive and hour every three months. Since I don't have a car, that is a little difficult. I'm afraid that since I haven't been in so long to get my levels checked, my Dr. is going to have a fit. I get the feeling he is already biased against transgenders.

I need to do something soon because I'm pretty sure my T is low. ie less body hair, slower growing facial hair and not energy or libido. Not that I'm in a relationship, but thats not that point. I found the list of transgender friendly Dr.s from a local transgender group.

Is anyone else in this sort of situation, and what did you do?

sam1234
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FTMax

Does the local trans group actually have meetings at all? Or is there someone there that you could email? I'd recommend getting in touch and seeing if someone could personally recommend a doctor to you.

I'm lucky to live in a big, trans friendly city and have my choice of doctors. I got a recommendation from another transguy that I've known for years who has a very similar personality to my own. I love the clinic I'm going to and the doctor I work with. They do everything on site (appointments, lab work, pharmacy, etc.). Depending on where you live, there may be something similar within driving distance.
T: 12/5/2014 | Top: 4/21/2015 | Hysto: 2/6/2016 | Meta: 3/21/2017

I don't come here anymore, so if you need to get in touch send an email: maxdoeswork AT protonmail.com
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Jameson

I'm not in your situation but wanted a trans-friendly Dr who would discuss/do hormones.

I recently moved to a smaller more conservative area (from SF to ID) and found a great Dr through a referral from the local Planned Parenthood. There is a real dearth of trans resources here, and the PP is not one of the ones who do hormones, but they had the name of my now new Dr. Once I had the name I did a little internet digging and called; just saw her a couple of days ago and is even better than hoped for.
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Tysilio

I'd bite the bullet and drive an hour to get to a good doctor, I think. If it's only every three months, it's not that much time out of your life, and perhaps you could combine the trips with some fun activities that aren't available in your immediate area.

Half a day four times a year isn't much when it comes to maintaining your health. And you could probably arrange to have blood work done ahead of time at a clinic that's more convenient for you.
Never bring an umbrella to a coyote fight.
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Kreuzfidel

Also a thought - don't resign yourself to ONLY looking for "trans-friendly doctors" from a list.  Both my GP and my psychiatrist had never treated a trans* patient before and have been more accommodating than any doctor I could have hoped for.
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sam1234

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on March 06, 2015, 07:08:55 PM
Also a thought - don't resign yourself to ONLY looking for "trans-friendly doctors" from a list.  Both my GP and my psychiatrist had never treated a trans* patient before and have been more accommodating than any doctor I could have hoped for.

My first family physician when I moved here had never dealt with a transgender either, but was quite willing to do the blood tests and script hormones. The one I have now is his replacement.
I'm sure I'll catch Hell for not going in for my bloodwork with  the doc I have now, but it has to be done. I'm starting to think that putting up with his idiocy is a small price to pay. The current doc is about a four minute drive, and since I have to borrow my friend's car to get there, I hate to ask them to borrow the car for a two hour round trip ride.

I'm kind of mad at the medical and insurance systems anyway. My insurance covers almost all of my medications, (chronic pain treatment can put you in the poor house without insurance), and at present, its just shy of $900 a month out of pocket. Even with insurance my blood work bill out of pocket is about $365. Last year I made $6,200 gross, so you can see the problem. It may sound paranoid, but changing insurance plans may cause a closer look at why I am taking T, so I'm very wary of changing. Chronic medical conditions can eat all your savings very quickly, and this one also keeps me from working more than about 6 hours a week. Such is life.

sam2345
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Bran

Any chance you know anybody who could recommend their own doctor?  A specific recommendation is always better than a list.  Because, like other people said, many individual doctors are willing to work with the occasional transgender patient, even if they don't come up on any lists.  The medicine of trans care isn't hard, and it's very standardized-- any doctor who's willing can learn how.  A lot depends on where you are, though, and if there's not a culture of LGBT acceptance it's a lot less likely that you'll be able to find someone local.  You'd probably have better luck with docs larger or university-based systems, because they're usually more liberal, more up on the research, and more willing to try new things.  And even if your current (not so awesome) doc is in a system like that, don't write off other doctors from the same group.  Switching doctors in-system is totally OK.  Switching in the same physical office is sometimes awkward, but tolerated unless the group has a policy against it. 

If you end up having to travel, have you looked into other transportation arrangements?  Bus, carpool-- even try calling the doctor's office and see if they have some contacts for low-cost transport?  Not having a car is a common problem, and some medical systems or insurance companies have programs to address it.
***
Light is the left hand of darkness
and darkness the right hand of light.

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sam1234

Quote from: Bran on March 07, 2015, 03:46:58 PM
Any chance you know anybody who could recommend their own doctor?  A specific recommendation is always better than a list.  Because, like other people said, many individual doctors are willing to work with the occasional transgender patient, even if they don't come up on any lists.  The medicine of trans care isn't hard, and it's very standardized-- any doctor who's willing can learn how.  A lot depends on where you are, though, and if there's not a culture of LGBT acceptance it's a lot less likely that you'll be able to find someone local.  You'd probably have better luck with docs larger or university-based systems, because they're usually more liberal, more up on the research, and more willing to try new things.  And even if your current (not so awesome) doc is in a system like that, don't write off other doctors from the same group.  Switching doctors in-system is totally OK.  Switching in the same physical office is sometimes awkward, but tolerated unless the group has a policy against it. 

If you end up having to travel, have you looked into other transportation arrangements?  Bus, carpool-- even try calling the doctor's office and see if they have some contacts for low-cost transport?  Not having a car is a common problem, and some medical systems or insurance companies have programs to address it.

I know there is a support group here, but I don't know any of the members. All the transgenders I have known were in the state I used to live in. I tried e-mailing members from the support group, but never got any answers. I don't want to out myself here (my current state). I've thought about seeing if my Dr. from the pain management clinic would send some of the blood they take to check medication levels and run the chem and hormone levels, but I don't think he would do it. Its too bad because he is a really great Dr. to work with.

sam1234
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Bran

Quote from: sam1234 on March 07, 2015, 08:49:46 PM
. . . I've thought about seeing if my Dr. from the pain management clinic would send some of the blood they take to check medication levels and run the chem and hormone levels, but I don't think he would do it. Its too bad because he is a really great Dr. to work with.

Ask--- many doctors are willing to add tests on to routine bloodwork that will be useful for other providers. Sounds like you moved recently but, for people who are able and don't really love living where they are, it's probably worthwhile to relocate to a trans-friendly area.  Routine medical care is one issue, but safety, employment, social relationships, and all the rest of it tend to be easier to manage in places that also have trans-friendly doctors.  If you're afraid of outing yourself at all, that's not a good sign.
***
Light is the left hand of darkness
and darkness the right hand of light.

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