Coming out to GP to get endo referral

[laurenb]

In a few weeks I have my first appointment with my new GP doc for a physical. It took forever to get the appointment (along with a long selection process). My wife and I will both use her as our GP. I wanted to come out to my old doc, she new us for years and treated my mom until she passed, but she retired and left us to find a new doc.

Where I'm at now is that I want to start HRT low dose. I'm not out to anyone except my wife and therapist(s). This is part of a long term evolution-transition and I need to do something with the dysphoria. Here in Mass I could just go to a clinic in Boston and do everything without involving my Doc. She'd find out later but... But, I know that I'll probably need surgery (for joint arthritis) in the future and hell I'm not young (55) so all sorts of other bits can fail at any time. I don't feel comfortable not having all my health care folks on the same page.

All that being said, since I don't know this doctor, I feel intense anxiety about coming out and approaching her for a referral. I feel like when I do, everyone that works in that office will then know. I live in a small community, you get the idea. And, I have no idea if this doc has any idea about TG issues. The bio's online say nothing.

So I'd like to know anyone else's experience coming out to their physician and how it affected future visits; were there problems, etc. And any suggestions on how to approach her during the visit - beyond my nervous just-blurt-it-out tendency - would be so helpful. I'm imagining the worst where I'll be training her on what a TG is...

Thanks
-Lauren

[AnonyMs]

I told me GP I had low testosterone and needed a referral to an endo. That was two years ago and the GP still doesn't know. I later found another GP who I have disclosed I'm trans to.

I did actually have low testosterone due to having taken estrogen for years, but I somehow forgot to mention that.

The endo knows it all of course.

[Maybebaby56]

Hi Lauren,

I was nervous about coming out to my GP as well. I have been seeing her for several years, and go to her every six months or so to get blood work done. A few months ago, she asked me, as she usually does, if there was anything new, and I just told her, "Yes, I have been seeing a therapist and I identify as transgender." She barely batted an eye.  I kind of blurted out a five-minute life story, and she mostly just listened. At the end of the visit she entered "Transgendered" in the diagnosis section of her electronic medical records. What amazed me is that "transgendered" was actually a choice on a drop-down menu, lol.

It's silly, I know, but I was really tickled to walk out of my doctor's office with my printout declaring I was transgender. It's like, "Wow, it's official, it's in my medical records!"

I guess all I'm trying to say is that you have nothing to be ashamed of, and I doubt your doctor will judge you or throw you out of her office.

With kindness,

Terri

[AnonyMs]

At the end of the visit she entered "Transgendered" in the diagnosis section of her electronic medical records. What amazed me is that "transgendered" was actually a choice on a drop-down menu, lol.

That's one of the main reasons I'm not telling my GP. Medical computer records get hacked all the time, and I don't want that info out. The less people that know the safer I'll feel.

[laurenb]

Thanks Terri. I'm hoping she has seen this movie before. Your doc sounds like my old one who I can imagine having the same conversation with as you. AnonyMs, I get where you are coming from but I worry that in light of my pre-existing conditions I can't take a chance if there's any sort of interaction. Knowing that you are on AA's and Estrogen are essential when contemplating an operation of any kind - given that the first thing you get put on are blood thinners, etc.

[RomeoEcho]

That's one of the main reasons I'm not telling my GP. Medical computer records get hacked all the time, and I don't want that info out. The less people that know the safer I'll feel.

My doc has it listed as "hormone disorder". Feels a lot safer to me, more validating and completely true.

[RobynD]

I have had a very good experience with my GP. She immediately prescribe hormones for me and even did some research before we met on the subject. I'm only her third transgender patient, she mentioned. We are in a small city of about 50K. She has also had resident trainees in our visits and those young people have also been great.

She even noted that the one endocrinologist in the practice "would not be sympathetic to my cause" as it were, saving me that time.