thnx everyone.
And I know that Tink, I was just playing around.
Posted on: October 29, 2007, 09:30:28 PM
Thnx everyone, I'm back from my appointment.
Anyway, he has everything done and ready, and he fully agrees that I should have SRS; however, the Alberta government won't let him put it in until Feb. 1st. He told me that he fully intended to send it in, but recently the government told him not to send in any more and to extend everyone's dates until next year. He was very apologetic, and almost cried. He felt pretty awful about things.
My friend and I talked about it (she also had an appointment, and was also supposed to have her paperwork sent of now, but is in the same boat I am). We think that something has gone wrong and there have been recent rumors about a couple of trans people (post op) ended up in the psych ward (possibly someone actually killed themselves, but we don't know for sure -- but we have a good idea about who, and we can't get a hold of this person). Anyway, appearently there was a meeting a couple weeks ago and it seems that the province slammed the book at the doctor for that one person who go through the system. So, yeah, he was basically told he has to put everyone back for the fall into next year. So, he has no control over it, but he has to play by there rules because they are the gatekeepers.
So, that's what is going on. But, Feb. 1 isn't too far away, and he said it would be pretty quick (two weeks) for me to get approval. He was going to do it January, but he's thinking if he puts Feb. it will look better on paper for the province and they will more likely allow it this time, since they denied me and my friend this time.
He seemed pretty distressed about it, and has mentioned that he hates to see good people get shuffled by the system cause someone of someone else. He said if it was up to him, he would have sent the paperwork in already. So, he's pretty confident that I'm good with SRS and etc... it's just that the province is freaking out over something (he didn't say, so we are guessing). It sucks that things have been pulled back a few months, but sometimes things happen like this. And it could have been worse -- the province could have pulled funding forever, rather than for the rest of the year. But he says it will be around next year, and right now he just has to play politics with them to make sure that the program continues to be a success, and avoid any black marks.
It's a great program, and is great for people who qualify and etc. The province covers up to 16 people per year, which is pretty good... better than nothing. It makes me sad that something bad enough happened for the province to give the GID doc that strong of a warning, and to tell him to delay paperwork until next year. I'm sad if someone hurt themselves after getting SRS. SRS is not for everyone, and sadly some people do it for the wrong reasons only to find afterwards they are only more depressed.
But, anyway, I think things will work out in the end for me.
--natalie
Posted on: October 30, 2007, 10:09:35 PM
One good news, however, is that my GID doctor is going to make sure that I'm going to see Brassard. That's very good news to hear. He confirmed to my friend recent rumors of a SRS doctor going to set up shop in Vancouver. Apparently he's from Brazil, but is moving to Canada and apparently trying to convince the provinces to send people his way so he can get surgery practice -- wonderbar! I'm not going to some surgeon that I know nothing about!
But my doctor knows this and has told both of us we're going to Brassard, and he doesn't know if the province will start sending people to Vancouver in a year or two or not. The GID doctor doesn't seem to keen on the Vancouver doctor, and is more confident on Brassard. And it's good news to hear that he's going to make sure that my friend and I are going to Brassard.
Well, he told my friend that she could op to see the Vancouver guy instead of Brassard, but she said no way... he didn't mention the Vancouver guy to me but said I will be seeing Brassard. (I'm wondering if the province is going to have two options to choose from... well, three, Meltzer is an option as well but the province only approves it if Brassard won't take you for some reason, like if you have diabetes.) But it seems the older tgirls (like my friend) have recently have had the Vancouver doc mentioned to them, but none of the younger ones have had the Vancouver doc option presented to them. So, yeah, that scared me if the province is going to sent practice patients to some mystery doc in 2009. I know the GID doctor is trying hard to make sure the province keeps Brassard first on the list.
As for BC, it might be possible that people going through the BC GID clinic and seeking provincial funding might go to the guy in Vancouver. He's not set up yet, but the news has been getting out that he's going to set up shop in a year or so.
The other option is for me to pay for SRS in Montreal and get reimbursed through the province -- Quebec does this... you pay first, and then you get your cash back (according to what I hear from people). I think technically I can can do this now if I wanted (or, at least, put the deposit down... something like $1200) and get it back once the funding has gone through. I'm not sure about it, but I've heard of it being done. I have both of my letters for SRS, so if I wanted to do that I probably could. Then again, the province might turn around and not cover. No body knows. The province just all of a sudden has been being weird... sending a warning to the GID doctor, delaying applications until Jan/Feb for Brassard, and then considering the Vancouver chop-shop in the future after our little group this year goes through. No body knows... I hate governments, especially when they play gatekeeper.
But, anyway, I do have to count my blessings that this option is even available, and that I don't have to pay for everything out of my own pocket (some expenses I do have to pay for). And, that my GID doc confirmed that I will be going to see Brassard for sure and the paperwork is going in on Feb. 1. He's pretty confident in that.
--natalie
