After finding out in August of 2014 that Kaiser covered SRS now names GCS, I contacted the Coordinator at the time Anna Pitinyan who called me back a few days later. We went over my transition history and status, including HRT and RTL. At the time I had been on HRT for about three months (pills) and had been known at work as a female.
However, I made a mistake of admitting, that I had not yet legally changed my name, and was still afraid of taking public transportation dressed. This sent a red flag to Kaiser, and though I had mostly been living as a woman nearly 100% of the time, my comments had been recorded and had resulted in a requirement that I be put on a one-year RLE (Real Life Experience) list, and would not be considered a candidate for GCS until the end of that year.
However, Kaiser did refer me for a Mental Health assessment to begin HRT with them, which I successfully passed. After that assessment, I started with my twice per month injection and 50 mg. Spiro. twice per day, which was reduced to once per day due to increased Creat. levels. I also began seeing my therapist monthly.
My therapist agreed with me that the fear of dressing on the bus was a safety concern and not evidence that I was not ready for surgery. But she could not change Kaiser's mandate that I undergo a 12 month RLE.
About six months into my new RLE, I went through the process of legally changing my name, which took about 7 months to get everything changed (Court order, Birth Certif. and all ID documents).
At the end of the first year, I was surprised to learn that, I would be put on a waiting list to get a consultation with Dr. Meltzer, which took another 8 months. During this time, I underwent Six months of Genital Electrolysis with Layla's in West LA. She had such a busy schedule, that I could only see here once per month as best. However Kaiser would only authorize Electrolysis during a Six-Month period and 3 months prior to surgery.
After my consultation with Dr. Meltzer in May of last year I was approved to be a candidate for GCS and was given a surgery date for March 2018 with Dr. Meltzer. However it would be a lot sooner if I would be willing to have my surgery done by Dr. Ellie Ley, who was not yet approved by Kaiser.
A few months later, Dr. Ley was certified by Kaiser and my new GCS date was moved to 02/14/17. At that time my therapist asked me if I would like to see a speech therapist, and be referred to a trake. shave surgery. I did not have a visible adams apple, so I didn't do the trake, but did begin speech.
In September, I contacted Anna Pitinyan to request authorization for the remainder of my genital electrolysis and was told that I could not be authorized until 3 months prior to my scheduled surg. and to wait for an authorization, which never came.
There was so much back and forth and confusion about my authorization for facial elec. and genital elec., which to this day (37 days to my surg. date) has not been resolved. However I have been seeing my new selected electrolysis Beverly Hills Hair Free and paying for it from my own pocket. Very Expensive.
Also, it appears that Anna Pitinyan had left Kaiser on 12/23/16 and was replaced by a new coordinator Annie L. Peatross, which I have left dozens of phone messages during the past two weeks without response.
Beyond getting authorized for the remainder of my genital electrolysis, I had learned that despite having a surgery date, my GCS has not been approved and must be reviewed by a committee, which I have just learned requires seeing my PCP, Endo, and Mental Health doctors within 3 months prior to surg. I knew that I did need to see my therapist within 30 of my surg. but was not told that I needed to see the other 2. What made it worse, was that the review does not start until all visits are done and takes 30 days to complete. So in fact, I need to see all of these doctors, this coming week, which would leave 30 days before my surg, on the day.
Though I did make appointments with all my doctors, who kept telling me they weren't necessary, my surgery still may be canceled and rescheduled for up to another year, because Kaiser's Transgender Care department did not, despite many emails, several months prior to my surg. date asking if there was anything I needed to do, communicate with me. This is very depressing and sad for me.
The main reason for this post is not to complain but inform all that, in the end, it is the patients responsibility to get the care and information they need to have their surgery. Even if that means not trusting what you are told or promised and doing your own work, by writing daily if necessary and making appointments with your all of you doctors even when they tell you that they are not necessary.
