Quarterly Oil change and ServiceThis is my third visit to the local Hospital clinic since telling them I was Trans and the second since changing my name. Each visit requires a trip to the Pharmacy to collect the medication for my implanted pump and then back to the unit to have it injected, under sterile conditions, into my pump.
A few days prior I had called the clinic to advise them I required a new prescription and for the refill to be dropped at pharmacy. When I called Pharmacy they had my correct name and details but no script.
When I called the unit a new voice answered the phone(been going there for 17 years). Now I was using my trained voice (but not very well) and after I gave her my name Elizabeth it went something like
Her "You're not...hang on you don't sound like a...hold on..(brief silence...reading?)...(first old name )"
Me "No Liz please"
Her "Hang on...oh yes now I have it, Okay I will sort this out" call ended
Today I arrive feeling very apprehensive, up to the pharmacy , got a cup of coffee whilst I waited, got my meds off to the clinic. My sense of dread growing more with each step.
Arrive at the clinic to be met by the doubting nurse, down to a cubicle, in comes one of the regulars who has known me for a few years and tries to read my pump via diagnostic reader. She cant get it to read and is having difficulties...then ensures a discussion with the head of the unit (another person) about "him" and "he". I let it go once but after the second time I interjected and said "I prefer you use she please"...neither her nor the head acknowledged that I had said anything. After they sorted the issue out she sat down and began to change the information recorded on my pump and asked the student to print off some new labels when I was gone with my correct name on it as they were places where they were missing. We then proceeded to have a really nice conversation about my earrings and where I got them and how pretty they were, how long my hair was. Lovely, enjoyed it thoroughly...even miss doubter joined in.
These labels are done from the patient record in a central computer and when printed certainly had my name on it but still had male as gender. So I sighed to myself and took the form to the counter after I had finished. There were no more incidents of misgendering after I had spoken up.
Whilst at reception I asked the receptionist to change the gender marker on their records as it confuses the heck out of the nurses and she chuckled and asked me to wait for a second, she went in and made the change to my record immediately.
Hopefully that is the end of that...when the junior nurse took my blood pressure it was through the roof just prior to having the pump filled and just after the misgendering started....in fact it was so high she eventually took it manually. In the end it was still high but I was wound up pretty darn tight by that stage. They are going to have to get better at it with me and I am sure they will.
Having the procedure is already anxiety inducing enough without adding the additional to the stress of it. I actually think that the next time I go in October, there will no further issues.....I hope
