So I went to get my physical and it wasn't horrible. New pcp is super nice, although a student worker was in the room as well which was awkward. I let them be in the room, I just wasn't expecting that to happen. I had to have blood test done twice because the first time wasn't full bloodwork. Apparently for surgery they need full bloodwork to make sure organs like the liver and kidneys are functioning properly. On Monday, the transgender coordinator will be submitting my case for top surgery. Although I did run into an issue with a referral for T because this wasn't mentioned to me at the gender orientation. My gender therapist couldn't put the referral through because they needed to add a note that i requested hrt and answered the informed consent questions. We didn't have the time for it today so now I have to wait until right after Xmas to answer those questions and have the referral put through. Had I known that tidbit of information then I would have mentioned that before. Also the gender assessment is only good for a year, which baffles me a bit. Basically, if I had waited until next August to request hormones then I would need to do another gender assessment, which is bull>-bleeped-<.
Kaiser is still very much gatekeeping regardless of what they tell their patients. I'm going to be calling the LA LGBT center and planned parenthood in Walnut Creek and see if I can make an intake appointment and get an idea of the costs to get a T prescription. I'm fairly sure Kaiser will not cover visits to either of these places so I will be paying out o pocket, which is depressing because my copayment at Kaiser is so low. At the same time, I don't think I can wait another 2 months like my therapist wants me to.
Supposedly, Socal Kaiser is working to improve the packet that's given out at the gender orientation. Although I wish they would make more of an effort to train and educate ALL of their employees about transgender patients. The more bull>-bleeped-< I have to deal with, the less I can recommend Kaiser for transgender care.