When the doctor asks 'have you had any surgery?'

[Jessica_Rose]

I had to visit an Urgent Care clinic while I was at my dad's house over the weekend, and I was not in a trans-friendly state. At one point, the medical folks asked 'have you had any surgeries?' Instead of listing them all and outing myself, I replied 'just some cosmetic surgeries'. That seemed to be good enough for them, and they didn't ask any follow-up questions about my surgeries.

Although your primary care physician needs to have an accurate medical history to provide care, many other medical folks do not need details of the surgeries we have had. Only provide them with information directly related to the issue. Your dentist and your optometrist do not need to know you had GRS/SRS, or a breast augmentation. Err on the side of caution.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[ChrissyRyan]

I had to visit an Urgent Care clinic while I was at my dad's house over the weekend, and I was not in a trans-friendly state. At one point, the medical folks asked 'have you had any surgeries?' Instead of listing them all and outing myself, I replied 'just some cosmetic surgeries'. That seemed to be good enough for them, and they didn't ask any follow-up questions about my surgeries.

Although your primary care physician needs to have an accurate medical history to provide care, many other medical folks do not need details of the surgeries we have had. Only provide them with information directly related to the issue. Your dentist and your optometrist do not need to know you had GRS/SRS, or a breast augmentation. Err on the side of caution.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Jess,


This makes sense.

Chrissy

[KathyLauren]

I like that answer.  "The best way to lie is to tell a partial truth." 

[Sarah B]

Hi Jessica

As you know, I never tell anyone about my past and you can read a little bit more detail Here.

With regard to the question "When the doctor asks.  Have you had any surgery?"  A short story will elaborate on that point.  Late last year I was in hospital for about a week.  This was the result of excruciating pain in my chest caused by coughing too much.  My brother and two of my nieces took me to the hospital.

I was in the triage station when I coughed again and I screamed out in pain.  They immediately brought me further inside.  One of my nieces came in with me.  They did some tests and asked me further questions.  Of course, one of the questions was "Have you had major surgery in the past?" and of course I thought of my surgery some thirty-three years ago.

I immediately said, "No."  In that moment I turned to look at my niece and I saw her eyes widen at what I had just said.  She has not known about me for long.  Well, everyone in the family knows however beyond that no one knows.

Except for an extremely few medical doctors I have recently told, in some cases when I have had colonoscopies I never told them about my medical condition and it was never a problem.

Yes, I know my GP or in your case PCP should be aware of one's condition.  However, I like to keep the number of doctors who know at the most as minimal as possible.

So the question is why not mention it at all? Well, being private and the fact it was my chest that was affected not the surgery I had were the two main reasons for not mentioning it.   The same applied to the colonoscopies I had.  So I really do give a lot of consideration to whether I tell a doctor or surgeon.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Jessica_Rose

[NancyDrew1930]

Here in Ontario that doesn't work anymore, since most hospitals and GP's are connected to a province wide digital medical portal (I think it might be available to Quebec and a few other provinces as well, but I'm not sure), so if I'm from Ottawa and I'm in Windsor and I need to go to the hospital in Windsor, the doctor's in Windsor can call up my medical records from my GP and any hospital visits to Ottawa Hospitals that I have had.  And this database contains your information going back to your birth.  So the Windsor hospital could easily find out any major surgeries that I have had, even if I did not have them in Windsor.

[Allie Jayne]

In Australia we have a government online opt out service calls MyHealth, which lists all significant health conditions and treatment, as well as prescriptions and pathology reports. This is immensely helpful to medical staff needing information to treat you, especially in the case you are unable to provide accurate information.

Near the top of my record are the words 'Transgender Female', and this is important as it allows me to access funded treatment for things like prostate health. In emergency situations they may ask if you have had surgery in the past to assess your tolerance to anaesthetic if surgery is necessary, so you don't necessarily need to provide details except maybe how long your surgery was.

TBH, I don't hide my gender status from anyone, least of all medical staff who are trying to provide the best care for me. Everybody around me knows my status, and if anyone has a problem with it, well, they simply aren't around me!

Hugs,

Allie

[SoupSarah]

I am listed as a cis female who has had a full hysterectomy. I don't have a male prostate and so.. I tell everyone that I had a hysterectomy. There is simply nothing else needed to know.
I realise that my particular biology here confers this priveledge. Even though, I wouldn't share info about GRS lightly with anyone. Not in this day and age.