Nervous about McGinn Consult

[Griffin]

Okay, so I've had consults before, but I've been very nervous  about my upcoming  appointment with Dr. McGinn.  It's next week and I've barely been able to sleep (ten hours in the last three days?)  The surgery is for hyst and chest, with hyst being a straight-up medical necessity.

At this point I have a very firm plan for paying for surgery, and have applied for grants on the off-chance that I will receive one.  I have to have the hyst before I go to grad school, so I've even put off applying to programs for a year. I just simply won't have enough for both - the app process for psychology programs is very expensive, into the low thousands for everything =(

So I'm really nervous.  Even though I know she'll be awesome for me like she is for everyone else!  The only way I could get myself able to sleep today was to make a contingency plan for if she says no to the hyst.  I've just got soo much riding on it...

[Sandy]

Griffin:

If your hysterectomy is a medical necessity, do you need Dr McGinn to do it?  I'm just a little confused that's all.  I would think that a local MD could perform it, providing you had the coverage.

The chest reconstruction should be no problem.  And it sound like you are in a good place for that.

If Dr. McGinn has any qualms about what you need, I'm sure she will be able to give you very good guidance about your options.  She does not strike me as someone who would slam the door on someone who has our condition.

Let us know how it goes, we are with you on this.

-Sandy

[Griffin]

If your hysterectomy is a medical necessity, do you need Dr McGinn to do it?  I'm just a little confused that's all.  I would think that a local MD could perform it, providing you had the coverage.

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for the encouragement.  I think you are right about Dr. McGinn, she always seems so nice and I just get a great vibe from her.  =)  She actually coordinates this surgery for guys who need it.  Her assistant indicated that she has a network of ob/gyn surgeons who take insurance and are reasonably-priced. Bout fell off the chair when she said that lol. 

The hysterectomy is necessary, but getting it has been a roller-coaster ride since 2003, with gyn issues since 1997. Basically, I have a very hard time finding any Ob/Gyn willing to see me because of my trans status. When I do, they either aren't doing surgery or are actively against a hyst for me.  I'm 25 now, so that probably has something to do with it.  My fertility is nil though, not that I care I sooo wish I had the luxury of just ignoring it, but no other treatments seem to work.

I was disabled and not able to work for over a year, and even last year (when I was working some) was bad.  Had a period that lasted over 7 months out of the first 9 months, lots of pain and nausea.    Wound up going on Femara for a month, which is a drug that's used for hormone-positive breast cancer.  It all drove me nuts, I tried literally everything for years, so wanting a solution that works.  I was scheduled for surgery in late 2008, but at the last minute the doctor and hospital (!) stopped accepting medicaid.

But I've been blessed to have several months where I feel not quite so bad, so I'd like to make the most of it.  Not sure why I'm so worried about this. 

Few conditions have actually been excluded, but PCOS, endometriosis and having a tilted uterus are likely suspects.  Other possibilities include Gremlins or Unicorns.