Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I have been self medicating for almost 9 months now. I know all the risk and dangers associated with it. I realize what I am doing should be monitored by a professional. My question is, if I were to go to my doctor and tell them that I have been self medicating, are they required to report this information? I have been paying for everything out of pocket. Can my insurance company drop me if they find out that I have been doing this without a doctor? I worry that somewhere down the road, if I were to have a heart attack or whatever, the insurance company might try to say that because I was taking unprescribed drugs that I am not covered. Do I tell my doctor what I have done? Do I just go in and let them do blood test just to verify everything is ok?  What should I do?

Hi, Zephyrs!

Welcome to Susan's Place.

You need to be under a doctor's supervision for your HRT.  Whether you stick with your current doctor or go to a new one, you need to talk to a doctor.  Some people here who started out self-medicating found that it helped get them started more quickly on legitimate HRT because the doctor wanted to reduce their risk.  Obviously, that will depend on the doctor.

I doubt if a doctor would report you to any authorities.  Doctors have an obligation to maintain confidentiality, and would typically only break that if someone's life was in danger.

Yes, down the road, if you were to have a heart attack or serious illness, your insurance could probably claim it was due to your self-medication, if they found out about it.  One more reason to get a doctor's prescription.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions forum (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,8.0.html) to tell the members about yourself.  Here is some information that we like to share with new members:

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)	Standard Terms & Definitions (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,54369.0.html)	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar) (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,114.0.html.)
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Quote from: zephyrs on November 20, 2018, 01:49:19 PM
I have been self medicating for almost 9 months now. I know all the risk and dangers associated with it. I realize what I am doing should be monitored by a professional. My question is, if I were to go to my doctor and tell them that I have been self medicating, are they required to report this information? I have been paying for everything out of pocket. Can my insurance company drop me if they find out that I have been doing this without a doctor? I worry that somewhere down the road, if I were to have a heart attack or whatever, the insurance company might try to say that because I was taking unprescribed drugs that I am not covered. Do I tell my doctor what I have done? Do I just go in and let them do blood test just to verify everything is ok?  What should I do?

@zephyrs
Dear Zephyrs:
    A person always has to be honest and upfront with their doctors...  particularly when HRT or other drugs are being taken on a regular basis.   HRT can adversely affect your liver, kidneys and other organs unless frequent blood tests are done to monitor your body's response to the drugs and alter dosages accordingly.  Because blood test results can be altered by HRT, hiding your self-medicating will also affect your doctor's decisions about diagnosis and treatment plans for other ailments that you are being treated for now or in the future.

    I am very happy to see that you decided to join the Susan's Place site.

    I see that our lovely member  @KathyLauren   has already welcomed you to Susan's Place.  Please allow me to also welcome you here.
    Thank you for writing your posting and sharing your photo... as you get more involved in exchanging comments on various posts other members will be along to offer their thoughts and comments in response to any of your specific questions and concerns..

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
    There are a lot of members here that will be able to identify with your situation as you continue to feel free to share it.

    I also want to warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***It's a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    There is information and important LINKS that  KathyLauren  included in her welcome message to you.   You will find information about the site that will help you navigate around and best utilize the features here.   
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle

@zephyrs
Dear Zephyrs:
IMPORTANT NOTE: As @KathyLauren mentioned in her Welcome Message please make a point to stop by
the Introductions Forum (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,8.0.html) to tell more members about yourself and therefore be able
to receive and to give more suggestions and shared thoughts.

Now, after all of this Official Greeting stuff you can have your thread back !!!!

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place,
Danielle

The only person you're harming not telling your doctor is yourself. They won't do anything but help you make sure you're safe.


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Hi Zephyrs!

When I had my first appointment with my endocrinologist, I had been on a spiro/estradiol combo since about 8 months, without supervision (and fully paying out of my pocket). He told me that it was risky and then proceeded to ask a blood workup, but told me to continue to take the same combo until the results were known.

Fortunately all my levels were perfect and he advised me to just change to androcur/estradiol because androcur is subsidized in my country for trans women (but not spiro). Which I did and I've been doing fine (HRT for 1y and 9mo now).

I believe a good physician will not report you. And I believe the guidelines advise on maintaining the treatment in people who started it without supervision, provided there are no unacceptable adverse effects of risks. He may advise you to change something.

So bottom line: always better to start and to stay under medical supervision. If you didn't, then you should just be honest and tell your doctor. Most of them don't bite. [emoji6] And you'll feel way more secure.

Hugs, Sarah

P.S. I am myself a medical doctor and I feel it's important to be under the supervision of another colleague. [emoji4]

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QuoteP.S. I am myself a medical doctor and I feel it's important to be under the supervision of another colleague.

I am not a doctor and I don't play one on TV.   ;)

Quote from: AnneK on November 24, 2018, 05:56:08 AM
I am not a doctor and I don't play one on TV.   ;)

I wish it was like on TV... [emoji7]

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Adding some points to the discussion:

-- One place to look for a potential doctor is on the local Transgender group's Resources page. Cross reference that list of doctors with ones your insurance takes, with your desired locations. Perhaps one will bubble to the top

-- Probably, the younger the doctor, the more likely they have knowledge of trans issues and acceptance of you

-- You can change doctors

Kate

PS Edit: I self-medicated for a very long time, always with proper bloodwork and interpretation, thinking there would be issues telling my GP. What an idiot I was! Telling the GP turned out to be trivial, and she then referred me to an actual gender specialist MD for further consultation. I could have had insurance pay for all this, AND have been much safer. Again, what an idiot I was...