Hi everyone. I need help finding a place to get testosterone in Michigan using informed consent. I've done tons of research but I can't find anything. I live in the metro Detroit area. I know about Howard Brown but that's really far away in another state. If anyone has any info I'd REALLY appreciate it. Thanks!
I know Lansing has 2 providers, try the Transgender Michigan site, see what there is. Detroit is large, I wouldn't doubt that there's at least one if Lansing has two.
I've tried Transgender Michigan. I contacted the doctors they had listed but unfortunately they are not informed consent. :(
If you don't mind can you give me more info on the Lansing providers you mentioned, it's not too far away from me so I should be able to drive there.
Here is some friendly advices.
http://www.med.umich.edu/pridenetwork/resources/fahp.htm
Provided by KAT
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144507.msg1287891.html#msg1287891 (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144507.msg1287891.html#msg1287891)
And also, UM I believe you will find very helpful.
Ah, it seems they aren't informed consent either. Oh well, guess they're isn't anything in Michigan. Thank you anyway Willow and LordKAT for the resources. :)
I think I'll try Ohio.
Chicago is a train ride away, I'm certain they have something.
I'm amazed Detroit had nothing.
I went to Abaris Behavioral Health in Shelby Township. It was a far drive for me, like 40 minutes, but the service was nice. I saw a therapist named Adam Hamilton.
However, I've been connected with a Psychologist by the name of Antonia Caretto in Farmington Hills. She is magnificent in that she not only has extensive knowledge and experience with trans people, but she actively does work with educating people on trans issues. Here is her website: http://www.betreatedwell.com/
I hope you find someone quality :).
DR. MARK SIKORSKI, DO, FARMBROOKE FAMILY MEDICINE, MACOMB, MICHIGAN
48924 Hayes Rd, Macomb, MI, 48044
(586) 566-8270
Dr. Mark Sikorski is the only informed consent doctor I've found and probably one of the only options in Michigan I was hesitant to go with him because I couldn't find any info about him and I had seen a bad review. Recently I have talked with one of his patients and I've decided to give him a try. This is what they said:
I went with Dr. Siroksi. The reviews you may have seen are about accurate in that he can be kind of abrasive personally, but that was okay because I went for medicine, not an uplifting chat, and in that regard he was perfect. In addition, his staff, the people I actually spent 90% of my time there with, were absolutely fantastic. Now, he's not strictly informed consent--and for my part I did have a therapy letter with me--but I'm not sure whether it was ultimately necessary; he seemed pretty amenable either way, and only took the letter from me when I proffered it of my own initiative.
I got them on the first visit. From the sound of things, trans patients actually compose the bulk of his practice. I made my appointment by phone, so I didn't have to actually fill out a specific "reason for visiting" field, but I made no secret of the fact that I was coming to seek MTF hormone therapy. He does not require any "real life test," for a year or any other amount of time. Apart from his arriving over an hour late (the staff mentioned this was not uncommon) and the time spent on his slightly egotistical monologue about how the trans community loves him, I got my scrip pretty much instantly.
One word of caution: as I mentioned, he can be a bit abrasive. He'll also probably use the wrong pronouns; during his background monologue he repeatedly referred to his first FTM patient as "she," for example. That said, he was able to book an appointment right away and I left with scrip in hand my very first visit, and in my book that's what really matters. Especially when the options to "shop around" are pretty much zilch. He was also cheaper than pretty much any other doctor I contacted, and both he and the staff are practiced and willing to obfuscate language to conceal the intent of prescriptions from other providers, if that's a concern for you. For example, I got my labwork prescribed for "low testosterone syndrome."
I'll update with my experience with him as well once I make an appointment. :)