I am wrestling with the need to get basic health care not associated with my transition. The issue that I have is that when I last did this 12 months ago, I was mistreated by the doctor and she did not inform me of a serious medical condition present in my blood work. Further, I had a dentist who contributed $500 to Prop 8, then refused to examine my teeth when I had my teeth cleaned. He said that he would only look at the x rays and if he saw something then he would tell me.
The result is that I am fearful to contact any health professional. Is this a common experience and if not, how did you find a doctor that would treat you?
Maggie
I don't know, Maggie. Luck of the draw, I guess. There are plenty of caring, competent health professionals out there. You hit a couple of bad ones, that's for sure. :(
My physician knew I was CD. When I asked for hormones he said OK. He figures being TS is a naturally-occuring condition probably developed in utero. My dentist's office treated my name change like I had changed my address or something. The dentist didn't blink an eye when I came in as Kate instead of what's-his-name. As he checked my teeth he asked if I was still riding my motorcycle. ::)
The only thing I can suggest is to call a bunch of places, explain your medical problem, and tell them that you are TS. Most places are more concerned about your insurance coverage, but you'd like to weed out the bigots before you actually see them.
Good luck, dear.
- Kate
The amazing thing about the clinic that I went to was that they advertised that they had a LBGT friendly policy. The doctor however, much to my surprise had never met a transsexual. In fact, she sat just a foot away from me and went over the free tests that were included in the checkup that was on the brochure. One of them was a pap smear and I realized that she didn't know I was trans. I had to stop her and tell her that I was male bodied. She was stunned but said she had no problem with that. She only examined me through my clothes and when I left, she scheduled blood work.
She saw my wife the same day and knew we were married.
Then she coded our initial visits so we were billed 600 and it was not covered by insurance.
After six months of wrangling with the insurance company, my wife's employer, an insurance rep we got the company to demand the clinic refund our money. It took six weeks of calls to get them to comply. In the end, they just refused to answer the phone.
So, when this happened in a supposedly LBGT friendly clinic, I was really at a loss. I went to my other doctor who supervises my hormone dosage and asked her what to do. She didn't know either.
I listened to one transwoman iat our local support group who said getting health care is almost impossible. They sent her to a mental ward instead of treating her when she revealed that she was trans. Now she has a mental diagnosis on her medical record and every doctor she sees thinks she is nuts. She is over 60 and not in great health. She transitioned in the 80's
I asked if there was a trans friendly dentist in the area and was told that only one was for sure and he is not taking new patients.
I don't see how asking a receptionist if the clinic is trans friendly will help. My dentist's receptionist was the first person I ever told about my transitioning when I went full time and she didn't know what it was. She was so supportive as was my dentist. Then he contributed $500 to Prop 8 and suddenly began to treat me distantly. Before, he was so nice and almost a friend.
I called the office almost in tears to cancel my account with them and she said that she understood why.
This is really sickening. I do wonder if it is the same in Canada. I wonder if Vancouver's trans population is allowed medical treatment.
Maggie
My old insurance treated me as a woman. They also sent me a notice for a PAP smear and Mammogram. Which was a great chuckle.
Now I wonder what to do for health care?
Janet
my first impulse after just starting to read your story was to blurt out "at least we know you pass", but i find this very troubling to find it was supposed to be LGBT friendly. i mean, it sounds like you wouldn't have done much worse going to a clinic or dentist that was well know to not be LGBT friendly. i can only react with disgust & disbelief at your expirience. i'm truely sorry to hear what you've been through, Isabella
Post Merge: September 24, 2009, 07:19:55 PM
I'd keep looking. Call and visit places, keep trying until you find somewhere that'll take you and treat you well. It's so important to get your basic medical needs looked after; many transpeople don't, for just the reason you've brought up here. Maybe find a local support group or GLBT center (even if it's far away, you can call) and ask about doctors who're known to be good. Heck, there might even be a list for your general area on the internet somewhere.
see i am way in left field on this i cant abide injustice it infuriates me with your original doc i think i would have initiated a malpractice suit on him/her regardless if i won or lost its the vindication of knowing to my self the next time she tries that she will remember her court appearance. as far as the dentist goes why do they need to know your trans i wouldnt tell them unless your getting some kind of surgery done that will involve gas i dont see why they would need to know quite frankly i would tell them about any hrt your on and they can figure it out from there if they want but they would be hard pressed to deny care at that point...... i can get real nasty at precieved injustice but thats just me
jessica
Before I went full time, Maggie, I went to a couple of different female doctors for treatments like the flu etc. I was also seeing a GP for my hormones, but I paid for those visitis out of pocket just to keep my GID condition invisible from my insurance company.
In both cases of seeing these suburban women doctors, I was treated atrociously. In the first instance, she was an MD at my ex-wife's hospital where she was a nurse. The MD and I were getting along famously until she asked if I was on any prescription meds. I honestly reported being on female hormones, since I didn't want the antibiotics to conflict with what I was taking. She visibly moved 1-2 feet away from me, and her attitiude changed totally. She wouldn't continue any type of physical exam like she needed to. She went on to ask me when was my last AIDS test, and if I was having sex with men now. I was appalled! (I don't know if she knew my ex and was trying to protect her or what) I emphatically stated that I was not in any type of extra curricular sex. I left that room swearing never to return.
In the second female doctor case, I had to go in for a routine physical, which was paid for by my insurance company. I selected a nearby clinic that was in my PPO. The doctor was in her early 30's, just out of med school. I thought she would be open to my GID condition, given her age and sophistication. Wrong! Again, when precription meds were brought up, I mentioned my hormones. Same reaction! This doctor then again asked about my last AIDS test! I guess she thought if she touched me, she might get AIDS! Again, I knew I was HIV negative, and not sexually active with anyone. I was separated my my ex at this point. I couldn't believe how insistent she was about the test. I was angry and on the verge of tears. Summoning up courage, I asked her if a person like me could, in fact, practice safe sex. I slyly asked what she would recommend. She outed herself, as the bigot and phobe that she really was, by saying that people like me should favor celibacy, and should not have sex with men. I was shocked once again! I left the room and broke down in tears in my car. I could not believe the insensitivity and ignorance still around today. I decided to refuse to pay for that visit.
I will only now see one of two GP doctors that I have who largely deal with the trans population. My dentist knows about my past, because of the medical records and the shape of my teeth. He's been nothing but a gentleman. He has only known Julie from the start.
Our best hope in this country is for Health Reform to pass with the elimination of pre-existing conditions. That way, we cannot be excluded because of our GID condition, and can fairly shop the market for rates. Right now, I'm stuck with the insurer I started with 5 years ago because of the pre-existing condition. I'm an insurance agent by profession, but an fully supportive of this needed legislation!
In addition to healthcare reform, doctors in med school need to be taught and trained with treating a transgender patient. My friend, who is a doctor, told me that his medical school (Stanford) spent less than 1-2 hours on the subject, with no actual clinical time with trans patients. We should not expect any change with doctors until this is changed!