Hi, I've been on here awhile, but never posted before. 54, been a closet transgender since 6 that I know of. Been trying to find a endo in my area to help me, but so far after 2 years, nothing. Every doctor would like to help, but has no experience in it. I'm retired military, and have been told the VA will do some things like HRT, but not SRS, FFS. Anyone have any contact with the VA and how they were treated? I have not had good luck with them on anything since I retired in 97. I am a disabled vet, and they just want to screw ya out of your benefits it seems. Also, is there a free ap you can use to show how you can morph into the woman you are, on a computer? Every time I search they want money. Getting doctors or counselors to help has been a 2 year challenge so far, I'm tired of the word no. However I'm wondering is any news on medicare covering SRS and FFS? Thanks for your help.

Medicare does not and is not likely in the near future to cover trans care.

Smile,
    Go to your local VA hospital with your DD-214 and get your VA card. Tell them you want to see a counselor and you can discuss your trans status with them. A VA nurse will take your vitals and ask what meds you are on, tell her/him about your trans status and show them any medicine bottles as proof, that will get you an appointment with the endocrinologist. Self medicating without supervision and lab work will get you a life threatening case of DVT, believe me I've been there and done that and am lucky to still be here. Get a positive attitude, good luck!

Hi Smile 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here

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Hugs

V M

Hi Smile, welcome to Susan's Place! I'm from Boston. Thank you for your service. We have lots of military people here. See you around the site, hugs, Devlyn

Don't know if it's exclusive to VA, but I know that your provider can disguise HRT as a "hormone imbalance" to Tricare, as my doctors will do for me.

Welcome! You have definitely come to the right place for answers. Our family is a gold mine of knowledge and first hand experience. Dig in and I hope to get to know you better in the post's. BIG HUG! 

Hi smile, welcome to Susan's!

Amy

Hi Smile! 

I'm a vet using the VA. I've just started. I told my therapist last week and my GP last Friday, so my experience is limited. However, they were very supportive and genuinely seemed to want to help. The VA has recently changed their policies and should help with transition. I'm positive they don't do FFS and not sure about SRS, but they might be able to point you in a good direction. The North Chicago VA LGBT rep is very new and not able to provide much information, so it's not perfect. I know I'm not the only VA member here, Shantel and Buddy know a lot more than me, you should PM them for more information. They helped me out quite a bit, they're great. As it is, I haven't met anyone here who was not great. Welcome to the family.

If there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

-maggie

Welcome and thank you for your post!  Looking forward to hearing more from you!

*hug*

Hi Smile,

Welcome to our little family. Over 8294 members. That would be one heck of a family reunion.

Feel free to post your successes/failures, Hopes/dreams.  Ask questions and seek answers. Give and receive advice.

But remember we are family here, your family now. And it is always nice to have another sister.


Janet  )O(

Quote from: smile011 on November 04, 2013, 09:21:36 AM
Hi, I've been on here awhile, but never posted before. 54, been a closet transgender since 6 that I know of. Been trying to find a endo in my area to help me, but so far after 2 years, nothing. Every doctor would like to help, but has no experience in it. I'm retired military, and have been told the VA will do some things like HRT, but not SRS, FFS. Anyone have any contact with the VA and how they were treated? I have not had good luck with them on anything since I retired in 97. I am a disabled vet, and they just want to screw ya out of your benefits it seems. Also, is there a free ap you can use to show how you can morph into the woman you are, on a computer? Every time I search they want money. Getting doctors or counselors to help has been a 2 year challenge so far, I'm tired of the word no. However I'm wondering is any news on medicare covering SRS and FFS? Thanks for your help.

Hey there smile.  Thanks for your service!

We have plenty of other former service men and women here who can help you out.  Best of luck to you, hon.

Hi again,

  Thank you for all the warm wishes. I want to make something clear, I'm on self medication, following Dr Anne Lawrence advice, and I do see an endo for diabetes, and my GP often, they do check my blood routinely. This is 2013, and I'm really shocked at how far behind the curve America is on this. My Endo told me I know more about this then he does, as they only touched on it a little in school. It is not something they routinely work with, and I am his first transgender patient. I want to say this is really hard time for me, as I am sure it is for everyone blessed with this mix up. I am sorry if I broke any rules here, I'm just really getting frustrated with the whole medical process. I really wonder if they know what we go through every day? I wonder why I just wasn't born a girl? Would have made things much easier.

Thank you to all who welcomed me. I've been told to call the gender health center in SAC. CA. Has anyone dealt with them? It's a couple hours drive, and hard on me to make, but I can do it.

Hello and welcome to Susan's.