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Quote from: Yasmine on April 03, 2014, 12:45:54 PM
I sort of regret that I went to see my GP. Discussing transgender stuff with some regular doc seems just pointless. All I wanted was to find out how I could get a bloody 3d scan and radiography done and now I feel like a plastic surgery addict who needs therapy..

Any thoughts?

Yes, you know the saying, "Loose lips sinks ships?" That's applicable with everyone, everywhere all the time. Go get your FFS and be happy, screw what she had to say anyway, you know what you want, you have your heart set on it, go for it and be all you can be! It never fails to amuse me about how other people always have opinions about us and our lives, as if they know squat about living in our skins.

Your GP might think that way but is it really necessary to change her mind ? She just have different opinion. She might think your nose is alright. Some people might agree to that, hey it could save thousand dollar of money. They can have all kind of opinion, its you who decide to agree or disagree.

I wonder what notes are in your file...

I will also say that a read through various threads does show that being overly obsessed with looks is a common thing in trans women.. Maybe she has done a little research..

i think the Gp is more worried that you have unrealistic expectations of cosmetic sugary and the resulting disappointment will cause you mental ill health.

Sometimes doctors confuse themselves with god. It's an easy mistake to make.

Seriously though, when you sit at the bottom of the social ladder the way we do, it is super easy for everyone to have an opinion about your body and your life. Regardless of the substance of her opinion, I'd suggest that it isn't really her place to offer one at all. She is a medical doctor, not a therapist or psychologist or psychiatrist. She is distinctly overstepping the bounds of her professional services. Which, again, is common, especially for doctors due to the inherent respect that people offer them, and the fact that people are rarely willing to tell doctors where to stuff it.

If she wants to refer you to a gender therapist that is one thing. But I certainly wouldn't agree to discuss mental health issues with a GP that you don't know and aren't comfortable with. And I damn sure wouldn't go see a psych who has no experience with trans people.

That said, a lot of trans women do suffer from self-perception issues (myself included). Sometimes those can be resolved with a scalpel, sometimes not. If you do start to feel like it is taking a toll on you (before or after surgery), please do try to talk to someone about it. Someone appropriate who you feel comfortable with (a gender therapist, a friend, whatever).

Quote from: Yasmine on April 03, 2014, 06:14:49 PM
And it makes sense that it's a common thing in trans women. In my case I feel that I would be overly obsessed if I wanted full ffs. I don't want full ffs. I only want rhino but because I'm trans that could mean that I need my forehead adjusted to.

I doubt that she has done research. She didn't know a thing. She's just one of those docs that tries to keep patients away from plastic surgery, smoking, tanning, etc.. You should have seen her eyes when I told her that I had srs in Thailand. What kind of fool would have surgery in Thailand? One who has done research

Yasmine you learned something, most GP's are morbidly ignorant about trans people and their issues. Perhaps you needn't share things that she doesn't have a need to know about. Get your Rhino and forehead fine tuned and be happy with how you look. It's none of her business anyway.

Quote from: Yasmine on April 03, 2014, 07:47:05 PM
This!

And I feel stupid now for sharing with her. It seemed impossible not to because I know she read my file before I saw her. I could still have remained 'discrete', but I wasn't because my question was ffs related and before I knew it we were sort of discussing everything. I obviously can't correct it. Would it be weird to tell her next time that I regret that I had that discussion with her? That I just came for a referral and not for advise and that I was a little flabbergasted by her 'opinion'? I mean I don't want to offend her, but I know what does and doesn't work for me and talking to her about trans stuff just doesn't work for me.

I'd just let it go, and if she brings it up then tell her that you'd rather not discuss it with her. She'll get the message that it's verboten and not on the table!

I think your GP sounds jealous. I've never explained or justified any cosmetic surgery to my GP. I just go and have it done. I also tell my surgeons to not forward on any details of procedures to them. It's simply not required. The only time I've involved my GP was when I had SRS, for blood tests, and when I needed to clear up a post-op infection. When one surgeon required an x-ray of my forehead, I contacted my local NHS general hospital directly. Cost me a total of £10, as it was still performed under the NHS, even though the cosmetic surgery itself was done privately. If you're doing FFS privately and not using public funds then you need no justification.

Quote from: Nicolette on April 04, 2014, 05:49:56 AM
I think your GP sounds jealous. I've never explained or justified any cosmetic surgery to my GP. I just go and have it done. I also tell my surgeons to not forward on any details of procedures to them. It's simply not required. The only time I've involved my GP was when I had SRS, for blood tests, and when I needed to clear up a post-op infection. When one surgeon required an x-ray of my forehead, I contacted my local NHS general hospital directly. Cost me a total of £10, as it was still performed under the NHS, even though the cosmetic surgery itself was done privately. If you're doing FFS privately and not using public funds then you need no justification.

I needed some xrays done and bloodtest, and they refused to do it, unless I pay and do it privately. I've first contacted my local surgery, should I have gone straight to the hospital with my request?

Quote from: Nicolette on April 04, 2014, 05:49:56 AM
I've never explained or justified any cosmetic surgery to my GP. I just go and have it done. I also tell my surgeons to not forward on any details of procedures to them. It's simply not required. The only time I've involved my GP was when I had SRS, for blood tests, and when I needed to clear up a post-op infection. When one surgeon required an x-ray of my forehead, I contacted my local NHS general hospital directly. Cost me a total of £10, as it was still performed under the NHS, even though the cosmetic surgery itself was done privately. If you're doing FFS privately and not using public funds then you need no justification.

That's the trouble with the NHS, the GPs and hospitals all play by different rules. You must be lucky wherever you live.

When I was getting ready for my FFS a couple of years ago I needed to have my jaw X-rayed, so I contacted a private hospital who quoted me £200 for the X-ray but then added they would need a referral from my GP, and that was before I had told them who my GP was. So it must be standard practice at that hospital. I then contacted my local NHS hospital and was told they, too, needed a referral from my GP. I also understand that many GPs charge about £50 for a referral. It's a money-making racket, if you ask me.

Fortunately, I get on very well with my GP and he doesn't charge me for referrals.

As I recall, he was on holiday at the time, so I had a bright idea and contacting my dentist who, like all dentists, has an X-ray machine and told her I was having jaw surgery. I asked her how much it would cost to X-ray my chin. She said it would cost the normal X-ray price of £36. I explained that it was essential that it clearly showed the mental nerve.

All she had to do was lower the X-ray machine to get my chin. However, she wasn't happy with the first two attempts which she felt didn't show the mental nerve clearly enough.

Third time lucky and we had the mental nerve in clear view. She saved the X-ray image as a jpg and put on my memory stick.

My FFS surgeon Dr Bart was happy with the quality and I had potentially saved over £200.

Incidentally, last year I contacted a private trichologist for a consultation and she required a referral from my GP before she could see me. Also not wishing to wait over a year for a NHS consultation with one of the UK's top endocrinologists, I decided to go private. He also required a referral from my GP.

Maddening, isn't it.
Caroline
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I'm within the M25 area. I think I was lucky in that this surgeon was based in the UK. He wrote me out an order for an xray. I then contacted my local general NHS hospital by phone to find out if they would do it and how much. They quoted me about £60, but in the end only got charged £10, which included the data CD. For blood tests and ECG, I went straight to my GP. She was totally cool with it. We are a rare species, and I think I pique her interest. But I'm quite pleased to have almost all of my surgical details out of public records, personally. Don't they want to sell these records on to drug companies?

Yes, I reckon my GP would think I was totally obsessed with my looks, too. I'm obsessed, but not totally. There's a clear difference, if not a fine line. Look, see?