I couldn't get into one of the local transgender clinics, so I went to see a doctor today at a clinic run by my insurance provider.  The purpose was for me to start the process of transition.

(I plan on having 'The Talk' with my wife this weekend, right now it's just a matter logistics)

Anyway, I haven't been to see a doctor in about 9 years, and I wanted to just get things established.  I picked out a doctor from the provider website, knowing that it would only be for a consultation in order to get a referral.  The doctor was young probably in his late 20s and very nice, went to school in Ft. Lauderdale FL with a specialty in sports medicine, been doctoring for a good year.

Anyway I was quite nervous as I started, and he was very professional, asking all the right questions with very pleasant bedside manner.

He asked me the purpose of the visit, I started with some minor concerns, and then just said very matter of fact 'I'm transgender and would like to start the process of transitioning'.  He didn't miss a beat, at first.  Asked me questions and wrote down the details.

Ever so slowly during the course of questioning, I could see his demeanor start to slip.  I could see the thought bubbles above his head: 'I know what to do, I'm a professional' ... 'Keep calm and deal, this is just another patient.' ... 'I'm a sports medicine doctor!' ... 'OMG, What should I ask next?'...

Towards the end I was trying not to giggle.

It ended up that he referred me to another doctor in the clinic, who has a good rep and a history with transgender patients.

All in all a good experience, and I was able to be the first transgender patient for someone who shows the signs of being a good doctor.

Wow, you haven't even come out and you are already involved with helping train doctors in trans issues. Don't peak too early. lol
Monica

Quote from: HappyMoni on January 19, 2017, 08:57:50 PM
Wow, you haven't even come out and you are already involved with helping train doctors in trans issues. Don't peak too early. lol
Monica

lol, damn, all I have is motorcycling metaphors, lean into the curve, let the tires grip...

I freaked out my Dr. When I finally felt the need to tell a Dr. about me, at first she couldn't believe it since I don't look transgender. She ordered up some extra blood work to check my hormone levels.

Quote from: Veda on January 19, 2017, 09:04:48 PM
lol, damn, all I have is motorcycling metaphors, lean into the curve, let the tires grip...

Veda, do you ride a motorcycle, too?
Last spring my loving wife ( I do love her dearly ) came to me and said,
"Life is too short. I know you want some reward in your life. You have denied yourself long enough. I can tell you need it. Go ahead, darling and buy that motorcycle."

So, I did just that. It is an adventure bike with full metal side cases and top case. Last summer I took two separate week long motorcycling vacations as Donna. Yes, women do ride motorcycles, as I can attest! I wear women's motorcycle jackets and full makeup under my helmet. Not being on HRT yet (last summer) I wore breast forms when I rode. Sometimes under my motorcycle jacket in warm weather I wore a tight sun dress (check my avatar) with weather resistant pants protecting my legs. When it gets cold, I layer up like any other sensible female motorcycle rider....

Now I just hope she says, "Life is too short. Go ahead and transition."

Good luck on your transirion, Veda!

The few times I've encountered someone relatively new--out of training, but not quite having the confidence of experience--has been in the retail world (with me as customer). It's like one can see the gears turning in their head, like a Rolodex in a moderate breeze...I try to make myself "the ideal customer" so they don't experience ridicule or obnoxiousness when they are still pretty delicate in their formative weeks.

Quote from: Veda on January 19, 2017, 07:43:47 PM
I couldn't get into one of the local transgender clinics, so I went to see a doctor today at a clinic run by my insurance provider.  The purpose was for me to start the process of transition.

(I plan on having 'The Talk' with my wife this weekend, right now it's just a matter logistics)

Anyway, I haven't been to see a doctor in about 9 years, and I wanted to just get things established.  I picked out a doctor from the provider website, knowing that it would only be for a consultation in order to get a referral.  The doctor was young probably in his late 20s and very nice, went to school in Ft. Lauderdale FL with a specialty in sports medicine, been doctoring for a good year.

Anyway I was quite nervous as I started, and he was very professional, asking all the right questions with very pleasant bedside manner.

He asked me the purpose of the visit, I started with some minor concerns, and then just said very matter of fact 'I'm transgender and would like to start the process of transitioning'.  He didn't miss a beat, at first.  Asked me questions and wrote down the details.

Ever so slowly during the course of questioning, I could see his demeanor start to slip.  I could see the thought bubbles above his head: 'I know what to do, I'm a professional' ... 'Keep calm and deal, this is just another patient.' ... 'I'm a sports medicine doctor!' ... 'OMG, What should I ask next?'...

Towards the end I was trying not to giggle.

It ended up that he referred me to another doctor in the clinic, who has a good rep and a history with transgender patients.

All in all a good experience, and I was able to be the first transgender patient for someone who shows the signs of being a good doctor.

Good for you, Veda, for sticking with your intended purpose of your doctor visit.

As a somewhat opposite type of story of doctors, I am insured by Group Health of Washington State. I looked at their website and noticed that they have a Transgender Services Program. I sent two emails. One to the Transgender Services Program, and another to my Group Health physician. The Transgender Services Program replied and had a social worker call me to set up referrals to any Trans related service I asked for. I started with a referral to a Gender Therapist. The social worker immediately asked if I would like a referral for voice coaching. She also noticed that I had a concurrent request for transgender care from my own physician (see below), so she saw no need to refer me to a doctor for HRT. She would have, though.

My Primary Care Physician replied on the Group Health secure email server that each Group Health clinic location has a specified Transgender specializing physician. So, I switched my primary care physician to the transgender specialist. I set up an appointment and I saw the doctor while I was dressed as Donna. He was wonderful. He informed me of the HRT regimen he would suggest I start out with. He set up blood work immediately. He got the results of the blood work, and after advising me that my somewhat elevated blood pressure would have to be monitored, he prescribed my Estradiol and Spironolactone. Simple and caring. He proudly displayed his "Rainbow" pin on his lab coat.

Cool.

I had a sort of similar situation when I switched primary care doctor to one in the city. He is a younger guy likely mid twenties. So when I told him I was trans and that was a big part of moving doctors, his first reply was. So you want to go through all the hormone changes and all the surgeries? Sort of a feel me out kind of response. My reply to him was this. "I have these hard wired instincts in my head that just don't work." He replied OK and then started discussing therapy. I told him I already had a therapist and see a psychiatrist for anxiety. So we had a good discussion about my basic health from there. I could tell I was his first trans patient as he stumbled a bit but they are clearly training doctors to be sensitive to us. I like that. After he left and a while later his nurse came back in. Her whole demeanor changed towards me. I can only say I think she started talking to me like any other female patient instead of like a male one. I'm really happy with my choice of primary care.

Congratulations, hun!!!!

Happy, happy day!!

Missy

Quote from: Donna on January 19, 2017, 10:31:23 PM
Veda, do you ride a motorcycle, too?

So, I did just that. It is an adventure bike with full metal side cases and top case. Last summer I took two separate week long motorcycling vacations as Donna. Yes, women do ride motorcycles, as I can attest! I wear women's motorcycle jackets and full makeup under my helmet. Not being on HRT yet (last summer) I wore breast forms when I rode. Sometimes under my motorcycle jacket in warm weather I wore a tight sun dress (check my avatar) with weather resistant pants protecting my legs. When it gets cold, I layer up like any other sensible female motorcycle rider....

Now I just hope she says, "Life is too short. Go ahead and transition."

I commute daily on a CBR250R, It's little, but handles like a dream in traffic.  I'm wearing a gaff when I ride now and it actually helps with my seating position and movement, I get a better sense of the bike and myself.  The bike I would like is a Zero SR: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/sr.php

Quote from: Donna on January 19, 2017, 11:05:41 PM
I am insured by Group Health of Washington State.

Small world.

Quote from: Veda on January 21, 2017, 01:04:11 PM
I commute daily on a CBR250R, It's little, but handles like a dream in traffic.  I'm wearing a gaff when I ride now and it actually helps with my seating position and movement, I get a better sense of the bike and myself.  The bike I would like is a Zero SR: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/sr.php

Cool.
My touring bike is a V-Strom 650. I also wear shapewear panties, either with everything tucked, or with everything pulled up in front very high. It is very uncomfortable to sit on male nads on a motorcycle. Reason enough for either full SRS or at least an Orchiectomy. It is unreasonably painful to sit on unwelcome testosterone producing pain-source ugly things while I ride a motorcycle, or while I straddle a surfboard waiting for the incoming perfect wave.

Sorry to get off the topic of the original post.
Suffice it to say that now I absolutely refuse to use my male name at any doctor's office. I insist the staff always greet me as Donna. Group Health of Washington knows me as using my Donna name by preference.

Quote from: Donna on January 21, 2017, 04:59:49 PM
Cool.
My touring bike is a V-Strom 650. I also wear shapewear panties, either with everything tucked, or with everything pulled up in front very high. It is very uncomfortable to sit on male nads on a motorcycle. Reason enough for either full SRS or at least an Orchiectomy. It is unreasonably painful to sit on unwelcome testosterone producing pain-source ugly things while I ride a motorcycle, or while I straddle a surfboard waiting for the incoming perfect wave.

Sorry to get off the topic of the original post.
Suffice it to say that now I absolutely refuse to use my male name at any doctor's office. I insist the staff always greet me as Donna. Group Health of Washington knows me as using my Donna name by preference.

Yes, Maybe we should start the topic in Hobbies?  Maybe Help and Howto's...  not sure, motorcycling isn't a hobby for me, it's how I get to work, ant there are definitely issues related to being trans and motorcycling...

So what is it about getting good doctors? Even in my resource starved location I've only had good experiences.

First I told the nurse at the free clinic I went to, and the practitioner she called in to consult. Both of them immediately changed from professionals helping a male patient to asking how I felt and what could they do to help.

I recently changed to a doctor's office when they started taking new patients; better to free up the clinic for people who can't afford insurance! Again, the nurse and the PA went from simple intake questions to warm helping language. Is it a professional thing, or am I lucky?

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That is an adorable story!