Going to the hospital for non trans matter

I recently had to go to hospital for a non trans related matter and had to have an ECG. I felt that as I am HRT and only partly developed in the Breast department that I would be embarrassed .  A young Male medic called my name and I followed him to the room. He asked me to remove my top and lie on the couch my development clearly shows even when laying down  he then proceeded to stick contact around my left breast and one or two to the side of my right. The strange thing is that I was not at all embarrassed even though I was at the hospital clearly dressed as a male.

I felt totally at peace with myself it was a very strange experience  as I had been worried by the appointment

Several thoughts but most important is you did well, you owned it. 

The medical technician did exactly what they are supposed to do.  I've heard electrologists say "skin is skin".  You helped make their day less boring. 

They took a close look at your chest but you didn't see theirs.  You're assuming the medic was 100% male...     

I am not so sure he was a male male thanks for your kind comments

Glad everything went well and that you were comfortable. 

Quote from: Kendra on June 19, 2017, 05:02:12 AM
Several thoughts but most important is you did well, you owned it. 

The medical technician did exactly what they are supposed to do.  I've heard electrologists say "skin is skin".  You helped make their day less boring. 

They took a close look at your chest but you didn't see theirs.  You're assuming the medic was 100% male...     

Love that! I can't count the number of posts where someone says something like "a little boy at the store" and all I can think is how do you know that?

Hugs, Devlyn

I just got back from the er I got quite badly scratched and bitten by my cat as i was rescuing her they saw my list of medications including the ones for hrt I'm sure they know what it is for but no one batted an eye

   bobbisue

Quote from: bobbisue on June 19, 2017, 03:27:27 PM
I just got back from the er I got quite badly scratched and bitten by my cat as i was rescuing her they saw my list of medications including the ones for hrt I'm sure they know what it is for but no one batted an eye

   bobbisue

Good to know that there is some acceptance of us out there

Quote from: bobbisue on June 19, 2017, 03:27:27 PM
I just got back from the er I got quite badly scratched and bitten by my cat as i was rescuing her they saw my list of medications including the ones for hrt I'm sure they know what it is for but no one batted an eye

   bobbisue

Quote from: 706Phoenix on June 21, 2017, 07:31:13 AM
Good to know that there is some acceptance of us out there

I used to work at an urgent care, and granted I am from small town Alabama (and that's where the Urgent care was), there was no judgement. I don't think there is place for judgement in healthcare. Their job is to take care of you and keep you well when you are sick or injured, all while protecting the privacy of your information (which is HIPPA law). I am sure that ER doctors / nurses, especially, see far odder situations than trans people.

That being said, if you go somewhere for a non-trans related issues and they're not essentially ignoring the fact that you're trans or were treating your differently because of it, and you have the ability to do so, get to another hospital.

I got called out at the ER. I fell backwards over the dog and my back slammed into a end table. I was in a lot of pain so my brother took me to the ER.  I didn't tell them I was trans cause it was just for my back and I really didn't want to. The doctor was worried that I had hurt my kidney so they did a cat scan. After the scan the doctor came in and asked Tyler if he would step out for a minute. Of course he said no, that he wasn't going anyplace. So the Dr asked him who he was exactly and he told him he was my brother. So the doctor told me that when I was seeking medical care I needed to tell the Dr I'm transgender and that the HRT could effect treatments and other medications. Then he told me he wouldn't ever have known but that my boy parts were quite clear on the cat scan. So tucked or not a cat scan will show your male stuff if the do it low enough. I never even thought of that. But the Dr was very nice about it. He had asked Tyler to leave because he thought he was my bf and he didn't want to out me in case I hadn't told him I was trans. And I don't know if he told the nurse but she didn't act any different when she came back in.

Quote from: bobbisue on June 19, 2017, 03:27:27 PM
I just got back from the er I got quite badly scratched and bitten by my cat as i was rescuing her they saw my list of medications including the ones for hrt I'm sure they know what it is for but no one batted an eye

   bobbisue

But how's the cat?   

Quote from: Julia1996 on June 21, 2017, 08:54:08 AM
I got called out at the ER. I fell backwards over the dog and my back slammed into a end table. I was in a lot of pain so my brother took me to the ER.  I didn't tell them I was trans cause it was just for my back and I really didn't want to. The doctor was worried that I had hurt my kidney so they did a cat scan. After the scan the doctor came in and asked Tyler if he would step out for a minute. Of course he said no, that he wasn't going anyplace. So the Dr asked him who he was exactly and he told him he was my brother. So the doctor told me that when I was seeking medical care I needed to tell the Dr I'm transgender and that the HRT could effect treatments and other medications. Then he told me he wouldn't ever have known but that my boy parts were quite clear on the cat scan. So tucked or not a cat scan will show your male stuff if the do it low enough. I never even thought of that. But the Dr was very nice about it. He had asked Tyler to leave because he thought he was my bf and he didn't want to out me in case I hadn't told him I was trans. And I don't know if he told the nurse but she didn't act any different when she came back in.

When you go in for medical care, you should reveal all relevant info, trans or not.  I keep a card from the pharmacy in my wallet, so that I can advise what medication I'm on.  I get a new card every time I fill or refill a prescription.  Past surgeries may also be relevant.

BTW, why did they scan the cat, when you tripped over the dog?   

I proudly write down Estradiol, Spiro and Progesterone on every doctors visit. I do not stick it in their faces but given the combination of meds any half decent doctor should be able to figure it out. Usually the verify the list too and I answer yes every time.

So far no one has given me a hard time or even blinked twice.

Wearing a bra to the doctor, painted nails and the meds are a 100% give away.

And I agree - a doctor, especially an ER needs to know all meds someone takes. If you fell that they do not respect your Gender  you should tell them too.

I just hope every doctor has enough bedside manner. Well except my (former) PCP who is rude and arrogant so I requested a different doctor for my next visit.

Quote from: AnneK on June 21, 2017, 11:37:17 AM
When you go in for medical care, you should reveal all relevant info, trans or not.  I keep a card from the pharmacy in my wallet, so that I can advise what medication I'm on.  I get a new card every time I fill or refill a prescription.  Past surgeries may also be relevant.

I used to tell them. Better safe than sorry kind of thing, but I've been lied to by doctors in the past and no longer trust them. Better safe than sorry has taken on an additional factor, so I only tell them if I think it will affect my treatment. That's not usually the case.

Quote from: Julia1996 on June 21, 2017, 08:54:08 AM
So the doctor told me that when I was seeking medical care I needed to tell the Dr I'm transgender and that the HRT could effect treatments and other medications.

I bet it didn't though, and he went though all of that just to make a point?

   Anne The cat is fine she hid under the bed for a couple of hours but is back to her old self now

    bobbisue

Happened twice this year and theres an on-going one:

I had a colonoscopy in April. So everything was going great, mind you, I am in male mode - which is for me very androgynous but no one ever notices. So the anesthesiologist (a doctor) comes in. She looks at my meds (Estradiol and Spiro). She wrinkles her nose and furrows her brow. I'm laying there waiting for it; starting to freak a bit. Here it came: "You're on Spiro? But you don't have congestive heart failure...". "No I don't", I answer, "It's an anti-androgen". I'm watching the brain behind her eyes computing. Then she says "Oh, and Estradiol". "I'm transgender", I say saving her from deducing it. So we proceed to have this great conversation about being transgender. She was cool but had never had a trans patient. Teachable moment on my part. She wished me well and in a little bit gave me some propofel (maybe a little extra because we connected, who knows) - oh my god! The best and shortest trip I ever took. Good stuff. The endoscopist, however was a real cad. Never bought me dinner or even offered me a smoke afterward....

Then. I had a cataract removed in May. So now I'm ready for it. The nurse carefully goes through my meds reading them aloud like a verse in church. This place is like a drive through operating prep room. The next bed was, yes behind a curtain, but literally 5 feet away. I could hear everything over there and nurses a buzzing around in and out. She's like "Well Mr. So and so, blah blah". And then, yep, here it comes. "Estradiol!, is that right?". I lower my voice so she has to draw in a bit. "I'm Transgender", I whisper. She booms, "Oh, that's nothing to be ashamed of, dear", then, "Have you had the surgery?"  I'm like... Holy ->-bleeped-<-! in my head. "No I haven't" Thinking, duh you'd know that cause you got my surgical history in your hands, idiot. But I was nice. Now luckily, the average patient age in that room had to be in the upper 70's to mid 80's range, maybe higher, so I'm not even sure anyone would get it. They probably wouldn't know what Transgender was if came up and kissed them on the lips. Cripes though, I was pretty mortified. But she shut up and went about her work and soon my senses were dulled thanks to a little fentanyl in the IV. I can say I really am not fond of that stuff.

Now the receptionist at my PCP's office is this gay dude. I get the distinct vibe that he doesn't like me. Everyone else in the office is *awesome*. The MA's, the PA's, the nurses, the check out person. They are all so cool. My doctor, who I am her first TG patient, is the best. She asks good questions, is totally respectful. But he just is very short and cool like I'm a traitor or something. Is it me? Maybe but I'm nice to him, though. He's nice to other patients. All my records are right there on his screen including my diagnostic codes. Well whatever.

So those are my close encounters of the health care kind from the land of the mother of all pre-existing conditions...