Hey Everyone

Hope you all are having a lovely Monday!

So after finally bringing up the courage to speak to my doctor through the NHS about my transition.. (I have mainly been speaking to Dr Webberley to help me start my hormones) I now need to involve my GP to get the blood tests done etc so the two can work in conjunction until I get my appointment at the gender clinic...

I booked my appointment over a week ago with my usual lady doctor, it was scheduled for 3pm today, Annoyingly I get a text message from the surgery at 14.35pm saying my appointment has been cancelled as she is gone home sick.

The only appointment they can now offer me is 8pm tomorrow night, I have provisionally accepted it but the appointment is now with an older male doctor who I haven't been to before and I am a little scared (maybe my prejudice) I had finally worked up the confidence to speak openly to my doctor about it but I feel like retreating now as I am scared of if he will judge me incorrectly ,I know a doctor is a doctor but just worried that he will just tell me to go away or not take my transition seriously.

Has everyone had good experiences with their local NHS doctor, is it just a case of them referring you or will they ask lots of questions etc?

x

I'm sure he'll have plenty of questions but it's not the place of a doctor to judge. I doubt he'd wave you away, the NHS GPs are usually very accepting of all concepts and ideas. It's their job to go with the flow of medical discovery, ya get me?

  If you're really worried, is there any way you can re-schedule the appointment with your usual lady doctor? I had to go in for some very private things once and they only had a male doctor available, so I rescheduled a few days later to see a female one.
  As long as you're not in a hurry, there shouldn't be any problems with rescheduling, right?

The truth is that it's a bit pot luck. I've had a GP who didn't have a clue, and one who's great. Just be informed, be aware you may have to tell then what to do, and maybe take a copy of the NHS guidelines for GPs on their duty of care and the correct pathway. X

I hear it's just luck of the draw. You'd hope by now most of them would at least be clued in to the trans issue and know they have to refer you.

There are 3 doctors at my surgery, one female, two male; there's an older male doctor and a younger male doctor I've never been to see. My assigned doctor retired just before I asked for referral, so I requested to see the female doctor as I figured her for a more sympathetic individual when I saw her once previously. Turns out she was very good. If she decides to move elsewhere however, I'll have to deal with the other doctors there.

I did ask her if she'd dealt with any other trans in the area and she said just one. So depending on where you are it might be such a rare thing you'll need to remind them what it is you intend to do and what their role is. My doctor did know what to do, though. She did not ask any personal questions regards the matter for referral beyond the obligatory "so you have felt this way for some time and sure this is what you want? the referral could take several months for a reply." which you'd expect.

Hi handy
I have been  talking  to Dr webberley also so I take it your going private, I am doing this until  I can have HRT on the NHS.
I have had my bloods done & have an appointment tomorrow but I have the same problem as you I normally see a female doctor but it could be weeks before i can see her but I,m just desperate to see the results so I have to see a male doctor, if it speeds things up a little so be it, where I live your lucky to book an appointment to see anyone within 4 weeks so male or female doctor I wouldn't worry too much otherwise rebook to see another doctor ifvyour not in a hurry.
As for going for HRT on the NHS if you don't mind waiting 2-3 years then its OK by for me I can't wait even 6 months.
I'm sure your be fine with that appointment tomorrow night. Sara.

I know the chances are very low, but more than zero: there are doctors who established themselves as a particular gender and present themselves at work that way, but haven't always done so their entire lifetime - without it being obvious.  Or they might transition later.  My point is people with wonderful skills and empathy can be any gender, and jerks can be any gender.

When I was asked this question recently I almost requested female, but after thinking a bit more I told the clinic the doctor's gender doesn't matter to me.  I am more interested in their qualifications.  This particular question was for a one-time procedure so I didn't see much need to be as careful.  I can see where a long term endocrinologist or GP needs to be good to meet our needs - but I'd suggest try to determine their qualifications and skills regardless of gender.  Cast a wider net for better odds. 

Quote from: coldHeart on July 03, 2017, 05:48:54 PM
Hi handy
I have been  talking  to Dr webberley also so I take it your going private, I am doing this until  I can have HRT on the NHS.
I have had my bloods done & have an appointment tomorrow but I have the same problem as you I normally see a female doctor but it could be weeks before i can see her but I,m just desperate to see the results so I have to see a male doctor, if it speeds things up a little so be it, where I live your lucky to book an appointment to see anyone within 4 weeks so male or female doctor I wouldn't worry too much otherwise rebook to see another doctor ifvyour not in a hurry.
As for going for HRT on the NHS if you don't mind waiting 2-3 years then its OK by for me I can't wait even 6 months.
I'm sure your be fine with that appointment tomorrow night. Sara.

Hey, Yes I am at the stage with Dr Webberley where I have paid my fees and need to send over my bloods now, so I need to get my GP involved to help with the process, I am using Dr W as I really want to get started on HRT whilst I await help from the NHS.  I live in central London so it can be tricky getting an appointment at my surgery at the best of times.

I will just be brave and take along as much info as I can from Dr W and see what the doctor says.

WELL....

I did it !

It was super quick and I just asked him to refer me to the gender clinic etc....

I left feeling like I wanted to cry (tears of joy)

I felt strangely light when I left, like I was almost floating...

Now time to start my HRT once Dr Webberley receives my blood test results ! xx

Yay, congratulations Jandy!

Hi Jandy,

It is great to hear you did it. Try to think positive always. Happy transition!:)

hi
i found my gp to be great. he originally referr me to sheffield gender clinic but i pulled out before going as i wsnt ready. he has supported me since and i get on great with him. it is pot luck it seems.i saw a woman gp from the same surgery and although she wasnt bad as such i had a problem from tucking. i went tucked and she examined me but was a bit off with me been tucked. i saw my own gp after as the problem hadnt really gone away again he examined me tucked and just said fine,leave it like that ur used to it and theres no problem. he asked if i was ready to go on the list for the gender clinic again as i presented as ,well femanine. he is so supportive and patient. i do worry about seeing a doc at say a gender clinic but u never know till u try. i have been put on antiandrogens but not hormones as my gp said we will do it slowly and other meds im on have caused breast growth and all my other tests are fine. i think its how uu get on with the doc.

Quote from: Jandy on July 04, 2017, 02:33:50 PM
WELL....

I did it !

It was super quick and I just asked him to refer me to the gender clinic etc....

I left feeling like I wanted to cry (tears of joy)

I felt strangely light when I left, like I was almost floating...

Now time to start my HRT once Dr Webberley receives my blood test results ! xx

Yay! Congrats!

And about your original post, it's all about perception. For some reason I trust male doctors more than females. I don't have any basis for this at all, I just feel like they care less and therefore are less nosey, while women tend to be overly maternal and worried and might block my process more. Again none of this has actually happened to me and it's mostly in my head, but goes to show you that we all have different perceptions about this.