Heya Everybody!

Planning on telling my doctor at my appointment tomorrow about my 'condition', and I have no clue if he has ever treated a patient like me before, or his views on it. I really do like him, he has always been extremely compassionate (when compared to every other doctor in the past) and understanding of my other medical issues.

Will be taking a copy of the SOC with me, but wondering if there is anything else I should bring with me for him to read over? I know he's my doctor and should be the one helping me with my issues, but I want to be prepared to help him help me

I'm nervous, but also excited as I know this is the first step for me in my journey finding medical help. Thanks for any and all advice

It's probably 50/50 that your gp will have experience with TS patients. If you're UK based you're obviously looking for a referral so you can go to a gic. you don't have to go into huge amounts of detail, just tell them how you feel and that you'd like a referral...they should play ball.

You should be prepared for the possibility that your doctor may not be terribly well-informed about this particular issue, and you may have to be your own advocate to some extent.  Sounds like you're already well prepared for this possibility.  Bringing the SOC with you is a good step.  You should ABSOLUTELY expect professional and compassionate treatment.  You may in fact be surprised - perhaps he HAS treated one or two trans people.  When I told my doctor last July, I quipped that I bet I'm the first patient he's had come to him with this, but he said no, he had two other trans patients.  He is not himself terribly well-informed, but I was able to meet several other trans people in my area, and they clued me to the resources I'd need.  You should probably ask him if he knows of any trans-related health-care professionals in the area, such as a gender therapist (or at least a therapist who has SOME familiarity with trans issues).  Good luck!

Have an idea who you want to be reffered too. My doc had only ever seen one trans patient before even though he`s approved by the WPATH (only doc in the region with that approval). That trans patient had already transitioned.. so he hadn`t had to do any footwork. I had to a good portion of it in reccomending who he should refer me to and such. It`s likely if he has no experiencebut he`s willing to work with you that it will be you who provides a lot fo thebasic information, and it wil be he that looks at this information, and confirms it, and acts on that.

Thank you all for the advice!

Living in the Bay Area of California, and have Central Coast Alliance / Medi-Cal for health insurance. Have heard rumblings about my insurance possibly covering everything.

Tad thanks for bringing up the referral bit, had totally skipped my mind! I indeed have a number he can call to match me up with local medical professionals that have experience in these sorts of things.

Thankfully there seams to be plenty of medical resources at my disposal in my local community.

I live in the bay area as well, have you tried san francisco? the city will pay for your hrt

Quote from: KillBelle on January 03, 2011, 06:15:41 PM
I live in the bay area as well, have you tried san francisco? the city will pay for your hrt

I could prosper living in San Francisco, although I really like living in the "Keep it weird" part of the coast

Or do you mean to simply be able to travel there to receive HRT?

Dear Zoeinmotion:

I live in the East Bay part of SF Bay Area,  and am a pre-op MTF person.

If you are on a budget, and your healthcare coverage does not cover HRT,  then give Lyon Martin Health Services (located in San Francisco) a try.  Their website is at http://www.lyon-martin.org/ 
You might also ask them about referrals to a psychologist specializing in gender issues.  (I am a patient of a really good psychologist in Berkeley who is fairly expensive but worth it.  I could give you her name if you e-mailed me.)
For issues with gender on California drivers license,  U.S. passports, legal name changes,  gender with Social Security Administration, etc.,  there is a lot of good information on the San Francisco-based  Transgender Law Center.  Their website is at http://transgenderlawcenter.org/cms/

If you ever get to Berkeley on Friday nights,  the Transgender Support Group meets at the Pacific Center from 8PM to 9:30PM every Friday night of the year including Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.  The Pacific Center's website is at http://www.pacificcenter.org/       I am there almost every Friday evening. 

Wishing you the best on your journey,

                                                   Torrey Grey

I wrote to my GP so that there was no shock to their system when I turned up in female clothes and make up.   I felt it was best to give them fair warning.   It also gave her time to read up on the treatment of transexuals.

Quote from: KillBelle on January 03, 2011, 06:15:41 PM
I live in the bay area as well, have you tried san francisco? the city will pay for your hrt

San fran will pay for your hrt.......wow!!!!!

I ran into the same problem last tuesday when i was at my reg doctor for a pre surgery approval check up that my ortho doc requested. I haven't seen this doc in well over three years and decided last minute that i wasn't telling him about the last 3 years of my life. My surgery date is the 2oth of this month with a pre-surgery meeting on the 11th and they want me to bring a list of all the meds i am currently taking. So i guess at this point i have to tell them, when i first went to this doc i filled a medical history questioner out and left the section about current meds blank for i was scared that if he found out what or who i was he who not take interest in proceeding further. So i know exactly what you are going through and wish you the best of luck! I guess at some point in time they have to find out one way or another!

Well it's over

He was very supportive, he was unsure on the resources in my area (Thankfully I had that referral for him, Thanks Tad!) and would sideline another doctor in the office, and help find local resources. Turns out I'm not the first person that has come to him with this, which was really comforting. Hope to hear back from him Friday with more information.

Paired with going to my first support group meeting, today was surreally awesome. Reflecting in a calm state tonight knowing I'm being honest with myself, and taking more steps forward to help myself.

Thanks again for all the advice & information, every bit has helped