I'm not "a doctor" but I am THE DOCTOR!

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on myself.

Having my primary care admit to me that she had never worked with transgender individuals before set the tone for my transition. Of the 6 people I've worked with only one has experience with these issues. Thus I often feel as though I am my own care manager. The advantage to this system is I usually get what I want by bringing in the documentation that supports my view since they don't have competing research handy. The disadvantage is that I have nowhere to go besides forums & journals when things go wrong.

Alas, to be be trans where I am pretty much means you are your own doctor, at least for transition related stuff and challenges. I miss the days when I felt sick/pain/etc and could just schedule an appointment and expect an answer.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on April 25, 2012, 06:50:10 PM
Gender therapists are good. Recomending that someone see a gender therapist is good. Thinking that YOU are a gender therapist because you have BEEN to a gender therapist is bad. That is all. Hugs, Devlyn

Well that's a nice black and white outlook now isn't it.

However, as these things usually are, it's not black and white.

Not all doctors are good, not all doctors are competent.

Nativity and ignorance lead many to believe that because society says a particular group are more qualified than another group, that it must be true, and elevate them to almost deity status.

I rang the ambulance the other day. The very rude paramedic (understandable, they hate drug users calling for an ambulance cause their dumbass took something and had a bad reaction) asked me if I had any other drugs in my system, to which I replied yes, diazapam. He replied "diazapam or valium". At which point I said "it's the same thing..." with a bewildered look. He replied "well no, the dosage differs from brand to brand". To which I replied "I'm on such and such mg of valium".

It's a stupid story caused by stupid behaviour, but the point remains. Despite being completely stoned and having a panic attack, I was STILL more knowledgeable about a very very basic issue than this paramedic. Even though I'm technically completely unqualified.

I'm technically unqualified in a lot of subjects of which I know fully well I am more competent in than many with supposed qualifications.

Let people give their advise and opinions, provided they state their knowledge base, reasons for opinion, and advise that theirs is not the only viewpoint.

Quote from: Sephirah on April 26, 2012, 03:50:42 AM
Psychotainment....

It's only called that cuz "enterologist" was already taken....

Quote from: ameline on April 26, 2012, 04:29:12 PM
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on myself.

Having my primary care admit to me that she had never worked with transgender individuals before set the tone for my transition. Of the 6 people I've worked with only one has experience with these issues. Thus I often feel as though I am my own care manager. The advantage to this system is I usually get what I want by bringing in the documentation that supports my view since they don't have competing research handy. The disadvantage is that I have nowhere to go besides forums & journals when things go wrong.

I'm kinda in the same boat now. I had a really good TG doctor with experience but out of the blue this Jan he retired. I went to the doctor he referred his TG patients to. She is listed as being a "Trans doctor" on their web site and in the TG center website where I live.

I was kinda concerned though on my 3rd visit, while we are discussing changing my meds and looking at my blood work, she asks if I am post-op. That seemed kinda clueless lol. But like you, she goes along with what I want as long as I can document why and it's reasonable. I'd rather have this than a doctor who "knows everything" and applies the same treatment to everyone, limited prescriptions so you are forced into monthly visits etc. I am glad I'm this far along and had the other doctor to help me sort out a starting point for all this.

So yes, in some ways I am my own doctor too.

Yeah, the bucks end with you when it comes to your health, you ought to be your best advocate.