Afraid of going to the doctor...

[Hephaestus]

Not talking about being afraid of going to a psychiatrist for therapy/hormones, I'm talking about being afraid of going to a doctor if I thought something were wrong with me/emergency situation..

I don't mean I'd sit there and not go to the doctor if it were life and death.. but I think I might be a little shy about going to the doctor for much else... I travel out of town to civilized Atlanta to see my psychologist, rather than face a doctor where I live in bible-belt GA...

Even after I see a psychiatrist for Rx hormones/pre HRT bloodwork, and have things be more 'official' I guess... I don't think it'd change my nervousness. I've been taking herbal hormones for about two months, and am up to a 42.25" inch bust from a 41.5"...I really notice a difference when I pass my mirror now.
So this started me thinking, as I often do, about my health. Previously, I'd been to a doctor (referred to him by a listing off a TS site), thinking he was a psychiatrist, but it turns out he's a psychologist...
I did see him a few visits over some months, and he'd referred me to a good psychiatrist to get set up for hormones.. but I haven't been able to save enough for what I estimate the visits and the lab work will cost me...

So that's where I'm at. I'm just thinking to myself; what if some unforeseeable medical problem cropped up, could I go to a doctor?

I don't know if I have a point here... :daydreaming: :doh:

Does anyone else have any qualms about going to a doctor? Is the trick to sample some general practitioners and find one that isn't negative towards TS people?

[Heatherx75]

This is a real concern, because not everyone in the medical profession is on our side, it's true. I've experienced it. I would bring it up with your psychiatrist. He's an M.D., and will be likely to know a lot of other M.D.s and have an idea where they stand on trans issues.

[Teri Jean]

I started with my family doctor and got the referral for the visits for gender therapy. My doctor had me in for an annual physical and found he had an assistant that after agreeing with her being in the room found her drop dead beautiful. To keep it short everything went well and found she had warm, small, friendly hands. LOL I got my referral and moving forward.

Teri

[LaurenS.]

I used to be worried about going to Doctors but then finally said this is who I am and mustered the courage and went. I told them I was trans. and they have been fine with it. Many people will tell you that Doctors don't care and will do what they can to help and I've found that to be very true.
Lauren

[CharleneT]

Your concern is understandable. Not everyone follows professional behaviors etc... BUT almost all do, there are considerable legal protections in place for all patient information now. I trust my family doc - and the entire staff where I see him ( at a large hospital ). I go in as Charlene and they treat me respectfully. Even as far as calling me Charlene or Ms. T********. It isn't in my record as such, it is just those who treat me. Even if it was an emergency, don't worry, their concern will be with treating your medical needs, not what you might be wearing.

Maybe use your psychologist to get a reference to a doc whom he/she knows is TG friendly ? That way, if something comes up quickly, you will have an idea of who to call.

C.

[Hephaestus]

The problem with getting a ref from my psychiatrist is that he'd probably just know doctors in Atlanta.. If, say, I caught pneumonia again, I wouldn't want to have to make the two hour trip to Atlanta. When my fiancee gets a good job, hopefully we can get insurance, and I'll make sure to find a doctor I feel comfortable with. :)

[Kimberly Marie Kelly]

My HRT doctor told me to make sure all the other doctors I deal with know that I'm TS, she likes to work with them and my other doctors work with her so any medications prescribed have minimal effect on each other. So far all my doctors are fine with my status. In fact some are curious and ask me questions, but so far no negative reactions. At first I was afraid but not anymore.. Kimberly Marie Kelly :battingeyelashes:

[Veronica_Jean]

Hi,

I too have had positive reactions or curiosity from those in the medical area.

Recently my foot has been giving me a lot of pain so I had to have several things done. I keep my toes polished and the technician for my XRay comment that it was a pretty color. We talked a bit and she was great.

Then when I went to see the foot doctor I told him I was on Estrogen, and he asked why. So I told him I was in transition and his next question was "How far a long are you?".

Of course my family doctor and her staff knows because my estrogen is given by injection and my family has been going to this doctor for decades.

Although I know there are some that still live in the stone age I think with recent changes in the position of the AMA it is a lot less of an issue than perhaps in the past.


Veronica

[Stephanie-L]

Don't worry about it, even if the doc you go to is rather "conservative" he or she has probably seen more and stranger things during residency than you can believe. They are required by training and by law to treat you with dignity and not to out you except in very specific circumstances. You would have to be either a danger to yourself (suicide) or a danger to others (murder, assault) before they can say anything to anyone without your permission. If you go to the ER you will not be the first TS, and if you are slightly discrete, i.e. not dressed like a drag queen, most people won't even notice. As a matter of fact I recomend you find a local doctor and be open about your transition plans. They will be better able to treat you, and if they have any problem, just find another doc. Most docs will not have a problem and will treat you well without any hassles. Many docs are ok with an initial "interview" visit in which you get to know each other, they take your history, ask about problems, meds you are taking, etc, and you get a feeling for them, talk to them about your issues and find out if you are comfortable with them. Good luck and if you have any problems don't hesitate to ask....Stephanie