Pharmacist consult needed!

[StaceyJane]

A quick followup to my post about getting my prescription for estrogen.
After my doctor's visit I went and put on my casual day off clothes.

A little while later I decided it was time to pick up my prescription. (it had been sent electronically to my pharmacy).

I was nervous about picking up an estrogen prescription but felt ready for it. Now at my pharmacy they always have a pharmacist talk to you when you start a new prescription and I was a little nervous about that conversation.

So I got to the pharmacy and told the clerk I have 2 prescriptions to pick up. He got my prescriptions and rang them up, no problem.

Then he put them aside and said I needed a pharmacist consult for the new prescription. This was it.

There is a little private booth for the consults and I waited there a moment. Them she came by, smiled and took a look at my prescriptions. "Is this for you?"
"Yes"
"Why are you getting estrogen, are you...."
I smiled "Yes, I'm transgender"
She smiled again and then went over the whole procedure for applying the patches.
"I've never given a man a consult for this before, Good Luck"
"Thank You"

That went very well I think.

[CharleneT]

Wonderful ! That Pharmacist showed professionalism and honesty, a good combo. I've had good reactions from those I have dealt with since I started on HRT. The first time I went to pick up my meds, it was from a Pharmacist who I have done biz with for 20 years. He knows me well ( I was on a regular heart med, was there every month...). Anyway, Hal was just smiling and wished me luck. There is a lot of good, quiet, support out there ;)

It is also good to hear that they have a booth for consults. At our local CVS (originally an Osco's, their design), the consult area is just a counter, right next to where you pick up your meds. There is no privacy at all if someone is in the pickup line.

[christinac]

It is always nice to have a professional be considerate towards you. I can't stand those type that act like they can talk down on you like a piece of garbage or something because they have some kind of stupid college degree.

[Jessinthesprings]

It is also good to hear that they have a booth for consults. At our local CVS (originally an Osco's, their design), the consult area is just a counter, right next to where you pick up your meds. There is no privacy at all if someone is in the pickup line.

Wal-Mart is the same way. I played it off as I was picking them up for someone else because of this. I feel silly because of that now, but what is done is done, and is not an issue anymore.

Stacey glad you have a great pharmisist. It's good to have that little support.

[JohnH]

Walmart has just a counter too, as cheap as they are.

Johanna

[Melody Moore]

"Why are you getting estrogen, are you...."
I smiled "Yes, I'm transgender"
She smiled again and then went over the whole procedure for applying the patches.
"I've never given a man a consult for this before, Good Luck"


I know that the pharmacist was helpful, however my only comment is the lack of sensitivity to the fact that you are a
transgendered woman, NOT a man. And personally I would have pulled her up very respectfully on this regardless if it
was her first time or not and explained to her why she should use the proper pronouns with a transgendered client.

If others overheard that very disrespectful type of comment it might have become deeply embarrassing for you.

[BreenaDion]

I go to CVS for all my presciptions an they never have me consult with a pharmist before. They ask me my address and if I have any questions for the pharmist. They also have a private booth where you can ask questions, thank god I didnt have to what u did. Been getting my HRT there for 15 months an there is one girl who knows me by heart cuz she always waits on me, never a problem an very discrete. Guess its nice to go somewhere that they know ur name, but its like they know ur business also . Small price to pay I suppose.
Breena.

[StaceyJane]

I know that the pharmacist was helpful, however my only comment is the lack of sensitivity to the fact that you are a
transgendered woman, NOT a man. And personally I would have pulled her up very respectfully on this regardless if it
was her first time or not and explained to her why she should use the proper pronouns with a transgendered client.

If others overheard that very disrespectful type of comment it might have become deeply embarrassing for you.

It didn't bother me at all. She didn't mean anything disrespectful and she didn't know the politically correct terms to use.

[noeleena]

Hi.

This woman Pharmacist was in fact right she said i have not given a man this scrip before. & she would not have been told any different . We
have to be a bit wise before we jump on other people because they may not know the person before hand .as was the case here,

She was very senitive in her handiling of the situistion . good for you Stacey.

We may have all the terms down pat does every one else . no, you know the saying think as they do first, & did we know all the meanings of what we now know. ......

...noeleena...

[Melody Moore]

This woman Pharmacist was in fact right she said i have not given a man this scrip before. & she would not have been told any different . We
have to be a bit wise before we jump on other people because they may not know the person before hand .as was the case here,

She was very senitive in her handiling of the situistion .

I still strongly disagree, I don't think the pharmacist showed much sensitivity or common-sense at all.
And this is the exact reason why I volunteered for public & community education for transgender support.
So I am now in the business of educating people just like this pharmacist who might have to deal with
transgendered clients into the do's & don'ts of dealing with people like us. Even my employment agency
has asked me to conduct a training seminar for their staff, however I provided them with copies of this
booklet called Supporting transgender and sistergirl clients (http://www.atsaq.com/files/Supporting%20Transgender%20and%20Sistergirl%20Web% 20verision.pdf) which is all about providing respectful
and inclusive services to transgender and sistergirl clients. I have been given a large number of these
booklets by QAHC for distribution in my local community and it states the following on page 11:

Appearances and names

All staff should refer to trans people in terms appropriate to their
presenting gender, regardless of their surgical status or bodily state.

It is extremely offensive to use pronouns that refer to the birth sex of a trans person.

For example, never use:
• He or his for trans women; always use she or her
• She or her for trans men; always use he or his

It is important that all staff and all client records refer to trans clients by their preferred name.

Notes on the client’s file should instruct staff on the appropriate name to
address trans clients, regardless of whether the client’s name has been legally
changed, or if their original name is still present on various documentation.

If you are not sure how to address a trans person, simply ask, for example;
“Please excuse me, how would you like me to address you?”

Never assume that someone who appears to be crossdressing is a crossdresser.
Someone who appears to be crossdressing may or may not be living on a full
time basis in their presenting gender, or they may intend to do so in the future.

Sorry but I make no apologies for being the hard-arsed bitch I am ;) but if someone cannot show that amount of
respect & common sense, then the bottom-line is they are going to learn from a very respectfully delivered lesson so
they don't repeat the same mistake & maybe offend anyone else. I am trying to make a difference in my community.

This next question isn't directed at you personally Noeleena, its just a general question for the community...

So what are you doing to help promote better transgender education & awareness?

[Deborah_UK]

I know that the pharmacist was helpful, however my only comment is the lack of sensitivity to the fact that you are a
transgendered woman, NOT a man. And personally I would have pulled her up very respectfully on this regardless if it
was her first time or not and explained to her why she should use the proper pronouns with a transgendered client.

If others overheard that very disrespectful type of comment it might have become deeply embarrassing for you.

I guess it all depends on how Stacey presented herself at the pharmacy, I'm not sure but I think I recall Stacey saying she was not F/T, so she may still have been presenting as male, and from those signals it may have been an automatic reflex reaction by the pharmacist to see what she saw physically in front of her.

However, if Stacey was presenting as female, then yes the pharmacist was bang out of order.

Before one goes off on one, surely its best to get as many pertinent facts as possible?

[Melody Moore]

However, if Stacey was presenting as female, then yes the pharmacist was bang out of order.

Before one goes off on one, surely its best to get as many pertinent facts as possible?

I understand, but common-sense tells me if I was giving female hormones to someone who was presenting to
me as a man, then I would know there is a very high probability that person is transgendered. Then I would
simply ask the most logical & respectful question “Please excuse me, how would you like me to address you?”.

Geez are people especially a pharmacist, who should understand what these
medications are used for really that stupid & insensitive not to figure this out?

[StaceyJane]

Yes, I'm not full time and I wasn't presenting as a woman. The prescription was in my male name.

To be honest I'm never really completly male anymore but I did look look more male than female at the time.

[Bethany38]

I think it is wonderful that everything went o.k. for you.