Getting a primary care physician who deals with TG/TS patients

[Ceera]

I'll be taking a major step soon. Getting connected with and examined by a primary care physician who deals with TG/TS patients.

I took a smaller step recently, in selecting a new optician, and opted to do the eye exam and all the rest as a woman, while getting my new glasses. They accepted me at face value as a woman, which was wonderful! But for the care I get from them, my gender really isn't a factor, aside from which side of the displays I select my eyeglasses frames from. Their paperwork didn't even have a place for me to indicate my gender. I used my real name with them, since that is what is on my insurance cards and credit cards. But I have a unisex given name, so they had no reason to question my gender based on my name.

For my new primary care physician, I have a referral, from the local TG support group, for a nice doctor who already has several TG patients and knows how to deal with them. He has the connections to refer me to therapists and, if I go that route, to specialists for HRT and the rest. He is in my new home town, and fairly conveniently located. His practice takes my insurance, and he is accepting new patients. I have his number. I just need to make that call...

None of my prior doctors knew about me being TG or Bi. I've only come to accept and acknowledge being TG myself in the last two years, and have spent most of my life repressing any bi feelings. It took the deaths of both of my parents and my GG wife to make me feel free enough of constraints on my actions to accept myself fully, and come out to my daughter. My daughter and I just moved halfway across the country, to a new town and making a fresh start, and I need to declare a primary care doctor for my insurance. So honestly, I couldn't think of a better time to select one that I can open up to about being TG.

I've taken some steps at feminization, beyond merely cross dressing and going out in public as a woman for most of my social time. My ears are pierced now. I have acrylic nails, so my nails are girly 24x7. I keep my face and body shaved smooth. I've learned to do a passable female voice.

So far, it seems I could be happy spending just part of my life en-femme, and part as a male. I am not sure I would ever commit to full SRS - in fact, I am pretty sure I won't ever go that far. I know I enjoy spending at least part of my life as a woman. But I don't have the dysphoria issues many TS individuals face. I don't hate being male, nor do I seek (at this time) to fully transition to female. It's more a case of acknowledging that I have both feminine and masculine aspects within me, and that both need to be expressed. Therapy would probably be a very good idea for me, to establish what my true needs and goals are. I'm seriously considering laser and/or electrolysis treatments to eliminate my facial hair and body hair for good. Part of me wants top surgery, and part of me is afraid to go that far, as that would pretty much commit me to living full-time as a woman, with no turning back.

I've been sitting on this information about the new doctor for a couple of weeks, afraid to act on it. Afraid to sign up with that doctor and open up to him about what I am.

I have his number. I just need to make that call...

[EDIT] Well, the call has been made. I actually went to their office in person today, and set up an appointment for next Tuesday.

[looking_good]

You and I both live in a very, very accepting place. It seems that each small step we take is an affirmation of who we are - and is liberating.

Peace be with you on this path we are all on.

[Ceera]

I'm a little anxious right now. Two and a half hours until my appointment. I'll be going as a male for the first visit, and likely as a female for the next one, so my new doctor can evaluate 'both sides of me'. Sticking with male this first time, as he will be getting my baseline medical stats recorded.

I sat down this last week and made some notes about my personal history, trying to put together a coherent time line of the events that affected my health or that may have affected or been part of my being where i am now on the TG spectrum. I've even printed off pictures. Of me the day I shaved off my beard. Of me the first night I went out en-femme. My first mall and restaurant outings. First time in a bikini. First time in a bikini in public. How I look now when en-femme. They really show how much I have progressed in the last two years.

- - - Updated - - -

Back now after seeing both my new doctor and a therapist.

I talked extensively to both of them, and showed them pictures of my progress over the past two years in expressing myself as Ceera. Both agreed that the girl side of my personality is very real. Both agreed I seem comfortable with living and interacting as a woman, even though I don't do it full time.

If I want HRT or if I want to do a full or partial transition to female, they would approve it. But they also agreed with my assessment that I still want to present male about half of the time, and that this makes HRT or BA or SRS unlikely at this time. Even just doing the HRT would make it too difficult for me to continue presenting as male.

What they will do is get me more therapy, to better understand my options and desired course. I'll get more info on the impacts of HRT, so I can make a well informed decision.

I will probably proceed with electrolysis to remove my facial hair and body hair, and they will see if they can get my insurance to cover all or part of that procedure.

They will also find out of my insurance can cover wigs. It seems it might!