Do Doctors Care if you are a Cross Dresser?

[Alice B]

The subject often comes up about what your doctor or other medical professional will say if they see your painted toe nails, etc. The answer is always - they don't care. I want to confirm that based upon events Friday and today. I, by my own stupidity, tore off the skin on the bottom of my left big toe. Since I'm on Plavex I could not get the bleeding stop and had to go to urgent care. With painted toe nails. The examining doctor said not to worry about it and the nurse that had to bandage my foot loved them and wanted to know what brand and color, so she could get it. Today I had to see my regular doctor and the same result from him and the nurse that rewrapped my foot. Also wanting to know the color and brand. So painted nails and panties are nothing to worry about. No excuses needed.

[Lorileah]

Alice, thanks for the reinforcement once again. Similar thing happened to me years ago. I was bitten by a dog badly enough to need stitches, went to ER and they noted I had not had my tetanus vaccine and told me I would need it. I asked if they gave it in the arm and they replied, nope..rear end. I told the nurse "Ok but I have lace on so you won't be shocked" she left to get the vaccine and came back with 4 others....I didn't know you needed that many to give a tetanus shot.

[kym]

lol Lorileah, my doc normally just smiles without saying a word and leaves the room then sends in his x-ray tech/phlebotomist, who happens to be an old highschool friend of mine, to draw some blood or get pics taken of whatever I have broken this time.

[Melissa Jill]

They're professionals who probably have training in this kind of thing.

[Stephanie Anne]

Seeing how my doctor is the one monitoring my transition and prescribed me my hormones, I would say she does not care if I cross dress either way. Thankfully I am not into crossdressing so no need for her to see me in a suit and tie.

[Babette]

It's probably wrong to generalize about doctors and other medical professionals just like any other subset of people. They may not say anything, but there has to be some out there who do not like it or may be uncomfortable with it. I have never experienced any problems with my doctor. If I had, I would be looking for his replacement. You would have a hard time convincing me that some medical professionals don't get together afterward and say, "Wow, did you see that?"

Babette

[tamarav]

[SIZE=4]Medical staff are just like any other people, they are entitled to have their opinions. However, their medical ethics prevent them from passing judgement on people in general. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Babette is right, they do get together and talk, just like other humans. After working in medical centers for over 30 years I think I have heard just about every story around. A mere crossdressed person is not an oddity. The guy walking into the emergency room with a knife stuck in his chest is.[/SIZE]

[Lena Teegal]

The same as any other group of people, some will, some won't

[Cassandra Lynn]

The same as any other group of people, some will, some won't

Hate to be a killjoy here, but i agree with Lena. Professionalism will only go so far with some folks, doctor or not, and while you most likely won't get any verbal comments of the judgemental variety, you'll know regardless. Was seeing a surgeon to schedule my umbilical hernia surgery last march. The doctor and me were chatting away about fishing as he asked me to take my pants down to past my knees and hold my shirt up. He had rolled his chair to a cabinet for the rubber gloves and as he rolled back over he stopped in mid sentence, took a long gaze and hesitated in putting the gloves on.

I prolly wasn't his first totally shaven male, but the itty bitty bikini tan lines must have been new for him. The chatter and easy going conversation went away as well for the remainder of the exam.

I wasn't bothered in the least, mind you, at least not untill i read the pre-sugery instructions and realized the salon done pedicure and the little flowers on the toes had to go bye-bye. Ughh!

Cassie

[sandra-leigh]

I have heard that the story becomes different when someone goes on HRT or GRS. The extent to which I was given to understand it occurs could only be explained by prejudice, but I was also told that doctors do not have experience in dealing with HRT and GRS and so are reluctant to accept transgendered people as patients because they are not comfortable that they will be able to handle the medical complications.

[Kiera79]

Hell no. They don't get paid to care about you. They only know they are getting a portion of that 350$ bill you gonna receive.

[melissacd]

I told my doctor, who knew myself and my ex, that a large reason for the breakup with my ex was due to my cross dressing and I also asked if he could refer me for further gender counseling. He was very cool about all of it.

[Cynthia Anne]

I had one doctor that said, we did not know that you were gay, perhaps we should check you for aids? I said did not know I was either? What in sam hill makes you think I'm gay? To keep this clean I will stop there! I did let him know that if he sent me a bill I would see him in court! Needless to say I never went back and never got a bill!

[Cari]

If it affects the diagnosis then it becomes an issue; my family doc knows and will explain why she is asking.
Sometimes with specialists its more of an issue but the Family doc preps me.

I had several docs ask about my legs and why I shaved them , tiurns out all they wanted to know was did I shave them because the hair was falling out anyways which would be a side affect of the drugs and another symptom. So I spilled the beans for nothing I could have just said I prefer it that way and my hair is healthy and fine.

Same can be said for nail beds that have been torn up by wearing acrylics or tinted from polish.

In some cases its better to tell them, than have them assume something completely off base. I dont go telling them all but am glad at least one knows and can answer my questions.

Everyone who has found out always cautioned against OTC hormones and supplements, saying they needed to know and could prescribe around it. But that is more like a stop smoking and lose weight comment.

[Amy Lynn3]

Same as Lorileah....went for a sinus infection, but only got to see a PA, which was a beautiful young blonde. She said I must give you a shot, along with meds. I gave her my arm and she said... no..it must go in your butt. Well, I pull down my pants, along with my Shadowline panties. She never said a word until a few days ago I was in there for other reasons and saw her talking to a nurse that is a family friend. They were laughing and I turned away to pay my copay. A few moments later the nurse tapped me on the back to say hello. I left the office wondering if the PA told the nurse about me, because my nurse friend always in the past required me to hug her hello, until after the PA talked to her and they were laughing. I don't care if she did tell my friend, but so much for keeping silent about what a patient wears.

[gwenbeth]

The other day as part of my physical I had an EKG and as the nurse was pulling off all the electrode tabs, she did comment that it was a good thing that I didn't have any hair to get pulled out. But that was the extent that they seemed to care.

[Jamie001]

Why would doctors care if you crossdress since it is not illegal? Doctors especially in ER's deal with folks using illegal drugs and and that are victims of violent crimes. Why would they care what you are wearing?

[eluuzion]

Unless they specialize in the mental health side of health care...no. If it is not directly affecting your health, your physician is mentally filtering irrelevant information out. Pay close attention to your physician's eyes next time you have an appointment. You can see the cognitive screening going on. They are very disciplined in their questioning. A critical part of their ability to help you depends on how well they "hear" the health related "cues" and filter out the insignificant details.

Personal lifestyles are only important if they have potential to impact your health.

Now, take these two to Aspen and call me in the morning...

[Tanya C]

Most doctors I know are so unbelievably busy that it seems unlikely they would wish to gratuitously take on the task of accertaining why a man would paint his nails or shave is legs.
At most, they may pass the buck and write a referral.

[Rianna Humble]

I turned away to pay my copay. A few moments later the nurse tapped me on the back to say hello. I left the office wondering if the PA told the nurse about me, because my nurse friend always in the past required me to hug her hello

And you don't think that the fact that you saw her and turned away could have anything to do with the change in the way she greeted you? If I had been that nurse, I would have been hurt by you turning away.

[Kate Lynn]

My doctor called me a creep and walked out of the room,I was wearing bootcut jeans,oxfords,and a pocket tee,it didn't look femme at all.

[Jess Marie]

I just turned 18 a few months ago, so all my life I had my pediatrician. He has watched me grow up my whole life, treated me for almost everything except a broken bone or two. I went in for my last physical for sports and I was wearing a thong with a little lace and a bow. As previously mentioned by MsMjSerene, he rolled over to his cabinet area and grabbed latex gloves. He came over and as always my pants went to my knees and shirt held up. He saw my pants drop when I undid my zipper (my pockets were weighted down with my phone, wallet, ipod, etc.) and I accidently let go. There I was, standing in a thong, as he turns around. He looked down, then up, then down again and continued on as if nothing was different. Conversation continued on like normal. At the end of the appointment he said, "I'm glad to have been your doctor, I'm proud of what you've accomplished with your life, I'm glad that you are comfortable with you CDing, I noticed last time you were here, and I wish you the best of luck in the future, Stick to your goals and I know you'll be successful with everything you want to accomplish"

[PretzelGirl]

I feel doctors are just like anyone else. There are some that will not care and treat you right, some that care but maintain professionalism, and some that give themselves away. But your health is important enough for you to either out yourself at some point or find one you are more comfortable with.

I actually didn't tell my GP until a few months ago. All I had before was joint injuries (tennis elbow, arthritis, etc), so it wasn't likely dressing came in the equation unless you thing I should do my bra up in front instead of in back. But I did have a marginal area come up so I just told him so nothing was held back. Now I had decided long ago that this was a great doctor and I wouldn't have a problem and it did go quite well. He asked some questions which was a very good set to assess where I was at and it wasn't a big deal at all. So I can understand someone holding back if it isn't relevant, but don't hold back if it can come into play in a diagnosis.

[mywifeswoman]

Seeing how my doctor is the one monitoring my transition and prescribed me my hormones, I would say she does not care if I cross dress either way. Thankfully I am not into crossdressing so no need for her to see me in a suit and tie.

LOL!!! Lemme see....how's that saying go?? hmmm, yup, here it is...DAMMIT GURL!!

[juno]

When going to the doctor, I always put on fresh toenail polish and do a fresh shave. I just assume that medical professionals see enough naked people to know there is more diversity than the average person knows. They need to be aware of diversity to do their job.