[quote=“Faulknj1, post:19, topic:281488”]
As I sat there in the waiting room each time, I saw a ton of cross gender (FtM, Mtf) patients filter in and out receiving treatment from the same doctor. In/out, no trips back into the lab area.
I’m guessing from a quick google search that the trans men and women you saw had already completed a lot of their “basic” tests etc, they need to see their primary doc, psychiatrists, surgeons, hormonal specialists, then I believe more psychiatrists, they may now be at the point that a quick visit is all that’s needed, hopefully where you’ll be at soon.
From another quick google search I think you are much more likely to be considered “wrong and dangerous” if you are trans. Didn’t look at the stats between trans people and men with low t being attacked or killed but I’m guessing they’re quite different.
**Sorry please see my post below
** @Faulknj1
I hope my post doesn’t come across as dismissive of your point as I didn’t read your post as against trans people being trans, rather as against perceived differences in care when budgets are obviously tight and we often have to be vocal to get what we should get without any issues.
When I see someone gets expensive medical treatment while I have to wait or go private (Im in the UK) rather than wonder why they get it and I cant, I feel glad that people are getting the help they need and hopefully I will too soon.
@Faulknj1
Im really sorry I just read that part of my post back and it comes across totally wrong as I misunderstood what you wrote. Rather than edit and delete it I’ll leave my stupidity up and hope you can accept my apology.
So, I work in a sector that is very diverse in nature. Many different job functions, ages, social groups, and levels of education.
Over the past 9 years I have known closely, several people that have had gender transition treatments.
One coworker was closer and we talked about every single thing you can imagine and the process she (now he) had to go through to get test treatment.
One psych appointment for a diagnosis. Making an appointment with an endocrinologist and getting bloodwork prior to appointment. First appointment rx’d testosterone therapy regimen.
Regular labs and gyno appointments but that fast.
My location is a mandatory coverage for trans treatments. From inception to cosmetic procedures like reshaping the adams apple, facial mods, you name it they’ll cover it.
If you don’t have or lose insurance the entire process is covered, all of it.
The docs receive mandatory training, they are constantly receiving treatment care updates, and its become the hot topic. At least thats the general status around here. Just like everything else, negative experiences and treatments do occur.
I am not downplaying the challenges that trans face, there are drawbacks. And I am not speaking about the world/area as a whole, just my immediate location.
Its ironic.
Yeah man, going to a legitimate doctor first was the best decision I ever made because it legitimized my condition for insurance purposes. Clinics can be awesome but they usually cost way more. I’m taking the exact same dosages as I did at the clinics but now through a board certified urologist who is a worlds smarter than the doctors at both clinics I went to. It’s just about finding the right doctor - if you go to a urologist you don’t like, then just see another one and someone is bound to work with you. I have top level care now, and can literally PM my doc if I have any issues and he responds within hours. I was dealing with “patient care coordinators” at the clinics who would take forever to ship medicine and it was absurdly expensive to see a real doctor (who wasn’t even an endo or urologist, and sometimes just a PA). Now, I only need to get bloodwork when it’s warranted and insurance pays for that too. Plus, I can get Pregnyl HCG at my local pharmacy with ease which is tough to get now at a clinic.
Nothing wrong with clinics if you can find a good one and can afford it, but to me it’s just so much more of hassle and I can’t afford it. The one I went to made me feel like a customer instead of a patient and would literally call my phone at work and invoice me to get me to refill prematurely. One time a guy texted my phone about a testosterone refill (Cameron Collins at Evolve) and it popped up on my iMessage in front of people I was working with. Incredible unprofessional and I quit the clinic right after. Remember, these people have incentive to sell. Not sure why more guys don’t just go to a urologist if they have legitimate hypogonadism (T < 300 ng/dl) because insurance covers it. Maybe they’ve just had bad luck with traditional docs which is understandable. I think a lot of clinics cater to guys that just want to be on test but don’t actually need it. I’m fully open to anyone optimizing their hormones if it improves their quality of life. That’s your right as its your body as far as I’m concerned. Just my two cents after having been down this road for a few years at a young age. Best of luck brother.