Initial doctor visit.

[Anonymous]

From what I have experienced, seen and heard it is a mixed bag.
Some say you should present as the gender you aspire to in order to show an attempt to be who you are. I know of a few who have done this and have still been given the harsh third degree by their psychiatrists. Even living full time as a female for months and being on full hormones did not save me from the harsh line of questioning in Melbourne at my first surgical consult. They are known by many as the Gestapo down there.
Then I have heard of others who have been put straight onto androgen blockers at their first consult and have presented as male for quite some time before even trying to ‘dress’.
There is one line of assessment that a person needs to present as their target gender for three months before being assessed as ready for any hormones. This three months is then included as part of your real life experience by some assessors.
My psychologist stated at the time I presented that she goes by what she sees. She also asked me what female name I went by.
On my first visit to my psychiatrist he put me on hormones straight away. He then gave me my letter of confirmation that I should be regarded as a female permanently. With that letter I felt quite at ease dressing as a female permanently from that time on.
I think it is best to present as though you are making an attempt at your target gender.
I think it would be a good idea to read what others have been put through when they presented for the first time. Some of those psychiatrists can be quite harsh.
As for your Medicare and other identity makers it is unlikely that you will get anywhere with that before your doctor gives you the letter I previously mentioned. Of course you can always change your name with birth, death, and marriages whenever it suits you as long as you met their criteria.

[Anonymous]

Hi Erika,

Cheers, thanks for the reply

I’ve read online and also with personnal contact ‘conflicting’ experiences – as in ‘presenting in (tic) pink frilly dress, hips bouncing the walls whilst walking’ – to your example of people not ‘presenting’ initially – for me I’m in the middle ground, I already go out/look as the ‘gender’ I wish to express – but I’m a jeans and tshirt not a frilly dress style

From your response and some personal emails – my initial inquiry was too seeing a doctor for referral to psychologist/psychiatrist – and that was reflecting the question of whom do you book in as ‘*+^#’ or Jo..

But thank you very much, for clearing up a few concerns there.. I’ve booked into the Brunswick Med Centre in Fort/Valley next week for that initial – even though I’m ‘presenting’ now and told family etc meeting of the medical kind

Thanks again,

Jo..

[Anonymous]

I have not yet got to the stage where I am ready to tell my Doctor about Connie, although during my last visit to my G.P., I found myself turning up wearing nail polish. I forgot to take it off! There was no reaction from either the Doctor or the receptionist.
I should imagine that when the time comes to tell him, he would probably suggest that I make an appointment in my Femme name, and appear fully dressed. That way he would be able to judge for himself if I was genuine.
In fact, my Doctor has recently left the practice and gone to the southern suburbs, and I now have the opportunity to have a lady Doctor in his place. This might be a blessing in disguise. I may just take up the offer.
I’ll keep you posted as to the outcome.

Hugs,
Connie.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses here n via email..

But my initial and intended question was – when (I hate apostrophise this) ‘present’ to a medical practitioner for the first time – do you book in under your chosen name or birth name.

It wasnt directed at if you forgot nail polish etc.. And my ‘perceived’ assumption of having to (ugh) ‘present’ in your perceived gender to gain ‘credibility’ with said medical practitioner is from maybe misinformed information from numerous websites and personnal assumptions.

I currently ‘present’ to public either all laquered and painted or dull and boring as I’m comfortable in my appearance be it ‘prepped up’ or ‘I need milk – sans ugh boots, trackies and hair diss arrayed’

My question was – on first approach/contact with a medical practitioner/doctor should you book in under Joseph or Joanne (disclaimer my ‘name isn’t Joseph) but thank you all for your insights.

Regards,

Jo..

[Anonymous]

Legally, you need/ have to go via your legal name on your Medicare card.

However, if you are going to Brunswick then the receptionists there will understand. So tell them your female name and ask to be addressed by that name. I know the doctor to whom you are referring. You won’t have any problems with her, but she loves to have TOTAL control over your hormones. I left her because of that and never went back. However she is a very nice person and highly regarded.

However the psychiatrist she will send you to is another matter. Two persons I know who saw that particular psychiatrist that this GP referred them to was a real put off for them initially. One of them described her as a witch. With the psychiatrist that this GP refers you to go as a woman. With that psychiatrist expect to be offended.
Transitioning in SEQ is not the best option as they tend to follow the Monash model of care which I regard as oppressive. If you can afford to, move to Cairns where the medical support is great, the hormone levels are kept at a decent adequate level, and going to Thailand is the norm for surgery. Up in Cairns the doctors are there to support you, to give you control over your health and help you select your options in order to meet your health goals. That is what health care is suppose to be about as I have learnt in my various nursing courses. Here in SEQ health care seems to be about Doctors controlling your options, not giving you all the information you need to know and thus dictating your health outcomes and quality of life. I found that transitioning in SEQ, like Melbourne, was an oppressive medical experience, (as far as transgender specialists are concerned).
My transition to SRS took 15 months,(not including the 4 months spent with the psychologist). That’s because I was not ambivalent about my goals. Legal name changes and Passport took 4 months.

[bee]

Transitioning and Heath Professionals
Joanne:

I can tell you of my experience and you can make your own choice.

I also started with the Brunswick Medical Center. I used my female name when making the reservation and attended all sessions as female. Dress was day casual and NOT clubbing outfits. As at that time Medicare card (there is no title on the card by the way) was in my previous name, I just told the Doctor and the counter staff that I would like my female name to be used.

I saw Fiona Bissop there and I was very happy with the services I received, friendly and understanding and very professional.

I asked for referrals to an ENDO and a Psych and received those on my first visit. All 3 of these health professional were informed by each other of my progress.

The Psych I saw was Helen Hoey and the sessions over 2 years went smoothly and there were no issues.

I have hard of others attending health professionals in attire not their inner gender and have heard stories that they believed their progress was slow was because of that.

Perhaps that is somewhat understandable as the health professionals have no visual clue to the clients ‘dedication’ or commitment I guess. The Psych really all wants to know if the client can survive – ie employment and in society in general in their new gender. Changing name, wearing attire of your gender all help with this perhaps. What they wish to avoid is the client being alone, full of regret, jobless and isolated from society.

The name thingy is a pain and my advice would be to change that as soon as you can. Once you have the change of name certificate Medicare card name can be changed, and now if you receive documentation from a Health Professional you can also have your registered gender changed with all Federal Govt Departments. QLD Drivers license (one of the few that still record sex on the card) can be changed with a letter from the Psych.

http://atsaq.com can help if you have other questions about other administrative things (centerlink etc)

I was happy with the services I received from all the health professionals here in the Brisbane area. Do keep in mind that they are there to assist you with everything and that you are a client. If you can, be clear with your goals and have a positive attitude, I suggest. Being confrontational, or not having respect for the health professionals may not help your progress.

[Carol]

Here is my experience for comparison. At my first visit to my counsellor at the Gender Centre I booked in as Carol was addressed as Carol by everyone there. It’s a free service so there was no need to show a card. I went to my first session dressed as a bloke but after that I dressed as Carol.
I booked in to the gender friendly GP that the counsellor recommended using my male name because that is on my medi-bank private, medi-care and mastercard cards. Ditto for the Psych he referred me to. All visits to these people have been as a bloke but that will change to Carol for future visits to the GP starting on Friday. I’ve only been to the Psych the once. I discussed my presentation with each professional each said “whatever you are comfortable with” and that it would not affect their advice to me. All have been particularly helpful in smoothing my passage. I’m not full-time carol yet and sometimes switching modes is tricky. But I’m slowly increasing my proportion of time as Carol and as a measure of helpfulness it only took one Psych and 2 GP visits to get me on hormones A-A and E.
I think the main thing the professionals want from their patient is honesty.

[Anonymous]

Personally I found that the leadership of Atsaq had very limited and confused knowledge of what is available to those who are transitioning in the 21sth century. Please keep in mind that their leadership went to Melbourne for their SRS, one of whom transitioned many years ago when options were extremely limited. I found out more information about my options outside of their area of influence. If I had followed their advice I would have ended up having my SRS in Melbourne which would have been very disappointing. Consequently I have left their organization as there is better information to be had elsewhere.
However I note their tireless work for the transgender community.

Moderator

Quote:

This post is completely off topic. Can members understand that when someone posts a question in seeking help and advice the correct thing is to answer their question. Venting feelings about an unrelated organisation here detracts from attempts to provide a focused and valuable help to others. As this thread is wandering repeatedly away from topic I have rated this post as POOR.

Can any other posters please stick to the question

Quote:

I’m also thinking legal requirements (maybe) to using Medicare card and private health card with ‘Mr *+#*’ on them – so question is – when booking in do you have too book under your birth name or you chosen name?

Amanda

[Anonymous]

I think Joanne you are better to seek answers to your question from a broader scope rather than just one narrow support group. This website is an appropriate and excellent source of information where the broader trans community have had a variety of experiences as you have seen from the responses thus far. How you present is up to you and your particular issues are your issues, the time taken transition is up to you. Trying to base your response to your Drs from the experience of others will lead you to repeat their transition not yours. Everyone’s journey is different and what you pack (your baggage), and how you present is how your Doctor will respond to you.
As for work, isolation, employment as Bambi has mentioned, it was never mentioned to me, nor should it be. The treatment for any illness or condition is dependant on what is needed for your recovery. We as nurses nor do Doctors as far as I have seen, don’t discriminate on the basis of our patient’s psycho, socio, economic, political, or religious beliefs. Treatment is treatment regardless.

Moderator

Quote:

I’ve locked this thread as many people, including Erika, seem to have no interest in answering the original question in their recent posts.

Quote:

I’m also thinking legal requirements (maybe) to using Medicare card and private health card with ‘Mr *+#*’ on them – so question is – when booking in do you have too book under your birth name or you chosen name?