First of I need to say, I started my HRT and transition five years ago and the last time that I’ve felt any aspect of my dysphoria was almost three years ago... I was doing extremely well... A couple of weeks ago the clinic I use swapped doctors, and my new doctor... UGH!!!
First off she refused to listen... My T-levels were INSANELY high when I started, one of the reasons why I used to be a massive 265lb bald behemoth with a big goatee... I’ve had to take a LOT of spiro to counter the testosterone that I had, and while it was still higher than most (at least those who are transitioning) it was manageable... I even started getting a lot of new regrowth on my head in places that hadn’t seen hair in over a decade...
When she checked me she commented on my blood pressure being low, which it has always been borderline normal/low since I was a teenage... It was still in MY normal range when she tested it, I was informed that I was wrong and it was a result of the spiro I’m taking... Secondly she told me I need testosterone in my life so I can have a sex drive, I told her no I don’t need one and its not a good idea... Once again she told me I was wrong and it’s healthier to have a sex drive...
She cut my blocker dose my HALF... Told me that we will counter it with increasing my estrogen... I’m like okay... To play it safe though she wont increase my E till my next appointment... In NOVEMBER!!!
I started getting the random sponatious responses from down below just over 10 days ago... Each time it triggers my dysphoria once again... Which has kicked my anxiety back into overdrive... My anxiety causes me to get nauseous and I struggle to keep down food... I’ve lost 7 lbs in the last 9 days... I tried to call the clinic to let them know what’s going on... The doctors response was if my gender dysphoria is causing anxiety that I need to go to a therapist...
My GD and anxiety was why I went to my GT and got started on my HRT... Now I’m supposed to go back?
I’m sorry... I’m so beyond frustrated and angry right now... I just want to scream at the top of my lungs...
Sorry for my rant... :-(
Becca Cross.
Comments
I am sorry to hear that,
Rebecca. I can only advise you to take it as a challenge. I do not know what the situation is with legal and medical stuff where you are. Here in Europe we can freely choose our doctors. If that is the case, too, where you are, I advise that you go back immediately and advise them of the fact, that you are going to sew them for malpractice and will change the doctor immediately, if they go on like they do.
A simple Quack, even if s/he is an endocrinologist, is not qualified at all to judge, whether it is healthy or not for you to have a sex drive. Tell her that in no uncertain terms, hun.
If that path is not open to you, there is a website I can PM you here in Europe, where you will find what you need, if you talk to the lady called Stephanie, who is post op m2f transgender herself. They have a Swiss endocrinologist in their service, but you'll have to pay for it.
If you need a shoulder to cry on, I am here.
Love,
Monique.
Monique S
Sorry you are going through
Sorry you are going through this. In my 40 years I have never had decent medical care in the south. Mississippi being the worst. Atlanta has good ones and was where I finally found out what was going on with me.
You might have to go out of state and self pay to get a decent doctor. If you have the money go for an orchidectomy.
Good luck getting the care you need.
Did she even look at your previous records?
Cause that sounds like she hasn't read your records at all
if I were you, I'd call (well, I'd go in person, hate phones) the clinic back and complain that she has:
A: messed with your prescriptions without any apparent consideration of your actual medical history, to the extent that it has clearly and directly had a reduction in effectiveness of the treatment
B: was making weird and inappropriate comments on your sex life (which is what that stuff about Sex Drive is well on the way towards)
C: used her opinions on your sex life as a justification to modify your prescription to deliberately cause the previously stated drop in effectiveness
aiming for a clinical/legalese tone rather than an emotional one
(and maybe start looking at a lawyer and the possibility of reporting it higher up)
I agree in part with Monique's assessment,
The only major difference being that Rebecca may not have had a choice at the time that the new doctor was assigned.
HOWEVER, Rebecca should be able to have a doctor for her treatment that is willing to actually listen to her. The one she's presently seeing isn't interested in doing that, but rather in doing whatever she thinks is appropriate, even when it is against Rebecca's previous treatment plan.
I don't see anything in Rebecca's post that shows that the previous doctor had any issue with her medical status and treatment.
Rebecca, call the clinic, ask to speak to the medical supervisor. If they aren't immediately available, have them call you back.
Once you have that supervisor, please give them every bit of information you can remember about your treatment prior to this new doctor being assigned your case. Be direct in stating that the previous doctor saw no reason to mess around with something that was working just fine.
Then inform the supervisor as to what the new doctor has done, without YOUR approval, and that it is seriously affecting your physical and mental health, to the point of severe nausea, difficulty keeping food down and a VERY rapid and abnormal weight loss, plus severe anxiety.
Inform the supervisor that NONE of these issues were present before the new doctor started playing games, then demand a change of doctor.
If you are denied access to a medical supervisor, or the supervisor refuses to help you, THEN sue for malpractice and malfeasance.
Edit to add: Hmmm, you did semi-approve it, but she was pushing you to do things that you didn't want. Still talk to the supervisor. Make it clear that the doctor was doing exactly that, pushing you into doing things that you honestly didn't want, and that you felt forced into doing so.
^^^ THIS ^^^
I so very much agree with what CPG has said here. Go over your currently assigned dotor's head and talk to their supervisor and tell them what is being done.
- Leona
^^^^Yup^^^^
Your life, your health, your decision.
sending you some hugs, hon
I hope you can get things straightened out. Huggles!
My Sister
My sister was a junior in college when she was diagnosed with diabetes. The disease eventually ravaged her body so that when she died she had lost a leg, had many heart surgeries, was on dialysis three times a week, had severe lung problems, had all but lost her vision, etc.
During her life, she found that she had to know a lot more about her condition than her medical caregivers, or they would have killed her on dozens of occasions.
I'm not issuing a blanket condemnation of the medical industry, simply bowing to a bell curve in that industry just like any other. About twenty percent are incompetent.
During my life, I've had considerable involvement in medical malpractice insurance. I can say without any shred of doubt that peer review only goes so far. I was involved in one case where a person was responsible for at least twenty-three deaths that we could prove.
On the other hand. My sister lived to be seventy-two when she initially was told she would not live past thirty. Obviously, she got some very wonderful care. I've had wonderful care.
Two weeks ago I got into a dispute with my cardiologist. I'm experiencing some memory issues. I requested by phone that he prescribe something other than Lipitor because studies have shown that about 2% of those taking Statins have memory loss attributed to the Statin and have regained their memory after they stopped taking the drug. He had his nurse tell me I was probably just growing old.
I put my concerns in writing to him, and he suddenly had a change of heart.
I would suggest that you put your concerns in writing to your *quack* doctor. Do not attack the doctor personally but make an honest assessment of what happen and what impact you feel it has on your health. Send a copy of the letter to the hospital business manager and, if you have an attorney, send a copy to her. Indicate on the letters who received copies.
Good luck. I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's quite possible your *doctor* is well-meaning. It is just as possible that she should not be within twenty miles of someone like you.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
I'm a Medical Bandit
Years ago, 2005, when I had just started Spiro, I looked at it online and found it is a Blood Pressure drug. It seemed flawed logic to me that I would take a drug to reduce a natural hormone, so I asked for a Castration. They threw a fit, saying I had Body Dysphoria. Not trusting them, I went out and found a Urologist that would Castrate me for $1000, cold hard cash. That negated the need for Spiro.
I did have a Doctor try to get me on Statins, but looking at the side effects, told them to piss off. The side effects are very negative.
You have to be militant and take charge of yourself.
spiro is also a
potassium sparing diuretic that affects potassium levels. It helps rid your body of fluids while not lowering your potassium levels and that is good if you have low levels but not if your potassium levels are high. To compound the dangers symptoms for high and low potassium levels are the same or so similar that without testing electrolytes levels you won't know what's causing the symptoms and an electrolyte imbalance will kill you.
A doctor who doesn't listen to their patient...
A doctor who doesn't listen to their patient is like a baker who refuses to use an oven... It's patently absurd and there better be a good reason. I'm guessing the physician didn't bother with reviewing your medical records. If you were referred by a therapist for a course of treatment and your previous physician determined a course of treatment, it's again patently absurd to modify the treatment without a good reason. If your health was threatened or the rationale posed by both the therapist and previous physician were faulty, then your current physician would be justified. There appears to be no relevant rationale to change the treatment. Your current physician is clearly acting against your wishes and against the recommendations of two other professionals. That's arrogance, not rational 'medical care' or even professional caution. You seriously need a new physician. I think physicians should challenge their patients and their patient's assumptions, but that's when diagnosing a condition or attempting to determine treatment options. This is like having a mechanic suggest switching to diesel fuel instead of unleaded...
Hope you seek a proper physician.
Hugs,
Leila