OK, I've never made a blog entry before, so here goes. I just have to get this out somewhere.

The good news is my wife and I have health insurance again.

The last time we had health insurance was January of 2004, well, that's not quite true, that was the last time I had health insurance. We had to cancel my wife's because we couldn't afford to cobra coverage for both of us. I broke my knee in June of 2003, by October we lost medical coverage though my job and since I was still disability (@ 70% of my income) we couldn't afford the nearly $ 500 to keep both of insured and I needed the coverage to continue with the follow up appointments.

Nuff said about that. The doctor we had was a woman with Kaiser. I didn't tell her about my transgendered nature, figuring that it was a non-issue. Well, she found out anyway. I had my gall bladder act up and needed it removed. After the surgery, I needed a doctor's release to return to work. So I made an appointment to see the doctor. I was wearing a light weight bra, mildly stuffed 24/7 then. (Now, I wear a heavier bra, more substantially stuffed 24/7.) The doctor started out asking how I felt in general, then how the healing was going. I smacked the flat of my hand against the incision and and told her I was fine.

Even thought the nurse had taken my blood pressure and pulse already the doctor took them again. Then pulling out the front of my baggy polo shirt, she stuck her stethoscope on my chest, narrowly missing my bra. (Dodged a bullet there, I thought.) Then she step around behind me and lifted my shirt up to my shoulders, hesitated only a breath, put the stethoscope to my back and said, "Breath deeply...) move the stethoscope and said, "Again.) She lowered the shirt and that was that. She signed my release and asked me to make an appointment for about a month later and that was that.

Well, this time (we got kaiser again)and again, I got a woman doctor. Our old doctor was not taking patients at the time, so it was another one. Notice came in the mail that I should come in for a physical, since it had been nearly 5 years since I had seen a doctor.

This time I decided to not try to avoid my doctor knowing I was transgendered. Knowing full well what to expect, I wore my unisex sandals with black knee-highs, some side zip slacks and a mostly feminine top. Underneath I wore my usual underwear. Panties, B-cup bra with prosthetics and lace camisole. My hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and held in place by a fancy rhinestone barrette. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that I was man, femininely dressed.

The nurse did the usual nurse things. Weight, blood pressure, temperature asked the preliminary questions, confirming I was there for a physical. Then she said, "I'm going to give you a gown and a sheet. Take off your clothes, except for your underwear, put the gown on and wrap the sheet around your waist. The doctor will be in, in a few minutes."

I took her at her word and left my bra and panties on, put on the gown, tying only the top string, and wrapped the sheet around my waist and sat on the examining table.

The doctor came in and introduced herself, welcomed me back to Kaiser and began her exam. It began with the usual, her listening to my heart and lungs. With my chest exhibiting the obvious under the gown it being open in the back left no doubt for the doctor as to my transgendered nature. She wanted to take my gown down to do a breast exam, so I let her and she was surprised to see that I didn't have breast and told me so. She still wanted to do a breast exam since I do have very mild gynecomastia.

She also had me drop my panties while she did the infamous prostrate exam and examined my scrotum. She asked me if I had taken hormones and I told her no. I don't know if she believed me because she ordered a huge array of blood tests, most of which are looking for liver and kidney function.

Through the whole time, she was pleasant and professional.

So, all you under-dressers out there, who are concerned about your doctor discovering your "secret" don't. Get a woman doctor and let them know you're transgendered.

Hugs.