As a passing trans man with a lot of medical issues, I feel this.
Ive seen it all. Doctors that refused to treat me. "Trans broken arm syndrome." A nurse telling me Ill be going to Hell. (Would have cut more if I was in any way religious) Ive had staff breaking HIPAA, talking openly about my trans-ness in busy waiting rooms and in the cinical setting. Ive had times where doctors didnt believe I was AFAB, and one clueless one who was doing an intake assessment and asked me if I was experiencing any discomfort in my testicles. (I had already informed him of my trans status) Ive also had a similar thing happen as in OPs comic, where the office thought there was a glitch in my files and fought me over it!
I came out 15 years ago and have graced many doctors offices and medical related settings in that time. But still, the vast majority of the people whove had me under their care have been great, and its gotten better with time since things have become a little more progressive in my area. Most of the stuff I encountered in the past was due to ignorance and less outright bigotry, and Ive been able to largely avoid it for some time by sticking with offices that are not faith-based, which is where most of these interactions happened.
I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with this. You all don’t deserve to be treated like that just because you’re trans. Sending you hugs. Also, what the absolute fuck is “trans broken arm syndrome”??? Is it just a broken arm but accused of happening because you’re trans?
Pretty much! It's the assumption from a professional that any and every unrelated health issue you have is actually due to HRT/transness in general, and refusing to investigate further into it
I had a female primary for a while and she performed a Pap smear on me (my first one). It was PAINFUL. I was crying in pain and she told me, while I was in pain, that it’s not that bad. She’s not my doctor anymore
I had four orthopedists assure me everything was completely fine with my back and that I just needed to lose weight.
My GP sent me to get an MRI - two slipped discs.
Subsequently, when I walked into my Neurologists office she looked at me like "how dare you walk in here without being called" but asked "are you miss [my name]" and I said "Yes. Hello."
"YOU'RE WALKING!? HOLY SHIT YOU MUST BE IN SO MUCH PAIN!!! PLEASE SIT DOWN NOW!"
I never felt so seen. Turns out I had just gotten "used to" compensating for my slipped discs, which caused tons of other issues that I'm still dealing with 4 years later.
Oh hey, are you me? Took 10 years to get a fenale doctor about my back pain, she did 1 simple test that made me cry out, she sent me for an mri, 2 fucked discs and a 3rd on the way. I cried from the relief of finally being believed and having proof. And that keeps happening with every issue I have- i have to fight for years before it gets taken seriously and it turns out i was right all along. I'm so worn out, and so in pain, and so angry, all the time.
I've had recurring migraines since I was 8, and almost every doctor I've talked to about them thinks it has something to do with the estrogen I started taking when I was 25.
That's so hilarious because mine (trans man) are apparently testosterone-based lol. Ive had migraines since puberty and only started transitioning at 24.
I've been depressed for a decade and started T last year, which didn't cure my depression but lifted at least one weight off my shoulders. Had an appointment for a psychiatric dayclinic recently and mentioned that I am trans only because my legal name isn't changed yet. Half the appointment, even after I said how long my depression has been going on and that my T is in a normal range, was about my testosterone.
I've had bad gums all my life, so does my mum. The moment I went on T to transition my dentist became convinced "its the hormones" causing my gums to bleed so bad...
Also, what the absolute fuck is “trans broken arm syndrome”??? Is it just a broken arm but accused of happening because you’re trans?
I have a reasonably rare and extremely painful skin condition where I get giant abcesses all over my body that burst and it's really painful and unsightly. I had a doctor try to tell me it was because I was on HRT and that if I stopped HRT, it would go away. Mind you, this is an incurable disease and the real kicker is I had it for like 5 years before I started HRT. Doesn't matter to them, it's easier to just blame it on their unknown than actually investigate the problem for what it is.
I'm on humira and it's pretty much the only thing that's worked so far. Tried the usual erythromycin and accutane and all that but no results. Humira has been working pretty well though, reduced my flare ups massively and when they do flare up, they aren't open and discharging for as long before healing again. I had surgery a few times ages ago to get one particularly annoying lump removed but it kept recurring so I just deal with it now
I appreciate the info and your willingness to share. I’m sorry for your past experience and I hope for your case it was due to ignorance rather than hate, because at least ignorance can be corrected. Have a great day!
I had a good trans-broken-arm one a few years ago where I had just been telling my doctor that the frequency of my migraines had improved on T and in a weird gotcha voice she goes, “do you think the migraines could be caused by the testosterone?”
Well, I dunno doc, I’ve been having them since I was sixteen. I’m now in my thirties, a few years on HRT, and they’ve improved on the testosterone. Whaddaya think?
This was the same doctor who I told I thought I had a connective tissue disorder, she dismissed my concerns, and a year later she asked me if I had considered that I might have the same connective tissue disorder she had been dismissive of.
Holy shit I would be pissed. I know this is a shower argument ass rebuttal, but in your place I so would have loved to go, in an increasingly obvious baby/pet voice, "Im-proved. As in; become less frequent, and less severe. Thanks to. Taking. Tes-tos-te-rone. Do you un-der-stand now?"
Yup... I will never, ever forget the day my mother died. Sitting in the hallway and could hear the nurse talking to my father and saying that she's not going to "entertain HIS delusions" and saying that I deserve to go to Hell. All in front of my dying mother and after I did literally nothing to that nurse other than talk for about 5 minutes about my mother. Spent two hours in my car sobbing and wasn't there when my mother passed. I talked to the hospital, but I very highly doubt anything was ever done.
Ive had staff breaking HIPAA, talking openly about my trans-ness in busy waiting rooms and in the cinical setting.
Also been through this. Along with discussing my medical condition.
I'll also throw in that I had a Walgreens pharmacy refuse to fill out my hormone prescription because of their "religious freedom". Had almost no days left on my script, and my doctor was off for a week so I almost missed a few days. The only thing that saved me was another doctor writing me a 30-day a few days later.
That is incredibly heartbreaking, Im so so sorry you went through that. Its infuriating that someones bigotry is so strong that it compells them to be an absolute monster to someone grieving.
I mean, is it that hard to keep it to yourself?! Youre on the job, youre in the business of caring for people. If you cant NOT do harm, dont be a nurse.
And Im sorry you dealt with the pharmacy issue as well. Ive been through that too, and its crazy to me that withholding prescribed medications can be refused like that by pharmacists. Should be grounds to lose the job.
Well, I hate to say this, but damn it really is accurate that there’s no hate like Christian love.
And before Christians come jumping at me in the comments - yeah, maybe you’re not “like them,” but then help improve the lives for people who have to deal with these crazy bigots. Sincerely, someone who is?/was? A Christian or something, idk anymore tbh
Genuinely sorry you guys have to deal with this. It’s not fair
Ironically what that nurse did it more likely to send someone to hell (not that hell exists of course). God is supposed to be a God of love and compassion. Humans aren't the judges, only he is
On the prescription issue if I leave getting my medication too late I can just call 111 (uk non emergency equivalent of 999) and explain and they will send a prescription to a nearby pharmacy same day. Do you know if there is anything like that in your country?
Depends. If you've had lower surgery, it can be fatal over time, as your body is not producing any testosterone or estrogen. You'll most likely develop bone health issues (osteoporosis), heart conditions, and/or diabetes. This can take years, but it isn't good for the body.
If you haven't had surgery, you end up with menopause symptoms that get very uncomfortable. After that, you'll be fine, and your fertility may return (~40% chance).
Originally, I was with Bartell's, but... well... Thanks to Rite Aid, that's no longer a thing. I tried to switch to Walgreens after the buyout, because I had an ex who worked at Rite Aid and got the backstory from her, but that happened... So, I'm at CVS as well.
I'm so ready for this political fixation on targeting trans people to end. Such a stupid, hateful distraction, every bit as transparent as when other groups are targeted for the purpose of dividing and conquering. None of your medical history is anybody's business at all, but thanks for sharing anyway.
I agree, but I dont really think my medical history should be private. Thats just been my personal opinion on who needs to know.
In my charts it says I am a "female to male transgender person" and that I have "gender dysphoria." Id take issue with having that in my chart at all if I had A. fully transitioned or B. that information wasnt necessary for my doctors to know
Its just easier for me if they know. I can avoid getting questions related to being a cis male, and wasting time having to explain my gender identity every time it is relevant to the conversation, usually when Im seeing a new doc.
Met a girl my freshman year of college who was asked if there was a possibility that she could be pregnant by the same nurse who checked her balls 10 minutes prior. It's fucking ridiculous.
Oh wow, thats another level of incompetence. I mean, I have a pretty bad relationship with common sense, but thats a concerning level of stupidity right there.
After my bottom surgery I was following up with my family dr. I was up on the table and he says to me 'can I ask you a question?' And I said sure.
He takes his index finger and places it on my clit and says 'is this your clitoris?' I never went back there.
I told a nurse about it a while later and she seemed horrified and asked if I wanted to lodge a complaint. I said that that I did. She left, came back looking dejected and explained to me that it was probably just professional curiosity and a lot of Dr's tend to be on the spectrum.
I didnt really persue it after that but it pops into my head a lot and makes me shudder.
OMFG. Thats literal assault! Im so sorry that happened to you.
And "professional curiosity" is no excuse, and being on the spectrum doesnt explain or give a pass for that kind of behavior. Its not an autism thing to assault people like that. Sounds like your doctor was just relaying to you what someone else told them, but thats still not what you want to hear from someone you told that to.
Makes my heart break seeing your story and how many people have also been mistreated or assaulted by medical professionals.
It was such a gross experience and then basically being told that I couldn't do anything about it because I'm trans really underscored the fact we have such little recourse.
The first time I got the testies question I was early in transition and I had just grown a beard for the first time but it was very light. Otherwise I didn't pass at all. I just started laughing and the poor doctor then goes "oh have you already had them removed." I said I was trans the other way and she was so apologetic. I've had it since but never from people who knew I was transgender. I'm also a little bit more specific wen I tell people now.
Its even worse. This wasnt a regular medical doc. He was a psychiatrist.
He sprinkled it in between other questions about side effects from meds I was on. Best guess is that he thought I was pre-op, pre-HRT MTF, or he didnt have a clue what transgender was....he was on the cusp of retirement and may have never had a patient like me.
Unfortunately I had to keep seeing him because my insurance at the time only covered that office. He didnt ask me that question again and he never pried further which was fine by me.
I have a much better doc now who is open minded and professional.
It was the fact I had just told him I was a trans man, and he asked me anyway. Was one of my tamer examples but I shared it to show that doctors can be clueless when it comes to dealing with transgender patients.
Sometimes I ask 60 year old women if they’re on birth control, sometimes it’s not personal, just autopilot (for anyone wondering it’s when I’m trying to rule out a pulmonary embolism and going through the risk factors). As a healthcare professional I’d rather ask a dumb question than not ask a question I should have asked and miss crucial details
Wow 15 years, I don't meet too many trans men who've been transitioning that long (or in general TBH, I mostly meet other trans women), that's super fucking awesome though! Not so awesome about you also getting the trans broken arm syndrome treatment though lol
At the time I came out, I had only come across one trans mans youtube channel and thats when it clicked for me. The only trans representation I had seen before that was on talk shows, and it was usually not great representation.
At that point, coming out and transitioning literally saved my life. Im grateful that I was able to figure myself out and get the support I needed.
I had kinda figured out i was trans 15 years ago and just unfortunately lacked the information and had bad experiences with gender expression from peers, wish i had known enough to even find the info about hrt and such, better late than never at least
Your story is a good example as to why representation matters. You knew you were trans inside but didnt have the knowledge to pursue transition sooner. Probably would have saved a lot of heartache. Is that fair to say for you?
I was 23 when I came out, so I was late to it too. But at the time I had been so mentally unwell that I had been sent to live at the state hospital twice for relentless suicidality. It wasnt too long after I got out the second time that I figured out what my main issue was.
Starting HRT saved my life. I still deal with unrelated mental illness, but its far better controlled and my baseline is to feel content now, which I had never felt before.
Im glad you figured it out eventually, gender dysphoria can really mess you up and being able to identify it and deal with it in the ways that are helpful for you can make a huge difference.
Definitely would have saved me a lot of heartache, a big factor for me is time lossed not being able to present as a woman or express myself properly as well as obviously earlier, I ended up getting lucky in a number of ways some trans women are dysphoric over so I'm thankful for that. But yeah I'm a huge advocate for trans kids to get the knowledge and meds they need cus if I could have had the info i would have probably started transitioning at 14 instead of 30 lol.
But the mental damage caused from me repressing it so hard for so long is really rough and I'm not sure when/if I'll fully recover from it
Yeah I have all the respect for people who work in pediatrics with trans kids. They def get a lot of ignorance and hate for what they do but its so so important, saving lives.
I hope you can get through that mental pain someday, and can celebrate how far youve come 💖
I had a GP refuse to prescribe be acne cream, because it could have been caused by me taking T. And she didn't prescribe me the T, the national public hospital did. So she told me to get an appointment with them, on the other side of the country, with 6-12 months waiting time. For acne cream.
I didnt mention the time I was in a psych ward and staff members took my transphobic and homophobic roommate aside to tell them I was trans.
This roommate goes on to nearly fighting me (I got him to calm down) pissing in my shoes, ejaculating onto a pair of my shorts (I walked in on him in the dark in our bathroom) and telling all the other patients I was trans. Caused me to become paranoid and psychotic and made my time there much, much worse.
It violates HIPAA to disclose medical history to other patients. While speaking out loud about the fact Im trans sits in this grey area since its not telling a specific person, it can still be dangerous and is generally a shitty thing to do, even if its not technically going against ethics because it puts me in a bad spot.
This once happened in a waiting room at a place a friend worked. When I told her about it, she requested that the entire staff go through a gender diversity presentation to understand how to interact with our population appropriately. It was mandatory and those workers seemed to learn from it.
Sure, gender ALONE is not considered an identifier, Im not disputing that. Especially when it comes to disclosure through documentation.
However, it was a HIPAA violation in both my scenarios, as is stated several times in my second link. In the last section, it says "the HIPAA privacy rule requires appropriate uses and disclosures.
Are you trying to tell me that what these healthcare workers had done was necessary for my treatment? That it was in any way non discriminatory?
Im not making wild claims here or falsely accusing others of violating rights, I dont take that lightly and am not quick to crying discrimination where its not warranted. But youre not being honest with your argument and I wonder why that is.
Im sorry youre living in a black and white world where provided context and stated exceptions to rules, that are listed IN the rules, can be thrown out the window since you read that "Gender alone is not protected under HIPAA laws."
Again and for the last time, I said that HIPAA laws were violated under the context that my information was revealed. And they were. According to the HIPAA laws themselves. The way in which my personal info was revealed was the problem, not the information on its own.
For example, if it was a receptionist trying to figure out why my gender on my insurance doesnt match that of my ID and she questions me when others waiting in line behind me can hear, that is acceptable under HIPAA because it was necessary for care.
You can calm your pits anyway because this happened many moons ago and I never made legal moves. All that resulted was a one time presentation to learn how to deal with gender noncomformity in the workplace.
Now I gave you more attention and time than you deserved. Being contrarian for fun is a poor choice and I hope you allow yourself to grow out of it someday.
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u/SplicerGonClean Jul 31 '26
As a passing trans man with a lot of medical issues, I feel this.
Ive seen it all. Doctors that refused to treat me. "Trans broken arm syndrome." A nurse telling me Ill be going to Hell. (Would have cut more if I was in any way religious) Ive had staff breaking HIPAA, talking openly about my trans-ness in busy waiting rooms and in the cinical setting. Ive had times where doctors didnt believe I was AFAB, and one clueless one who was doing an intake assessment and asked me if I was experiencing any discomfort in my testicles. (I had already informed him of my trans status) Ive also had a similar thing happen as in OPs comic, where the office thought there was a glitch in my files and fought me over it!
I came out 15 years ago and have graced many doctors offices and medical related settings in that time. But still, the vast majority of the people whove had me under their care have been great, and its gotten better with time since things have become a little more progressive in my area. Most of the stuff I encountered in the past was due to ignorance and less outright bigotry, and Ive been able to largely avoid it for some time by sticking with offices that are not faith-based, which is where most of these interactions happened.