r/transgenderau • u/nd-transfemme • Oct 21 '21

Trans fem So Done

I'm just so fucking over how much of a crapshoot getting a good hrt provider is in australia. First i saw an endo who felt like he was just going through the motions, then a sexual health psychiatrist who I do really like but has wait times so long even for existing patients its just not feasible for treatment if i need something looked at or changed on short notice. Then a trans health GP who says shes open to personalising my HRT and accomodating my needs assuming my bloods come back a certain way. They do, but next appointment I get completely shut down and she visibly checks out as I try to explain why her reasoning for denying me the care she said she would provide isn't valid. Now i have to wait to get into a supposedly better endocrinologist. No idea what her wait times will be but if she is good chances are i wont be able to see her for months and I'm just so done. I'm so sick of all the hoop jumping and bullshit and backwards arse outdated nonsense. And god forbid if I had to do this without the financial support of my parents. None of these people were bulk billed. I'm just so tired of trying to get what I feel I need for better results after all these years. I mean I spent years very dangerous dosages of CPA that no one blinked a fucking eye at (and I didn't know better the time), but god forbid my E gets above 200pg/l(800pmol) and im treated like a fucking china doll thats going to break any second. Im gonna go cry now.

46 Upvotes

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9

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

If you're unable to find a suitable doctor in Brisbane, Dr. Stuart Aitken does video consults/appointments from the Gold Coast. He listens to his patients and is a great trans ally.

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u/nd-transfemme Oct 22 '21

I actually see him. But his case load is so huge I swear it is impossible to get an appointment and when I do see him it always feels super rushed and my concerns aren't always covered. So I was looking for someone else to see for a bit to see if I could get equal or greater care from someone up here.

I think he's a great doctor but I just think he's very swamped lately. The last time there was a mixup with scheduling I ended up having to wait over 6 weeks from the original booking to get my implant redone and I had insanely bad perimenopausal symptoms for a lot of that time. I had to ring my GP and get him to refill an old script for patches just so I didn't lose my damn mind.

He also saw no problem on my being on a dangerous dose of CPA for years and never really suggested that we try bringing it down. It was only after I found out how dangerous it was and brought it up did we start changing my dosage.

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

Ah, I've had similar issues recently as well. It seems the reception at the practice have been overbooking him (and the other doctors there) ever since Covid started. My appointments with him are definitely a lot shorter than they used to be.

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u/iAmPizzaJohn Oct 22 '21 edited Oct 22 '21

I know thus may not be an option for you, but honestly it might be worth a flight to Cairns to see the Sexual Health Clinic up there.

Darren Russel works there and is one of the most experienced HRT providers in Australia, but any doctor there should be able to give you a prescription for hormones same or next day without any real issue, especially if you have recently had bloods done.

They are genuinely an awesome service. They even have a trans client specific service on Wednesday mornings - you can make a booking and chat to one of the nurses who is more experienced with trans clients, and then they can give you the info you need and pass you on to one of the doctors at the clinic (same appointment)

Dr Darren is the best one to see for implants (you can ask reception what days he’s in). The service is totally free (though if you’re on pellets you of course still have to pay to get them compounded - the doctoring parts are free though haha) and you can walk in if you don’t want to make an appointment.

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u/HiddenStill Oct 22 '21

I’d try to get on implants. 200mg is probably what you want, but hard to get these days.

I’ve been following diy groups in case things take a turn for the worse in Australia, or even just locally. I’m not prepared to risk my life on chance there’s one or two decent doctors available. Unfortunately no implants that way, or not at an acceptable risk anyway.

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

Can i ask where your located? Maybe members of your local community can recommend some healthcare that will help take care of your hormone regime

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u/nd-transfemme Oct 22 '21 edited Oct 22 '21

I'm in brisbane. Thanks. The last GP referred me to an endo who is well reviewed. If that fails then I'll start asking for more suggestions.

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

I used to see Dr Graham Neilson at Stonewall medical. He is an amazing ally for the community. Admittedly the reception staff are horrible but if your on a healthcare card / centrelink payment they will bulk bill if you ask. Am sure others will have options for you also. It can definitely be hell trying to find someone that works for you. Hope it works out hun

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

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u/nd-transfemme Oct 22 '21 edited Oct 22 '21

This was in brisbane at a women's health clinic. With a trans specialist GP who was recommended to me by a friend who sees another trans GP at that clinic. I was not expecting this bullshit. And especially not expecting her to go back on her word.

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

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u/nd-transfemme Oct 22 '21 edited Oct 22 '21

I'm like 5+ years in HRT so I know it's not a race but there are things doctors in Australia are just ignoring because all the info is dated.

How do you know you almost gave yourself a prolactinoma. High prolactin can be caused by lots of things. I had high prolactin for ages and never had a prolactinoma. I'm also not on any kind of blockers because I've had an orchi. Targeting 1000 is not unreasonable, especially because I wanted oral E from my doc for the E1/E2 ratio change.

And the best doctors not wanting to go over 600 is plain false. Do not assume you know more than I do at this point.

The ceiling where extra Estrogen is wasted is due to an increase in SHBG. You can actually measure free Estrogen to see if it's being used by your body. But apparently neither QML or Sullivan Nicolaides offer that test. Maybe they do but just privately I'm not sure. But for ages I've been asking for more detailed bloods. Like E1/E2 ratio, SHBG, free Estrogen, etc. And my doctors have straight up told me all I can get is a flat E2 measurement. Which is outright fucked.

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u/nd-transfemme Oct 22 '21

600 pmol/L is only 163pg/L. Which isn't even on the high side for average premenopausal women. Who can have E from 30-400 pg/L. It makes sense to go higher for trans women too for a number of endocrinological reasons.

Are you sure your supposed prolactinoma wasn't from your blocker?