#Oregon health

[the-mira-life-project-mtf]

Gender Reassignment Surgery Finally Scheduled!

It has been almost 17 months since the last time that I visited the OHSU clinic in Portland Oregon to see if I was a candidate for GRS.

There have been many times that my hope had fallen through. Days when I wondered if something outside of my control had ruined my plans to finally feel ‘complete’.

To compound the mental pain during the process, my experience with OHSU has been somewhat ‘complicated’. I am used to medical departments keeping their patients up to date...however, this is just a fantasy that I strongly urge others to avoid.

First off, let me say that my encounter with Dr. Dy, at OHSU was a pleasant experience. Unlike other physicians who only see the physical treatment and outcome, I was greatly appreciative that Dr. Dy also took into consideration my emotions and feelings regarding this sensitive topic that I would rarely speak in public.

It was because of my trust in her, her medical background, and willingness to understand ‘my own’ situation that I committed my care at OHSU. As for the urology department, my experience wasn’t all too great. Hopefully this will change in the following appointments.

One topic that I wish to cover in this blog post is:

Do not be afraid to reach out!

I have reached out three times to OHSU regarding my surgery status, and each time, I have received a different response.

I left OHSU in January 2022 knowing that the surgery would most possibly not occur that calendar year, thanks to COVID. Dr. Dy mentioned in clinic that due to the virus, their patients were backed up. She gave a timeline of ten months upwards to a year.

Yet, as time went on, I never heard a word regarding the status of my surgery. I would check the Portal monthly to see if any messages were sent, but as always, there was nothing to report.

By August of 2022, I finally reached out to the clinic and asked for an update. I was given the timeframe of January 2023 to May 2023 to hear a response for surgery scheduling (but not the offical surgery date).

Yet, by May 1st of 2023, I had yet to hear from them.

So, I sent another message after talking to my PCP and therapist regarding my communication with OHSU. I had expected a prompt reply within 3 days as the Portal promises, yet something ‘anxiety-producing’ had happened that I wish to discuss:

The Portal allows you to see if your messages have been opened, and by May 2nd, my message had been marked as ‘Seen’. Yet, day after day, I recieved no reply from the department of urology.

By May 3rd, I expected to finally have my reply so that I could make plans for the future: like lodging, psychology papers for surgery, saving money, arranging caregivers, and preparing my family to live without me at home

Yet once again, no reply came.

May 4th & 5th, I began to wonder if the clinic was trying to receive an answer to my question...so I gave them the benefit of the doubt.

May 6th & 7th was the weekend, so I did not expect any reply from OHSU. But I was almost certain that a decent person would at least say something by Monday, May 8th.

During the weekend, I wondered what was the reason as to why no one wrote a reply. I came up with many thoughts at night that made me worry and despair. Thoughts like: ‘Are they angry with me?’ | ‘Am I no longer a patient?’ | ‘Did I send the message to the wrong person?’ | ‘Is this something to do with my insurance?’ | ‘Maybe this is a sign that I should not be having surgery!’

By May 8th, my reply had never come.

I began to think that maybe this was a universal sign that I should not be having this surgery after all. And I began wondering if I should wait for an eternity, or look elsewhere for surgery and begin the whole process all over again.

That night, I thought of sending a reminder message to the department: ‘Maybe they forgot?’ Yet, if they cannot answer a simple question regarding scheduling and paperwork...then is it a really good idea to entrust my future care with their department? Especially if I have an urgent question in post-op!

‘Well, the last message did say ‘at the end of Spring’, and Spring officially is over on June 21st. Maybe I should just be patient?”

May 9th -- like before, I waited for a reply -- but no reply came.

Today, my mother brought up my ‘lack’ of swimming and I told her that the last time I went to swim at the YMCA, I had a terrible experience that has kept me away from the pool for almost one year.

Without GRS, my life has been in a painful standstill.

I cannot use any public restroom or locker room because of my strict morals. Everyone is different, but my morals prevent me from using a women’s restroom if I still have a penis. This is because I would never want to encounter a man in a women’s restroom...even if that individual is a transwoman who hasn’t undergone GRS.

I can no longer use a male’s restroom or locker room...because I now ‘appear’ too much as a female. Not to mention that this would create a terrible experience of abuse and even possible sexual harassment.

Even without GRS, I cannot face going to the ER for emergencies due to a bad experience in 2019 when I had to reveal that I was transgender. Even my time in the ocean had suffered because of fear of getting wet and things revealing too much...it is a painful existence!

With a long drive to Bainbridge Island, I had plenty of time to think of my next move. I sent a second message to OHSU...but instead of placing blame...I apologized and asked once more.

I honestly did not expect anything to come out of it.

Around 3:10PST I finally recieved a reply from OHSU. In communications with Mr. Skelton who asked if I would like to have surgery on July 12th 2023 with Dr. Dy being my attending physician.

I was thrilled!

I quickly checked my calandar to see that surgery will be a week after my vacation. Perfect timing!

So, with one step closer to finalizing my new life as a female...I can only dream of returning back to the pool to swim! Play in the ocean and clam dig! Not be afraid to use the restroom when I really need it. No fear in violating my morals bathing amongst other women in onsen and locker rooms.

I can finally focus on my health instead of jeopardizing it. Even possibly enter a relationship without having a panic attack.

For most of my life, I felt neither male or female...but both at the same time. I can only wonder how my future will change after this surgery...for the best and for the worse.

Only time will tell; though the path will be long.

[politijohn]

Source

This will be huge if it gets enacted

[summerwages]

Tuesdays cold open..

[the-cimmerians]

Griffin-Valade confirmed last week that she intends to enforce Measure 113, which Oregon voters approved in 2022 by a landslide 70 percent. Measure 113 bans lawmakers from running for re-election if they racked up 10 or more unexcused absences in a single legislative session. It also prevents them from running for office in another chamber. It’s a well-deserved career killer.

Nonetheless, 10 of the 12 total Republican state senators called the measure’s bluff. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, Daniel Bonham of Madras, Lynn Findley of Vale, Bill Hansell of Athena, Cedric Hayden of Fall Creek, Dennis Linthicum of Klamath Falls, Art Robinson of Cave Junction, Kim Thatcher of Keizer, Suzanne Weber of Tillamook, and Brian Boquist from Dallas, an independent who hangs with a bad crowd, all walked off the job in “protest” against Democratic-led bills that would protect and expand access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care.

today in 'fucking around and finding out', politics edition

[valentinsylve]

one of my old friends in Portland, OR told me about The Sunnyside Shower Project, which offers free showers and hygienic supplies (menstrual products, underwear, etc) to the unhoused people who live in Portland. They have volunteers who clean the bathrooms after each use to keep things nice for each person who uses them. The program was such a success that they have been able to go from serving people three days each week instead of two. Please share this and/or donate if you feel moved to and are financially able.

[nando161mando]

Ambulance hits Oregon cyclist, rushes him to hospital, then sticks him with $1,800 bill, lawsuit says

[etakeh]

Fingers crossed, y'all.

Oregon had managed to hold its own so far, glad to see we're trying to progress now on this matter.

HB 2002 seeks "to expand[ing] insurance coverage for gender-affirming care, adding infrastructure for reproductive healthcare, and protecting Oregon providers from persecution from other states [for providing these types of care, including abortions].

[solarearthworm]

ive been thinking about posting photos with random excerpts from my notes app. some of them are utter nonsense.

[memenewsdotcom]

Drug possession becomes crime again in Oregon

[livinglilitu]

I am horribly afraid of being seen in this world. But I am tired of being afraid. Of everything. I am aggressively saying 'No More.' I want to have fun and make memories and create experiences. I want to live.

That said..

HI! I'm 32F and I'd love to connect with other creative spirits.

[yourstrulyjasmine]

💙💙💙🖤🖤🖤💙💙💙🖤🖤🖤

@sincerelyjasminexo 💓💜🥰

24 fun sweet and goofy💓😘🤪😜

[dyslesexia]

for the first time in my adult life i have no direction

i have no desire or motivation or energy

i have ideas and hopes, but beyond the glorification of future, i have no 'umph'

6 years at a university with white cis male professors shrinking my glow, passion and wonder did a toll on my soul that i never knew i was trading with $80k+ debt

i want to publish, i want to make art, i want to write and run a damn good newsroom, i want to make a difference

but each step i take, my foot gets stuck in mud

and i cant breathe or think or move

im hoping an intensive outpatient program will help my find my glow again

so i can finally start the life a younger me once dreamed of

i want to be the person that would've intimidated me. full of love, passion and drive. bright and the sunniest person in the room. full of ideas that are well-executed – or even with turbulence – but at least they were acted on, rather than caught in flight or freeze

i want to feel like i care about friendships again. or to at least find faces here that are uplifting and loving and wholesome and understanding

i gave everything to everyone, many who never replenished, which aches as my own fault for never asking for reciprocation. because my voice got too small and too quiet to be heard amongst the shouts of everything else

i gave and gave and gave and often took and took and took, only for the end of a marathon to reveal no worthwhile celebration. a parallel universe self is thriving in productivity, love and joy. they have a healthy sleep schedule, no disorderly eating and their attention span doesn't crave stimulants to function. maybe the new year is the parallel realm i continue to peer towards with wanderlust. i just want to feel like im doing a good job without crippling mental health symptoms. i want to feel like my own mind isnt a villain and that the fog and thick suffocating clouds could easily dissipate with a breath of exhale. i want held by the hands of community. i want to feel a direction that isn't everywhere else or nowhere at all. nothing sounds good, but even if i knew the craving's soul-ution, i'm not sure id even follow that with a head held high.

i don't know what the fuck im doing, nor what the fuck i want to be doing. i barely even know who i am. all i know is im different, and this world isn't the fondest of oddity.

[shammyb]

Hiked w the bestie and saw a mama salamader the size of my forearm. Summer, friends, and life are doing me well rn and im def savoring it all as it is, while it is <3 What a story this liufe is. A good one to read, that's definite.

[reasonsforhope]

“The 45,000 or so residents of Dunn County live off on the western side of Wisconsin, not far from central Minnesota, but not close to much of anything. Like other rural counties, it leans heavily Republican, going by double digits to Donald Trump in 2020. This year, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., notched a 14-point margin there, and Tim Michels beat the incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers by 9 percentage points.

But when it came to health care, Dunn County voters said they would support a national health insurance program. The overwhelmingly Republican residents of this farming community approved a ballot measure that affirms their support for a single-payer public health insurance program. The idea, which passed 51-49, ran 11 points ahead of Evers, who was reelected statewide, and 16 points ahead of Senate candidate Mandela Barnes.

The largely unnoticed rural election result affirmed support for nationalizing and expanding health insurance, a program popularly known as Medicare for All. While the national media discourse about the election largely ignored health care issues beyond abortion rights, voters across the country registered support for progressive reforms focused on improving health care access and reining in the for-profit industries that dominate the medical system.

In Arizona and South Dakota, like in Dunn County, progressive health care initiatives outpaced Democratic Party candidates by a wide margin. Arizona voters passed Proposition 209, a measure that reduces the allowable interest rate for medical debt and expands exemptions for what can be garnished by medical debt collectors, with a landslide 72 percent in favor. South Dakota became the 40th state to expand Medicaid coverage, making an additional 40,000 residents eligible.

Oregon passed Measure 111, making it the first state to enshrine a right to “cost-effective, clinically appropriate affordable health care” for every resident in the state constitution. In Massachusetts, voters enacted Question 2, which forces dental insurance companies to spend at least 83 percent of premiums on actual dental care, rather than administrative costs and profits...

The support for an expanded public support for health care across the country gives the administration a mandate as it drafts rules implementing key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows Medicare to negotiate prices on the costliest prescription drugs covered by the program.” -via The Intercept, 11/29/22

[hunybaby]

I hope this isn’t too weird to post on here, but I have been having a hard time posting about my uncle, who has tragically passed away. There are no words to describe how we and all his loved ones are feeling with his loss. It really doesn’t feel real. With this unexpected loss, we are asking if anyone is willing to donate to help with costs for his service, transportation between states, and anything else that may come up. If you’re able to and willing to, donations are so so appreciated by all of us. Sharing also helps immensely. My uncle… there are no words to describe what this world has lost. He is and will always be loved. Thank you so much.

Also please, please reach out to your supports if your mental health isn’t where you feel it should be. It’s so important and you are not alone in your fight, even if it feels like it. Please don’t put yourself or your loved ones through such a loss.

[etakeh]

Officials are urging Oregon Health Plan members to respond to any information requests they receive and to submit renewal forms right away to ensure they don’t lose their benefits. 

Click-baity headline, but basically they're doing eligibility checks, so maybe sure you're contact info is up to date!

This is nationwide.

The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 45% of the people who are disenrolled during the redetermination process will be people who remain eligible for coverage.

Don't assume your status. A lot of people have been surprised that they qualify.