In unrelated medical news

[kaberett]

... yesterday Charing Cross phoned me up to ask if I was okay moving my next appointment with them from the morning of the 7th of May to the afternoon of the 30th of April. Which, well, yes - but also if they'd given me any kind of sensible amount of notice on that, I'd have been able to (1) apply for a postal vote, (2) stay down in Cornwall for Furry Day, and (3) aid and abet my mum in Visiting my baby brother in Bristol on our way back up. As it is my aunt and I have train tickets that rely on my railcard bringing us back upcountry on the 6th, and I am Irritated.

Comments

[davidgillon]

Similarly irritated with the 8 days notice of surgery (after 4.5 months waiting), and the letter adding several conditions that arrived yesterday. I honestly don't see a way to organise one of them at this short notice, never mind the answerphone announcing they were out of the office until crackle when I rang them.

[sfred]

That does seem to be a particularly hospitals thing to do.

Would it be OK for me to ask you some questions about Charing Cross, here or privately? If not, no problem.

[kaberett]

Go for it, wherever you're most comfortable with. This'll be my second appointment only (though I've also attended some as an advocate) so the amount of direct experience I have is limited, but v willing to give it a go.

[sfred]

Thank you. Just very general question about what they're actually like with non-binary people who present to them as non-binary. I think you said you were doing so?

I am trying to pluck up courage for a GP appointment that might result in a referral, and I can't present myself as a man.

[kaberett]

I am indeed.

In principle they're good on non-binary stuff; in practice Barratt explained to me that non-binary genders are like anarchy, in that they're a ~~~transition state~~~ that will inevitably collapse to either democracy or dictatorship.

I'm seeing Lorimer (known good) for my next appt, at which point I will be able to tell you more. However, the very first non-binary-presenting-as-non-binary person going through is getting top surgery; I'm hoping I can convince them I'm another acceptable test case. Depends how much calm-and-stubborn you've got spare, basically.

[sfred]

Thanks - that's useful to me. Top surgery is what I want; it's good to know that it can happen. Good luck with your persuasion.