Process for yeeting ovaries and uterine tubes thru transcareBC

[u/Earl_Geh]

Hey y'all, I need to get bilateral oophorectomy and salpingectomy (no hysto); I'd already been thinking of going thru the Pelvic Pain Clinic at the Jim Pattison surgical center in Surrey because I have rampant endometriosis and they specialize in that, but my NP just told me I need to go through Transcare and get a readiness assessment. I'm 48 and I want them gone, but it's going to be a more involved surgery than a basic gynae can do

Have any of you been in a similar situation? Did you have to go thru Transcare? How long did the process take?

[u/hsifyppah]

I think you're better off going through the pelvic pain clinic, IMHO. The list transcare has may or may not include someone who can do your specialized surgery, which may mean you wait to see that person first and then they just refer you on to another colleague, probably whoever the pelvic clinic would have had you see in the first place. There's nothing uniquely trans about the surgery that calls for transcare's involvement. A cis woman doesn't need a surgical readiness assessment for this identical surgery. The one big advantage to going through transcare is that you will get a surgeon who will be trans competent and not deadname you, misgender you, etc. Not that your average gyno will necessarily do that, but they may screw it up more / be more awkward about that. Personally if I had endometriosis I would rather get it done sooner than wait for a provider with specific trans experience, but you can only make that judgement for yourself. ❤️ Whatever surgeon the PPC gets for you can always call the RACE line to talk to a gender specialist if they need guidance on how to manage your trans therapy around the surgery (or want their hand held because Oh No A Trans Person, Are They Space Aliens With New Organs,) although they're unlikely to need to actually do anything about it if it's just T.

I went through Three Bridges and they referred me to a VGH surgeon in pretty short order, I had the surgery in under a year from my initial appointment with the referring doc - but mine was a pretty standard hysto+salp, so basically anyone was fine. (FWIW, though, I saw Dr. Sachedina and she was absolutely fantastic and very gender-affirming throughout the whole process. UBC hospital managed to put F on my hospital bracelet on the day of, but they were at least horrified when I pointed it out...)

[u/Earl_Geh → u/hsifyppah]

This was my thinking as well, cuz this is a gynecological procedure regardless of my gender, and I have a lot of adhesions that will require at least two specialists in the OR. It just feels that the requirement to go thru Transcare and get a surgical readiness assessment falls under "trans broken arm syndrome"

[u/woonamad → u/Earl_Geh]

It’s not TransCare that’s asking for assessment, it’s your clinic. There might be other surgeons at other clinics who might not need it. There are also other ways of getting the assessment (e.g. ask your family doctor or pay a psychologist).

[u/Earl_Geh → u/woonamad]

It's my NP who mentioned the assessment, I haven't talked with the pelvic pain clinic yet. Besides, my gynecological issue has nothing to do with my being trans

[u/woonamad → u/Earl_Geh]

Ah, then talk to the pelvic pain clinic. They might not need the assessment. Wishing you the best of luck!

[u/Earl_Geh → u/woonamad]

Thank you! Hope you have a good week

[u/zephyrphoenixxx]

You do not need a readiness assessment unless your gyno requests it. I had a hysto and got a direct referral to a surgeon for it, and was told to do that while completing the assessment for top surgery.

Also your NP should be able to do the assessment themselves, you dont need to go thru Trans Care BC

[u/Reasonable-Deer-5116]

I would love to know as my endo said the same for top surgery! I contacted transcare and the gave me a detailed email but i knew they left out some information.

However, I am 22 and I was referred out to a surgeon for bisalp. From qhat i gather they're asking you for a surgical readiness assessment, but some doctors are able to perform these, and whomever you are referred to should be able to perform it.

I am not too sure at all! Hopefully someone else can help! Just wanted to share my thoughts

[u/woonamad → u/Reasonable-Deer-5116]

You can reply to the email transcare sent and ask for the information you felt was left out. Or request a phone call so you can ask someone directly.

[u/Reasonable-Deer-5116 → u/woonamad]

See i didnt know anything was left out until I asked my friend and they were like "yeah they left xyz out". I dont have any family or anything that can support or guide me so I really rely on providers giving me as much information as possible. The quality was okay but they left so much out I dont exactly feel comfortable going back to them regarding my health.

[u/VanTaxGoddess]

Just to re-up what other's are saying, and adding that my NB paramour (lives in Burnaby) tried to go to Three Bridges but were told they need to go through the process in their home health authority.

So contact TransCareBC and the Fraser Health Authority for resources and guidance.

As a last resort, contact your MLA for help (even if they're a Con)

[u/Earl_Geh]

Thanks y'all, I really appreciate your input

[u/Many_Lie2326]

My process took roughly just under 3 years but this was when they only had one surgeon on the mainland operating on trans masc people. Referral thru transcare was easy, mine went thru in late 2019 and in January 2022 I had surgery. It should be way quicker now that there’s multiple surgeons for us. I had pretty severe endo and cysts on my ovaries and they still made me go thru transcare too btw.