Matt Kailey

For many trans people, going to the doctor is never a treat — and it really doesn’t matter what kind of doctor it is.

Even with my regular physician, who knows I’m trans, prescribes my hormones, and has been to places of my anatomy that very few people have seen or want to see, I get a little squeamish. But with a new doctor, it all seems like such a hassle. And even today’s new doctor is going to be problematic — and he’s a podiatrist.

Yes, my feet are suffering — and the reason is the shoes on the right, not the shoes on the left. I wore high-high heels for many years of my adult life, and now I’m paying the price with squished toes, bunions, and all-around general pain that is making it difficult to walk even in my widest, comfiest guy boots.

So now I’m going to a doctor who will only be looking at my feet, but I’m still going to have to go into some explanation about why the poor things look so pathetic. Maybe I won’t have to explain about the high heels — maybe I can talk my way around it. We’ll have to see.

I’m actually a firm believer in telling a doctor — any doctor — that I’m trans. I believe in listing testosterone as one of the medications that I’m taking when I fill out the intake sheet. I think a doctor can best treat you when he or she knows as much as possible about your medical history and your current situation. And, depending on where and what they’re going to be checking out, I’m not a big fan of surprises.

But, even after 12 years, some days it just seems like a hassle that I don’t want to deal with. When I had to go to a clinic for an “emergency” problem a few months ago, it took a lot of explaining to convince the guy that I didn’t have a prostate. He just couldn’t get it. When I told him I was trans, no matter how I tried to describe it, he could only picture MTF, and he kept talking about my non-existent prostate. Even after he finally appeared to understand, he still seemed befuddled.

Now, I know a podiatrist isn’t going to care about my prostate — whether it’s there or not. But he is going to wonder how my feet got into the shape they’re in if I spent my life in steel-toed work boots and flat men’s dress shoes, like most guys would have — so somehow I’m going to have to deal with that. I haven’t quite decided how yet, but I’m sure something will come to me when I get to the office.

Something like once again explaining that I’m trans.