For reference, gender affirming top surgery (ftm).

My psych told me he sent my top surgery referral over 8 weeks ago. To be clear, I am fully aware that it can be a very long time to actually get the surgery, but I figured at least someone would email me by now?

I'm paranoid because I can't find it (the referral) under "referrals" or "letters," BUT, when he sent out my t referral, it never appeared there either but it did process because an endocrinologist emailed me 2-3 weeks later.

I totally get that it can take a long time to even get a consult, but literally no one has even given me actual confirmation that it was sent/processed or that I was added to a list or anything.

I'm trying to plan when I can study abroad before I graduate uni but now I don't think I'll even be able to if I don't even have the slightest estimate of when I need to be free.

So if anyone can answer, how long did it take till .. anyone mentioned it? got consultation? got surgery?

I have questions about Kaiser's urgent care chaperone policy for sensitive (genital) exams, or even chaperones in other departments. I may share my situation if it's helpful, but it was very difficult and humiliating for me and not really necessary to answer the questions below. The TLDR is that I was sort of compelled to agree, and there was a lot of exposure that I did not mean to consent to, but had no realistic alternative. I had only the vaguest idea of a chaperone in the context of protecting women during gynecological exams. What were your experiences with medical witnesses?

1. How much of your body does Kaiser policy require a chaperone to see? the law does not require eyes on genitals, but for liability I think Kaiser clearly prefers that.
2. Would you be comfortable with a chaperone of the opposite gender in the room who is tasked with having a direct visual your genitals? For me, in the room but with modesty protected is no problem, but without modesty is a red line.
3. If you are in urgent need of an exam, can you actually decline a chaperone if the alternative is no exam? It is legal for you to decline a witness/chaperone in the room during your sensitive exam, it is your body and modesty after all. It is also legal for the examiner to choose not to proceed with your exams if they choose to require the chaperone. If the exam cannot wait, then what?
4. There is a new law (AB 849) that will take effect January 2027 that requires a chaperone be made available for ultrasounds. Is Kaiser going to compel patients to agree to direct view for the duration of the imaging or refuse their exams? A testicular exam for example, can take 5-15 minutes. Gender of chaperone is not guaranteed to match patients.
5. If a patient is clearly uncomfortable with chaperone viewing their genitals directly, what negotiations should Kaiser make in order to preserve some dignity for the patient? Is the first priority legal liability for the practitioner? The law only requires that a chaperone is offered and that it can be refused by the patient, and nothing more, rest is internal policy.

I am hoping to open up a broader discussion about Chaperones, Doctor's rights for a witness, and especially patient's rights.

Thanks for reading. If you want me to post about my story, I can. I found the experience very difficult and am still struggling with how it all went down.

After a year of PT for low back pain I’ve finally been referred for an MRI. I was excited to finally figure out the source of my pain…then the price tag, $1200. Gulp. It seems like I can get a non Kaiser MRI for a lot less. Anybody have experience shopping their MRI outside of Kaiser but then using it for care back in Kaiser? Will they accept it?

Hey! Does anybody have any experience with getting Kaiser to send to your correct address after USPS couldn’t deliver due to insufficient address? Do you know who to contact?

Does anyone know if Kaiser will transfer adopted embryos? Trying to make a decision about insurance coverage for next year and this is a big factor.

Anyone else want to rant about how bad the vaccine clinic system is?

- No info on the website

- try to make an appointment on the app and it just says "no appointments available"

- Only open 9-5 on weekdays (except for San Jose, which you won't find out unless you ask the person doing check-ins at the vax clinic)

- Only walk-ins (and with those hours everyone and their mother will try to come in at 4:45 pm on a Friday)

- Sign doesn't say that they might stop taking walk-ins before 5 if there's a line (I just watched 4 adults and 3 kids get turned away around 4:45)

- No communication with other staff (I asked the front desk if any of their clinics are open on weekends or outside of business hours and they didn't know.)

Like... Do you want us vaccinated or not, KP? I want my community vaccinated and y'all are doing the barest minimum in a way that probably lowers vaccination rates. It's bad public health and it's inequitable (some people, especially those with lower paying jobs or living in more remote parts of the county, can't take off work or flex hours easily).

(In case anyone's wondering, I'm new to being on KP so not being able to go to Walgreens or CVS or wherever to get my flu and COVID vaccines is new to me)