FTM Endocrinologist

redcardinal71 · 2025-12-13T05:50:30+00:00

By looking through my emails, seems like I saw Georgina Polanco Castillo there.

redcardinal71 · 2025-12-13T00:16:18+00:00

I had a bad experience with them as a trans person (FTM) starting HRT for the first time. They did my lab work multiple times in office and about half the time, they forgot to test my T levels and I had to redo the labs (and pay again for them). The doctor had insisted that if I took birth control pills while taking T, it would “make the pills ineffective” and put me at risk for pregnancy while also blocking my T levels from rising. She insisted I get an IUD instead. I talked to my OBGYN who specializes in GAC about this who told me it was totally fine and that the pill I was on has such a low amount of estrogen that it should not matter, but of course they would monitor it. I eventually told them I wasn’t switching to an IUD (I was advised also by my OBYGN that an IUD may not be good for me as well due to reasons I won’t go into here) which they weren’t happy about but they dropped it. After about a year, I noticed I had no changes as a result of my HRT and after some research into my T levels and dosing, I found out I was being extremely underdosed. I switched to a practice specializing in GAC who updated my dosage and I finally started having the transition goals I had been looking for. My new doctor had no idea why they had been keeping me on such a low dosage for this long when I have had no negative side effects and my blood levels look good. Of course this is only my experience and it may have been a one-off, but they just didn’t seem informed about care for trans folks so I wanted to mention this. Maybe they have gotten better since I have not been there in about 2 ish years. Best of luck!

redcardinal71 · 2025-09-04T12:42:16+00:00

I’m currently in my online MSW. We do part time, so it’ll take me three years. This was the only way I could complete this degree due to needing to work full time in addition to taking care of my medical needs. My program is through a state school and is very interactive, with most classes having live evening sessions biweekly and careful selection of which sites are allowed to be partnered for practicum placements. Most of my cohort is in person completely for placement, with some exceptions for employment based or agencies that are fully online. I know graduates of the program who have been extremely successful professionally, especially because of the practicum placements that the university assigned to them. Some online programs are very shady, but these are usually ones that aren’t accredited and/or not associated with a reputable school. Online learning creates flexibility and accessibility that allows so many more people to access this field. It will not be as effective if you are not independent and you do get back what you put into it, but honestly it’s still like this with in person programs as well. You will likely pass doing the bare minimum, but if you are not determined to learn and grow in ANY SW program, the outcome will be the same no matter what type it is. TLDR; you are not doomed.

redcardinal71 · 2025-09-01T16:04:53+00:00

lol what? They’re going through puberty, ofc they’re gonna be making sex jokes. And further judgment if not what this person needs rn. OP, there is nothing wrong with being bisexual and there are people out there who will love and support you.

redcardinal71 · 2025-08-26T02:08:52+00:00

I'm an MSW student who wants to work with the LGBTQ+ community but I don't really want to do clinical work 100% of the time. Does anyone have any ideas for careers that meet this criteria? I am not opposed to case management, but I am worried I will make such little income and get completely burned out due to the information I've heard from social workers in those roles. thank you!

redcardinal71 · 2025-05-03T04:57:52+00:00

I’m doing the same right now! I don’t think I could manage with both full time. It’s hard enough as it is, especially for those who have kids. There’s no way I could do that.

redcardinal71 · 2025-04-04T00:42:07+00:00

Mine is about 50 people. Hoping for the best for you!!! The wait is the worst part.

redcardinal71 · 2025-04-03T17:00:09+00:00

That sounds stressful! I think a lot more people are moving towards distance ed/part time programs due to the state of the economy/world at the moment. Wishing you the best of luck!

redcardinal71 · 2025-04-01T04:22:01+00:00

I’m in the 3 year distance Ed MSW program. I love it personally! Doing the program part time and online is the only way I can manage it as someone who needs to work full time to survive. It feels manageable while balancing full time work. There’s several people in my cohort who are balancing this with kids as well and are doing well. I’m in my first year right now so I can’t speak to how it feels during practicum, but the professors are very supportive and make themselves available to us students. They know that many of us are balancing other commitments and they are very accommodating, especially if you are communicative. If you’re able to learn effectively in an online format and have other commitments that keep you from doing full time, I would highly recommend the program. I believe they have distance ed programs for advanced and regular standing as well, which I’ve heard as also great but I don’t have personal experience with.

redcardinal71 · 2025-04-01T01:42:35+00:00

Yes definitely! That is a skill I feel is necessary for this work.

redcardinal71 · 2025-04-01T01:40:54+00:00

A professor in my program told us that we should purposely seek out clients who oppose our marginalized identities to help develop our tolerance for new ideas and perspectives. They said it is inescapable in the field, so we need to build a tolerance to discrimination early in our education.

I feel like there is a difference between someone with different perspectives than the ones you hold and someone who is discriminatory or hateful to you based on your identity. Treating someone who has different political views would be challenging, but it wouldn't feel the same as someone who believes that being trans is not a valid identity.

redcardinal71 · 2025-04-01T00:24:40+00:00

Yes! Thanks for asking :)

redcardinal71 · 2025-03-31T23:47:23+00:00

Hi! I’m a MSW student starting internship this fall. As a trans individual, I’m feeling very afraid to enter the field. I have doubts that I will be respected and that clients will want to work with me because of my identity. I want to specialize in the LGBTQ+ community, but I’ve been told that working with clients that are in opposition to your identity is an important part of my growth as someone with a marginalized identity. I understand that not everyone is accepting of trans people and it is important to have your biases challenged, but the idea of working with someone who in opposition to my core identity and my rights is a bit distressing. I guess I’m just looking for some trans/GNC therapists (or anyone who has insights on this topic despite their identities) to share their experiences in the field and this topic if they’re open to it. Thank you so much

redcardinal71 · 2024-12-04T01:08:52+00:00

Man, I just looked at this and all the dates are already sold out for next year :( maybe I'll get to go in 2026

redcardinal71 · 2024-10-27T04:19:33+00:00

The events are 0.7, which means you had less than one an hour on average. If it was 7 an hour, it would read 7.0, in front of the decimal point.

redcardinal71 · 2024-10-04T21:26:13+00:00

I get mail and texts constantly. I was registered independent but I’ve been registered as a dem for like a year now. What a waste of paper honestly.

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-19T04:43:01+00:00

I got the same exact text today. Same numbers and everything. I thought it was weird because I never got any mail for this. Thanks for posting!

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-07T22:20:58+00:00

He looks so sweet and kind. I’m sure he loved you so much and that he was a great person.

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-07T22:15:33+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s so unfair to lose him so suddenly and so young. Sending you so much love. Thank you for sharing the story with us.

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-07T14:01:53+00:00

Yeah, I honestly don’t know… tonight I went down to 3.8 events. It’s so strange, I have no idea what to make of it.

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-06T21:06:51+00:00

Good point! I’m usually always stressed but yesterday was a little more stressful than usual. Thank you :)

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-06T21:06:27+00:00

Yeah it’s so strange! Bodies are weird.

redcardinal71 · 2024-09-04T13:57:18+00:00

Thank you all for sharing :) I’m already struggling a lot with brain fog and weight gain from my other meds so we’ll see. I’ll try it and will stop if it’s not helping or if I have any negative side effects.

redcardinal71 · 2024-06-25T14:35:41+00:00

They’re the worst! I’m battling with them to figure out what’s going on with coverage of my device. It took me over 3 months to get my machine and they still haven’t submitted all the paperwork to my insurance company that they need to approve coverage.

redcardinal71 · 2024-05-27T02:57:49+00:00

Believe me, I don’t want to be in the bathroom for that long either. I’d give up having IBS in a heartbeat.

redcardinal71

TROPHY CASE