i read somewhere on this site that anyone can obtain thier medical records by writing to the hospital at which surgery occured. Have i got that right?

What if the hospital no longer exists? I was born in a private hospital which closed and was knocked down decades ago.

Any and all suggestions are much appreciated.

thank you
susan

Hi Susan,

Same here. For a long time I thought my surgery was performed at the hospital where I was born. Later I was told by a relative, that they had refused to assign me male there, and my mother had it done in a small private hospital, near where her parents lived in LA.

Just as in your situation it was closed decades ago, and no records were archived or transferred anywhere that I can find. I was told that in such cases often medical records are archived, but after a time they are usually destroyed or lost track of.

I have had no luck in finding the records of my surgery at age 3, but I did get some records of follow ups for "corrections" and a couple of severe kidney infections. Yet these were very scant and being old hard to decipher. BION, doctors notes were made in pencil and very faded, so unreadable for the most part. The official forms in ink print, were very ambiguous making no reference to intersexuality, yet the "treatments" performed certainly confirm they related to IGM.

If I come across any information that will help you, I will let you know.

All the best.

My dearest susan,
This is a problem for many. My doctor distroyed records then killed him self. I am 47 and starting at age 3 went through so many doctors i couldn'r count them all. But at age 12 I was sent to Duke for exaimination..if you want to be polite about it. I returned to be the rat..elephant man and object of studies untill age 21 when I had corrective sugery to allow me to at least live in the world. I am one of the survivers...married twice where my past didn't effect things and dating again, hoping to find a husband again to grow old with. No one knows unless I choose to share it, and expericence has taught me to keep it to myself untill I feel it must be discussed for health tratment or to form am honest relationship with someone that must know in order for them to be given the chance to accept or decline a longterm relationship. Beware...There are little or few laws to protect you. I still have not been able to get a corrected birth certificate and am in the process of going to great lenghts to do it. I feel for you.
But know you have others out there who are survivers and I plan to tell it all in my book in the near future. Only recently have I even found a venue to try to help and communicte with others with simular conditions. I am a DES babie. ADHD...and many other health concerns. I was the test surgery...thank God I am able to have happy normale sex and am well adjusted to spite my family..and others who would tear me down. Some doctors really can help and aren't blind.. but be aware they are few and far between. You have my prayers.
Autumn:)