A day at the VA clinic.....

General discussion of skirt and kilt-based fashion for men, and stuff that goes with skirts and kilts.
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Caultron
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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PatJ wrote:...I often wonder what kind of person thinks, "Gee, when I grow up, I want to be the one that sticks my finger....."
I think you know where the rest of that thought goes.
Yeah, I wonder too why after all the time, dedication, work, and expense of getting through medical school, anyone would want to be a urologist, proctologist, or podiatrist. I worry they might have been the bottom 5% of their class or something.

Then again, I try very hard not to look down on anyone because of their job. Garbage man, taxi driver, janitor, dishwasher, protoctolist, whatever. We need those professions and I certainly don't want to do them so God bless those who do.
Courage, conviction, nerve, verve, dash, panache, guts, nuts, balls, gall, élan, stones, whatever. Get some and get skirted.

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PatJ
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by PatJ »

We live in a time of specialists. My daughter was severely injured in a auto accident. Her left heel was totally pulverized. The doctor who repaired the damage was a Orthopedic surgeon who specialized in the left foot, left wrist and left shoulder.

I asked him, "Orthopedic surgery is a specialty, but I heard that you only work on the left side? Isn't that taking a specialty to the extreme?" His response was that there were more than 400 different operations that he did that were unique to the left foot, wrist, and shoulder.

As for the quality of his work, my daughter was not expected to be able to even walk again, but she recovered enough to run half marathons.

As was stated, don't look down on someone's job. We need everyone to do their part and each part of our bodies needs to function properly. I am glad some people choose the what we sometimes consider less desirable.
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oldsalt1
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by oldsalt1 »

I have a situation. I have a problem with PTSD Part of the VA's treatment includes periodic physic exams .

I have one scheduled for next week . This time it is an outside DR. I am planning to wear a skirt any thouights.
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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oldsalt1 wrote:I am planning to wear a skirt any thoughts.
Go for it; the odds of it causing a problem approach nil.

Good luck with the PTSD. That can get nasty.
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Fred in Skirts
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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oldsalt1 wrote:This time it is an outside DR. I am planning to wear a skirt any thoughts.
Go for it! Doctors are not surprised by much in the way of how people dress. :D
"It is better to be hated for what you are than be loved for what you are not" Andre Gide: 1869 - 1951
Always be yourself because the people that matter don’t mind and the ones that mind don’t matter.
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by oldsalt1 »

I don't have a problem seeing a regular doctor in a skirt. I have been to the hospital the clinic and many other visits wearing a skirt.

What has me concerned about this visit is that I am going in to see a shrink for analysis . and while wearing a skirt is an incidental piece of clothing for the other visits.

The fact that I am wearing a skirt could enter into the discussion.
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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oldsalt1 wrote:What has me concerned about this visit is that I am going in to see a shrink for analysis . and while wearing a skirt is an incidental piece of clothing for the other visits.

The fact that I am wearing a skirt could enter into the discussion.
If the shrink is up-to-date on his work the skirt shouldn't mater one whit, although he may ask if it causes you any distress or if you feel somehow that't you're "dependent" on them (skirts).

"Transvestic Fetishism" [1] -- the formal "diagnosis" -- used to be dished out if a guy had so much as one stitch of across-the-aisle clothing on him. This has since relented a bit among the more enlightened, and the latest DSM stipulates that the practise "must cause the individual stress or discomfort". If he persists or presses it, you're completely within your rights to state, "I thought we were here to talk about my PTSD, not my sartorial sense." -- and possibly find another one that keeps up with the times.

Somehow I rather doubt that your sense of style has one whit to do with PTSD -- and best of luck combating and beating that! [2]

[1] There's that pseudo-scholarly synonym for "cross-dressing" again.
[2] To understate it, "That sh!t is no fun!"
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Caultron
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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Don't lie to your psychiatrist about who you are. Be yourself and if you think he's trying to make you be anyone else, then resist.
Courage, conviction, nerve, verve, dash, panache, guts, nuts, balls, gall, élan, stones, whatever. Get some and get skirted.

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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by Pdxfashionpioneer »

Hello Dan, My feeling is that your wearing a skirt, if not a dress, can only improve your therapy session. Go as far as you are comfortable going with showing your true self.

In the first place, it is relevant because it’s an expression of the genuine Lt. Dan. That alone should help your therapy. I usually go to my therapy in a dress.

Secondly, the first time I went in a dress I called ahead to give him a heads-up. Neither the heads-up nor the dress made any difference to my therapist.

But wearing a dress allowed me to stop hedging about the subject and just in general be more comfortable and open. Both of which are important in any relationship, but a therapeutic one in particular.

My heads-up probably made a difference to his assistant. It was the first time I met her face-to-face. Since then, I've always suspected she purposely or subconsciously stuck around that day so she could see what I looked like in a dress, which of course is fine with me. Though I don't remember a compliment from her! How rude! ;)

In short, you and your therapist have everything to gain and nothing to lose by your going to your next session skirted and, as I noted above, to the most advanced version you feel comfortable sharing.

Good luck with your therapy! Stay with it, it works. Meds and willpower are not enough to manage afflictions like PTSD. You need expert guidance from a trained professional with whom you have a strong, supportive, open relationship.

And by the way, if after your next session you don't feel you have that with your current therapist, ask for somebody else. The VA has lots of shrinks; you have earned the best one for YOU.

If there is any other way I can help you with this, please let me know. As I understand it, PTSD is usually triggered by some specific incident. When you are ready to tell me what brought it on, I will be interested in hearing about it. The more I know about it, the more of your load I can shoulder.
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oldsalt1
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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I had my session with a psychologist . The subject of my wearing a skirt came up a couple of times.

How about this for his conclusion . MY wearing skirts had a beneficial , therapeutic effect when dealing with the stresses of my condition
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by Pdxfashionpioneer »

Now you've got the perfect answer as to why you wear skirts; "My psychologist says it's good for my mental health!"

Gentlemen, While you're turning Kelly green, keep in mind that this was not the response OldSalt1 was expecting! So don't kill him in a jealous rage!
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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Bravo! In the aftermath, and being able to look back with a clear mind, "What was all the stress about?" :wink:

I'm very glad it went well.
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

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I had to go to the Audiology Department at our local hospital this morning. Yesterday in retubing one of the ear moulds the tube in the mould snapped and I couldn't insert a new tube. Cycled there as car parking nearby is a nightmare. Managed to snick out wearing a black skater skirt and no problems with the cycling. The skirt stayed down between my legs and it was a bracing morning. Too warm for a fleece top and not too cold without. In the clinic nothing was said by the female Doctor. The mould was drilled out and I was measured for new moulds. Cycled to work and just nearby donned black trousers and doffed the skirt. A good episode.
I believe in offering every assistance short of actual help but then mainly just want to be left to be myself in all my difference and uniqueness.
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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by greenboots »

Sinned, I too have often snuck out in a skirt or done surreptitious changes before arriving somewhere it would not be welcome. However, I found the extra time involved in locating a suitable changing space and the emotional turmoil of the small deceits was too much. That and some issues which are causing mental and emotional turmoil for us, means a lull in skirt wearing. However, we have a week of self catering holiday, which we have agreed is time to relax, and hopefully talk. Possiwe can have a more reasoned conversation on the topic. Who knows.

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Re: A day at the VA clinic.....

Post by weeladdie18 »

As we have been talking about Biological Conditions and Psycological Conditions ....I got to a point where I was trying to understand my
need to wear a skirt....My G.P. arranged a consultation with the local Geneo Unary Clinic ( you all know what I mean ...G.U.M. Clinic.
It was really a series of lectures from consultant Professors and female medical students....A lot of ground was covered but it did not change my
attitude.....the whole thing is a suggestion that we think there is some kind of problem when there is no problem.
Over the years and more recently on this forum I have found that we all just accept the Idea that we wish to wear a skirt and no one really cares
how we project our life style......I have reached a situation where I am confident wearing a skirt, and always wear a skirt unless I think there
is likely to be a problem. Then I either wear a skirt or do not wear a skirt....no one passes comment either way.
The big thing about " The man in a skirt " is that he is just a man who wears a skirt....I no longer see any issues.....I see the skirt as a male garment
for leisure wear.....My Kilt wearing is a more formal and traditional style of dress. I have been lucky in so far as I have worn the Kilt formally
with traditional Kilt wearers for forty years. The problems start when one tries to wear the Kilt , but does not know how to wear the Kilt.
With regard to the question which was asked ....should I wear a skirt for this appointment ? .... my answer is I am retired and I am confident to
wear a skirt if I wish to dress in that style....The choice is yours....based upon your experience of dressing as a " man in a skirt "
Most of our friends would say,.... " just think it through and go for it . You know how to dress for an appointment. If you wish....
Wear a suitable skirt instead of trousers. .... Best of luck." ..........weeladdie.
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