Am I seeing the correct person to be diagnose ? very confused

[Thomas130]

Hello All my name is Tom

I requested my doctor to get my tested for aspergers today I had appointment. however the visit was not what I was expecting he seem more concerned with my state of mind and is concern about my level of stress and anxiety. Getting to the end of meeting he wants to see me again I assume for a number of x visit as he wants more information however he didn't really address my concern about that I am very sensitive about noise and lights.

Is this normal to be honest I might be mistaken I was expecting to have do tests and be told they would get in touch with me via letter of phone to confirm the aspergers or not.

[Confused Traveller]

I mentioned the possibility of Aspergers to my doctor several years ago. He listened, but didn't really say anything that showed he agreed or disagreed with me. He didn't suggest an assessment, although I didn't ask for one either.

 

I actually went to the doctor with chest pains last year, and she decided it was probably stress, although I had my heart checked too and it's OK. I was referred to the mental health people, who sent me on a stress management course. The course wasn't very good, but had some useful material, and I realised that I'd had stress and anxiety since I was very young, long before my depression started in my teens. After the course, I asked what else they could do, and had an appointment with a mental health nurse. She suggested Aspergers, and we had two hour long sessions where she asked a lot of preliminary questions. She sent the results to the ASD assessment people for my region, and they put me on the waiting list.

 

So maybe go along with the mental health, stress and anxiety suggestion, and see where that leads. I think the mental health people have far more time available for appointments, and the right ones probably know more about Aspergers anyway.

[Thomas130]

Just had my next appointment booked

Apparently the person I with at the moment is not a doctor but a consular.

Is he a position to tell if I have aspergers. Could someone tell me who you need to see to get tested

[Confused Traveller]

The mental health nurse I saw just collected information she was asked for, and passed it on to the experts. It probably depends where you live how the system works. In Wales there is a specialist service that does the diagnosis. They assess the information sent to them, and decide whether to put you on the waiting list.

[Thomas130]

The mental health nurse I saw just collected information she was asked for, and passed it on to the experts. It probably depends where you live how the system works. In Wales there is a specialist service that does the diagnosis. They assess the information sent to them, and decide whether to put you on the waiting list.

Thank you for replying

 

How many times did you have to see the mental health nurse. After the first meeting he was more interested in my state of mind and not convinced yet that I have aspergers however has not ruled it out

[Mihaela]

Hello Thomas. I haven't much time at the moment, but you must make sure you see a psychiatrist who specialises in autism. A general psychiatrist may know very little about it. It's important that you don't get misdiagnosed. Your anxiety, stress and sensory issues are most likely to be due to Asperger's. A diagnosis of anxiety or depression would be insufficient.

[Confused Traveller]

I saw the mental health nurse twice. She suggested Aspergers near the start of the first appointment, and immediatley started asking the relevant questions. Then she got the rest of the information at the next session. Both sessions were an hour long. After the second meeting she wrote up all the information and passed it on, and within a few weeks I was put on the waiting list, which is 10 months here.

 

I've seen the doctor several times in recent years for depression, and already had counselling, a period on anti-depressants, and been referred to the local mental health workshop/support centre. So I think I've done enough mental health stuff already! It's a slow process, that took 50 years to start getting anywhere, and nearly another 10 to get this far!!!!

Edited March 4, 2015 by Confused Traveller

[Thomas130]

Hello Thomas. I haven't much time at the moment, but you must make sure you see a psychiatrist who specialises in autism. A general psychiatrist may know very little about it. It's important that you don't get misdiagnosed. Your anxiety, stress and sensory issues are most likely to be due to Asperger's. A diagnosis of anxiety or depression would be insufficient.

 

 

 

 

Yeah he did mention that his team don't deal with autism, at the moment I kinda feel annoyed with my doctor because I thought I was being assess for aspergers but he seems more interested in my mental well being than with what i think I have.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Thomas130

[Sally44]

Maybe you need to go back to your GP and ask him those specific questions ie. who are you/have you referred me to; are they going to assess for Aspergers, do they have expertise in working with adults with an autistic spectrum disorder. If they don't, then ask your GP to refer you to someone that does.

[Confused Traveller]

I don't know about other people, but those are the sort of questions I'd have trouble asking, and making sure I got acceptable answers to, with people who aren't on the same wavelength as me. I'd need to ask them in a carefully thought out and written e-mail or letter.

[Thomas130]

I think my best plan for this moment is to write every down for the next meeting in less than 3 weeks. I have spoken about paying for a private assessment however hearing that the NHS will not recongise.

I have to admit I felt good when I went to my doctor I was thinking that I was going to get the answers I was looking for. However I feel somewhat depress. Don't feel like I been treated seriously or don't matter.

[cathcart3303]

I have just been to see my GP and asked for a referral to the local Asperger team who will see if I meet criteria and then refer to psychologist for diagnosis. they have told me that it can take up to 2 years but because of both children being the same as me and diagnosed in teens it may be quicker. Can you speak to local autism group who can advise you how best to proceed or contact the National Autistic Society? I contacted the local Asperger group who told me to write down why I think I am autistic and I also printed off the referral form for the doctor to fill in and send back to the team. The doctor asked me some questions but thought I was very organised to write down my differences and thanked me for bringing the form in. Put it in writing to your GP that you want to seek a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome if you feel they are dismissing you. Clearly state that your anxiety etc is because you are experiencing differently which is why you want the right referral.

 

I had spoken to another lady who has a diagnosis but moved to area and when she joined the same GP practice as I am at they actually told her they don't diagnose Asperger's here. So it can be ignorance on the part of the GP I am afraid.

[Thomas130]

Well I had my second appointment after showing him some material in regards to my suspected aspergers and should get tested but they don't deal with austism

He gave me some information which turn out to be an incorrect number.

Anyway I spoke to an adviser on the austism website who given a list of material to give to my doctor to get refer to the correct people. At least I'm getting somewhere just a little annoyed that I wasted three months because my doctor sent me to the wrong person.

However the lady on the phone from the austim community advise this is a very common problem.

[12341234]

Well I had my second appointment after showing him some material in regards to my suspected aspergers and should get tested but they don't deal with austism

He gave me some information which turn out to be an incorrect number.

Anyway I spoke to an adviser on the austism website who given a list of material to give to my doctor to get refer to the correct people. At least I'm getting somewhere just a little annoyed that I wasted three months because my doctor sent me to the wrong person.

However the lady on the phone from the austim community advise this is a very common problem.

 

What county are you in - I may be able to advise, as I do some voluntary work, which includes liaising with clinicians in southern cou ties of England

[Thomas130]

What county are you in - I may be able to advise, as I do some voluntary work, which includes liaising with clinicians in southern cou ties of England

Hello

 

I am in the west midlands area

[12341234]

H

 

The West Midlands Autistic Society may be able to help - http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/supportgroups- the people that run those will know where the attendees were diagnosed.

 

0121 450 7580

[Thomas130]

I went back to my doctors today and he's going to refer me to psychology I have information of places based on information I gave him from the information the austim national society.

The places were private and is unsure where to send me.

If I go private the nhs will not recongise and no one in the nhs seem to know what to do about it.

Might as well give up trying to find out

[Waterboatman]

Forgive me, I am late to this, just why do you want a diagnoses? I lived most of mine without one, and most people on the spectrum can live quite happily without one.

[Thomas130]

Because I find sounds very distressing especially at work and until I get this confirmed I have got legal protection in terms on asking for headphones or anything

[Waterboatman]

What sort of work do you do?

I used to do telephone and on-site support, noise can be a problem when trying to write computer programs.

 

Being tense and annoyed makes irritants worse, I have a rarely seen temper that can be angry enough to threaten violence, it does not help.

 

Have you tried ear-plugs? I know they are of limited use, I have used locally produced noise that I could stand to blot out that which I could not.

 

Having an "Aspergers" diagnoses can lead to more trouble than it is worth, it could make getting another job more difficult.

 

Forget about legal protection and entitlement to services, its not worth the paper its printed on.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Waterboatman

[Thomas130]

To be honest I'm working hard trying to get my skill set up to start my own company where I can control the enviroment I can't cope in an office enviroment.

[Confused Traveller]

I became self-employed nearly 30 years ago, and wish I'd known then whether or not I have Aspergers. I'd have known the situations where I struggle with things that most people can handle, the things that I see differently, and could have taken advantage of the good things about having a brain that works differently. I currently feel in limbo waiting for a diagnosis, trying to understand why the new business ideas I've been working on recently haven't worked, and if it's Aspergers related, and needing to decide what to do next without some important information that I won't get for another six months or so.

[Waterboatman]

Controlling a profitable company, needs more then someone with a diagnosable Aspergers can provide.

Marry a manager, at least be cosy with who needs to manage your time is a must.

 

I have always been what I am, diagnosable. I tried self employment, IR45 or taxation changes, messed that up somewhat. Elderly mother/parent needs full time assistant?

I ended up driving my mother everywhere and being her support, up to her death.

 

Office environment, are you trapped in a "Job Centre" or "Call Centre"?

Edited April 16, 2015 by Waterboatman

[Thomas130]

Not a call centre exactly I do IT support.

I always been good at managing myself to be honest and everything else it's just noise I can no longer cope with or being near people for long periods of time.

my business would not be it support related

[Mihaela]

We all have our different abilities, limitations and difficulties. I have a high intelligence and intellectual ability, very poor exective functioning and very childlike emotionally. A friend of mine also on the spectrum, has an average intelligence, poorer social skills, good executive functioning and she's equally childlike emotionally. It annoys me when people use the term 'high functioning' for I'm only high functioning intellectually and verbally - not in other ways.

[Waterboatman]

With reference to running a profitable company, we may be good at managing ourselves or whatever we are good at, at the moment. Its "Emotional Intelligence" or understanding and managing people, the other half of the company must be good with people and can be your chaperone. As I said, "marry your manager".

[Confused Traveller]

There can be a lot more to running a business than being profitable. I always thought of my business as not being very profitable for the amount of time and effort I put into it, although I always earned enough to make a fairly modest, but comfortable, living. What I've realised more recently is that it was very successful, as it gave me freedom and a quality of life that few people with a "proper job" have. I just wish I'd appreciated that at the time, so I could have enjoyed it more, and maybe put less effort into trying to make it something that I didn't really want it to be.

 

I was, and still am, a sole trader. I employed a couple of people at one time, but it didn't achieve much, as I'm not that good at organising people, and although my turnover increased, my income didn't. I did help to launch my niece on her IT career though, where she now earns far more than I ever did!

 

More recently, I've been trying to find someone with good communication and people skills to help launch a social enterprise I've been working towards for a long time, but couldn't find anyone. Maybe it's a bit of a Catch 22 type situation, where I need to be a good communicator to be able to find the good communicator I need because I'm not a good enough communicator! This was while I was aware that Aspergers may be the problem, but before it was recognised by the NHS and I was put on the waiting list for a diagnosis. I've put that project on hold now.

[Thomas130]

I'm not planning to make company massively profitable as long as I can get by I be more than happy with that. Not planning on taking anyone on to be honest.

[verbeia]

I can quite understand Thomas wanting a diagnosis, if it opens the door to support at work. There are enough people who are sceptical about the existence of Aspergers, and they are even less likely to believe a self-diagnosed person. I doubt it would make a difference in my own workplace, as medical conditions are generally considered an inconvenience to the company, and anyone who declares them is considered a lame duck who somehow isn't pulling their weight.

 

I'd like a diagnosis because I think it would change the way my anxiety and depression is considered, and treated. At the moment, I'm medically considered to have mild depression which doesn't stop me from working or being reasonable physically healthy, and without obvious cause such as a traumatic past experience, therefore it's not high priority for treatment. The fact I feel extreme distress outside my home, and can't cope with any social contact, falls off the radar.

[Mihaela]

There are enough people who are sceptical about the existence of Aspergers, and they are even less likely to believe a self-diagnosed person.

 

So true, but so very wrong. If we had visible disabilities this wouldn't happen. Unfortunately we don't, and people make too many assumptions.

 

I doubt it would make a difference in my own workplace, as medical conditions are generally considered an inconvenience to the company, and anyone who declares them is considered a lame duck who somehow isn't pulling their weight.

 

Disgraceful! It makes me wonder what the point of the Autism Act can be. If is has no teeth it may as well not exist.

 

I'd like a diagnosis because I think it would change the way my anxiety and depression is considered, and treated.

I'm sure it would. Asperger's nearly always comes with anxiety and depression - due to our extreme sensory processing sensitivities (I don't only mean the physical senses, but emotional too).

 

At the moment, I'm medically considered to have mild depression which doesn't stop me from working or being reasonable physically healthy, and without obvious cause such as a traumatic past experience, therefore it's not high priority for treatment. The fact I feel extreme distress outside my home, and can't cope with any social contact, falls off the radar.

This isn't good enough. You need an autism specialist. Mild depression is hardly the same as high anxiety. Most GPs and general psychiatrists seem to to know very little about Asperger's - apart from the classic mass-media stereotype. I'm still awaiting CBT for my stress and panic attacks when in busy places. They make life very difficult.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Mihaela

[Thomas130]

Had a E-mail from my doctor today he has refer to a specialist who should be able assess, I guess it's just a waiting game now

[Thomas130]

Guys I'm so mad it's untrue find out that my doctor has referred me to the wrong person again.

They told him and never inform me and retired I have spent the last four months thinking I was on the waiting list. He then retired and nobody chase it.

I have had enough of this process obviously I not worth helping according the nhs.


Just been left to suffer.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Thomas130

[trekster]

Write to pals to complain or contact your autism lead for your area.

[Thomas130]

Finally got my apointment for assessment 24th Feb.

However thinking about canceling.

From my point of few I worried travelling to birmingham in a area I don't know.

But from I read you no longer entitle to any benefits and while I employed etc at the moment if I got for future jobs etc I have to list that disability which will hurt my chances. Is there any advantage to being diagnose.

[gmboy]

If you see diagnosed you could get workplace adjustments. Some employers offer a guaranteed interview to people with disabilities - and ASDs are legally defined as disabilities.

 

I'm not diagnosed, so I can't say about a personal difference for me, but if have you been wondering for a long time then going for assessment will hopefully give you some answers. Not just an answer to the obvious one about having AS or not, but (depending on what kind of assessment(s) you undergo) you could gain knowledge about your skills and different perspectives on your life experiences.

 

Some support services and groups are only available for people with a diagnosis.

 

If any other difficulties or issues arise it could be helpful to know this information - and to have it officially recognised - so that the correct approach or treatment can be used. Other people have said that they think it's a good idea to have it recognised before ageing brings about other health issues.

 

What reasons did you have for initially seeing a referral for assessment? Your answer to this question could help you to identify what advantages there may be for you.

 

Anyway, you've waited a long time, so I'm glad that you have the appointment. Now you have a choice whether to take it. So you have one more option than when you did not have the appointment.

 

Do you have any effective ways of becoming familiar and more confident travelling to new places? For example, does it help to see images of the place? Could you follow the route on an online map? Would you do a test run of the journey one or more times in advance of the appointment date?

 

All the best in working out what is right for you.

[Confused Traveller]

Maybe a self-diagnosis is enough for you, as long as you're able to act on it, and people will accept that you do things differently because that's what works for you. But what if they don't, and you're forced to conform even if that causes stress and leads to problems in the future?

 

I think it's worth trying to look ahead to the rest of your life, and consider whether getting a diagnosis now may be something you will be glad you did when you're older, and maybe finding acting being "normal" is exhausting you. Maybe facing the problems with work, and possibly changing the way you live, is best done now, while you're young enough to have plenty of time to change direction. At 60, and in a mess, my plans for a fairly comfortable old age seem to be falling apart, without enough time left to do much about it.