Got our diagnosis today

[Lynden]

I feel like I should be upset or something but in reality I'm really glad that my thoughts/opinions have been validated. Its not a "formal diagnosis", but we saw the main consultant today and she said yes, she he is autistic, with additional learning difficulties - which is exactly what we thought.

 

Next steps are a) continue seeing the therapists we are seeing and B ) go into the specialist centre in Aberdeen for a 5 day stay where they do all kinds of observations and stuff to figure out where best we can help him, the severity etc etc so I think it will be beneficial for us to do that. I get to stay with him for the week though.

 

So all in all today it was a really positive appointment.

 

I do find it hard sometimes talking about it because I do worry people (obviously not on here!) think I exaggerate etc and I guess having a diagnosis helps with that too. TBH I think I'm pretty okay with everything. I know I'll have times where its going to be hard, its pretty hardwork a lot of the time now, and we have a long road ahead but he's my little man, and he is who he is and we love him just the same. He's happy, which is the main thing.

 

So - there we go!

 

Lynne

Edited October 4, 2005 by LLaverty

[lil_me]

<'> My son was diagnosed last week, I went through the rest of the afternoon in a daze, although I knew deep down the confirmation can still knock you for six a bit

 

Regardless of diagnosis as you have said he's still the same little boy you know and love, and hopefully the diagnosis will help you get the services and support he needs.

 

The next steps definately sound promising and I hope that they can help your son by doing these things, especially the specialist centre which sounds interesting.

 

I was told once 'Fight to get a diagnosis, then use the diagnosis to get the help and support your child and family need, then forget the diagnosis and get on with your lives' I think it was pretty good advice.

[Kathryn]

Lynne,

 

I'm glad the appointment went well - sounds like you have a really supportive team there and it must be a relief to have confirmed what you knew all along.

 

K

[baddad]

Hi Lynne-

 

Good to hear so many positive things already coming out of this appointment. As Katherine said, it sounds like you've got a really good team around you there.

Take it easy, if you can - as you say yourself, it's a long road ahead, so take it at a steady pace rather than trying to run it as a marathon.

L, P, and very best wishes.

BD

[Lynden]

<'> My son was diagnosed last week, I went through the rest of the afternoon in a daze, although I knew deep down the confirmation can still knock you for six a bit

 

The next steps definately sound promising and I hope that they can help your son by doing these things, especially the specialist centre which sounds interesting.

 

I was told once 'Fight to get a diagnosis, then use the diagnosis to get the help and support your child and family need, then forget the diagnosis and get on with your lives' I think it was pretty good advice.

Yeah thats true. Today I feel totally flat to be honest. I'm still glad that we did get a diagnosis but I daresay the next wee while will be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.

 

The 'specialist centre' bit is probably a bit misleading. They aren't autism specific but cover a spectrum of special needs but they do have a fantastic team. Basically its just a week of speech/physio/psychologists etc talking with us and observing him 'play' etc to see if we can figure out the best way forward for Logan in terms of helping him communicate and stuff.

 

That advice is fab - I'll remember that.

 

Lynne x

[Lynden]

Hi Lynne-

 

Good to hear so many positive things already coming out of this appointment. As Katherine said, it sounds like you've got a really good team around you there.

Take it easy, if you can - as you say yourself, it's a long road ahead, so take it at a steady pace rather than trying to run it as a marathon.

L, P, and very best wishes.

BD

Thanks Baddad

 

We have been really lucky with our team here so I know that we have a great support team round us to help with the rough bits...I daresay there will be a fair few!

 

Lynne x

[Lynden]

Lynne,

 

I'm glad the appointment went well - sounds like you have a really supportive team there and it must be a relief to have confirmed what you knew all along.

 

K

Thanks Kathryn. I do feel a bit flat about it all today but it is a relief to have our thoughts validated as often I find myself wondering if I make things worse than they are, though my hubby thinks I tend to do the opposite! LOL

 

Lynne x

[mossgrove]

Lynne

 

It's a real mixture of emotions in the early days after a diagnosis, relief that you were right, sadness that the issues are real and are not going to go away, bewiderment and the amount of information there is to take in, and many more besides.

 

You will feel all kinds of feelings obver the next few days, and feeling a little flat after the initial surge of emotion and activity following the doagnosis is perfectly natural.

 

Just remember we are here if you need us.

 

 

Simon

[annie]

Hi Lynne,

 

I found that after the initial shock of the diagnosis had hit me, even though it was pretty clear what the diagnosis was going to be. I became calmer about everything because I knew there was a name and an explaination for my son's behaviours. Before the diagnosis, it was a case of 'well it might be because of this or that' or it might be just me imagining there was something wrong.

 

It sounds like you have a great team behind you.

 

Annie

<'>

[CarerQuie]

I'm glad that you now know for sure what is wrong.Hopefully the week of assessments will bring further clarity.xx