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Is my DS's Paed losing the plot?

10 replies

misscutandstick · 13/02/2009 08:13

DS5's Paed has a brilliant reputation. He has done LOADS of pioneering work in many fields (not physical green fields, i mean the medical ones ) he was one of the team who discovered the protein which caused C.J.D. Has found the gene which causes one of the cancers of the colon. Discovered the method of finding the 'blue babies' (newborns with cetain heart conditions) at birth. Apparently he has 3 papers being published this week, and is often featured in the B.M.J. and many more besides. Incidentally as a result of this reputation hes good to have on board as he clicks his fingers and everyone else jumps! Referrals get done quickly, appts arrive, people just seem to try harder.

However...

When we first took DS5 to see him (well actually the second time, the first was for FTT) for total lack of developement, we said we felt sure he had Autism. He denied it and said what a lovely chap he was (yes he is, that doesnt mean he isnt autistic). 18mths later... We have seen Paed 3/4times this past couple of months for varying things and each time he has said 2 things: A) Oh, you have 5 boys/sons? and looks quite surprised and almost pleased(!?!) AND ALSO B) "has autism been mentioned? what do you think?"

The paed is retiring next year, and i think he may have memory problems - after all, it is unusual to have 5 sons, and even with all the patients he has, you would think that after 18mths of seeing us he may start to remember? and that i shouldnt have to remind him (it always crops up, ie does he have older brothers?) He DOES remember and almost talk fondly of DH when hes not there (DH was still growing at age 21, way after puberty had finished which is very unusual apparently), so he remembers some bits about us.

So i wonder wether hes trying to tell us that he thinks that DS5 HAS autism, or wether hes forgotton that he may have already mentioned it several times already and is wondering wether or not i still think he is. I know no-one can answer this with any certainty at all, its just been bugging me.

Again incidentally i do think that DS5 has autism, but not a 'pure' or classic autism, i think it may be as a co-morbid condition of something else. as he has LD and GDD too. Sorry for the ramble, just wanted to vent.

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sarah293 · 13/02/2009 08:42

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cyberseraphim · 13/02/2009 09:13

DS1's Paed was surprised he can't write ( I know some NT 4 year olds can, it's not impossible) but why would she think a child with speech problems would have moved straight to writing - He's still pre school btw

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MarmadukeScarlet · 13/02/2009 09:30

I regularly used to get letter's with 'Peter continues to ...', erm that isn't his name!

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misscutandstick · 13/02/2009 13:01

OMG, perhaps its an epidemic! I know that lots of 'professionals' dont know arses from elbows, im was obviously quite naiive in thinking that it didnt extend to Paeds...

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FioFio · 13/02/2009 13:21

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misscutandstick · 13/02/2009 13:35

actually Fio, me and DH have had exactly the same thoughts, brill with stuff you can see, perhaps not with the brain stuff. But he is EXTREMELY well thought of, and if i ask for a referral to another doc, i rather feel we wont be welcomed with open arms at rejecting the 'marvelous' Dr W.

We have been 'referred' to the CDC, where we got fortnightly hour SALT, and portage too.

But, as he is leaving in the next few months, and will probably be replaced with a fresh faced newbie, who will probably be slightly more up-to-date on cerebral issues we will leave it until new doc arrives before persuing that avenue again. I think at the moment DS5 is getting the help he needs and I am wracking my brains to think if i need anyone else involved before his Paed retires as i think unfortunately the newbie wont have the resources that the current one has .

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cory · 13/02/2009 13:41

We've had all sorts of problems with paeds.

The one who "diagnosed" sexual abuse because nothing was showing up on X-rays, so dd's pain couldn't possibly have a physical cause. (ever heard of soft tissue, mate?). Therefore had to be caused by a major trauma. And what traumas happen to children? You're right- could only be one thing!

The one who translated my statement "dd only uses the wheelchair when she absolutely has to as she doesn't like being in it" into "X is currently enjoying being pushed around in a wheelchair".

The one who told dd how lucky she is to be hypermobile just like David Beckham (yeah, always scores from his wheelchair, doesn't he?)

the one who decided 3 years post-diagnosis that dd probably didn't have JHMS after all, as she shouldn't have that level of pain from it (but thankfully went to a conference shortly afterwards and changed her mind)

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jenk1 · 13/02/2009 14:46

oh dont get me started on paeds we,ll be here all day,oh well ok just a few but not all.

DS

the community paed who knew he had AS, "its important that you ALWAYS look in peoples eyes when you talk to them,and dont look down"

Translated to
DS has not difficulties maintaining eye contact.

DD,s paed

"i will refer her for an MRI to confirm the diagnosis of hemiparesis"

translated to

"im not arranging an MRI scan at this point as i think it will upset her too much"

but the best one of all was the psychiatrist who messed up DS,s AS dx,t first he said yes to it after spending time observing him then when he said no his reason was

"he didnt want to interact with me in any way shape or form and seemed to be more interested in the train set"

DS was 9 at the time and hadnt been playing with train sets for about 3 years.

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ChopsTheDuck · 14/02/2009 11:34

I once had a report that called my son by three or four different names. Was rather worrying really cos it looked like she had just copied and pasted parts of other childrens'reports and not bothered to change the names!

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misscutandstick · 14/02/2009 13:51

complete and utter ineptitude! and we have to trust our childrens lives with these people???

Must admit to having a giggle at some of these posts, but & [anger] @ Corys Paed!

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