ED assessment what happens?

[lamacorn]

I posted on here before about my GP referring me to the local Ed service.

Referral has now been made and the ED service rang me today. Literally a day after my GP made the referral!!
A nurse asked me some questions and said she was sending a letter to me and someone would ring me with a date for an appointment for an ED assessment.

Does this mean they accepted the referral? I was quite worried they wouldn't.

Any experiences of what happens at an assessment? How long does it take? Is it with a nurse or a doctor?

I wanted to ask her but I was too stunned at getting a phone call so soon and she'd asked me all these questions About the ED so I was all out of sorts and didn't ask.

They accepted the referral, and the assessment is to see what support you need and whether they can provide that for you within their service.

I have had 2 assessments in different counties.
One was with psychiatrist and ED nurse
The other was with psychologist and dietician within the ED team

Both assessments were pretty similar and lasted about an hour.
Lots of questions about my history and current behaviours. They will go at a speed you are comfortable with and while they may gently encourage you to be open, they will not push you.
Some physical checks (height, weight, standing and sitting BP). I'd been asked to have bloods and ECG done independently.
Info about what I would expect.

After the first assessment I was told what would happen next (appt with psychiatrist and ED nurse), but after the second assessment they needed to discuss in a wider meeting. I think this reflects the different way different counties operate.

I received support from the first lot within a fortnight of my assessment. For the second I heard pretty quickly that they would offer me support, but then lockdown happened and I didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks, but once remote appts were organised it's been regular since then (in fact I have a call in 20 mins).

Thank you @TheOrigBrave
That's really useful.
The service where I am is a totally separate all age ED service. That only treats EDs.
Whether that's good or bad I don't know.
I suppose it's good they called me immediately.
I'm waiting to see what happens with the assessment and when that will be.
I'm really scared about it today.

Being a bit scared is to be expected. EDs are such secretive disorders.
They said "it's ok we've heard it all before", which I understand, but they haven't heard it from ME.

I'm struggling and right now don't like myself much.

If you are ready to recover the support is there. I've met some of the kindest people.

Thanks @TheOrigBrave
It more that I don't think they'll actually understand what it is I'll be trying to explain to them.

It's just all so hard.

@lamacorn have you received a date for you initial assessment yet?

How are you doing?

Hi @TheOrigBrave
I've had the assessment. It was yesterday. Very difficult. Had to leave work, sit in my car by the road side and talk to someone for an hour and a half. I had to move my car twice during the call as well. So it wasn't great.
I now have to wait for them to have a meeting and her to ring me back to let me know what they decide.
I don't have any more information at the moment. I don't even know if they'll be offering treatment at this stage.