GP has just diagnosed Littlemad with Autism, on an appt about sinusitis

[LizaTarbucksAuntie]

Littlemad is down with a virus.

Against my better judgement I took him to the Doctors this morning (recently a doctor at this practice refused to accept me saying I was stressed not depressed and sent me away to ask my husband what he thought)

Anyway, GP pokes a digital thermometer at littlemad who rightly (in my opinion) goes 'what are you doing with that?'

Gp says: Does he ALWAYS behave like this? I say no, he's poorly this is out of character...he says hmm and he made a fuss about having his eyes tested didn't he? Have you had any tests done on him? His implication was littlemad has behavioural problems although he then refused to say what sort of test he meant...

I bristle a little to be fair and say no Gpd says, but he's very 'difficult' isnt he. Now Littlemad is a darling and fairly quirky, he's very bright and gets quite focused on things.

Neither he nor I have slept much for the best part of a week.

Now I'm not going 'he's so perfect he can't possibly be autistic' but there is a time and a place for having a conversation of that kind and it's not:

1. the first time you have met us
2. During a consultation about SOMETHING else
3. APPROPRIATE UNLESS I'VE ASKED FOR YOUR ADVICE

Am very cross.

really, very cross, if I wasn't so tired I'd be dangerous me :)

..so he didn't actually diagnose autism then, did he?

Are you ok OP? I think this thread is actually telling us more about you than your DS or your GP....

I don't think autism was even mentioned during the appt was it??

Most odd....

did he mention autism or just behavioural problems? They are different..my DD has autism but behaves quite well most of the time (so far), just in her own particular way.

Nope. GP has rung back he did mean behaviour tests and although he didn't dx with autsim (you're quite correct to point that out) he has confirmed that a child who would not co-operate with having his temp taken and who wouldn't co-operate with an eye test has, in his professional opinion got behavioural problems.

I think YABU in automatically saying autism when the gp said behavioural problems. From experience, it would be the right place to mention it, if by the notes he has concerns then when should he bring it up? Just because you where there about something else means nothing.

What's at the root of your sleep deprivation, OP? It is such fucker. Do you have someone who can help you get a couple of hours extra kip? I think it would help you a great deal.

because as far as I'm aware there is nothing wrong with littlemad

Then great, because any tests will come back as fine. There are parents on here who are begging for their children to be tested, because they are sure there is something wrong with their child, and need to know.. but ultimately you are not an expert, and neither is a GP. Sometimes a GP will spot something that others have missed too..

There is no need to be so defensive, and your first post does imply that you have a problem with GPs in general, which may be clouding your judgement here.

If a child is behaving in an unusual way the first things they check are eyesight and hearing. Poor hearing in particular is often diagnosed when children don't behave well. My friend's child was very difficult and it turned out he had blocked ears.

Now I'm not saying that your child is difficult or behaving unusually or anything - I am pointing out though that when a doctor thinks tests and is looking at behaviour it is not logical to immediately think he means autism.

I think you have over-reacted TBH.

My DS1 always asks what the dr or nurse is doing. He's never difficult about it, just interested I guess. He had his temp done last week, had his throat looked at and asked why the doctor was listening to his tummy.

Not once has anyone suggested he has behavioural problems just because he asks what the thermometer is going to do.

It just seems strange to me.

There are a million reasons for behavioural problems that are not to do with autism.

You have jumped to conclusions.

You're damn right I'm defensive and you're damn right I'm in denial because as far as I'm aware there is nothing wrong with littlemad.

There is nothing wrong with autistic people either.

Right so you went to a Dr (who is not in fact the Dr you mentioned who was spectacularly rude to you) and he mentioned getting some tests done.

He didn't specify what those tests were. You didn't seek to clarify during the appointment.

He did not in fact mention autism or indeed any other diagnosis.

I am afraid I am going with squeakys assessment: denial and defensive.

GP has probably been on a day course about Autism. You need a lot more than that before paeds will be happy to have their clinic time wasted.

Get some sleep. And tomorrow, change GPs.

ok. So the gp, based on bugger all evidence, has suggested behavioural problems.

No problem.

Take the referral. Your son will be seen by experts, people who know actual behavioural problems when they see them.

Your son will not be diagnosed with something he doesn't have.

If you dig your heels in and refuse assessment, this will cause more problems than shaking your head at the GP, taking your son along to the assessment and wasting a few hours of your time.

If, otoh, your son is diagnosed with something, by a team who are qualified to make such diagnosis and after an appropriate period of assessment - you can be assured he does in fact have a problem.

But since you know that he does not have any behavioural problems - they will turn round and tell you so, a letter will go back to the gp saying there is nothing at all the matter here, and the gp will get off your back.

I think maybe contact MNHQ and change your thread title.
This thread might go better then.

I don't understand what autism has to do with any of this?

When your GP asked if your ds had any tests - was he not still referring to the eye tests? I know that at the age of 5 most kids will have had eye tests, hearing tests and often dental checks. So if he was reading his notes, could he not therefore be referring to the general health checks that every child receives?

I would be more annoyed that a doctor called my child 'difficult'. I've had mine squirming on my knee, being restrained by me, whilst the GP took his temp and looked down his ear. As for the MMR booster - dd had to be held over my knee whilst the nurse tried desperately to get the needle in, during which ds fell over, banged his head and added to the screaming.

Now THAT'S difficult!

You have presumed a lot about autism and I wonder what makes you think the GP would be thinking that? Has autism been mentioned before in relation to your son?

But OP who mentiond autism?? From your title it was the GP and now it seems it wasnt - so whats going on?

I think maybe contact MNHQ and change your thread title.
This thread might go better then

I disagree, because the thread itself would make even less sense then.

I bloody love AIBU - there nothing expect black and white here.

I was wrong to use the word Autism because I do know behaviour problems dont equal autism and I'm pretty happy to ake that on board.

I used dramatic language because I was feeling ranty and cross with a GP who has without any prior knowledge of littlemad just thrown out that he (and he has confirmed that) thinks littlemad refusing to have his temp taken is unaccepatable behaviour from a poorly five year old and has just confirmed on the phone that because of this he thinnks littlemad has behvioural problems and needs 'testing' (and no he wouldn't specifiy further than 'behaviourally')

Does no one else think this is a crap GP? which is what I think I'm saying,

Just had a thought OP - is it you that is perhaps worried about your son having autism and not the GP but when GP mentioned tests or whatever this has triggered a fear in you?

OP has mentioned her child is "quirky", and gets too focussed.

I truly think that the OP has some underlying fears that there may be a problem with her child, but is fearful of having any tests which may confirm this.

Tests are there for good reason. GP's rarely send children for tests for fun! Something has given this GP enough to feel that perhaps getting something checked out, even if just to rule it out, would be an idea.

I can understand a toddler panicking and refusing to have their temperature taken, but a 5 year old is not usually bothered by a thermometer.

oh FFS really duck dodgers?

Bloody bear pit.

Are all of you honestly saying - and I take on board the point about putting words in the GPs mouth about Autism - that if your GP suggested behvioural problems the first time he met your child because of a refusal to have their temp taken you'd go, oh no that's fine....?

really?

I've got some grey for you OP.

your GP was unreasonable for not answering your questions about what you went in for.

you were unreasonable for painting him as incompetent and overbearing for wanting to explore a possible issue he has spotted with your DS.

You need to look at why you have overreacted in such a giant way - as another poster has said, this says more about you than the GP.