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 :)

Peachy - those tests you linked to up there, how do you score them. I did the aq one added up and divided by 4 but the eq one doesn't seem to work like that (you prob don't remember me but we chatted on the "can't people just be a bit odd" thread. Sorry to de rail thread and thanks

I think that GP sounds awful, not in real world re children's expected behaviour.

But YABU to throw 'autism' into the title just to add a bit of extra 'drama', YABVU

Trouble is we only have a one sided account of what happened at the Drs and are having to guess.

Glad OP seems to have stopped posting.

Spoke too soon

OP do you think it is more likely that your gp refers every child reluctant to have their temp taken for further tests or that he has seen something to concern him?

The thread title is ridiculous and waving autism around in the name of hyperbole is a bit off.

I think your gp sounds odd but it is hard to get any sense of what really happened. A gp who had concerns about behavioural issues should investigate in my book. But I am not sure how it all played out.

Menopausal littlemad name of DS - I used to be madascheese and dh was referred to as mrmadascheese

I'm not scared of assesment, I'm not worried about a DX I just think there are more senstive ways to handle things,

Eagle wings - how random is that comment?

FWIW OP I think your GP sounds shit and there's no way he should be diagnosing Autism or any similar thing in the circumstances you described.

Hoping you might be resting up and relaxing OP, nothing more than that. Other posters have encouraged you to do so, sorry if I offended

FWIW OP I think your GP sounds shit and there's no way he should be diagnosing Autism or any similar thing in the circumstances you described

He didnt diagnose anything though... at all.

I actually think your GP is probably quite a good GP, controversial i know BUT he has taken his time to read your sons previous notes, he has flagged up concerns which must be related to more than these 2 incidents because a GP is not going to waste his time doing a referral for a child who won't have his temp taken. Perhaps the HV has flagged up issues and asked for them to be discussed with you. You sound qquite highly strung about the whole thing and you title is hugely misleading. If your sure their are no problems i would make an appt to go back and discuss when you are feeling better.

'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....?'

Yep, pretty much, lol

Your GP didn't and can't diagnose autism, all he can do is refer to specialists...if there's no issues at all, everything is as it was before you went - except your DS has had a nice wee chat and play with someone.

So yes, I'd come out thinking - that doctor's a bit presumptuous, but really it makes no odds.

To be honest, your GP sounds quite reasonable.
He asked if your child has any issues, as it must be quite significant for the previous incident with the eye drops to have been noted on his file- and he sees the same behaviour again- why shouldn't he mention it? He didn't actually diagnose your child with anything but merely made an observation that your child was displaying difficult behaviour. Refusing to be examined by a doctor at age 5 is difficult behaviour- hes not 18months or 2 is he? He is old enough to understand.

DuelingFanio Mon 21-Nov-11 13:54:17

FWIW OP I think your GP sounds shit and there's no way he should be diagnosing Autism or any similar thing in the circumstances you described

For crying in a bucket of blood - read the thread before posting eh? The GP did not diagnose anything. At all.

DuelingFanio FWIW OP I think your GP sounds shit and there's no way he should be diagnosing Autism or any similar thing in the circumstances you described

The GP didnt diagnose autism though did he - OP has already stated this.

Whoops, this all went a bit pearshaped.

Liza
I think that you perhaps slightly overreacted to the GP, who is either crap at his job or crap at explaining himself - if he feels there may be some behavioural problems then I am sure that there are better ways of discussing it with you. He should be able to explain his suspicions, based on what he has seen. If there is something in DS's notes that flagged his attention, then he should explain this too you rather than being vague and unhelpful.

Listen to Peachy. Go to the assessment, let the experts have a look. If there is any issue that needs addressing, then you can be thankful that it was picked up early. If not, then it was only a wasted afternoon.

I'm with you Liza, for what it's worth. Some people who don't have much experience with children, can easily jump to the conclusion that they are ill behaved, when in fact they are just acting up a bit due to circumstances.

My ds would refuse point blank to have a doctor do ANYTHING to him, and it was always a bit of a battle even to get the stethoscope on his back, open his mouth for the dentist etc. These are NOT behavioural problems, just a reaction to somthing they don't feel entirely at ease about. Doesn't sound like the gp made any effort to put littlemad at ease either.

I can understand why you are getting a hard time about the title, but not about what actually happened.

Some people who don't have much experience with children, can easily jump to the conclusion that they are ill behaved, when in fact they are just acting up a bit due to circumstances

This is a GP who probably sees numerous children on a daily basis, so has the experience to compare one child against the general behaviour of many others the same age, whereas the OP does not have this amount of experience unless she works in a similar field.

The GP may have also looked at the notes, and something has struck a chord with him, so he feels that more tests might be needed. That is what a GP is meant to do. That is what they are paid to do... and one that goes that extra mile to get something tested, is a damn sight better than one who just ignores what could POSSIBLY be a sign of a problem.

There's nothing in his notes the Dr said it was based on this appointment and the notes from the eye test.

I am speaking to Peachy and I'm really appreciative of her advice and support.

I'm hoping I'll be able to continue to access that support on the future.

OP, you have my sympathies. I probably would have done exactly what you have done and got just as much of a hard time for it.

I think that many of the posts here are spot on, why not just go along with the tests? If your right, and your DS is just quirky, then you have nothing to lose, if your wrong then he gets all the help he needs. The fact that he has read the file does mean he is doing his job but it doesn't mean that he is good at it - the people side of it.

I don't think it should be considered difficult for a child of any age to refuse to be examined by a GP or any one else, I'm an adult and I have refused to be examined by a docter I didn't like - I don't have behavioural problems!

Really don't complain. Just get the hell out to a better GP practice; if you complain, it will go against you even more.

OP - the GP may well have had some poor communication skills - you were in the consultation therefore it may have not been what he said but how he said it etc etc which may have got you thinking - this GP is crap - and some of them are - there is one that I refuse to see at GP practice because of their poor "people skills" and other issues.

However, the GP asking for some more tests can only be a good thing - if he is totally wrong - you will feel vindicated, or maybe the tests can lead to other support.

It is hard as a parent to acknowledge if your child is having difficulties - my son had terrible problems at school regarding anger management and socialising. I was in denial for a while, but in the end gave in and agreed to certain measures and son going to a "social behaviour " group - not correct title. can't remember what it was called. Anyway, it was the best thing ever for my son, and over time her resolved his anger issues and is much happier in his friendships.

Hope it resolves soon and littlemad feeling better.

Where did your doctor mention autism?

BTW, I think GP was BU, I also see that you have acknowledged that you put words in his mouth by throwing in the autism thing.

What an odd thing to say (you, not him)

If you actually bother to read the OP, the GP refused to say what the tests were for.

It seems entirely reasonable to me for a mother to assume that autism is what the GP suspected, since he refused to say.