Getting a Dx of AS

[Flightattendant]

Hi,

Hope I'm not intruding. I took the link here from a thread on Chat.

Basically I've been to the GP to ask for referral for assessment for AS, he said 'this is a childhood disease' while checking in his book, but referred me to the local mental health team.

They wouldn't refer me though they did put me back on the nebulous waiting list for CBT due to depression/anx.

Back to GP, no, MH team should refer. We can't. MH team won't.

I'm not sure what to do next. I took the AQ out of interest about 8 months ago, after a thread on MN linked to it, never expecting to score anything out of the ordinary, and got 47. It would explain a whole lot if I have AS and I really would like to know, just for myself if not for others.

Hope someone can advise. Thankyou.

I contacted the NAS btw, and they sent me loads of stuff, which I did show the GP - to his disdain

but I didn't really find out how to get a proper Dx, I'll ring them in the week if nobody here knows any tricks.

www.maxineaston.co.uk/

www.maxineaston.co.uk

Have you thought about reading up on AS? Then deciding on what strategies and changes you could make in your life to help you manage?
Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is fantastic, and clearly written.
There is no cure or medication specifically for AS, so if you've self-diagnosed, the next step is self-help. Especially as you have a completely outdated wassock for a GP.

"he said 'this is a childhood disease' while checking in his book"
No it isn't you @?!** doctorman. You are born with AS, and the symptoms manifest themselves in various ways throughout your lifespan.

Thankyou both very much for answering.

I will check the website out Molly.

Goblin - I've done some reading but not enough...and my overall feeling for a few months has been - 'now i know - what next?'

I'll definitely have a look for the Attwood book. It's as though I finally know what's been going on all my life, but it makes sod all difference to anyone else which kind of defeats the object - it's like they all think I'm making it up, and even if I'm not, they won't bother being any nicer because I have something different about me - I ought to get over it somehow

I have read that there's no cure and tbh I am happyish in myself, about it - it's so familiar as my mother/father are so similar to me. BUT I know that after the initial attempts at being friendly, almost everyone I meet - such as other parents at school, etc - just stops asking me to social things and gives me that 'look' as I oonly take a few days/weeks/months to say something really odd or stupid, which tells them I'm not one of them.

I know 'the look' so well now. It gets very depressing!
Thanks again for being so kind.

A "childhood disease"??? He'd get on well with the paediatrician we saw who told me that AS is language based, and that DD isn't autistic because she makes eye contact .

I have no real advice but wanted to come lend support. My sister did the same as you a few years back - took the quiz (her boyfriend showed her it, so I guess he must have had some idea!) and scored highly. She sent it to us without telling us her score and asked what we got, then told us afterwards. It led to a lot of reading and she just made so much more sense after that.

I'm not sure if she ever mentions/ed it to anyone outside of the family, given how many difficult situations her personality gets her into at work it might help if she did, but like you, I get the feeling that anyone who can't be bothered to research/listen will just think it is some made up excuse in a way of "how have you had this all your life and only just realised" way.

Hi Flight my DD was at CAMHS last week and I said I wanted a formal DX for AS for her because it would help within her therapy. I was told "Oh someone's been Googling" . I mentioned it was connnected to her condition (NF1) and she looked at me blankly. Apparently she hadn't read all the notes the genetic clinic had sent down. Then proeceeded to tell me that another part of camhs had the "big budget" for diagnosing ASD. It always comes down to the money. Hope you get help soon.

When my ex-H saw his GP and told him he thought he had AS, his GP was equally dismissive Flight. H got his positive diagnosis from Maxine Aston who spent hours with us and really knows her stuff. Now he has a dx what does he do with it? Nothing really, but just having that affirmation from a professional has helped our understanding tremendously and explains so much. In our experience the NHS can't offer anything really, and although expensive, the only way to get any sort of help is privately.

Simon Baron Cohen at Cambridge has done a huge amount of work on, and with, adults with AS.

Thankyou very much. Maxine Aston looks great but sadly is a bit far for me to travel - I will try and find someone nearer (Kent)

Flame and Coco it seems there is still a lot of ignorance among doctors. Makes you feel like such a fraud.

I really appreciate your supportive and helpful posts, it's nice to know some people take it seriously

Flame I might email the test to my sister once we are on better terms again. That sounds a good way of testing the water as it were.