Advice please, son waiting for asd testing, has ocd about germs and being sick.

[oneofusisright]

Hi,
My son has had a ocd/phobia of germs that will cause him to vomit for 2 years, its got so bad that he wont go out unless its to his grandparents once a week, will only talk to a few family members but will hide in his room if friends or strangers come to the house and will only come out when they are gone. The other evening he would not turn of his Nintendo DS because he said he would be sick at midnight if he did, I spent 2 hours trying to comfort him and calm him down with relaxation, but only when I got him talking facts about his latest interest, did he calm down. OCD comes and goes but his vomiting fear is always there and rules our lives, he makes up rules like not eating or drinking after 7pm.
I home school my son, he did try school but found it very hard to fit in and had no friends and developed this fear, also before school he was scared of the cinema and found it too much. Also going through a split with ex but because my son wont sleep over at ex without meltdowns, ex has to come round a lot which makes our separation harder. Ex is battling some mental issues himself and is a great dad but cant deal with helping me with emotional support. NHS is rubbish and waiting for asd test, did try getting private help with CBT but son would spent most of session talking about interests and did not respond to CBT exercises.
I have to attend Jobcentre but I could not work because I have to be there for my son, he is 11 but looks and acts younger. Cried hard yesterday under the worry and helplessness. Any Advice please from mum/dads with similar situation.

Son does not vomit but has a fear of vomiting, and has had fear for two years.

Hi oneofus, Sorry you are having such a hard time at the moment.

Is your son seen by a paediatrician? If not I would go to your GP and ask for a referral.

In the meantime, do you keep a diary of your sons differences/difficulties, how they affect him and how you (attempt) to deal with them.

My diary was the most useful thing I had when I was fighting for a diagnosis for Dd3. She is 11 and has Asd.

Hope someone with more knowledge of Ocd comes along soon.

Good luck

Hi oneofus.
OCD is very difficult to manage especially combined with ASD. My ds is 17 and has both the OCD since he was 8/9. He found CBT very hard to engage with and wouldn't work with me either. However he wasn't very keen on being home schooled by me so perhaps you would be able to work with him using a self help book. There is the one Polter recommends and also one produced by the specialist OCD team at the Maudsley.

Have you had any support for the OCD other than the private CBT? If his OCD is as severe as you describe it certainly warrants referral to CAMHS though their effectiveness is very variable across the country.

My Ds was eventually able to access CBT which focussed on the behaviour rather than the cognitive and made a good deal of improvement.

Hi all and thanks for advice, I did go to CAHMS and have been referred to have asd testing, had to do a lot of ringing up until they would let me have appointment which is in January. Any advice on what to expect, I am in Essex.

Found it hard to get son to engage in cbt and find that letting him talk about his interests calm him. Its hard as a mother when you cant do your job and help your child feel safe.

I will start to keep a diary, I have read Tony Attwood book.

I have a feeling it wont be easy getting son the help he needs from nhs and wonder is private diagnosis would be better.