Really nervous about first Paed appt on Monday.

[bear73]

Hi

I just felt like hearing some reassuring words as my dd's Paed appointment is looming and the nearer it gets the more anxious I feel.

My dd has just turned 6 and was diagnosed with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) when she was nearly 4. She is also Dyspraxic and we have just found out she has Hypermobility Syndrome in all her joints.

The reason we have a Paed appt is that at the start of Year 1 last Sept my dd was really struggling with her behaviour in school. She was agressive to other children (to the point where 2 parents complained) and also was not paying attention. School did not pass any of this on to me but waited until an OT visit mid Oct (when the OT told me). I was shocked as she has been fine in Reception. Since we found out dd has been fine at shcool, we introduced a new behaviour plan and within a couple of weeks she was causing no problems at school.

I have long thought my dd has Aspergers traits. She has social communication issues, can get agressive if things don't go her way, obessive about things such as where things are put away, collects things, hates change and gets upset by sudden changes.

I suspect it to be mild and sent a 7 page document to the Paed along with the Connors questionnaire we were asked to complete. School also completed the questionnaire and sent additional info, including copying 2 Home Contact Books detailing days at school since Oct.

I didn't mention Aspergers just listed all the issues right back to when she was small. The OT thought ADHD as in sept she was unsettled and not paying attention, I have never agreed with this and am hoping Paed will at least agree to test for Aspergers.

Any idea what will happen at the appt? I am told it is 1 1/2 hours at out local children's centre. What will he do for that long? My dd will be with me the whole time so will be hard to talk openly.

I just feel sick with worry that he will jsut say she seems ok now at school and dismiss us. I am not a very outspoken person and I am not a professional so I know I will end up just agreeing with what they say (and then hate myself for not saying what I beilieve).

Sorry for the rant. Just feeling low and I will be going alone too (hubby can't get off work) so very anxious.

Thanks for listening.
bear

DS has sensory probs not related to ASpergers but whenever we saw the paed they would do various little tests (like games) with him aswell as asking me lots of questions and doing a short physical exam.

TO get you confidence up write a list of what you want to know and what you think they ought to know and go through it with the paed. Practice before hand and note anything that you think is really important.

If they give the brush off to any of it just keep asking until you have a clear answer. Ask them for clarification 'you seem to be saying blah is that right?' or be insistent, 'I understand what you are saying but I feel that it doesn't address the issue of blah' or words that seem confortable to you.

Be confident, let the mother lioness in you kick in and do the best for your child whatever it takes. You can do it, be bold. The worst that can happen is they think you are a bit pushy, so what? However, most of the paeds I've met are very understanding and interested in what you have to say. Good luck

Thanks. I need to be more confident, which is hard when you are not a confident person. It will also be hard to talk about her in that way when she is there in the room. She is a very bright little girl and will certainly pick up on what I am saying.

I did the scale for Asperger's questionnaire online for her and she scored mid to high for nearly every question. Because the OT suggested ADHD that's why we were only sent a Connor's questionnaire and I haven't been given anything do to with Asperger's.

I suppose I hope he is understanding and mentions Asperger's before I have to. If I can get him to entertain the possibility and give us the relevant questionnaires then I will be happier.

I just don't know what to expect and I think I feel worse because I know someone who has seen this Paed and said he was OK for them btu she knows a few people who were not happy with him and were only given a few minutes of his time. We will see come Monday wont we!

Thanks again
bear

Well, it's tomorrow. Feeling horribly nervous and my stomach is in knots everytime I think about it. Just re-read through all the notes I sent the Paed. I don't know why I feel like this - maybe because so much rests on this one persons opinion.

Wish me luck and I will be back on to report what happened tomorrow.

bear
x

Good luck fot tomorow.
Just remember You know your dd best, anything the paed says is just their opinion, if it differs from your opinion it is just that , just a different opinion, they don't know eerything.

You may turn out to have a very supportive paed who listens to you & works with you.
Ours is wonderful & not scary at all.

Go for it!!

Good luck with the appointment.

Good luck. Be bold. The worst that can happen is they think you are a bit assertive- and nothing wrong with that. You know her best and he can't read your mind so speak up. Doctors are just people too!

Thanks everyone. I suppose as I've been told people have had problems with him in the past then I am nervous about that. I will just take it as it comes and hope for the best.

Will update you all tomorrow. Thanks for your replies.

bear
x