Autism Alert Card

I read the other day in someone elses thread about Autism alert cards and i thought to myself oh that sounds useful so i went and had a mooch online to see what i could find out and i found this web site

http://www.arghighland.co.uk/arghcard.html and after reading about the I am Autistic or I am On The Autistic Spectrum cards i thought that would be really helpful so i ordered one now there are a few ways you can do it via cheque and letter or pay online with paypal which is what i chose it's only £1.85 and my card arrived today literally 24hrs after ordering and today i had to go to hospital this afternoon for an xray and i showed the receptionist my card she was really nice she spoke slowly and asked me if i wanted to wait in a quiet place as it was busy and noisy and there was a few children screaming and running about they also got me in for my xray quickly and she must have told the radiologists as he was really nice explaining everything he was going to do and asking if he could touch me to position my arm it was really so less stressful than i was expecting and all thanks to that card so if you think it could help you i definitely recommend getting one they are plastic like a credit / bank card and fit in your wallet purse or buss pass holder etc below is copied from their website and a picture of the card

ARGH Autism Alert Card

The ARGH autism alert card designed by autistic people and is available to all autistic people, children and adults, across the UK and beyond.There are now hundreds of ARGH autism alert card holders across the UK and we are getting enquiries on a daily basis.

Our intention is that it can be used in all areas of society, shops, libraries etc: not just with emergency type situations. One holder used theirs in the shops when they were stressed looking for money the assistant was getting agitated and tutting, on seeing the card the assistant calmed down and stopped being unpleasant which gave the card holder time to gather themselves.

Made in a credit card style from high quality plastic,the alert card fits easily into a person's wallet, purse or pocket, designed to be easy to carry, it acts as a visual aid to assist both the person carrying it and the person to whom it is presented. After 5 very successful years we have decided to update our card, over the years we have had suggestions and by far the most asked for is an extra line asking not to be touched. We have also updated the card to be consistent with the language we use at ARGH so it now says "I am Autistic" on both sides we have kept the overall design as this has proven to be incredibly successful.

  • My psychiatrist has specialises in autism and is a reasonable guy. He always says: 'we can try or that - advantages are... disadvantages... med is originally meant as medication for x'

    And I don't get anything shoved down my throat.

    He lets me get the meds and it is up to me whether I take them or not.

  • Most quacks are clutching at straws - dose you up, off you go, next patient please.

    Thje problem is my AS mask meant I looked fine to them - I could present as 100% functioning.

  • Strange they prescribed you meds like that when your work is dangerous. How is that possible? Didn't the box have that 'influences reaction time' thing and the 'don't use when driving, using machinery' label?

  • Can't be depressed if you can't think straight.

    They put me on a whole load of different anti-depression drugs over the years but I couldn't function - I was away on planet Zog and I felt unsafe. Full on zombie mode.

    However, my job was extremely dangerous so I couldn't live in a fog like that - so many ways to accidentally kill myself.

    I'd rather be depressed and in control.

  • That is actually one of the reasons why I stopped. The sertraline especially got me in some kind of high. No more negative thinking *insert music*. But also no more paying attention and being alert. I had a 10 month old at the time and I couldn't take the risk of something happening. It was like being awake without having woken up.

    It got too dangerous for me.

  • I found naproxen gave me chronic acid reflux but you use what works mine got teamed up with a very strong dose of gabapentin and setraline but I couldn't handle the zombie feeling so just put up with pain. They offered sleeping tablets but with daughter being asd and never sleeping that is just a recipe for disaster! 

  • There are many new painkillers out there these days and some can help with autism related troubles coincidentally. Go see your GP and discuss both.

    I have a GP who prescribes easily because he inows he can trust me Relaxed

  • I don't get addicted fast. My body goes oversensitive to a med before.

    But like many meds both codeine and tramadol can be very addictive.

    My husband took codeine for years and had no problem stopping. I took a high dose of tramadol (alternating also with diclofenac and codeine) for quite some years and stopped without issues.

  • I'd try changing for a while. 

  • The Tramadol was not meant for the autism. It was prescribed for arthrosis :-)

    But I found is has an effect on my nerves.

    I actually found a research study saying it is sometimes used in kids with autism!

  • I find that too. You get used to meds after a while and need to switch.

  • For me it has a different effect. In a way very interesting how meds have different effects in different individuals.

    I take one Tramadol/Paracetamol 37,5mg bla in the morning and it helps to soothe both chronic pain and my nerves.

    It doens't make me suck this way and if it does I stop and take Diclofenac, which knocks me out a tiny bit. And YES not meant as a med for autism. Smile

  • yeah i know i had an operation on my stomach a few years ago and had to stop taking tramadol for a bit the withdrawal wasn't pleasant im not sure what else i could take i have quite bad osteoarthritis no cartilage in my knees so i can't manage without pain meds

  • You need to be careful - some people have great difficulty reducing Tramadol as it causes dependancy - and withdrawal can be terrible (I'm lucky, I can stop & start with no effects). Talk to your doctor about alternatives so you can mix & match in a way that works for you.

  • yeah she wasn't diagnosed with dyslexia till she was 60

  • maybe i should do that plastic ive been on 300mg tramadol a day for 5yrs now

  • Couldn't get on with codeine - Naproxen is my alternative of choice - along with Paracetomol & Ibuprofen..

  • that's what i was curious about when you said autism meds i get what you mean now you were taking those for side issues that run along with asd i take olanzapine 15mg for psychosis mitrazapine 45mg for depression 300mg tramadol for pain and various others as well

  • Yeah I'm supposed to take 200mg plus codeine during the day and if I take what I'm supposed to then I find it loses its effectiveness been alternating for 9 years now

  • I take Tramadol - up to 400mg per day for the chronic pain I live with. I take it for a few days or a week at a time and then stop taking it for a while and use different pain killers to make sure it maintains its potency for me - I don't want to get resistant to its useful effects.

    I don't really get any psychological effects using it - just pain relief. I know other people who can't use it because of the nausea or they get totally spaced out on 50mg.

    It works exactly as it should with me.