What do you do when this happens?

Trainspotter you have described my problem exactly but I do not know how to help myself.

I have exactly the same problem.

I know I need to make appointments, not only for the doctor but also for car servicing, or anything else. I simply forget day after day, which may be linked to phone anxiety, and the fact with the doctor it is usually a case of needing to know when I am available three weeks hence and that seeing the doctor is not an experience I relish.

Medication I forget to take regularly. And then there are notices in the surgery saying that a lot of trivial conditions can be discussed with a pharmacist to avoid wasting a doctors time, or that only one thing can be discussed per appointment - perhaps not put as bluntly as that but that is my interpretation.  The result is I can have a condition causing pain a nd discomfort for months or years.

i really need someone to make the appointments for me and actually drag me down to the doctors surgery.  If I could remember how to use the online booking that might help a bit, but it still wouldnt help me get to the surgery.

Sounds like the best suggestion to me.

Do you struggle to explain your symptoms?  I know often when I've been, i have left things out because the doctor hasn't asked me a direct question.  So I come away feeling like I've not got anywhere.  There's also the idea that my problem might not be worthy of the Dr's attention. Or I don't realise how bad something is. Yes I agree with others that pharmacist as first point of call. You can also make telephone appointments with doctors too.

If you have difficulties getting to the gp - there's community help with volunteers that will pick you up & drop you off for less than half the cost of a taxi.

I agree with Plastic, 1st port of call would be the pharmacist. I'm really lucky as I've found (finally) a really good doctor who understands autism! she is amazing with my son and I (my sons diagnosed and I'm not)

If you have regular meds and it's just the dosing varies with health, the pharmacy can do all that for you without bothering the gp.

I can just wander in, tell them what I need and I get it either there & then or the next day if they need to order it.

That is very useful. Thank you for sharing. I will think about how I can be more sensitive to my body. My pharmacist is very useful and I have all my medication in weekly trays so that does help. Lots for me to think about. Thank you.

Yes, and the wasting the time bit. Just thought about that. 

I'm aspie so I have a log running in my brain combining what physical things have happened, what food I've eaten, any mild changes to my skin, headaches, muscle pain patterns, bone problems, any medication variations etc.  and when linked to the rate of change of my conditions, I can work out if I'm deteriorating, getting better or just the same.

I don't like wasting the GP's valuable time and, for most problems, my pharmacy will raise a prescription for me so I get what drugs I need within 24 hrs without needing an appointment.

I have serious ulcerative colitis so from being a bit of a 'health wobble' to ICU is about 4 days so I need to be sensitive to my body.

I don’t get to the doctors - I regret every single time. 

I’m never going again. They’re a waste of space. They cause trouble and are basically IDIOTS who spend 6 - 8 years at uni. They don’t really get reality let alone autistics  

NAS39248 said:

My partner is the same

I feel glad that it is not just me. I have a partner who says he will take me but then gets engrossed in other things and doesn't and I am really rubbish at fronting the issue myself so I don't mention it again. The other problem is that in my younger years I never forgot things as I do now and sometimes I just forget that I have not been. It is lovely that you give this support. 

Plastic said:

I have health problems that fluctuate so I often need to map my health to decide if I'm having a blip or am I getting properly ill and need to see the gp.

Thank you - good question but I am not sure which bit. I think that it is the fact that I do not recognize how bad my health is until I am so poorly I do not manage to even think about doctors. I am fascinated by your comment about mapping your health because my health fluctuates too. How do you do this mapping?

Hi

My partner is the same he will not make an appointment or go to the doctor at all. 

I have to make his appointment and go with him or he won't go 

Do you have any one who could go with you to help? 

Whch bit stops you?   Is it the talking to the GP or the worry about your condition or the actual organisation of the appointment?  Are you worrring about wasting their time?

I have health problems that fluctuate so I often need to map my health to decide if I'm having a blip or am I getting properly ill and need to see the gp.