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Speaking on the phone, medical & health appointment

Deleted User

I've got a telephone appointment next week to discuss my health. In the past when talking to doctors or whoever,  I've struggled to explain myself properly. I now know this is autism related to do with communication, alexithymia and poor interoception. So now I'm aware of it, I'm more apprehensive than I usually would be as I'm more aware that I struggle to explain myself properly.

So next week on the phone I am going to state from the off that I struggle with open questions and also request if I can email anything retrospectively after the appointment. Also that i sometimes struggle to fully understand how i feel. Of course I'll write a list of what I want to include but quite often this goes out of the window during conversation. I've been keeping a diary but even that is difficult when I have to pinpoint what's going on (ie to what extent). I think sometimes I err on the side of caution and think I'm ok when I'm actually not. I'm just going to tell them I'm AS so find these things difficult.

I need to be able to explain myself clearly or I'm concerned they'll think there's not much of a problem when actually there is and my case won't go any further. 

Has anybody else got any tips or strategies that you use in these situations? I'd much prefer to speak in person or type answers to questions and find initial assessments difficult on the phone. It's ok though once I've got to know someone. 

Thanks.

Parents

  • The replies to your thread, like so many others on health are helping me enormously. I am so not freak of the century after all dealing with doctors. We need to campaign of more GP understanding generally. We have rights to health care too. Good luck with your appointment

  • in reply to Dawn

    I think we just need to own it and say what we need. Now we know we are on the spectrum and have struggled before, now we know why, it's up to us to voice what we need. Non autistic people would do this for any needs they have. Let's not be shy or be backwards in coming forwards otherwise we won't get anywhere.

    I don't have a problem asking for adjustments. It's just something I'm not used to and need to find my way through it to see what works best.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Yep! Luck Beardon argues for specific autism health care in his book about avoiding anxiety in in autistic adults. I'd love to see a special 'autism' GP with a little autism ward attached to every hospital.

    Somewhere where you can e-mail an appointment rather than battle through the receptionist, with sensory friendly waiting rooms and longer appointment times with GPs who get that it's difficult to explain the problem and some permanent advocate on hand to liaise with the hospital to make referrals as easy as possible on us. It would go along way, huh.

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