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Help with diagnosis

Melj71

Hi. I'm Melinda.  I'm not formally diagnosed although my son is, my psychiatrist and GP seem reluctant to get a diagnosis as "there's no medication or cure" and they are treating my diagnosis of bipolar. 

I want to know if what I believe is true, I have ASD as does my brother, my nephew and my son. I know it won't help me much but I need to know. I'm fixating on it now. I've managed to hold down a job and raise a family until now, I'm 50. I have had 3 failed marriages and never stuck a job out for long. I struggled at school even though I was labelled gifted and highly intelligent. My exam results did not reflect this. 

I struggle to maintain friendships and relationships. Even with my own family. Is there anyone else out there who had a late diagnosis and do you have any advice for me please?

Parents

  • Far too many people are getting fobbed off by their GP when they seek a diagnosis, especially older females who are much more likely to have been overlooked earlier in their lives. 

    If 'no medication or cure' was a valid reason to refuse a referral then nobody would ever get assessed!

    I suspect it has more to do with the financial implications for the GP, rather than the wellbeing of the patient seeking the diagnosis.

    My GP refused to refer me at first, even though I scored extremely highly on the AQ10. He said that attending the assessment would be too much for me, due to my severe anxiety, and that it would be a waste of time. I knew that severe lifelong anxiety was one of the key indicators of being autistic. I was persistent and eventually got referred and received my diagnosis aged 50. 

    If you feel you need to know then keep asking and don't take no for an answer.

  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Indeed.  It's a travesty that finance and resource should come into it.  We have as much right as anyone else to identify who we are and live our lives fully as we are.  We aren't going to get to do that as long as anyone thinks we are just NTs gone wrong who ought to pull our socks up. 

    And late diagnosed women, who have flown under the radar and sort of appeared to cope, are often the ones who suffer the most from lack of support, because nobody sees us.

    Ooooo this does get me cross.  Very cross!

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  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Indeed.  It's a travesty that finance and resource should come into it.  We have as much right as anyone else to identify who we are and live our lives fully as we are.  We aren't going to get to do that as long as anyone thinks we are just NTs gone wrong who ought to pull our socks up. 

    And late diagnosed women, who have flown under the radar and sort of appeared to cope, are often the ones who suffer the most from lack of support, because nobody sees us.

    Ooooo this does get me cross.  Very cross!

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