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First appointment with GP to discuss Autism referral - any tips?

PetitePip
over 1 year ago

Hi All! 

I now have my first appointment through to speak to my GP about a referral for Autism (and ADHD) in late June. I'm both excited and anxious to get the process started. I've heard bad things about trying to get diagnosed in my area so I wondered if anyone had any tips for how they made sure that their GP took them seriously?

I'm an adult female which I've heard means that symptoms can present differently, the research isn't as grounded, and someone I have spoken to said they really had to fight to be diagnoses even though their difficulties were quite obvious (because they were female). 

I'm pulling together a research pack before my appointment, which admittedly is partly for my own use, I like to gather my information together to make sense of things  (instead of the deluge of open tabs and sporadic notes that I currently have on my phone). As part of this pack, I'm planning to identify what difficulties I am currently experiencing and how it relates to Autism (or ADHD), what difficulties I have experienced in my childhood (and how they relate again), any masking behaviours I have identified, the impact on the different areas of my life, and then the PDF files of several quizzes that I have done on this page (https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/). I did a bunch of tests and nearly all of them showed I had Autism. 

Oh - I'm also going to identify what help I've received in the past as well (I've had a few forms of therapy) and am currently paying for private therapy. My therapist agrees that I have Autism and ADHD based on what I've told them (though they aren't qualified to diagnose me) so I'm hoping that will help too. 

The plan is that I can leave a copy of that pack with my GP so they are actually informed when writing the referral because I know I'll go to pieces the moment I'm actually in the appointment. I get emotional very easily and it's so difficult to explain what's going on when you're crying - especially when under the usual GP appointment time pressure. 

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Many thanks and take care

Parents
  • over 1 year ago

    Have a look at the diagnostic criteria for autism in the  ICD-10 and The DSM-5 manuals. Try to fit your traits and history into their sub-groupings and make sure you cover all the necessary ones. Also, you will need to show autistic traits going back to early childhood and that your autism has a deleterious effect on your day to day life.

Reply
  • over 1 year ago

    Have a look at the diagnostic criteria for autism in the  ICD-10 and The DSM-5 manuals. Try to fit your traits and history into their sub-groupings and make sure you cover all the necessary ones. Also, you will need to show autistic traits going back to early childhood and that your autism has a deleterious effect on your day to day life.

Children