Accessing Health Care

That sounds good. I saw a trainee GP once in Germany. And she was actually very very good. Competent, efficient but still more open. 

Usually I go for a 15 mins appointments. I write what to say and try to memorize it.

It’’s ok - GPs are quite used to people, autistic and neurotypical only mentioning the real reason for the visit, even if you were conscious of it before the visit, on the way out the door.

out_of_step said:

Indeed. Also, I have real trouble asking for things or i only say if asked directly. I didn't know you could ask for time off work, I thought it was up to the doctor's discretion. I was completely empty and at the end of coping/not coping,, walking out of the GP's door before I thought "I wonder if I should mention it".

I completely understand what you mean! I sometimes don’t provide what is apparently relevant information at various appointments because I have not been asked explicitly!

If only non autistic people could communicate clearly and say what they mean.

Yes, particularly as a list of co-morbidities autistic people can have includes in no particular order OCD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dyslexia, ADHD, self harm, Tourette’s, addictive personality, opposition defiance etc I am also bipolar.

Very good point! There were so many missed signs that GPs or therapists could have picked up on in me, instead of repeatedly prescribing drugs or giving therapy that didn't work.

Indeed. Also, I have real trouble asking for things or i only say if asked directly. I didn't know you could ask for time off work, I thought it was up to the doctor's discretion. I was completely empty and at the end of coping/not coping,, walking out of the GP's door before I thought "I wonder if I should mention it".

I think we also need to bear in mind there are many people who are older and possibly undiagnosed and wish to remain that way. What help do they get? I think if there was really good awareness, it could be picked up that "this person is possibly autistic therefore we need to communicate with them in a particular way". I've seen the anxiety caused when vague information is given to someone who doesn't do "vague". 

Accessing mental health is a big one. There needs to be better screening of autistic individuals (or people on a pathway to / self diagnosed etc) and what makes up their mental health problems. A barrier I've had is in explaining myself to mental health professionals, alexithymia and masking during talking therapies. Even after I have been diagnosed and thought I could advocate for myself I was still masking.

Another barrier is that, despite being incredibly grateful for our NHS staff, I'm very cynical whenever I have to access healthcare due to past experiences. My back is put up before I've started.

It's really difficult because there's so many problems with healthcare provision any way,  it feels like asking for too much special treatment. Although it'd probably save a lot of money in the long run.

Sorry this message is probably more for Dawn rather than a reply to Ann. So in a roundabout way to cut a long story short : we need advocates who can help us communicate ! We need more specialised talking therapies geared towards communicating more effectively with autistics and addressing the needs we have which neurotypical people don't. 

It wasn’t so much discrimination as such - the GPs weren’t familiar with the medication my psychiatrist prescribed

One of my previous surgeries was a training surgery and although you could only get a single appointment the appointments with GPs in training were twice the length of appointments with the fully qualified GPs

This just occurred to me too and I think some practices do it but it would help to be able to book a double appointment when you do actually make it to the gp- so that there is plenty of time to address all issues. 

I think it would also help to be able to see the same gp if possible- at my practice there are frequent changes which makes it harder

I’ve experienced discrimination due to a diagnosis too- in my case it was anorexia nervosa which was a misdiagnosis but it made me realise how much discrimination there is- i didn’t get physiotherapy referral for ages and whatever issue you have they tend to try and just blame it on diet alone. Not saying that isn’t a factor but it’s a very biased approach. I am so glad they rectified it on my records- recognising it as a misdiagnosis and removing it. 

Yes ! This would be good. Because they usually just think it is depression and encourage you to do more things like seeing people or engaging in activities which is probably very counterproductive…

Nate97. This has happened to me in the past;  your post will probably appear tomorrow sometime, once it has been read by a Moderator. (I don't think they work on Sundays).

Ben

This is possibly a bipolar issue instead of an autism issue but immediately after diagnosing me as bipolar my local trust promptly closed my case giving me great difficulties in getting repeat prescriptions as at least two of the GPs in my local surgery told me to go back where I had been diagnosed. Fortunately the psychiatrist who diagnosed me gave me one repeat even though I was technically no longer his patient and one of the other GPS in my surgery knew the psychiatrist and was prepared to set up a repeat prescription for me.

When I could only book appointments by phone at my surgery I just asked to see the Practice Manager and mentioned the Equality Act to her. She didn’t like it but at least twice told receptionists to book appointments for me. Fortunately my   surgery has now drastically expanded the ways of booking appointments, the main one being an online form which should suit me fine.

And recognition of burnout

Great point! I fully agree! 

Also, your point made me think that healthcare professionals should receive autistic led training on autistic experience and the differences between autistic burnout and depression.

Training for all medical proffessionals and staff on recognising the signs for undiagnosed autism would be a good start. For example, an individual repeatedly turning up at the surgery struggling to make sense of why they feel the way they do and repeated prescription for antidepressants not helping.....please ask them to look at the obvious to eliminate autism before mis diagnosing. Please ask them to read the nice guidlines x

I wrote a lengthy reply but apparently it's been flagged as spam or abuse. I used no swear words and a calm rational tone. I guess criticising the NHS in any way isn't allowed? Anyway, the TLDR was I need to be able to contact a GP by email.