Hiya,
Many apologies for my absence - it's been quite the rollercoaster for me.
OK, so here goes with the story.
So I saw the first "consultant" back in January and between myself and my Mum - we went through my whole life story, which is very long and complicated (so not going there). I am going to call them K and V so not to use their actual names.
We thought that K (first "consultant") had actually understood what we had explained and she said she would get in contact after she had gone through what we had discussed with V (head psychologist) and after explained that I am not good on the phone so please could she email - which she "promised" she would do.
Needless to say, at the end of February, whilst Mum and Dad were out looking at a newer car than the one we had at the time, and whilst I was waiting for a video call from UC, K phoned up and basically said that I was NOT autistic and all of my issues came from being traumatised at school. This came completely out of the blue and I have to admit, I went into a full meltdown at her, screamed that I was NOT going to speak to her until she had contacted my Mum (which she never did), phoned Mum up tried to explain and literally fell into a crisis situation.
The next day, Mum phoned up my own doctors surgery - and we managed to make an appointment to see a doctor who I had full trust with and then she treated me for a hot chocolate and tea cake at my favourite garden centre.
So, when we went to see the doctor for my appointment - she was brilliant and couldn't believe that K had given me completely the wrong diagnosis - so went for an urgent second opinion. This was processed very quickly and I had an appointment the next week to see the Head Psychologist - V.
On the day of the appointment - I was shaking all over and didn't really speak much and didn't even give V any sort of eye contact - basically, I felt distrustful after what happened the first time.
V went through the draft letter that was drawn up the first time when I had my appointment with K. Mum and I were completely surprised as half of the letter turned out to be completely wrong - so no wonder I got the wrong diagnosis with K. V said she would change anything that Mum and I disagreed with and actually one of the parts that she crossed right through completely, actually made the ASD diagnosis factors start to match up! V said I could take the draft letter away, and gave me her personal work email and said to email her anything else that I didn't think was right with the letter.
I waited until Mum and Dad came back from their weekend away (as they were on a training weekend with St John Ambulance) and then Mum and I went through the letter bit by bit and anything we disagreed with we put in the email back to V - as long as lots of other things that were not even mentioned.
Once she got it, V emailed me back saying could we go and see her the following week - as in Thursday 8th May.
On Thursday, I have to admit, I was a nervous wreck at work (which is surprising considering my workplace is a safe-place for me) and was completely shaken up and very anxious by the time I got to the appointment.
V could see how I was feeling - so she got straight to the point and I got my confirmation that I actually do have ASD!! (so take that K)! But what V also said is that K had mis-diagnosed a second client in the past and V had got a meeting next week to point this out to K.
When I got the diagnosis - I have to admit, it was only then that I was able to look V in the eye and I thanked her as she had obviously seen through what was initially written in the draft letter and she understood how I was.
I was even able to show her what part of my job was at work - and explained about being almost hyper-focused on the project I was (and still am) working on.
Even though I had already 'self-diagnosed' myself with ASD, it now feels really strange with the ASD being officially confirmed. I've only managed to tell a few friends of mine, but I am waiting for the written confirmation letter to come through before I show it to UC, work and college.
Also, have to admit that part of the reason why I've been absent over the past few months - as well as everything above - I wasn't sure about what to really say to people on here - especially in the Autistic Adult section - so I had hidden away for a while, but hopefully will be back on here more often now.
Sorry this has been so long - everything has just come out and it now feels right to tell my story.
Hope all of you are well and enjoying the sunshine.
Mweekie xx