Published on 12, July, 2020
How do people deal with hospital appointments? I don't have much experience with them but they make me really anxious. I've been referred for a few since a doctor's appointment on Friday. I'm really worried because I don't know exactly what will happen or where to go etc. I'm also worried they are going to find something wrong so anxiety is through the roof at the moment. I also hate being touched so this isn't helping as I know they will have to touch me in order for the appointments to go ahead. I've got the dates for 2 of the appointments but there is also a 3rd. It should come through on a letter but I get worried that it won't come and I'll miss it but I feel silly ringing up to ask. It hasn't been very long I realise but the doctor did say the appointment should happen within 3 weeks. I also will have to ask for time off work which I hate. The whole thing just makes me feel physically sick. Does anyone have any good strategies for dealing with this stuff?
Do you have an alert card? I have an extreme sensitivity to flourescent lights. I also don't like being touched, I'm not too bad if there is a context to it though such as a doctor's appointment. If there isn't a context I can be pretty nasty.
I've found that when I present my alert card they are pretty accomodating on the day. Last time I went they found me somewhere to wait without the lights, my X-ray was called quickly, and they asked me if I was OK with being touched. Surprisingly prepared for Autism, quite refreshing!
As for appointments I always need a pretty long advance, say a month or so to prepare myself, I'm pretty much agoraphobic, so it always helps to have advance. If it gets sprung on me I do find it daunting.
One thing I don't worry about is if they find something wrong. They are as likely to find it's nothing to worry about, and if something is making me feel ill, I will be on the way to getting it sorted.
As for ringing them to ask, why not? That's their job. If they think I'm silly, it really doesn't matter. I don't know them and they will have forgotten my name within the hour. If you are polite, and not ringing 3 times a day, you will be the least of their worries. They deal with total arseholes, and pests. A polite phonecall probably is a good thing to them!
Hope you have an easy time of it all. Remember you'll probably be better off at the end!
Thanks for your reply. I've been so recently diagnosed I haven't even had the report yet so I don't have anything to tell them I'm on the spectrum.
I can like you say deal with being touched in context when they examine you etc but this has only ever been for a few seconds. But I think with the nature of the appointments it will be significantly longer than that. I will tolerate it but it just makes me so uncomfortable. I'm worried about one in particular as it's an ultrasound and I don't like the idea of that jelly stuff they put on you.
I know I'm probably over thinking the whole thing but I just hate not knowing exactly what to expect.
I just hate not knowing exactly what to expect.
No problem at all. Glad to share. You could just inform them in advance by post if you don't want to speak. In my experience over the last few occasions I've dealt with hospitals since my diagnosis, they seem to be accommodating. I'd even go as far as to say that they might have been briefed. I've been to 2 hospitals, various departments, and not had a problem.
I've handled some pretty crazy situations over the years surprisingly well. I was admittedly a total idiot until my mid-twenties. Once the adrenaline kicks in I can ride it out well. Problem is, just like you, It's not the things that are happening that make me nervous, it's what hasn't happened yet. I've been in hospital bleeding out on quite a few times, but I've had to have some pretty unintrusive things done, and got really stressed out about it.
As for the touching part, just try to put it into context well beforehand. It's not done in a way that is just to invade your space, or violate your senses intentionally. As I've said I can be pretty aggressive when touched without context, so my main concern is losing my temper. I genuinely can relax when I just put it into context. Think of it as theraputic. When it's over you can just relax, no more worry, and they will have sorted out the problem, if there is one! They are there to help, not like some arsehole who keeps leaning over you in a bar, or that guy who thinks a handshake is an animalistic mating hierarchy test.
You are overthinking it, but that's what we do! You are recognising you are doing it though, so that gives you a window to rationalise, prepare, and relax. Take it as a positive, you will be prepared, and it's experience for the next time you encounter something like that. Get in touch with your local autism centre, and get an alert card though. Just give them a call tomorrow, or as soon as you can. It's a pretty handy thing to have. Also I found ways to sort of control my fear of touching by doing sports where it's not an option not to be touched. That gives it a context, and some fun. Also I've found Tai Chi is gentle, relaxing, and you do very gentle exercises that involve touching, like pushing hands.
I don't like the idea of that jelly stuff they put on you.
KY jelly can be fun! There's a context for everything! Sorry I couldn't help myself........
No problem Binary, glad I could help. KY jelly is cool, but it doesn't taste good on toast! Spreads like a dream though!
Thank you for writing this. It is very helpful. Well maybe not the last sentence but it did make me laugh.