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Anyone else hate doctor's telephone appointments?

DeeMo

Hi, 

I'd be grateful to know I'm not alone or to have any of your advice!  Does anyone else autistic really struggle with the GPs/doctors wanting to do all their consultation on phones? For me, as someone autistic it is a little like mental torture.

You ring up the practice, say you need to speak to a doctor. Then the practice book you an 'appointment' for a doctor to ring on a specific day 'sometime' between 9-5pm! First of all, the unpredictable element of the phone call, with no timed slot makes my heart race all day waiting for the call. Then when they ring, understanding someone you have never met with audio only, no visual signals or faces for aiding understanding. Then also just the feeling of not being 'seen' or listened too when it is a phone call.Not the most reassuring. They totally rely on your linguistic skills to explain your symptoms, and without seeing you, or examining I always worry that they will miss something.

Then just the plain indignity which I think is universal for neurotypicals and autistic of possibly having to talk about your intimate health problem to your doctor , speaking on a  mobile on a street corner!  Unless you are willing to stay by your phone all day in the privacy of your home. Or the impossibility for people who work like myself and can't answer the phone. The list goes on.

I have tried to ask the GPs for reasonable adjustments and have a face to face appointment. But every time I have to explain myself again from the beginning each time. And then that's only for routine appointments. For urgent appointments, its still a ring back. I have physical disabilities and issues that demand more regular input from doctors, but due to it being so autistic unfriendly, I am hardly in touch. 

Thanks Relaxed️

Parents

  • I also have a massive problem waiting for a phone call when I don’t know what time it will be. I can’t concentrate on anything else bu knowing that the call is going to happen and getting stressed about that. The other week I knew the doctor was going to call me and I was massively stressed all day waiting for the call and they didn’t call until gone 4.30 - it ruined my whole day. I pace around when I’m stressed and waiting for a phone call - it’s horrible.

    having said that I prefer it to having to actually go into the surgery - that’s much worse. I hate waiting rooms.

Reply

  • I also have a massive problem waiting for a phone call when I don’t know what time it will be. I can’t concentrate on anything else bu knowing that the call is going to happen and getting stressed about that. The other week I knew the doctor was going to call me and I was massively stressed all day waiting for the call and they didn’t call until gone 4.30 - it ruined my whole day. I pace around when I’m stressed and waiting for a phone call - it’s horrible.

    having said that I prefer it to having to actually go into the surgery - that’s much worse. I hate waiting rooms.

Children
  • in reply to Kate Kestrel

    Agree with you. Waiting rooms are horrible. They smell weird, so loud and busy, and I'm always aware of the fact that I could catch something sitting with unwell people. They are also really hot which then makes me extremely hot. I prefer the phone to actually going to the surgery but I can never speak so it's hard.

  • in reply to Kate Kestrel

    I hate having to use the phone no matter who i'm talking to. But yes doctors are probably worse 'cos of the things you need to talk about. Later this month i've got a hospital 'appointment' and it's going to be by video via Skype, it's the first time i've had to do this.

    But phones !!! as i've got older my hearing is going worse and it's so embarrassing asking people to repeat things, so many doctors are not British Born, i'm not predudice in any way, but when they have such strong accents, i just can't understand. But talking to anyone on the phone is hell. I'm very quietly spoken and when people phone they will  often say things like .......... Hello Mrs Culpepper can i speak  to your husband please.......And i'm embarrassed then to have to say, this is Mr Culpepper.