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Infections Coming Back

Jess M

Hi. I'm new here. I have Autism and anxiety, and I'm not sure if it's linked but I get ill a lot especially with infections in my throat and mouth. I've had what I guess is tonsillitis for like 5 months now, it's never ending. I take over the counter stuff, throat soreness goes but the tonsils and back of my mouth remain red and enflamed never goes. I do get low and I read this can cause you to get sick but it is annoying. I feel constantly unwell with this, have awful headache and keep getting dizzy and am terrified I'll end up in hospital. Doctors and hospital are my biggest fears and I'll avoid them at all costs.

Parents

  • I totally identify with the avoidance of medical people thing. It was my medical phobias that brought me finally to the realisation that I am autistic. Finally made sense of my melt down/ shut down in those contexts.

    Nevertheless, we need medical care and you do too. A GP should give you antibiotics and then refer you to an ENT specialist, who may want to remove your tonsils to stop them causing you problems. That's a tall order for you.

    Does you GP know you are autistic? Will they try to mitigate the trauma of all this for you? You could consider getting a family member to advocate for you, or enlisting your local advocacy services to arrange a double appointment with GP with some understanding of autism who will adjust whatever needs adjusting for you and help you communicate etc.

    As far as I know we are more prone to a number of health conditions, but not heard that tonsils can be one. That just sounds unfortunate to me, but you do need support to see a GP to deal with this.

  • in reply to Dawn

    I think you make a good point here Dawn. I think medical and health anxiety is a problem for a lot of autistic people - and we need support and reasonable adjustments made to help us access health services because they are vital. My health has been seriously put at risk in the past because of my anxieties around healthcare - but if you neglect some health issues the long term consequences can be serious.

    It’s a really difficult problem and I’ve suffered so much with this issue. Even the thought of going to a dentist check up makes me feel physically sick. 
    I hope you can find a way to access the care you need Jess - good luck x 

  • in reply to Kate Kestrel

    With respect to the dentists, ask for a "special care" referral. They are the one part of the NHS who properly cater to autistic people. Birmingham even has a specialist autism dental care unit. GPs are harder, it's hit and miss,.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    If you have anxiety issues around dental work you should - through any NHS dentist - be able to be referred to more specialist dentistry practices that are licenced to administer sedation. My wife, who has had panic attacks in the dentist's, had a tooth extracted, was given sedation and was fine, she couldn't even remember the procedure afterwards.

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  • in reply to Deleted User

    If you have anxiety issues around dental work you should - through any NHS dentist - be able to be referred to more specialist dentistry practices that are licenced to administer sedation. My wife, who has had panic attacks in the dentist's, had a tooth extracted, was given sedation and was fine, she couldn't even remember the procedure afterwards.

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