Asperger's and anorexia

Is your daughter diagnosed with Asperger's?

If she is then all treatments pans for her anorexia MUST take this into consideration. There has been a lot of research and anorexia and autism goes together a lot (me and a lot if other Aspie girls have Eating disorders, anorexia being (I think) most common).

Get a written treatment plan for your daughter, ensure that this takes her autism into account at all times. Make sure that all those people treating her have proper autism awareness training. Start to get the Health Board (that's what they are called in Scotland, not sure what they are elsewhere) involved, write and ask what treatment will be offerred and how her autism will be taken into account. A lot of people think Asperger's is mild autism, but it can often be quite severe autistic traits, just with an above average intelligence that masks it.

Get everything in writing, if you go to meetings then you are in your rights as your daughter's guardian to covertly record the meeting on a digital recorder.

Get the actual names of any doctors, nurses etc. who will be involved in the treatment plan and actually ask them what their autism training is. Check out the GMC website the part about "Good Medical Practice" this makes it clear that doctors must be qualified to treat your daughter, and must take all her needs into account before commencing treatment.

Ask to see what the autism training they have undergone  involves, hopefully not just a couple of seminars. Does your daughter have the Hospital Autism Passport attached to her notes? Make sure this happens.

Try and find local autism groups or any funded locally that might be able to help you. The NAS does not help individuals, I have tried to get them to help with my BIG problems with the NHS and I just hang on the helpline for half an hour and then get cut off, I tried the online form but it took weeks for a reply to come and it didn't even respond to what was in the e-mail but went on about social care. Try your MP if you cannot get information in writing, or if there are any delays in getting information and appropriate treatment. Always go to the top as soon as you can't get the information or treatment you want and need, don't delay with managers or doctors not getting their act together.

I know this is a very scary time, and it things might have to happen quickly, but unless the people treating your daughter know how to alter therapies to account for autism they will find it very difficult to help her.

I hope that you can get the best autism centred care for your daughter. Very best wishes.

Is your daughter diagnosed with Asperger's?

If she is then all treatments pans for her anorexia MUST take this into consideration. There has been a lot of research and anorexia and autism goes together a lot (me and a lot if other Aspie girls have Eating disorders, anorexia being (I think) most common).

Get a written treatment plan for your daughter, ensure that this takes her autism into account at all times. Make sure that all those people treating her have proper autism awareness training. Start to get the Health Board (that's what they are called in Scotland, not sure what they are elsewhere) involved, write and ask what treatment will be offerred and how her autism will be taken into account. A lot of people think Asperger's is mild autism, but it can often be quite severe autistic traits, just with an above average intelligence that masks it.

Get everything in writing, if you go to meetings then you are in your rights as your daughter's guardian to covertly record the meeting on a digital recorder.

Get the actual names of any doctors, nurses etc. who will be involved in the treatment plan and actually ask them what their autism training is. Check out the GMC website the part about "Good Medical Practice" this makes it clear that doctors must be qualified to treat your daughter, and must take all her needs into account before commencing treatment.

Ask to see what the autism training they have undergone  involves, hopefully not just a couple of seminars. Does your daughter have the Hospital Autism Passport attached to her notes? Make sure this happens.

Try and find local autism groups or any funded locally that might be able to help you. The NAS does not help individuals, I have tried to get them to help with my BIG problems with the NHS and I just hang on the helpline for half an hour and then get cut off, I tried the online form but it took weeks for a reply to come and it didn't even respond to what was in the e-mail but went on about social care. Try your MP if you cannot get information in writing, or if there are any delays in getting information and appropriate treatment. Always go to the top as soon as you can't get the information or treatment you want and need, don't delay with managers or doctors not getting their act together.

I know this is a very scary time, and it things might have to happen quickly, but unless the people treating your daughter know how to alter therapies to account for autism they will find it very difficult to help her.

I hope that you can get the best autism centred care for your daughter. Very best wishes.