Diagnosis

I had issues getting a diagnosis through my GP. At first he just claimed there was no such service for adults within my area. I talked to the NAS to get advice and they emailed me a pre-written letter written by a solicitor reminding my GP that I am legally entitled to a diagnosis, referencing The Autism Act (2009)..

I decided to be a little more subtle and contacted the surgery secretary. I basically put it from the perspective that my doctor had been denied a diagnostic service for me and that this letter may help him in insisting the NHS provided one. I thought that was probably a bit less confrontational than presenting the letter directly to the doctor and demanding. Furthermore, I suggested they may be able to make use of the letter in future should any more adults be in a similar situation.

Anyway, I think this "catch more flies with honey than vinegar" approach may have helped because very shortly after that, the process began and I finally got my assessment last Friday. It took over two years, but Covid did help lengthen that period. All areas of interaction with the diagnostic service provider were excellent it's probably the best thing I've ever done. I get the full write up in about a month or so but my diagnosis was confirmed firmly on the day this eliminating any anxiety waiting for the outcome.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

All the best,

Mark

NAS77224 said:

Then I realise because I'm in so much pain. Not before I've realised though, that I can't write anymore, or moved the hand as it seems to have a mind of its own.

Good grief! That's some serious stimming.

If and when you get an assessment, I hope you get as much from it as I have from mine.

Ben

They're too busy

I was told to consider going private instead. I walked into my surgery this morning, with the intention of booking an appointment with my doctor.

Maybe the secretary was having a bad day, I don't know.

R

What do you mean your surgery isn’t into people contacting them asking to be referred? Who said? Is this what you were told?

The GP is the first and only person than can refer you if you wish to go through the NHS.

The other option is of course to go private.

Hi Ben

I feel that maybe I've found a place to share my thoughts with, with this forum.

Isn't that interesting! I hadn't thought of my own 'secret' hand movements! When I am stressed (which seems to be pretty constant these days!) I do it really, really hard to the point where it actually hurts, then I think OMG! I've got to stop doing that! its been noticed once recently. Sometimes I don't even notice myself. Then I realise because I'm in so much pain. Not before I've realised though, that I can't write anymore, or moved the hand as it seems to have a mind of its own.

Sometimes I wish I could change the world but I can't, but it doesn't stop me trying.

Because I've been having so many problems with being sociable I've got an advisor who is trying to help me with my social dysfunctioning. There's two actually. We have a group called SEETEC here in Bournemouth. They are like an extension of the job centre and at least, they give me time to do the stuff I need to do.

As an academic I am so much in an abstracted, social-less space, a place I call liminality. It is a survival strategy I think. I see pain around me and I just shut off, even though it really gets to me. I try and think my way through a situation carefully before I open my mouth, or before I write what could be construed as an 'undesirable' word or three. But sometimes I fail.

I can't believe I made it to my 60th birthday yesterday! It seems odd, strange somehow.

My writing journey started at a very early age, as did my drawing and painting. I don't do the art much these days but yes! to the writing. I love writing, it is the only thing that keeps me in a semblance of normality. Whilst writing hours just pass in a blink of an eye, and I think "Wow! its nighttime already!"

Thank you Ben for your thoughtful words

R

Hi there

Useful I formation! However,

I went to see my GP Practice today, they were not interested, said that I consider going private because the 'busy practice' has no available GPs or nurses at the moment. This is why I asked on the forum, whether there were any other ways of doing it. Sadly, I can't go private because I'm unemployed. How, if and when I get a proper diagnosis than I can present it to who it needs to be presented to and go from there.

Thank you, though, for your comments

R

Hello, 7724,

I recognise so much of what you're saying. I was assessed / diagnosed about two years ago, in my mid-sixties.

After a lifetime of difficulties, anxiety, breakdows, meltdowns, shutdowns, and many many difficult years in the workplace, I finally made it through to retirement. The NHS had let me down repeatedly, I'd had no lasting support, no diagnosis that didn't include the word 'anxiety', and they'd prescribed me an array of benzodiazapines upon which I had become dependent, spendiing some months in treatment for 'prescribed' addiction.

So, I needed a diagnosis, I had suspected ASD since I had discoverd that my very very secret repetative hand-movements had a name - Stimming. That got me researching which ultimately led me to where I am today. The NHS, as expected, were useless, so I went private. Expensive?, yes, Worth it?, oh boy, absolutely worth every penny. There is no treatment and no cure, but knowledge holds fantastic value. As I've posted elswhere on this forum; I now know who I am and understand great chunks of my formerly bewildering past.

So, if you can find the money, GO PRIVATE, that is my advice, albeit totaly against my political principles.

Look around locally, do your research, make enquiries. Somewhere on this NAS website there is long list of private practitioners which would be a good starting place.

Take your time, don't rush it, you only want to do this once.

Ben

NAS77224 said:

My GP practice is doing the COVID thing in a big way and are not 'into' people contacting them asking to be referred to a specialist Autism person

I can understand that they might be inundated at the moment and slower to respond, but they can't be just not "into" it.  I got a referral through my GP during the pandemic.  I wrote him a letter rather than ring for an appointment.  I sent the online tests I'd done plus a list of reasons why I thought I might be on the spectrum together with an explanation as to how I thought it might be affecting my difficulties.  He sent me an AQ10 by post.  When I returned that, he referred.  I assume he fit that into a spare 5 minuets somewhere between appointments.

That said NHS waiting lists are Looooong!  The wait can be years.  I went with the NAS's Lorna Wing Centre as a self referral.  

There are indeed other ways to do this but most of them cost.  University students sometimes get referrals to and assessed by their own in-house teams, I know.  Otherwise, you can go private, which means self-referring - no need for a GP, but there are costs which can be significant.

Unless you have a rich generous uncle or have a lottery win, your best bet is to push the GP.  I would expect them to be slow just now, but they can't ignore you.