Hello all,
We really need a help from the experienced readers.
About a month ago our child was diagnosed with the autism. Below is the brief description how we came up with the diagnosis.
When she was 9 years old, she had a migraine for the first time, she was very afraid of it and waited and worried about migraine all the time afterwards. Around the age of 12, when the first lockdown started, she had several severe migraines in a row. As the consequences she began to experience the pain from the light and began to close the curtains during the day so the light would not irritate the eyes. At that time she did not go outside, was in the room and was afraid of a migraine. As it was during the lockdown, everything was closed, so we had to wait a long time for the appointment to see the pediatrician.
A few months later, we did receive an appointment, she was prescribed with propranolol, and then pizotifen. The migraines returned a few times, and with them panic attacks started. At first panic attacks were only outside when we had some walk. Then panic attacks appeared closer to home. The panic attacks were so severe that she was not able to control herself anyhow. Later, panic attacks appeared at home.
Since August last year, she is not leaving the house due to the fear of attacks (how she explains), she is not attending the school either. Since January this year she is not leaving her bedroom. She explains her fear to leave the bedroom with the dizziness and headaches. We have been prescribed with lorazepam and mirtazapine recently, but there is no tangible effect in terms of anxiety reduction (we take medication daily during one month). When we have sessions with the psychologists she sometimes can spend with them only 5 minutes, referring to the dizziness and a headache. All sessions we can do only at home.
We made a psychological screening and our daughter was diagnosed with the autism spectrum. Psychologists explained that the symptoms our daughter has at the moment (dizziness, headache, panic attacks, eye pain) are the functional symptoms which are typical for the autism.
We did not notice any problems at home and were not notified about issues from school until the first lockdown started. Now our daughter is at home for 9 months and not leaving her bedroom for 5 months.
If anyone who has passed something like this can share the ideas or recommend physiatrists who can really help please share your thoughts. We feel we are stuck at the moment and don’t understand where to move to change situation for the better.
Thank you!