Aspies For Freedom

LOL --they did the same thing when I was waiting for my ADHD diagnosis. They gave me an appointment four months away.

I started calling them every day, asking when my appointment was, where I should go, what I should bring with me. Same questions and more, every time. They would say, "We TOLD you all this before!" and I would say, "Did you? I guess I have ADHD or something. Was it me you talked to/ When was that? Are you sure? I don't think so. Maybe you did. Maybe I wrote it down. Did you mail it to me? Hey, mail it to me, okay? I'll look for it and call you back. What's your name?"

In less than two weeks they said, "We have a cancellation. Come in right now."

Guess what.

I have ADHD.

Droog Wrote:

They were quite similar to the online tests for Asperger's, only these had various different topics and ranged from 20 questions to well over a hundred. The topics included ADHD, autism/asperger's, my general physical and mental health, depression, etc. You just had to answer by clicking on agree/disagree, or picking the answer from a range of 1 to 5 that best suited you.

If you can lean them away from diagnosing you with PDD-NOS, which to me means basically "delayed developmentally without Asperger's intellect"... I'd like you to do so. Go ahead and argue the point that PDD-NOS is still considered a form of autism, so why not give you the benefit of the Asperger's label.

If I came away with a PDD-NOS diagnosis I'd be unsatisfied, because I like things clearly defined.

Droog Wrote:

Well, I called my GP on monday, and his assistant called the hospital that afternoon. And guess what? The next day I receive a letter from the hospital, including some forms I have to fill in. Friday next week is my big day Smile

I just find it odd that they only sent the invitation after my GP called them. It kinda looks like they DID forget about me Sad

I had this problem too. I have been waiting for 6 months to see a specialist. I have emailed his PA and was told I would get an appointment 'shortly' - whatever that means.

Weeks later I'd heard nothing, so my support worker and I spoke to my Psych and asked what was happening, especially as people who I know were referred after me have already had their appointment!

The following day I got a letter (posted first class!) telling me I have an appointment in mid-July.

They say you are encouraged to bring a parent or carer. Well my parents are abusive so for my safety I have no contact with them. So what am I supposed to do? I shouldn't be penalised for having abusive parents.

I really think doctors need to re-think the 'bring a parent' condition of diagnosis - it just excludes too many people.

Droog Wrote:

It is what it is. The psychiatrist said that in order to diagnose someone with AS he needed 2 vital symptoms: social and communicative problems, and problems with empathizing. I just couldn't tell him if I had problems with empathizing, because I never really thought about it. This could either mean I'm naturally good at it, or I'm horrible at it. Personally, I'd be satisfied with a PDD-NOS diagnosis, because that would at least give me confirmation that I have mild autism. It says nothing about my intellect either. I've finished the highest level of high school here and I can learn new skills faster than the average person.

I haven't finished the "highest level" of high school (thanks for your conceit), and I learn new skills much slower than the average person.

Which sucks. Well, that's executive dysfunction for ya (which I have a lot of.)

Droog Wrote:

I'm not really looking forward to social skills therapy, because it's going to be group therapy with a very mixed group (aspies, schizoids like me, and people who are over-assertive). But I'm gonna try anyway.

I can't believe they didn't think you were on the autistic spectrum. If you can't get a DX, it is very likely I won't be able to, either.

What accounts for your stims and inflexible routines, and your intense dislike of changes?

I don't see those in the Schizoid diagnostic list.

GuessWho Wrote:

Perhaps the issue of whether Asperger has to be packaged with skills in math, science, engineering or computers, as suggested by the Wired article the Geek Syndrome, is for another thread.��My extended family's (Marsh) Asperger certainly is.��My older uncle taught math (high school I think).��My younger uncle was a chemist.��My brother and I are computer programming professionals.��

I am convinced Mom thought the both of us gifted first and special education second.��She certainly wanted children, and was denied them by the will of God for a decade.

Brains run in the family.��Mom was a top college student.��So was her older sister still living.��My brother earned an Air Force ROTC electrical engineering scholarship to Virginia Tech (the fact that he resigned his ROTC scholarship almost immediately was only due to his culture shock for military life, my brother was in it for the money, because Dad fussed about Mom made him send me to college on campus and he couldn't afford my brother.��By the way, Dad could have sent us both.��Mom's retirement, the longer of the two, was only 15 years.��But we hoped it would run into her 80s, certainly, we were only denied that by the will of God too).

What a polite way of putting it: "Brains run in the family."

And since I have not done well in school and I learn things very poorly, I suppose "brains do not run in my family."

Droog Wrote:

Batman55 Wrote:

Droog Wrote:

I can't believe they didn't think you were on the autistic spectrum.��If you can't get a DX, it is very likely I won't be able to, either.

What accounts for your stims and inflexible routines, and your intense dislike of changes?

I don't see those in the Schizoid diagnostic list.

I have no idea, really. The reason why he didn't want to diagnose me with an ASD is that I never had any big problems in my life. I had no problems at school, and I can live on my own without any problems. Also, we figured out that my empathizing skills are probably normal because I can see how other people in a group behave and adjust my own behaviour to it.
But you're right, it doesn't really answer why I stim and dislike changes. I have another appointment with him in a few weeks, and I'll try to ask him about those things. I'm also worried about what he meant by 'having a schizoid personality', because I read about Schizoid Personality Disorder and I really hope I don't have that.
I do have ADD, though. At least I was right about that. Wink

So it might still be up in the air?  You're not "officially off the spectrum" yet.. it's a work in progress?

Just to make myself clear, I'm not trying to get you diagnosed with something you don't have.. but I think all angles should be examined to "put your case" together, piece by piece.

One thing to point toward AS is trouble forming "correct" nonverbal expression or if you have trouble reading nonverbal cues.  I don't think Schizoids (off the spectrum) have trouble reading these cues, although there may be some who have trouble presenting themselves nonverbally, as expression seems to be "blunted" for many Schizoids.

My case of AS looks uncertain to many, but I know for a fact that I have a serious problem with nonverbal expression and knowing how other minds think.  At least I can be certain of this.

I don't know if it's still up in the air. All I know is that I'm not done yet, I'll probably have quite a few more appointments with my psychiatrist to talk about my problems. He didn't really seem convinced though, so I doubt I'll ever get an AS diagnosis from him.

Well, Aspie or not, we're still glad to have you here.

I like to hear details of your meetings (as you say you have more of them in the future) so I can get a better idea of the diagnostic process. Keep us informed if you can. Cool

No problem. I don't post a lot here anymore, but I will keep this thread updated so everyone can learn about my diagnostic process. Smile

Droog Wrote:

update:

I had an appointment with the psychiatrist today and we just looked at what to do next. He suggested to either try Ritalin or some sort of psycho-something-group therapy for my ADD. For the social skill stuff, he suggested social skills training. So I decided to try Ritalin, simply because I don't feel like being put on a long waiting list again for weekly group therapy or something, I don't want to wait that long and I don't feel it will work on me.
I had to give blood, test my blood pressure and do a cardio test. In a few weeks I will have a new appointment to talk about the results of the tests, to see if my body can take Ritalin and to make further decisions about the group therapy social skills thing. Smile

I'm surprised he wouldn't even give you a "maybe you have extra mild AS," as we all know ADD is a very common comorbidity in the first place.

You may as well be the "Borderline NT" that some of us claim to be on AFF.

All well and good, but I still wonder whether some specialists forget that you can have AS and ADHD at the same time, and that one condition is likely to be stronger than the other.

If you need an example, Craig Nicholls of the Vines is diagnosed with AS, but comes across as a predominantly ADHD person with mild AS.

If you really feel you are NT, now that it was explained to you, I suppose that's a good thing, tho. As long as it makes sense.

Droog Wrote:

A small update:

I got Ritalin on thursday. 10 mg pills that I have to take 3 times a day. I feel very calm and relaxed with this stuff. The insane, constant stream of thoughts is still there, but I can block it out more easily and I'm not as restless as I used to be. I totally lost my appetite as well, which is good cos I need to lose some weight Smile

Ritalin made me a paranoid psychotic when I tried it, so did Dexedrine (although it worked a tad bit more as one would expect.) It is clear to me something else is going on besides ADD or ADHD, as I have a powerful stimulant sensitivity that most with ADD/ADHD tell me is rather unusual.

Ritalin has been known to cause hallucinations in a small percentage of those with ADHD; Dr. Amen discussed that somewhere.

Ando Wrote:

Ritalin has been known to cause hallucinations in a small percentage of those with ADHD; Dr. Amen discussed that somewhere.

Sure, anything to prove that I couldn't possibly have AS. Only the "chosen ones" with stereotypical Asperger interests, seen by licensed practicioners, are allowed to have it.

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