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Posted on: Wed, Jan 30 2008 9:12 AM

Posted by: zgailgoodman Posts: 81

Your problems with doctors is universal.  My best solution, and I do this for all appointments, is I write  in  a list order all my meds  and what chages we may have made,my. 

condition and then what questions  i have.  The doctors like it because they don;t have to waste time asking me whats already written.  Many doctors put it right into a computer and while they are doing that you have extra talk time.  I keep it to about three question.s  I give the paper to the dr and say I wrote done my medication and hand it to them.  Also if you have other info you expect the dr. to ask put that in there.  Since doing this I get all my questions answered.  And if the doctor hasn't answered them all I don;t move.  I stay right there and ask or refer to it.  The doctors always say thank you.  This has been used with the Psychiatist, my internest and sleep/lung doctor.  It saved alot of anguish.  Put it in a list format.  don;t write it out as paragraphs or they won't use it.  I hope you will try this.  Now my doctors expect a list from me

Posted on: Wed, Jan 30 2008 7:11 PM

Posted by: Nightengale Posts: 664

Kris

I am so happy you had a producitve doctors visit this morning!  Hopefully this will be the first of many and a true partnership between you and your health care team!

Posted on: Sat, Jul 26 2008 6:07 PM

Posted by: purplerage Posts: 21

HI, having an allie is helpful, but often it can be there day off, they got sick, don't work

there anymore, a number of things, the 1st idea is better, that you bring someone w/you.

This can be done even if you don't know anyone, try some of the local agencies. Some

like ILC, independent living centers, they can be helpful, and can help you w/formulating

that paper for the doctor, so you don't come off badly, I am  quite good at ranting. I do

understand. I helped a girl friend, her doctor was like that, she got him to slow down.

I went to see him, and was quite intimidated, and needed her support in the room. He

then became more patient. I met a extremely good doctor, but she saw me in 5min. and

by the time I was leaving, I could think of the answer to her last question, [I am slow pro

cessing ,learning disabled, and thoughts are like a speed train] tuff, but I did refer her to

my girl friend, she started seeing this doctor, and got her to slow down and smell the roses.

I have another doctor that I see, and he got used to the idea, it takes me a few minutes to

be able to answer questions, and may have more questions unpon leaving, which in asking

the nurse, they can in turn ask the doctor, or have the doctor readdress the problems w/me.

To restate it again, ILC, is not the only agency, but is one of a few that can help and give

some assistance, at least get you connected with someone for that kind of support at the

doctor's office. Are you a senior, senior centers, have access to these supports, too. There

are other programs, agencies that are directly connected with  any of your disabuilities that

can have a person go into the office with you a few times to help you get somethi;ng worked

out with your doctor, so you are both understood. He just needs to know. I know that just

being TEXAS, it can be a problem for a female, YOU are talking to Bakersfield, that is a

subset california town, much like arzona, and texas conbined, as it is often said, "good 'ole

boy country" and they often have run it that way, sister city is RUSSIA, so tell me about

justice, they don't even have that, I fondly call it 'lil russia, they had that kind of affect on

me.[custody issue] Juristiction, a simple one, they got all wrong, why because of disability.

 SO TELL ME.... I understand. It's a man/man world, and we are here w/o equality.

Well, the flip side, of that coin, re: disabilities, we get it, and guys get to go to work.

That just as much a mess as well. Hope something works for you. good luck.

Posted on: Sat, Jul 26 2008 6:25 PM

Posted by: Joel Posts: 631

I have aspergers myself. I have never had trouble interacting with a doctor.

My best advice though is to do what someone in this thread earlier said. Get someone who knows your medical history explain it to the doctors

 OR

State that you will only speak to a doctor who is familar with austism(if it's a hospital one will be there).

Have him act as your tranlator to the surgeon/doctor who is working on your symptom.

Ya, aspergers can be a difficult thing at times. Somehow I am able to have actual friends.

Posted on: Sun, Jul 27 2008 10:02 AM

Posted by: Debbie Posts: 3,829

 hi kris, it is nice to meet you. gee i felt bad when i read your story. i wish i lived near you i woud go with you and help you out. sounds like you got great advice here and i hope the next dr. visit is alot better for you. i didn't know about aspergers until i met joel. he has taught me alot about it and i have a special place in my heart for this disability because of him. i think it is sad that you get misundertood alot and if people knew about it they would be nicer to you and help you through your situation. i am glad that you are here and welcome!

Posted on: Sun, Jul 27 2008 1:47 PM

Posted by: langkris Posts: 31

Thank you Debbie

I appreciate your thoughts. I would most certainly take you along if you lived closer. 

I seem to have the most problems because I am verbally fluent and my handicapp is much less apparent on the surface than it is in most others with the Dx of Aspergers; ergo, the doctors, with the Dx records in hand, often tell me 'this can't be true' or (sarcasticaly) 'this isn't right'.  They don't/can't take the time to understand how I communicate and even the nice ones, like the one I found earlier this year, think I may hypochodria because I incessantly analyze and talk about my physical conditions. They don't seem to be able to comprehend that I MUST analyze & interpret every second of every day in order to function and 'fit' into the world. 

I have never read, although I have looked extensively, about the effects of someone being abused as a child when they have Aspergers. I was abused and somewhat neglected as a child. For me I guess, Aspergers and my abuse created a situation where communication is necessary for protection only or at least for emotinal protection first and foremost.  I learned to communicate and became very verbally fluent in order to protect myself. The mode communication I learned was what it took to either keep my abusers at bay or entice or gain the attention of my parent in order to get something I needed. I am never totally relaxed when I am trying to communicate with another person. It is always a chore and a job. 

When I am talking to Doctors, I believe they see me 'trying to get something' out of the conversation and it gets interpreted wrong. I may never know what goes on in their heads anymore than they know what goes on in mine. I will persist however. I suppose that is simply what we do.

Thanks again Debbie. I kind voice makes a big difference to me.