finally going to get officially tested for ASD

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I've got sufficient evidence to make me conclude I'm on the spectrum including high scores on those two big ASD tests (with the names I can't remember). But with everyone saying that they don't think I have it, I'm worried that Im not on the spectrum >_<
I dunno.

Good luck! I hope you have a good experience and your expectations and hopes are met. I would definitely recommend you bring any type of background information that you may have, regarding your childhood- to where you are now. Just be relaxed and don't be afraid to put down the mask of 'normal-ness' that I'm sure you have developed. You'll be fine and I hope you let us know how it goes.

Thank you Nyxjord

Good luck. I go in on Monday. Dreading it, only because I hate discussing me. I guess I hope there is a diagnoses, only because I can put a tag on why I am the way I am. I scored solidly on those tests too. While everyone notes I display characteristics, no one has used the "a" word.

I just want it to be over with; I get sickeningly anxious just thinking about it.

Woo Hoo!

One of us... One of us... One of us...!

I feel I have to get a real diagnosis at point because I'm worried I could be deceiving myself; you know like when you read the horoscopes and every single one of them could be about you, or fortune cookies. Even with people pointing out certain characteristics about me. Even with a son with AS, and two nephews on the autism spectrum, and even my dad who has some eye raising traits. =) Otherwise I'm worried I'm being an AS hypochondriac.

I asked the doctor how I should prepare. Should I bring anything. He said no, but I feel I need to bring some laundry list. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Don't worry-- you sound absolutely normal and are having the same responses that I did. I did not have anyone that could provide insight into my background so I took in my DCFS files from the caseworkers from when I was a young young child in the system and then I also brought a list of reasons why I thought I was on the spectrum and then conversely, why I thought that I wasn't. I gave all this paperwork to the specialist and she took into account/reviewed all of it as part of the process.

I'm posting here so my emails tell me when you reply with an update!

I am 31, have a huge AQ score, some very obvious signs, but have shied away from going for a diagnosis as an older woman.

I'm scared they'll say I don't have it!! My partner says this is insane as it's so obvious, but I know some experts don't see ASD in females, and believe men and women should exhibit the same way.

I don't know what benefit it would be to go for a diagnosis. I have been sent for one, but did not want to go.

Please let us know how you get on. I'd be interested to know. I absolutely understand the fear of being told 'no', as crazy as that sounds... When something fits you like a glove it's scary to think it might not be your glove! I'd also be interested to know what you think you'll gain from it, too.

Good luck!!

I felt the same way before my diagnosis, afraid that I was making it up, a hypochondriac, or just faking it to myself. I almost had a panic attack on the day I was due to get my results, but they showed all of my symptoms accurately, and I wound up with the diagnosis on paper. Good luck both of you, keep us posted!

So what should I expect from this test? How drained of energy/emotion were you all after the test and how long did it take you to recover? Will I get my diagnosis the same day or will I have to wait?

Also, I am on medication that helps keep me calm and focused and-in turn- keeps me from having my "bad days" where I can really see my aspergers come out. Should I not take my medication so that they can see the extent of it?

Well, my process was actually a bit different due to the fact that I didn't actually have any specific tests- the whole thing was an oral interview. We talked about my childhood, how I was as a teen and then my life now. I gave her the dcfs paperwork I had (that counted as part of my background information) and we talked about things like.. how I felt about certain things, what gave me energy and then how I reacted to certain things. I talked about my social mask and how that affected me as well. I went three times with a period of at least one week to a month between each time. It ended up taking a few months total. I got my result after the third time- I went in once more and got the official diagnosis. She needed that time after the third one, to review all her findings and what I reported-- to put it all together to come to a conclusion. So you probably won't get it immediately (which sucks for anxiety, I know). Weirdly, I didn't find the process to be all that draining-- I was so pumped up to actually be talking to someone about all this for the first time that my energy was actually higher. I feel like that's probably not normal though