Yes? No? or definitely maybe?

Post Reply New Topic

Hello,
I've been diagnosed as "Probable" Aspergers Syndrome. it's a bit annoying. Am I or aren't I? Apparently a DISCO assessment is 'time consuming and costly' and it would be difficult to justify NHS funding in my case. Another annoying thing is that I get the impression that if I was a child or teenager getting an assessment would not be such a problem. Unfortunately I'm in my mid 40's. I don't think Aspergers was recognised or diagnosed much when I was young. Is it worth me having an assessment done privately? Any advice appreciated.

I went through the community health centre, their psychiatric team referred me to a hospital. They asked why I wanted a Dx and I said because I want occupational therapy and I don't want to get re-diagnosed everywhere I go. I was interviewed for a total of 4-5 hours by a psychologist, and got a written diagnosis signed by a psychiatrist (who watched the taped interviews) and a back-up letter from the psychologist.

So that worked out well enough. It only took 2 years! I'm 58yo, don't have so much time to waste, but it's a step ahead anyway.

2 Years !?!?

I admire your patience. I guess 4 or 5 hours it a bit time consuming but at least you've got a definite answer. Do you think it's helped, knowing for sure? I must admit that I worry that I'd go through all the hassle only to be told I'm not aspergers, and be back to square one.

Welcome btw
You should make a "im new" topic on "getting to know each other

sorry

It's not compulsory.

Re:dx
It depends why you want one. Just hanging around here will clear up any doubt for you, eventually. It took me 3 years to accept that I had the condition (after first hearing of it) and I looked into a couple of other possibilties as well. I thought I was just unusual. Other people thought I was a bit mad probably. I needed to apply for the disability pension, I think that's the main reason I needed a formal dx.

Adults are often a low priority for funding. sigh.

Nice to meet you, realali.

I was hoping a clear diagnosis would enable me to get help with employment or training. I managed to do a degree (a useless one, admittedly) but I've been working as a cleaner for the last 16 years. Cleaning's OK but I'd like something more. I just don't have the confidence or skills. All the job ads want Team players with good communications skills, Not exactly my strong points.

Hi Realali,
How did you get your 'probable' diagnosis. Did you go through your GP, get reffered to a clinical psychologist etc. If you did and that didn't work for you have you visited the National Autistic Society's website. If your able to contact them they may be able to recommend other channels towards a better diagnosis in your local area. They helped me with my eventual diagnosis, but admittedly the entire process did take about 14 months. But if you really want a firm diagnosis I'd recommend you visit their site, if you haven't already.
Good luck with it!

Welcome!

The question is, do you identify with the experiences of others on this site? Click around and see if problems and situations mentioned here "click" with you.

Also, do you think that the coping skills recommended on this site, and others related to Asperger's, would be helpful to you?

I've never been diagnosed, but I've found the information on this site to be extremely helpful to me. That's all the "diagnosis" I need - for now.

Getting a DX does take a long time sometimes but I eventually had mine and I think it was worth it.

Get one-assholes will say "you're A FRAUD IF you're SELFDIAGNOSED" blah blah blah otherwise.

I think I'll go back to my GP and try to get referred for a conclusive diagnosis. Thanks for the Advice

If they said "probable Asperger's", you almost certainly have some Asperger's traits. That means that if you're not an Aspie, you have some of the same characteristics--and some of the same solutions will work for you.

Good luck on getting a definitive answer; sometimes it's really hard to pin those doctors down!

Hi realali.

Iam in kinda similar position, I am 38 btw... I went to my gp today and she doesn't know a lot about aspergers if you ask me. It's a pain in the arse to get a test. She basically said I have to pay for it. She was also very negative about getting a label and asked loads of questions why I want to have a test. I think I have reasons enough, my mum is an aspie and I have a brain/head injury which makes things clear about aspie issues I had before the injury.
Two years ago a car run a red light and I got knocked off my bike (hitting front screen of the car, made a nice salto and smashed of a mirror of the car). The ambulance didn't take me to hospital but sent me back home. Later that evening mates took me to E&R because I behaved weird and was off my face basically. I was sent back with a concussion and whiplash, I had a ct scan after my second visit to e&r (still behaving odd and was sick too), but they didn't see anything on the ct scan. Because of the damage claim I am still running I got to see private doctors/specialists and they had a closer look. I know since the April this year I had a fracture in my skull...
Finally after almost 2 years I get the treatment, but it also made aspergers issues more visible and understandable. I figured out I need a different (and quite clearly aspie) approach to some parts of healing the psychological effects of the head/brain injury. My clinical psychologist said I might have AS, she changed her approach to me after I mentioned it... I think I can get a lot better help from specialist if I was officially AS labeled, but even a head injury is not a good reason to get the NHS paying for it. They simply do not have the budget.
I have 2 big tests coming up in September (neuro psychological) and my clinical psychologist said that some AS things will be noticed with these tests. I am going to try to find out how much it is to get an AS test privately.
I think it would be good to understand myself better and what's going on in my head after the head/brain injury and to heal stuff quicker. Simply because some therapy just don't work with an aspie brain and need a different approach.

The approach of my clinical psychologist didn't work out, the standard didn't count for me. I found it artificial, constructed and cliché. It was really obvious I needed a different approach with the anger management, getting control over your emotions. She also thought I needed relaxation therapy... The woman who tried this with me said I was her first patient it didn't work out.... I was too literal with it and could not imagine what she wanted me to imagine. There was this elder lady reading from a piece of paper how to relax and this was totally absurd for me.

I will post things if find out stuff, how to get a proper AS test which the NHS don't want to pay and how much it costs. Please if anybody else have some useful tips for us let us know!