the ER experience and AS.

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Ok, I had to go in for minor surgery yesterday to have an abscess lanced, and one thing that had occurred to me was that this was the first time I had been to the hospital since being officially diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I quickly became aware that the mere mention of having AS caused the doctors there to treat me different-like a child almost(I am almost 21 BTW) I have only been in the ER sparse times since the crazy escapades of my toddler years, but i was treated a bit...harsher...on those occasions. This time was different. The moment my mother told the intake nurse I had AS, the very air of everyone's behavior changed. I suddenly found myself being treated like I had been treated on the occasion I had to have a tick removed from my ear-when I was four years old! I was wondering if any of you had been treated like children upon mention of having AS in the ER or hospital, or if that knowledge prompted special treatment. I find it weird, not degradingly weird though.

Yes, and it is difficult to really explain even here. Prior to my having any knowledge of my AS/HFA, some medical people perceived me as being difficult and even non-compliant ... but now that I know and when I tell them, it is almost like they talk past me even when talking to me.

It would be nice of they could just tell me about my options and let me (and/or even help me) decide, but it seems they think I cannot think.

I imagine they thought if it was worth mentioning, it must be serious enough to tread carefully.

I have actually had medical people be nicer to me when I mention the AS. Which is a relief. But I also have experienced being treated like a child, which is annoying.

I haven't mentioned it up front, but I have told about it for other reasons. I cannot stand the thought of having any kind of restraints put on, such as to tie an arm up to have an IV put in, etc. I have read about cases where an Autistic patient has freaked out and broken his/her own bones trying to get out of restraints, and I can picture myself doing that. Also, a little girl accidentally killed an ER nurse after she was tied down for some reason, and she broke the restraints and somehow strangled the nurse with the straps while violently trying to get out of them. I involuntarily freak out if anyone grabs me; even to hug. I can control it to a point when it's someone attempting to hug, but I still flinch and jerk away as quickly as possible.

Therefore, when I was in for an outpatient abdominal surgery several years ago, and was terrified of general anesthetic, or even the "twilight" anesthetic, I demanded to have it done without any of that. I explained about high-functioning autism, and how this affects me. I said I wouldn't have the procedure unless a doctor was willing to do it with me fully awake and unrestrained. We compromised, and I had the IV in place, so as if I decided at the last minute that I couldn't take the pain, they could instantly do the anesthetic. He reluctantly did the operation without general anesthesia and without any restraints. It went fine, and there wasn't any pain, and no fear of being tied up or being doped. Granted, I doubt I could do that for something on an emergency basis, but I'll cross that bridge if/when I come to it, I guess.

Charles