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How do you bring up the topic of Aspergers with your doctor?

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Sahmiam
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06 Dec 2010, 11:16 pm

I have not been to the doctor in quite some time, due in large part to my annoyance at being misdiagnosed with labels that were (and are) just . . . wrong. I would like to go back to the doctor and ask for formal testing with regards to Aspergers, but I don't know what to say. It's very much in my nature to march in there and deliver a written report as to why my last doctor was repeatedly wrong with everything about me aside from my name and birthdate. That doctor put me down for questioning him (about diagnoses and research into side effects of medicine he wanted me to take for disorders I didn't have). Now I feel intimidated by doctors in general. I can imagine it now. I tell the new doctor my ideas and he thinks, Oh great, another one of those Internet doctors. Any insight would be appreciated.



Chronos
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06 Dec 2010, 11:29 pm

Sahmiam wrote:
I have not been to the doctor in quite some time, due in large part to my annoyance at being misdiagnosed with labels that were (and are) just . . . wrong. I would like to go back to the doctor and ask for formal testing with regards to Aspergers, but I don't know what to say. It's very much in my nature to march in there and deliver a written report as to why my last doctor was repeatedly wrong with everything about me aside from my name and birthdate. That doctor put me down for questioning him (about diagnoses and research into side effects of medicine he wanted me to take for disorders I didn't have). Now I feel intimidated by doctors in general. I can imagine it now. I tell the new doctor my ideas and he thinks, Oh great, another one of those Internet doctors. Any insight would be appreciated.


I would not go to a psychiatrist unless you are seeking medication for a psychiatric disorder.

If you are an adult, I would find someone who specializes in diagnosing AS in adults, and I would make sure they had sufficient experience with adults with AS.

I would also be aware of disorders which can present in a similar fashion to AS, such as some of the schizophrenia spectrum disorders.



Aspinator
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06 Dec 2010, 11:31 pm

This is what worked for me; I found a doctor that specialized in diagnosing AS.
He was attached to the university in my area. I have found that most universites
have a " cutting edge" Psychairity Dept. Prior to that I saw another psychaitrist who thought I was just extremely shy.



StuartN
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07 Dec 2010, 6:33 am

Sahmiam wrote:
I tell the new doctor my ideas and he thinks, Oh great, another one of those Internet doctors. Any insight would be appreciated.


Start from the problems - what is difficult in your life or work, what symptoms you think are the cause of those problems, how long you have had those symptoms. Then you can work to what diagnosis would explain the symptoms, and why a particular diagnosis would help deal with the problems.