Can't go to the doctors.

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I have rotten bits on my teeth (due to the fact that brushing my teeth gives me bad sensory overload), I have a gynaecological problem and I have problems with my gastrointestinal system.

However I cannot go to the doctors.

I have severe sensitivity to touch. For example, even shaking hands is agony for me.

How can I go to a dentist, gynaecologist and my GP about these problems?

I was forced to undergo various medical treatments / procedures as a child and every time, I would scream nonstop and attack anyone within the vicinity. I had to be literally held down several times and I was nonverbal for several days afterwards. I've actually got a criminal record for assaulting a doctor when I was a teenager.

I know that if I don't get my teeth etc seen to, it will just get worse. But I cannot just "switch off" my severe sensory issues.

Don't tell me to take benzodiazepines, because I am practically resistant to all of them. Even taking all my 20mg olanzapine dose doesn't calm me down for anxiety-provoking things. I am really quite resistant to psychiatric medications, probably due to long term use of high doses of them for my mental illnesses.

Advice?

As far as I am aware, King's Dental School in Camberwell have hypnosis available for patients who have a phobia. I'm sure if you saw your GP and explained your sensory issue he/she could help by making a referral to the necessary hospital department clearly indicating what you can tolerate.

Most hospitals in the NHS have autism nurses who specialise in assisting autistic patients through the hospital process.

Ok I'll look into that.

I had a fear of dentists and doctors and hospitals too.
It wasn't until I went to a female dentist who talked about her garden etc. that eventually calmed me and I got over the phobia. They are a pleasure to visit now and if you go regularly, there is never anything to be filled or drilled any more.

I don't have a phobia. I have a neurological sensory issue around it. I have a high pain tolerance, but my sensory issues are neurological and different.

Get referred to King's they'll have people who'll help your issues.

Will do.

If you are anything like me, it will get to the stage where you will either need to go and see the doctor/dentist, or just put up with the pain. I chose the latter as the 'lesser of the two evils'...suffice to say, I can't hardly wait until ALL of my teeth fall out and then I'll have no problems.

Going to a dentist that wears reflective glasses helped in my case. I am still afraid of going there and hate it but at least I am able to stay on the chair. I can see what the doctor is doing in the reflection in his glasses so I know what I am going to feel before she touches me so I can prepare mentally and I can focus on what I see, not what I feel while she is touching me (since what I see and what I feel is the same thanks to the glasses).

About gynecologist - I was there only once but it was not as bad as I thought. In fact I got so scared I got a shutdown and couldn't really feel anything till I got out of the cabinet (unfortunately I couldn't tell much either - but I still got out with a medicine that helped so I guess the doctor correctly identified the infection).

Ask if you can have conscious sedation or general anesthetic.

My only advice to you is to be happy.

=)

have you looked at sedation dentistry? I would do it if anyone near me did it

This sounds like a really difficult situation. I've read before that people with painful chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia sometimes get CBT to help them learn to manage their pain. Perhaps this is a route worth exploring -- the CBT techniques used for these conditions could possibly be adapted to your situation, providing you with techniques to cope with your sensory problems. I don't know a lot about it but this might be worth exploring. I hope you find a way to resolve this problem as it sounds like you really need medical attention.

For your teeth, have you ever tried oil pulling? It is a good way to clean your teeth without brushing or flossing and it can also help reverse or at least slow down tooth decay.

http://www.growyouthful.com/remedy/oil-pulling.php

I'll have a read about oil pulling. Thanks.

Unfortunately I can't just "be brave" - I was forced to see a gynaecologist at 16 and as a result of what I did I was put on a list which basically barred me from certain people and certain places. The gynaecologist wasn't even able to take a sample. I ended up relapsing after that and ended up sectioned.

I've had CBT and it didn't help.

General anaesthesia or heavy sedation are good options. Just that my GP seems to interpret my Asperger's diagnosis as "high functioning, mild autism", when in fact my much more experienced psychiatrist says I present as "moderate autism" with need of support with daily skills.

I'm meeting my new support worker at home on Thursday so I will write her a note asking her for advocacy.

it sounds like the GP is using the very common old useage of mild autism to mean aspergers,when aspergers obviously can be mild,moderate or severe high functioning autism,this is a throwback to the times when HFA was just becoming discovered.

the label shoudnt actualy matter as to whether they allow GA or sedation,its the needs of a person that cause need for GA/sedation versus the risk of not having something done that makes them decide on whether its worth it or not,the gp shoud not be basing it on a label.

will need to ask the community nurse of the mental health team [am assuming theyre CPN?] or the team pysch to intervene and explain why its needed.

they dont like sedating for normal medical procedures/tests unless its seen by them as an absolute necesary because of the risks from medicating already heavily medicated patients;its midazolam [a hardcore benzo] they usualy use for more heavier sedation and that slows breathing down so they have to pay for anaesthetists to be on stand by and it can only be given with doctors in presence so will only be able to take it whilst in hospital-if are anything like self woud be stressed to the max before going there and also like self; regular benzos dont work as am both a long time daily & PRN user of them.
woud also be told not to take any benzos around the day of the test,and any other medications that clash so that might be a problem with getting to the hospital as well.
all medical tests of mine apart from basic xrays are done under heavy sedation or general anaesthetic,am due a MRI scan under midazolam.