AutistheFrog
Resident Paleontology Nerd
This thread may get graphic, so if you don't like TMI, stay away from this thread!
I'm going to start by saying I'm not too physically healthy for a 27 year old. I have a lot of invisible illnesses, that are sometimes life-altering. For example, I have a number of other psychological illnesses, like bipolar, generalized anxiety, ADHD, and of course, autism. I also have a number of physical issues, some yet unexplained. I have asthma, allergies, terrible acid reflux that frequently wakes me up at night and causes me to vomit (yet unexplained), I used to struggle with chronic diarrhea, I have mild osteoarthritis in my ankle, I'm a glaucoma suspect, I have pre-diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (which causes me to be obese, despite barely being able to eat, get pimples all the time, and grow facial hair that if I don't shave daily, actually becomes a full beard. I even get the 5 O'clock shadow.). I also have a yet unexplained condition...I have had my period non-stop, since December of last year. It's gotten better on birth control, much lighter, and I've had numerous tests done, including an endocrine work up, other blood work, an ultrasound, and even an in-office endometrial biopsy. Though the bleeding has lightened, it hasn't stopped. Doctors used to believe I was immune-deficient, because I got a lot of infections, and I still do, but my immune tests have all been fine.
I often feel ignored by doctors. I have trouble speaking up for myself properly, and so my health takes a long time to sort out, and I appear healthy on the outside, so doctors often assume I'm healthy before they see otherwise. This causes a lot of distress for me, and one doctor even mocked me when I brought up my DIAGNOSED arthritis. She didn't believe I had it, and thought what I had was obviously very minor strain (despite not injuring myself), most likely because I appear healthy on the outside.
So I was wondering, is bad health common among people on the autism spectrum? Is it harder for us to get good care?
I'm going to start by saying I'm not too physically healthy for a 27 year old. I have a lot of invisible illnesses, that are sometimes life-altering. For example, I have a number of other psychological illnesses, like bipolar, generalized anxiety, ADHD, and of course, autism. I also have a number of physical issues, some yet unexplained. I have asthma, allergies, terrible acid reflux that frequently wakes me up at night and causes me to vomit (yet unexplained), I used to struggle with chronic diarrhea, I have mild osteoarthritis in my ankle, I'm a glaucoma suspect, I have pre-diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (which causes me to be obese, despite barely being able to eat, get pimples all the time, and grow facial hair that if I don't shave daily, actually becomes a full beard. I even get the 5 O'clock shadow.). I also have a yet unexplained condition...I have had my period non-stop, since December of last year. It's gotten better on birth control, much lighter, and I've had numerous tests done, including an endocrine work up, other blood work, an ultrasound, and even an in-office endometrial biopsy. Though the bleeding has lightened, it hasn't stopped. Doctors used to believe I was immune-deficient, because I got a lot of infections, and I still do, but my immune tests have all been fine.
I often feel ignored by doctors. I have trouble speaking up for myself properly, and so my health takes a long time to sort out, and I appear healthy on the outside, so doctors often assume I'm healthy before they see otherwise. This causes a lot of distress for me, and one doctor even mocked me when I brought up my DIAGNOSED arthritis. She didn't believe I had it, and thought what I had was obviously very minor strain (despite not injuring myself), most likely because I appear healthy on the outside.
So I was wondering, is bad health common among people on the autism spectrum? Is it harder for us to get good care?
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