Asperger's

[telecom_goddess]

I know some of you on here have been diagnosed with this. I haven't been thus far but I have suspicions that I have it. I'm going to a clinic that specializes in this kind of thing tomorrow to find out for sure if I have it or not.

On the one hand it would be a relief if I could get a diagnosis...but at the same time I'd be labeled in a way I don't want to be.

Sigh.

This isn't a ploy for sympathy or anything....I'll update more tomorrow.

[Seshat]

Think of it as a way to quickly access the list of 'techniques and tools that have worked for other people'.

[Cazzi]

When my daughter was diagnosed at 17, to her it was pure relief. Before then she was very frustrated because she'd worked out something was different about her & she wasn't like her friends & that frustration had manifested into some quite violent tantrums at times. With the exception of once, just before her 18th birthday, she doesn't have them now.

She said at the time that it was so good to know there was a medical reason for her feeling like she did that she was glad to know she wasn't the alien she felt like

She doesn't think of Aspergers as a label, she's pretty agoraphobic too and spends most of her socialising time talking online & if anyone comments that she seems "different", she tells them that she's unique & special.... then she *may* mention Aspergers if the online friendship develops

So As Seshat said, don't think of it as a label, you're still you, that's not going to change

[Lace Neil Singer]

When I got my diagnosis, it came as relief. For years I'd struggled with socialising, and had felt as tho everyone was reading from a different script from me. It was great to know exactly why I'd felt different.

[telecom_goddess]

See I know I'm different and I think this is the reason, the symptoms or whatever fit, and a lot of the descriptions of what people are like fits me. I just want to be sure one way or the other at this point.

Appointment at noon.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

I have ADD (at the very least).
I think of It as, "an aspect of me/my personality that warrants a name because it bears resemblance to a series of problematic traits that other people exhibit as well."
In other words, it's me, but some parts of me are enough of a problem that I need help fitting into the rest of the world. And since the world's gotten crazy and rigid (in some ways, like time-- we schedule things to the minute people! Minutes!), it leaves less room for awesome. Sometimes.
You may feel different about your particular brand of crazy (yes I know neither ADD nor Asperger's are mental illnesses), but that's how I feel about an aspect of my personality that is sufficiently different as to somehow cause problems.
Also, best of luck.

[trailerparkmedic]

One of the nurses at my clinicals said "I just think everyone is undiagnosed." She was referring to cancer (everyone has cancer, they just don't know it), but I think it's really applicable to psych. Everyone has issues, but not everyone has a name for it. I like names, because names are very helpful in treatment. Names don't change anything about you.

(I don't think asperger's is really psych, but I kind of lump it in with them in my head, because it's not a physical illness.)

Good luck with whatever happens.

[telecom_goddess]

thanks for the well wishes....I haven't gone to that appointment yet but have been to a md appointment, where I just found out I'm officially diabetic now

I'm not happy about this.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

ah damn. Hopefully no needles? If since you're diabetic, you'll be feeling better physically, if not mentally, once you control your Sugar.
Hugs?

[telecom_goddess]

Thanks for the hugs...and no no needles I just need to start yet another new med. And have a better diet I don't have to test blood sugar yet but it may come to that, and I may have to start watching out for my vision and feet more. I guess it's type 2? I'm not real familiar with the different types so I gotta research that more.

As for the Asperger's thing I am now in a place where I've been told that it could be that or it could be non verbal learning disorder, (aka NVLD or NLD)...or possibly both. They share a lot of symptoms and the only way to tell for sure is to take an IQ test ...which I will do early next month. Either way I've got something wrong with my brain . And it's neurological in origin.

If anyone is curious this web page http://www.nldline.com/ has a link on the left side called Asperger's vs Nonverbal Learning Disorder so ...this appears to be common.

Guess I'm doing some research now.

[Andara Bledin]

Type 1 diabetes is where your system just stops producing insulin at all, and is actually a lot easier to control than type 2, but absolutely requires shots, because that's the only way to process the sugar you take in.

Type 2 diabetes, which is often also called adult onset, is where your body can't figure out how much insulin to produce, so it becomes unpredictable. At which point it's best to only take in as much as is necessary.

I likely am way on the functional side of having Aspergers. I have most of the classic symptoms, except that I seem to be easily able to socialize despite the typical quirks involved in being unable to process verbal and visual cues from others.

Unlike a lot of others, I never really had it that bad as far as wanting to fit in as a kid. I put a lot of that on my upbringing and the fact that my mother was very much a non-conformist, so I wasn't ever expected to be anything like my peers unless I decided to do so. Sure, I was different, and I knew I was different, but it never actually mattered to my family that this was the case, so it was never an issue to me. *shrug*

^-.-^

[telecom_goddess]

Sounds like I have Type 2 then...funny the dr never actually called it that, or gave me any kind of scale as far as severity.

I don't know how to socialize in person very well at all....and most of the time don't want to make the effort. It's too overwhelming and I can only take it in small doses, generally with one person at a time. Crowds are one way to turn me off completely. Every once in a while I make an effort but I can't keep it up for very long...and most likely get people (like Plaid probably ) mad at me cause it seems like I'm ditching them. I'm not really but I know it seems like it.

However I get along with people online great which is why I do so well here

[trailerparkmedic]

Please, please, please check your feet daily. Diabetics have poor healing, especially in their legs and feet. A small cut on your foot can become very nasty and gross. A scary number of amputations are performed on diabetics.

Your doctor should give you a referral to a nutritionist. I am a student, not a nurse, not a doctor, but generally type 2 diabetics should eat a low fat, high fiber diet with an emphasis on lean protein and lots of veggies. Fruit is also good, but don't go overboard. Exercise and losing weight are both good for managing diabetes. Of course, these are generalizations and you should talk to your doctor before making major changes.

[Eisa]

I strongly suspect I myself have a nonverbal learning disability. I did take an IQ test and an achievement test, but I believe the results were a little...skewed, as the person administering them had a very, very strong accent. I originally came in because I suspected I had a math learning disability. Apparently not, although on the achievement test, my score for the 'basic arithmetic' section was in the 4th percentile. I didn't know it was possible to do that badly.

He wouldn't diagnose me with a NVLD because my lowest scores were still technically in the 'average' range. However--there was a 33 point difference between verbal and non-verbal sections. [To clarify--verbal was 125, perceptual reasoning & processing speed were both 92.] So...HUGE difference. You'd think that would be a big problem, wouldn't you? Nope, to him, I was fine, see ya.

I hope that you find out whichever it is soon. I've also wondered about autistic spectrum disorders, but I suspect it really is a NVLD instead...for me, anyway.

One of those articles about the difference kind of struck a chord in me about not getting the general situation rather than the specifics. I'm always like, "But I didn't do that again," when I did in the general way. Just not the specific way.

[Andara Bledin]

Please, please, please check your feet daily. Diabetics have poor healing, especially in their legs and feet.

Well, yes and no.

Sugar is a spiky molecule, and when you have too much in your circulatory system, it does systemic nerve damage as it circulates. The eyes have the most delicate nerve structures, so that's why uncontrolled diabetics have issues with their vision. Over time, uncontrolled sugar levels will damage more nerve structures and also cause circulation issues. This is why there are so often problems with feet.

If a diabetic keeps their blood sugar under control, then there won't be any damage, and thus no need to be extra careful in other areas.

My ex was type 1, and I used to read the newsletters he got because I found the information to be interesting. I strongly suggest anyone who is diabetic or is close to a diabetic get on the mailing list of a good newsletter.

^-.-^