Aspies and change

One thing that people with Asperger's find hard to cope with is change. Well, I certainly went through a lot of that last year when I went into hospital. That was the first major change to my life. I think it helped me because I knew in advance (the day before) that I was going in, and I knew that I had to go as it would help me and my health. Then came more change as I went from one hospital to another to find out what was wrong with me. Again I knew it was to help find out what was wrong with me. I somehow managed to cope with all of that change until there was one change too many for me. I have described it my memoir like this

 I went from the quiet of ICU to the noise, lights and busyness of Doulton High Dependency Unit. The contrast was amazing. One thing us Aspies do find hard to cope with is change. This change was hard for me. I had coped well with going into hospital, then from one hospital to another and another, but this was something else. I think now it was that plus being in a strange environment that made me unable to sleep for three nights.

Once I got used to the routines and everything happening to me in that ward, I calmed down.

There was more change to come when I got home, and then Mum came home too. I shall tell you about that in the next post.

An Aspie in hospital - routine

One thing we Aspies like is routine. I certainly do. So when I went into hospital, that went out of the window, as they say. But...they do have their own routines, which in their way did help me cope.

Meals – The meals all were dished up at certain times of the day. If they were late, which sometimes they were, and I got hungry (hangry), then I'd be angry. At least I knew what time of the day it was. The meals I had is another post as I have various food intolerances.

Medications – This was one routine I had to get used to and accept. I had my own routine, especially with the two tablets for my IBS. I always took them as it said on the boxes; before a meal. Did that happen there? Nope. They had their own system, plus they had to order one of them in. I even had a go at one nurse about this and she had a go at me. (I wasn't the only patient to have a go at this nurse – she was an agency nurse not a ward nurse). That is another story. I came to accept the new routine but one thing I hated, or it annoyed me, was to be woken up at 10pm with 'Julie, time for your medication.' Hmm.... Grr.... And especially when I was about to get to sleep. This was the same for what they call Obs (observations) such as taking blood pressure and temperature. Another way I knew what time it was.

Nurse shifts – 8am and 8pm. This was the routine at most hospitals, especially in the High Dependency Unit at St Thomas's. When the changeover happened, I knew it was eight in the morning or night.

Lights out – When the lights either went on or out, I knew what time of the day it was. I could wind down in the evening, knowing I was about to sleep for the night. (Sleeping in hospital is yet another post).

All these routines helped me to cope being in what was a strange environment for me, especially in lockdown, and no one could visit me.

I am currently writing my memoir about my journey with endocarditis, including my hospital stays.

Me, Asperger's and travelling

The other day I posted on Facebook that I went to Bromley on my own. I got comments saying I was a good daughter because it was mainly to get ice cream for my mum. I am now posting to let people know how it was a big deal for me. I have been to Bromley before, but never on my own, it has always been with my mum. Mum said to me that when I go shopping with her I have always followed her like I have since I was a child. So true, I do do that. Mum hasn't been well this past month with possibly a UTI that knocked her energy and she was getting low on her dairy-free ice cream. The only place we can get it is in Waitrose at Bromley. First of all I said I didn't really want to go on my own, but got thinking that I have already been to Croydon, Charing X and Holborn on my own, so I could do Bromley if I knew where the bus ended up going. Once I set my mind to do a thing, it is part of that day's routine. Mum told me where the bus went and I made a mental note of this when I was on the bus. So, I went to Bromley, which involved getting 2 buses there, and 2 back. A lot of social energy used up. I got there, only to find they had one tub of ice cream, which I got.

So, I felt proud of myself, and Mum did too. I now feel that as I have done this once, I can do it again if I have to.

Mum is still unwell this week, so my brother is taking me shopping today.