SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR ASPIES ANTICIPATING HOSPITALIZATION OR SURGERY TO PONDER OR ACT ON:

My own experience and that of some others who have kindly shared with me their experience suggests an Aspie might want to:
a) COMMUNICATION: Make it clear that Aspies can get tripped-up through being over-literal quite easily - before anything important is explained to you - so the pre-op staff can take care to keep information vanilla-plain, metaphor and jargon free. You may also want to request their standard policy to deny you information they deem 'unnecessary' be over-ruled for a patient who is designed to absorb such information without necessarily emotionally over-reacting.

b) PERVASIVE ALERT: Pre-warn them that the probable several altered genes resulting in AS may also express themselves sometimes by dislodging organs and discernible landmarks away from their precise typical locations and mean subtle differences in organ function and response - that is to lean any operative team away from commonplace everyday assumptions regarding your potential whole-of-body or 'pervasive' differences.

c) POST-OP: Some Aspies awake with an odd reaction to anaesthesia - not just confusion or tearfulness, but anger/grumpiness and a shocker of a headache requiring meds. It helps if post-op staff are alert to the possibility, and that they keep lighting to an extra low-level till you are wide awake.

d) ANTIBIOTICS: That the wisdom of co-administration of pro-biotics with the inevitable post-op antibiotics to avoid candida is a widespread reported need with Aspies. Antibiotics are designed to fight off the potential infections that MIGHT occur ('prophylactic prescription') and it would not be nice to have them instead CERTAINLY lead to massive changes in your gut flora and fauna such that you DO get an infection - with all the attendant itches, mood and taste changes, smelly discharges and general unwellness that results.

by John Greally
e) BOUNDARIES: That you might have a significantly altered sense of personal space, hyper-modesty, reaction to normally acceptable behaviours, noise and light and smell, boundaries and time-alone requirements - may all conspire to make you an excellent candidate for improved recovery through placement in a room of your own if hospital capacity, insurance policies, and hospital practice permits this wondrous 'extra'.

f) PAIN MANAGEMENT: Many Aspies appear less responsive to pain ('inured') because of sensory issues, bruising from dyspraxia and systemic bullying, and quite a few are less than proactive in requesting pain management as a result, overlooking the very beneficial de-stressing and anti-swelling attributes of such medication as a result. To add to this, we are not as 'forceful' in expressing our emotions in support of verbal demands or prompts seeking appropriate levels of pain care, or we may be overly concerned about medium-to-long-term effects of semi-addictive substances affecting our all important ability to *function* at a good-mood inducing peak - so ask nursing staff to be particularly sensitive and observant for signs of these issues in advance.

g) LIFE CONTROL: Post-recovery, many Aspies are challenged to resume the comforting habits and rituals that supported their functioning 'at peak', and to feel they have successfully seized back autonomous control over their lives ('feeling like a bobbing cork in an ocean' is one way of putting it. Having a hospital social worker help get things back firmly on-track with 3-4 appointments to energise and refocus such attempts to normalize life can be a heaven-sent boon for most of us. Do not be afraid to ask for 'the most eccentric or quirky' Social Worker with those responsible for booking their days ahead... it can make all the difference to have a like mind employed dispassionately on the matter at hand.

-> I wish I could accompany every Aspie going in for an operation to make sure the 'indigo-tinged carpet' is rolled out before them, as it can be a shocking experience that can cause bewilderment for some, unexpectedly so, while I do acknowledge millions of us survive the experience just fine and some relish all the attention even! My thoughts are with any of you that you might get the skilled care, speedy recovery, and old smile back to last a lifetime. By insisting - I coped well through a series of heart attacks... and so did the staff. :-)    by John Greally, of ASNZ (Asperger Syndrome New Zealand)