Military Doctors... Sheez! (Just GETTING the Appointment)

So, I mentioned that Troy's therapist is in an ongoing state of "ruling out" Asperger's Syndrome. I kind of understand her point of view when she says that "Autism is sort of a "heavy" diagnosis for a kid." Well, it is, but living with a child who is living with Autism but does not have an official diagnosis is kind of heavy for a mother with no family close, whose husband is in Iraq, who struggles with depression... Sorry. It's not about me. But it kind of is.

If I cannot receive the kind of assistance that parents of Autistic children clearly need (any support of any type would be beneficial) then how can I raise my neurotypical child and my "ADHD r/o AS" child. Most days I don't know what the heck I am doing.

So, at the end of my rope I called the military medical facility where we are seen, to once again try to get a referral for neurology. Here is how that went.

Me: "Hi. I need to get an appointment for my children to have school physicals done, and I also need a referral for my oldest child for neurology."

Appointment Line Representative: "Well, you will need separate appointments for a school physical and a referral, since the medical assistants who do the school physicals are not qualified to give referrals."

Me: "Okay. So, when is the soonest I can get in to see a primary care manager, because I know Dr. A has moved on to another place, and Dr. B who was supposed to be his replacement is gone now, too - per a conversation I had last week when I tried to schedule this appointment."

Appointment Line Representative: "Oh, Dr. B is not gone. He is still here. He just is not taking appointments anymore."

Me (not surprised at this answer at all): "Okay, whatever. So when can I schedule an appointment for my child to be seen by a PCM? "

Appointment Line Representative: "We don't have any appointments for PCM's, but I can get you in to see a medical assistant next week."

Me: "I thought medical assistants couldn't make referrals?"

Appointment Line Representative: "Oh, they can. Just not when they are doing school physicals, because they are only scheduled in ten minute increments."

Me: "Okay, then. Let's just go ahead and make the appointment and hope for the best."

Appointment Line Representative: (Laughs audibly)

We did end up getting the appointment scheduled. I will write later to tell you all about how it went. Let's just say for now that the medical assistant for the doctor's assistant who saw Troy should NOT quit his day job.