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Like Many Autistic People, My Experience of Pain Is Different
It’s about time healthcare professionals understood
Over two years ago, I started teaching healthcare students about autism, particularly the health inequalities autistic people face. My experience of accessing healthcare hadn’t always been great, but a few months ago, I found out just how bad it could be.
Not only are autistic people more likely to have chronic health conditions compared to neurotypical people, but the care we receive is a lower standard, often due to sensory issues, meltdowns, shutdowns and inaccessible services.
I found myself making three visits to hospitals in late 2024. The kidney stone in my left kidney had moved and I dealt with the worst pain I’d probably ever have to deal with.
Communicating my pain proved a challenge. I could rate it from one to ten and describe it quite well, but I explained it very matter-of-factly and unemotionally. I didn’t quite get the point across about how utterly miserable, hopeless and fearful the pain made me.
The doctor said if my kidney stone was causing a blockage, that I would not be able to speak in full sentences. As someone assigned female at birth, I had lots of experience of having my pain gaslighted so I got used to not making a big deal…
