Question:
I have been referred for a neuropsychological assessment to determine if my symptoms are attributable to Asperger's, or a brain injury incurred in a car crash resulting in a coma twenty years ago, or a combination of both.
Symptoms include absence of emotion and physical feeling, (don't sense cold, feel pain, get hungry, know when full, feel pleasure, get angry, sad, happy, experience sexual feelings/desire...etc.) I have no physical or emotional attraction to either sex and can't determine my sexual orientation. I sleep at every opportunity , sometimes for thirty hours at a time non-stop, and still don't feel rested after. I have no friends and don't see the need for any. I've attempted socializing, but have fallen asleep at the house parties I've attended. I am socially awkward, possibly from lack of experience. I'm oblivious to the physical existence of my body and often watch myself from outside of it. The top of my skull feels like it is "lifting off" at times. I tend to be obsessive and compulsive about many things, even when there is no logical reason . I am 6'6" tall and somewhat uncoordinated.
This sometimes results in injury to others when I run into them, or shake their hand. I don't know my own strength and am forever breaking things because of it. I think this is because I don't experience the "feedback" others do, to tell me to stop exerting force. I don't perceive emotions, yet my glasses fog up in situations where others are emotional around me. I have extremely high metabolism (50,000 calories per day) and perspire constantly, year-round. (thyroid has been checked and is OK). Doctors I've seen are perplexed by my symptoms. I was diagnosed as having a sub-functional testosterone level and was prescribed 240mg testosterone undecanoate daily. This produced no sexual desire. I've also been diagnosed with severe (4 on scale of 5) obstructive sleep apnea and am on a CPAP machine whenever I lie down. I'm still able to sleep for thirty hours with the machine, so another sleep study has been ordered.
Do you have any thoughts/questions/test or treatment option suggestions?
thanks
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Answer:
by Melissa BEE: (06/27/2004)
Thank you ever so much for such a wealth of information (both publicly visible and in your notes to me). I'm sorry to be of little assistance to you, but you seem to have been down many of the therapy/treatment paths I could suggest. While what I suggest won't help your medical problems, it may help your need for social-interaction and socialisatin (albeit virtual)
HOWEVER you are clearly intelligent, astute and very articulate. I'd suggest that you join some mailing lists of subjects that interest you and also ASD ones. There are many listed on the website http://hunnybee.com/autism/ including the adult one I run, called "AS PEOPLE" you have a great deal to offer.
If you want to talk about this in person, most of The Sexual Health Network team are available by phone through KEEN. JUst check my availability under DoctorHuunny on Keen.com
Good Luck,
Melissa BEEReviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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