Autism Sure. And…What Else?

*Me, This past Saturday, after getting ready for breakfast with my good friend Gena. Photos and Video by Ariana*

I have certainly written this before somewhere buried deep in these pages: pictures can tell so many lies. Perhaps unwittingly (even if they are unedited as this one is), but so it remains. But, we’re not getting into that just yet.

Perhaps you may be wondering if I have a confirmed Autism diagnosis yet. And, the answer is yes. Also PTSD. But ADHD? …No. I have above normal impulsivity and hyperactivity, but my focus and attention are within normal parameters.

So are we going to talk about that Autism diagnosis? Right now? Not really. We make way to big a deal about some things I am thinking in our communities, this being one of them given I am a 48 year old woman whose been married for 21 years, has friends, has had jobs, and holds a degree.

But let’s go back to that picture. Let’s just say, I’ve got a lot going on. This is video taken from later that morning:

This is a toned down version of what tardive dyskinesia can look like, and it’s the dramatically improved version of me after two days of Gabapentin. On Tuesday, I was in the ER with spasms and twitches over my entire body that were causing considerable involuntary movement without any sort of pause for more than 8 hours. I started taking video of break through episodes on Saturday after Gena recommended it, I was honestly so overwhelmed with the totality of my circumstances that I didn’t think of it, though a host of providers all over the ER and my primary care certainly saw much more extensive episodes than these from me over the past week.

Do we know for sure what’s causing it? No. A diagnostic process is ongoing and I’d rather not comment any further until that process is completed. So all we can say about the “what else” at this point is that mysteries abound, but that I am doing everything I can to say positive. I would especially like to thank and acknowledge Mr. A.N. from my primary care for helping me get to that spot on Thursday.

That being said, I have returned to doing therapy for now and I plan on returning to school tomorrow. I may not write as much for a while. There are just a few moments from the past couple of days in pictures following below, some of a personal nature, mostly of therapy because this hasn’t stopped me from returning to doing everything I can to help and support the members of my family. And, I would especially like to thank my husband for his love and support, and my sister for showering me with self-care items that have already brightened many a moment. Much love, Ari

A selfie from a text exchange with my sister, who sent Petey, the weighted emotional care friend I am holding as part of a care package for what is going on. We were discussing his new found passion for watching certain shows with me, but how I needed to use an earbud to protect his delicate ears from the salty vocabulary in “Perfil Falso” on Netflix. He’s already had many adventures we speculate, including raiding my jewelry for his drag show aspirations and returning home hungover this morning. He’s a busy panda, but of course I support all his artistic endeavors as long as he returns every last piece of my jewelry, lol.

Yesterday, Tony and I returning to therapy after a week off. He’s actually taller than me now, but he slumped down for this pic…he only took this picture with me because he loves me a whole lot 😉