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Medicine and Medication

S

snow

Active Member
Hey, guys.I'm new to this forum, actually this is my first post.

Some years ago I discovered my long term fiancee has aspergers. It's completely a hunch, we've never been to a doctor but his traits are undeniable.

The thing is I wanted some help on how to give him medication when he's hurt or sick. He usually is so absurdly hard-headed that he gets better from any kind of flu in one day. But he never takes medicine.

Today he hit his head by accident on our new house while he slept and now he has this big headache and I had to coach him into drinking a few drops of medicine, and I'm not sure he just threw it out has he usually does (really, this one time he was in pain because of a car crash and I found the strong pills for the pain on his nightstand).

Some help, tips, experiences? I found out that insisting a lot and doing some emotional work on (please, be okay to be able to enjoy the time you spend with me) he agreed on taking. But then again, not sure he drank the thing.

Thanks guys!
 
Pharmacophobia (fear of medication) exists, but I've never met anyone who actually claimed to have it, let alone associated with AS.

However I have had exposure to a few people who seemed averse at taking pain medications across a broad spectrum. Unfortunately most of them appeared to have the same thing in common. A history of substance abuse they weren't necessarily eager to discuss.
 
Hey, so, not at all. No substance abuse or fear of the medication.

He just REFUSES in a very stubborn way to take anything. It seems like one of his aspergers traits. Thus me posting.
 
The persistence with which he refuses might be an Aspergers trait,

but there still has to be a reason for him disliking medicine in the first place. Have you explicitely asked him why he dislikes it?
 
I too tend to not take pills for headaches.

But, I once got my kneecap kicked out in judo, and was really happy to take the anaesthetic when they popped it back!

Guess there's a limit, and everybody is different. If he isn't taking pills, and it isn't causing him distress (that he can't manage) then why is that a problem really? It is only himself that suffers with pain, which is his choice. If it distresses you to see him in pain, then perhaps you should tell him this, and them he could decide whether to take the medicine for your benefit (which wouldn't do him any harm to boot).
 
snow said:
Hey, so, not at all. No substance abuse or fear of the medication.

He just REFUSES in a very stubborn way to take anything. It seems like one of his aspergers traits. Thus me posting.
Click to expand...

Perhaps then it isn't about the medicine or being stubborn per se, but rather the idea of someone (anyone) he might perceive as hovering over him insisting on it. As an Aspie the idea of people hovering around me (even loved ones) at times can be very taxing.

Just a thought, anyways. Stubbornness just seems rather generalized in comparison with things relative to socialization issues. But then equally I suppose the source of such behavior (stubborn or otherwise) may not even have anything to do with being an Aspie, either. Hopefully he's not a person who is congenitally insensitive to physical pain itself. That could also complicate such a scenario.
 
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I have a fear of taking medications, since I have had a few bad experiences with side effects that sent me to the ER. It took me years to find a doctor who is patient with my phobias and does not become impatient with me if I am not eager to just pop any old pill down the chute. One thing that I find interesting about your post, snow, is that you think he is "hard headed." In my personal experience, I have been called hard headed when in fact I am acting according to my own inclinations based upon past experience. In those cases, the person perceiving me as hard headed does not know why I am making the choices I am making, but they are generally annoyed that I am not following their advice. Thus the term hard headed being applied to the situation. Hope that helps!:)
 
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