Periods

[Guest guest]

YSD came to me this morning and told me she had blood in her panties. She's

mid-range on the spectrum and she is also mildly MR. Mentally, she's' probably

more like an 8 or 9 year old than 12. I've gone over with her how to use a pad

and what a period is but I don't feel like I've done enough and will definitely

be going over it more in-depth now that it's suddenly upon us.

However, I'm seriously concerned about her ability to handle her period. She

isn't good about remembering to wipe well or at all after she uses the bathroom

despite several years of consistent and inconsistent work with her in regards to

this. Her mental health case manager has suggested we see what we can do to get

her on the Depo shot. I'm against putting her on it because of the long-term and

short-term side effects. She's already on the verge of being over-weight because

she's taking risperidone and I'm not comfortable with the risk of calcium and

bone loss. We'd definitely consider other birth control.

She seemed OK with the pad this morning but I'm guessing that the school is

going to freak when they find out she's started. They've been forever harping on

us about her bathroom habits despite us explaining to them that they have to be

on board with reminding her to clean herself after she goes. I'm almost betting

I get a call from her teacher today to come pick her up for the rest of the day,

which I can't do and neither can my husband.

Unfortunately, we lack many of the resources most parents and step-parents of

autistic girls have access. We live in a community of 1300 people; no one is

willing to step in and watch YSD when DH and I can't. Her mother is in the

picture somewhat but lives an hour and a half away and doesn't want to deal with

anything concerning YSD.

How do you all do it? How to do you teach them how to change the pad and to

clean themselves? How hard is it to get a doctor to agree to put them on birth

control? I'm open to any suggestions.