Is there ever a time when autism isn't a factor?

Today we went back to the love of Billy's life - Dr Victoria.

We went back because the cough part of the croup just won't go away, and I (as you know by now) have a brain that spins off into 'could this be very serious' land very easily.

Turns out, even though he is coughing so hard he's making himself vomit... he's just fine. No asthma, no chest infection, no nothing except the same old sensory issues we should be used to by now.

He feels his throat tickle, he coughs. That makes his throat tickle, which makes him cough. Which makes his throat feel odd, and so... you can fill in the rest (but if you are struggling, it generally ends in vomit or gagging at the very least).

I can live with the fact that it cost me $60 to find out he's got a viral cough that may go on for 4-6 weeks (are you kidding me?) I can live with the fact that there's no lurking pneumonia (very good news). But what I struggle with is the fact that he could possibly be coughing himself stupid for a month, and there's nothing really that we can do to calm it down.

He's come so far in regulating himself, understanding when he's about to be overwhelmed, withdrawing and re-grouping... and then little gems like this just pop in for fun.

There's no point in saying it, but it's just not fair. There are worse issues for sure, but some days, I think people with autism must be the hardiest of the bunch.

Billy has a pretty rough trot some days. It's not always life threatening (though he's had that too...) but it's not often a summery walk in the park either.