Strange Behaviors, A Plateau, An Old Self Stims
This is a tricky process: supplements, dietary interventions, food allergies, additives, sleep issues, medical intervention, daily behavioral therapy, and other therapies – it is a lot to worry about! Parents with doctors assistance are always seem to be checking, changing, deleting, adding ideas to your child’s daily intake, interventions and program. Never a dull moment!
Occasionally, with progress and success – set backs can happen. Set backs come in several shapes and sizes. Here is the checklist I use when something does not seem quite right:
1) Too much sugar / yeast issues
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: Eliminate sugar or go low sugar, NO yeast diet and add probiotics . Replace refined sugar with maple syrup or honey. MANY children work with dietary interventions and add a yeast inhibitor. These are typically prescribed by a physician with drugs such as; Nystatin , Diflucan , Ketakonozole and others. There are natural yeast inhibitors such as Lauricidin , Grapefruit seed extract, and Olive Leaf Extract.
What does high sugar intake look like? Symptoms can include increased hyperactivity, trouble falling asleep, listening to directions and keeping attention. (Yes, some of these symptoms can be autism – but many times these symptoms and others can be another underlying issue.)
What does “yeast” issues look like? Yeast issues typically include the “high sugar intake” issues above and also could include: rashes (especially around the anus), toe walking, extra self stimulatory behaviors (stims) that went away and have come back, seeking deep pressure (propreceptive input) and other related issues.
2) Gluten/casein OR FORBIDDEN FOOD Infraction
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: it is an infraction and check for everything your child ate. OR in the case if you have not done the diet, you need to do the diet. If you suspect an infraction, please go to GFCFDIET and DIET INFRACTION section for information on how to get through this as smoothly as possible. Re-trace your child’s steps, ask therapist and teachers if possible the child accidentally got a forbidden food. Tell them not to be afraid to tell you and it is better to know so you can respond accordingly.
3) Phenol overload
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: Remove phenols - GF CF Diet, Phenols for info - AND give Epsom salt baths nightly to combat these. It could be a sulphanation issue.
What does “Phenol overload” look like? Phenol over load could include these symptoms; dark circles under the eyes, laughing at inappropriate times – especially at night, extra self stimulatory behaviors, and other issues.
4) Allergy/intolerance to a food or foods
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: Do a complete allergy panel from ImmunoLabs , Sage Labs, or rotation diet to find and eliminate the offending foods! Or consider a rotation diet to find the offending foods. (Your doctor would prescribe these tests and review the results with you.)
What does an allergy or intolerance to a food look like? It could be a change in one or more of the following issues: changes in behavior, sleep, new rashes, changes in stools, new stims or other issues.
5) Dyes / natural flavors (this was a big hint that Jeff got his hands on the wrong foods - he would start toe walking again.)
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: Avoid these at all costs! They have no nutritional benefit and seem to be harmful to autistic kids! Go natural, organic foods with no additives! These additives can really reek havoc on a child with a sensitive gut or bowel movement issues. It is truly best to keep the foods simple and avoid all unnatural ingredients all together!
6) Or the supplements don't work for your child's chemistry!!
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: SEE NOTES BELOW! Also watch for your child’s intake amount! Sometimes the bottles give adult size doses! Please check with your doctor on proper dosing for your child’s age, weight, and supplement objectives. Some ideas to consider: Back off the dose to start! Give 1/4 of the dose to see if it works for your child!! Please be sure to document daily intake so identifying new, offending foods, supplements or other items can be easily (or easier to) identified.
7) Dark Circle / Bruises Sleeping issues:
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION: Most of these issues can be resolved going thru items 1-6 – allergy testing, phenols & dye removal, etc. But if you see bruising, try essential fatty acids (like Cod Liver Oil, Evening Primrose oil, Flaxseed oil.) When a child has sleep issues, there may be issues w/ impacted stools causing “night wakenings ” and “night terrors”. Consider an extra of the lower abdomen or stool study to get to the bottom of the issue! When child sleeps this = one big happy family!! I don’t know about you but I am capable of a lot more productivity with at minimum 7 contiguous hours of sleep – just think about how our kids feel? They need sleep too!
8) Almost always - IT IS IN THE POOP!! ISSUES WITH CONSTIPATION OR DIARHEA OR STOOLING FREQUENCY
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION – for many autistics the bottom line, it always is about bowel movements ! The consistency, the frequency, proper digestion, absorption, and many other issues! Here are some ideas to consider for constipation or diarrhea. We have an entire web site page dedicated to POOPS! Please check out POOPS for details on treating poop related issues.
9) Is the side effect of a new treatment a NEGATIVE RESPONSE to treatment or a common side effect?
Almost all treatment recommendations by doctors have a side affect. It is important to not that these side effects can be good or bad medically speaking. Parents are recommended to read up on medications & treatments besides what the doctor says in an appointment. It is important to know what is a “liveable” side affect vs. a negative side affect to stop a treatment. Parents should establish clear evaluation guidelines with the doctor for each medical treatment before trying something new. The guidelines include: common side effects (what they are, how long they last) and negative side effects (i.e. when to stop the treatment.)
For example: chelation and yeast treatments can bring out negative behaviors that were gone for a good period of time. Sometimes these behaviors are a “common side effect” to a treatment. The doctor should indicate how long they are expected to last. Often these set backs of negative behaviors can be followed by a period of wonderful growth. These side effects should be clearly explained and expectations set prior to commencement of a new treatment.
In addition – a good question to ask: is there any way to mitigate the side effects? Or plan possible new treatments around holidays (or not!) and or school breaks and weekends.
NOTE: IF A SYMPTOM CARRIES A FEVER, LONG PERIODS OF IRREGULAR BOWEL MOVEMENTS WHICH CAN LEAD TO DEHYDRATION OR OTHER ISSUES, EXTREME CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR, LOSS OF SLEEP OR APPETITE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.
Some closing notes on SUPPLEMENTS :
1) Supplement vacations: When you have the diet, allergy, intolerance issues down and your child takes a step back, take them off all supplements for a "supplement vacation". For about 1-2 weeks no supplements. Then you add them back in 1 at a time, 3 days apart. You can easily see if one supplement is bothering your child. In addition, you sometimes need a break from all of them.
2) At a DAN! conference in San Diego a parent asked a question of Dr Jeff Bradstreet; "My son used to take all his supplements just fine. In fact, he has been fine with the supplements for the last year. Now whenever I give him his supplements he immediately throws up." The answer: STOP GIVING HIM SUPPLEMENTS! What you supplemented with last year, may not be what the body needs THIS year. The whole idea of giving supplements is replacing the body of what it needs or is not absorbing from the food. This is unique to the child and changes as the child’s issues changes.
3) What ONE child receives in supplements is not what ALL children should receive. Supplement what your child needs with a doctors support and tests.
Disclaimer: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides general information of interest to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and TACA does not independently verify any of it. The views expressed herein are not necessarily TACA's. Nothing in this document should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your child's doctor regarding his or her individual needs.
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Saturday, November 22, 2008
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