has anyone had a kid on the spectrum act not himself (tantrums/yelling/aggressions)

[Adamsmama]

I don't know what to do. We figured out that his food allergies were causing some of the strange behaviors and he started doing great on this new diet (just very restrictive because of all his allergies). For the past several days he has become outrageously aggressive, tantrums, rude, disrespectful, loud, bullyish. I have no idea what the heck is going on. It isn't food related ... with food he acts out of it/spacey and silly/unfocused and aggressive. Now he seems to be intentionally threatening various members of our household. He told me yesterday he was going to hit me and punch me ... he told our youngest and then followed through and hit her/punched her in her head. If he doesn't get everything exactly how he wants it he has a tantrum. He started screaming at church (he has NEVER done this before and he is almost 8 yrs old). He had several meltdowns. Everything is a tantrum and or he is bullying/threatening someone. I'm 5 months pregnant and I'm not handling this aggressive side of him very well. He is scarying the h*** out of me lately. I'm scared to have him around our new baby. Has anyone gone through this and figured out a pattern? He had been doing relatively well for weeks - past month. It is very frustrating to me--I want peace in our home -- I want him to get along with all of us. Ugh.

[BookGoddess]

If this came on suddenly, I would look at possible bacterial overgrowth especially since you started a new diet. Check to see if Clostridia is an issue. A simple urinary organic acids test or a microbial organic acids test can tell you if there is pathogenic bacteria overgrowth. HPHPA is the clostridia marker and the test will pick up on it if it's an issue. HPHPA is the metabolic toxin interferes with brain chemicals, which then can manifest in some of those behavioral issues we see with our kiddos on the spectrum.

[Adamsmama]

Thank you for that info. I haven't done any testing like that. I'm wondering how a bacterial overgrowth would be treated? With antibiotics or something over the counter?

[BookGoddess]

If it's clostridia you do need antibiotics. We've used Flagyl in the past for it, and her regular pediatrician prescribed it. Vancomycin, another antibiotic, works well too although I think it tends to be a tad more expensive than Flagyl. We've had clostridia outbreaks from time to time and the abx have been so helpful. I give probiotics afterwards to build the good bacteria up again.

[sbgrace]

That was bacteria here too! Once it was an overgrowth of what I don't remember and we got it with P73 oregano oil. Recently it was clostridia. We did a different antibiotic because he also had something else that needed killing that vancomycin wouldn't kill (and I hate Flagyl with a passion) but Vanciomycin is extremely effective for that one.

Bacterial overgrowths are almost always easy to kill. Sometimes you can do natural ones (we've had those types) though for clostridia you need big guns usually. It can make a huge difference when you treat this stuff. It's worth checking in my opinion.

[nayma]

sorry, not trying to hijack, but i'm in a very similar boat. my dd has been so out of control lately (it's like she's cranky from her first breath in the morning), then she's angry, destructive, etc. it might just be a phase, but how do i rule out if it's something else. my gut says she's out of whack in some sense, but i don't know what .

[BookGoddess]

Originally Posted by nayma

sorry, not trying to hijack, but i'm in a very similar boat. my dd has been so out of control lately (it's like she's cranky from her first breath in the morning), then she's angry, destructive, etc. it might just be a phase, but how do i rule out if it's something else. my gut says she's out of whack in some sense, but i don't know what .

I would suggest a urinary organic acids test (OAT). This is the lab we use, and they take our insurance which is BCBS. We haven't paid anything for the test because our insurance covers it. I believe this lab also takes private pay if your insurance won't cover it. It's $240 if you pay it yourself. In my opinion, it's a great test to do periodically because it gives you a snapshot of carbohydrate digestion, mitochondrial function, vitamin levels, neurotransmitter metabolites, fatty acid oxidation abnormalities or ketosis, oxalate levels, and inborn errors of metabolism. It's interesting you mentioned your daughter's cranky mood in the morning because one of the parent testimonials for the test mentions that was an issue for them as well prior to the test.
http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com...g/full_oat.asp

[Adamsmama]

Who performs the test? Can I request it from a doctor?

[BookGoddess]

Yes, most labs should be able to run a urinary organic acids test. A pediatrician should be able to order such a test.
Our Great Plains Lab test is ordered by one of my DD's doctors. It's the lab he prefers so that's who we use.