Remember a couple of weeks ago I was asking about this because I'd read the book by Karyn Seroussi and it just spoke to me..Here's the piece I wrote this morning on it:
Notes on Eli's GF/CF diet:
Baseline: Eli's Autism symptoms were worsening and intensifying. His diet consisted of mainly wheat and cheese and yogurt and apples and oranges. He was given a vitamin almost daily (inconsistent). He had lots of gas, diahrea and many night wakings. He had doses of gas medicine at least 2ce a week. His stomach looked bloated as if he was suffering from malnutrition. We had a visit to the ER for dehydration. He was evaluated in July for autism and found to have PDD-NOS.
I began reading books on the subject and came across lots of information about doing a special diet for him. At the time, I was wary, because all of his food except the fruit was stuff I'd have to eliminate and that was daunting, but after reading about all the gut issues and knowing that my son suffered from all of them, I knew we had to do it. So, two weeks ago I placed him on a GF/CF diet without waiting.
In the intervening weeks he has also had some speech therapy. He has changed dramatically. Almost immediately we had solid bowel movements and no more night waking with gas. His drawings became more defined with faces. He seems happier. There is some lessening of the stimming behaviors which were getting so much worse. There is still a long way and much therapy to go, but he is so much healthier. He's also had a vitamin daily and some acidopholus when he will take it, which is not always. He's talking more and more, and with more responsive and emotional language. He seems to be able to feel more pain when he falls down, now. He's nicer to his sister. Physically he looks healthier and doesn't have a bloated belly any longer.
There is still a long way to go, he hasn't stopped being autistic, nor did I expect that, but he is dramatically better to me. He's even asking for some foods that he would never have eaten before, such as soy cheese. I am just amazed by the positive effect this is having so far. We've had some rough days, too. One night he didn't sleep well and the next day he was very self stimulating, even the speech therapist noticed it. But after that hard day things have gotten a lot better. I really think that the diet is an integral part of treating Eli's symptoms now. In 6 months we'll try adding wheat back to see what happens, but for now, we continue with his diet and enjoy his renewing of health.
I hope this speaks to someone else, so they can decide if they should try the diet, too. Thanks for all of your input on it when I was starting it two weeks ago!
Notes on Eli's GF/CF diet:
Baseline: Eli's Autism symptoms were worsening and intensifying. His diet consisted of mainly wheat and cheese and yogurt and apples and oranges. He was given a vitamin almost daily (inconsistent). He had lots of gas, diahrea and many night wakings. He had doses of gas medicine at least 2ce a week. His stomach looked bloated as if he was suffering from malnutrition. We had a visit to the ER for dehydration. He was evaluated in July for autism and found to have PDD-NOS.
I began reading books on the subject and came across lots of information about doing a special diet for him. At the time, I was wary, because all of his food except the fruit was stuff I'd have to eliminate and that was daunting, but after reading about all the gut issues and knowing that my son suffered from all of them, I knew we had to do it. So, two weeks ago I placed him on a GF/CF diet without waiting.
In the intervening weeks he has also had some speech therapy. He has changed dramatically. Almost immediately we had solid bowel movements and no more night waking with gas. His drawings became more defined with faces. He seems happier. There is some lessening of the stimming behaviors which were getting so much worse. There is still a long way and much therapy to go, but he is so much healthier. He's also had a vitamin daily and some acidopholus when he will take it, which is not always. He's talking more and more, and with more responsive and emotional language. He seems to be able to feel more pain when he falls down, now. He's nicer to his sister. Physically he looks healthier and doesn't have a bloated belly any longer.
There is still a long way to go, he hasn't stopped being autistic, nor did I expect that, but he is dramatically better to me. He's even asking for some foods that he would never have eaten before, such as soy cheese. I am just amazed by the positive effect this is having so far. We've had some rough days, too. One night he didn't sleep well and the next day he was very self stimulating, even the speech therapist noticed it. But after that hard day things have gotten a lot better. I really think that the diet is an integral part of treating Eli's symptoms now. In 6 months we'll try adding wheat back to see what happens, but for now, we continue with his diet and enjoy his renewing of health.
I hope this speaks to someone else, so they can decide if they should try the diet, too. Thanks for all of your input on it when I was starting it two weeks ago!
