FoggyRock General Forum

My mother and I own a home together and she helps with my children.  Have you noticed any triggers for the change in your granddaughter?  You might want to keep a journal to see if any pattern emerges.  I know my sons connectivness changes after eating certain foods.  When he was younger certain places triggered a change.  For example I can't take to get bllod drawn at children's hospital.  THe waiting room is a bright blue and sets him off every time.  It isn't having blood drawn that is the problem because he has had blood drawn in several other locations without a hitch.  He likes to tell them the correct way to draw blood.

I fifnally figured out it was the waiting room because we started bypassing that particular room and all the issues went away.  I don't know that it the color or the brightness of the color and room in general.  I think it is suppose be cheerful for kids rather than appearing medical.  It is just over stimulating in our case.

It may just be the combination but that gluten sure can drug up some kids.  Michael reacts to all fish gluten and especially casein.  Italian restaurants aren't on our list when Michael is along. 

Our house has its communication issues but I have attributed some of it to hormones! Three females al;l at different hormonal stages (lol).  My daughter is NT but is 18.  I don't think any teen is exactly NT.

Michael's school doesn't provide food but they are supportive of the GFCF diet when chosen by the parents.  Have you seen a DAN doctor? There are so many different test.  What may seem fine on one test may be reactive on another.  We have done 3 or 4 allergy panels.  The last one was through Sage Labs.  It is expensive but our insurance covered it.

A DAN doctor is a health provider who has attended the Defeat Autism Now training/conferences and believes ASD kids can be help biomedically.  Most of them don't take insurance, some are very expensive and some aren't.  http://www.autism.com/   or  http://www.autism.com/dan/danusdis.htm  We go to a DAN and then the regular pediatrician reorders the labs that are covered by the state insurance (Michael has private ins and state).  Our regular pediatrician is "autism friendly"  A lot of kids have yeast issues that are aggravated by fruit.

Wonderful dialogue here, ladies.... Sherry, I agree that a DAN doc should be your next step.  If your daughter can have such moments of clarity, then the times when she is not available are pointing to something biomedical, I would think.  Seizures might be something to look into as well--which can be triggered by stress, or lights or food etc.....Sounds like she is shutting down for a reason and a good doctor can help you figure it out....It will never get easier to start her on some sort of diet (there are many to try: GF/CF, SCD, BED, etc...) than now.  It's tough when they get older.  And you can get dietary restrictions built into IEP so school will have to comply.

Call the office, they may have some alternative for you.  There are lot's of therapy options for children on state insurance, thats what my son has.  Sometimes it takes a little longer than reg ins. but usually they are pretty good about that stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions about checking on outreach clinics, and about checking with the folks who oversee the state health care for children. Definately worth looking into.