Two different experiences

[Guest guest]

We started the diet about 7 wks ago with our two spectrum kids.

,4, had a very spacey week or so, and then started having these

significant increases in language. The quality and quantity has

really increased. He pretty much only used language functionally

(though clearly and reasonably complex) before but now he is making

lots of comments and relating experiences. He's much more social-

wants to play ball with daddy, etc. The other night when we had

company he was in the middle of the room, chatting away and showing

off. It's pretty exciting.

,5, has had a rougher road with the diet. She is higher

functioning (Aspergers) and has had a real backslide since we started

the diet. Basically, a big increase in anxiety and difficult

behavior. This persisted beyond the first couple weeks.

We remained committed for several reasons. First, we were looking at

the fabulous changes in . Secondly, we kept thinking, hey,

we've just changed her food. Plain old, natural food. What's going

on in her body that could cause this much upset? I mean, if this has

nothing to do with her biochemistry, nothing should have happened,

right?

It came as no surprise when the test result came back that, guess,

what, she has a huge yeast problem, and her gluten peptide level was

over 200 (off the chart) though we'd already been gluten free for a

three weeks before the test. So, we've been messing with her drug

supply (gluten and casein) to which she's obviously big time

addicted, and we had reduced the sugar in her diet a little and upset

those yeasty beasties big time. We're altering our whole outlook

here and realizing that it may take the better part of a year to get

the glutemorhines out of her body. We'll be treating the yeast soon,

and feel sure that once we get through that we'll be on the right

track.

I also want to mention that I have noticed that my kids are both

extremely sensitive to infractions. I don't want to be preachy, but

I do want to say this. Minute amounts make a difference for us. So

if you're not seeing results, and you're not quite 100% GFCF, that

may be the reason. We did three months on the diet last summer and

absolutely NOTHING happened. I later figured out that we were using

Rice Dream, which has a minute amount of barley in it. I now know

that for my kids, that was enough to negate all that effort we were

making.

It seems like people can have varied reactions at the beginning of

the diet, but stick with it! The potential gains are worth it!

Best of luck, Sara in Indianapolis