Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Ride it out. Both my children had horrendous feeding issues prior SCD. First time I started SCD, I thought I would just kind of " cheat " the intro a bit. I wasn't even sure of our progress until we quit and behavoirs became markedly worse and we all got very sick for a couple months. No fun. Then, we started again with a " proper " intro, and it did it. The kids screamed, tantrumed, refused to eat. I made sure they stayed hydrated and did get a couple bites into them finally, at the end of each day. I thought they were starving, but it was the gut bugs starving. Back then I didn't know about the wonders of activated charcoal either, can you believe it? So, at the end of a week, they finally start digging into their foods, these kids that have had feeding problems since forever, years, these kids that no toy, no bribery could induce them to eat, despite ABA and those kinds of interventions. That big die off gave us a footing to work off of. Things started changing rather rapidly, as far as what they would be able to eat willingly. I believe it is the gut bugs who are doing some of the persuasion in food choice and pickiness, not all of it mind you, but a good portion of it. So, I started doing some research on elimination diets. Very old strategy used in traditional medicene across cultures. Even if I have a sick reptile, or a sick fish, one aid in helping to recover is to reduce digestive burden. I keep running across this theme. Slowly, add one food at a time, no more. You are watching for reactions at the time of eating and also energy/sleepiness/awareness/fogginess during the day, sleep patterns at night, poops, rashes, the whole she-bang. Keep a good food and symptom and behavoiral journal, as patterns may start to show up ie: phenol foods, oxalate foods, too many fruits cause this or that, and so on. Introduce things slowly and take things out slowly, this includes supplements, add them one at a time at reduced dosages. This is what has worked for us. Good luck! Summer memoryalbumcreations wrote: Hello, all, I have been mostly a lurker on this board, gaining info where I can. We have been SCD legal for about 2 months and I've seen only slight changes. I didn't start with the intro diet as I think it's going to be insanely difficult to get my son to eat ANY of the foods allowed. This is still the case even after two months of being SCD legal without intro! I have asked this question before and have never gotten a straight answer (sorry if this sounds cranky, you all know how frustrating it can be) but I do believe that starting the intro diet will give the bugs in my kids' guts the kick in the pants they need to clear out! I have noticed a little die off but not enough behavior change for my taste. My question is: Since my son is soooo picky (won't even put a tiny morsel of something in his mouth even if promised a toy, treat or any other kind of bribe) HOW do I get him to eat the intro diet? Do I tell him these are his choices, list the foods on the intro, and let him scream until bedtime or he gives in?(which I think will take the 2-5 days you're supposed to be on it) Should I physically force him to eat it? (I doubt this is a good idea) I would like to hear specific ideas on what to do to get him to eat if any of you have any. I believe he has Sensory Integration Dysfunction as well as the PDD-NOS he's been diagnosed with. Sorry this was so long...any help would be greatly appreciated. --Mel Wesley 4.5 yo ds PDD-NOS possible SID Phoebe 2.5 yo dd quirky behaviors SCD approx 2 months For information on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, please read the book _Breaking the Vicious Cycle_ by Elaine Gottschall and read the following websites: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info and http://www.pecanbread.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 HOW > do I get him to eat the intro diet? Hi, Mel, I'm sure there are a numerous approaches to this; I'll just tell you what we did and you can take it for what it's worth to you. would not eat meat. This was before SCD. I wanted him to eat meat, so over a long period of time (many months) I would periodically (not every day)put a bite or two of meat on his plate. Just the meat. And I would cheerfully say that he needed to take a bite (or later two bites) and then he could have the other food that he liked to eat. Well, as time went on, he accepted this demand. And as more time went by, he admitted it wasn't so bad. And then I increased the amount of meat. And then he actually found it enjoyable. And then he asked for more. And then I didn't have a problem anymore. If he really dislikes everything on the intro, you'd have to do this before you started the intro, since my approach hinges on him getting to eat mostly the foods that he likes. I know you're anxious to start the intro and I really don't know what I would do in your shoes, but the persistent and slow approach worked for us. , mom to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Mel, every child is different but I have to say that my son will refuse foods from time to time and well at the very beginning, he wouldn't eat half of the stuff. The thing is that if I gave him choices and said " this is all the food we have to eat " he usually would cry and scream the first time.protest slightly the second time and then pick something from the list the 3rd time. Now my son is persistent, emotional, and tantrums on a dime but he doesn't have sensory issues. If he did, I would think this is a bit more difficult because they are uncomfortable with the textures of the foods. What textures does he like? If he likes a particular texture, I would try all foods in that category. Also, I have heard ABA therapy for food aversion has helped for some. Is there one thing on the intro that your son likes? Like maybe hamburgers? Because you can sneak things into them..a tiny bit of pureed carrot and/or eggs. I HTH, but if anything else, I think that just giving it a try is worth it. There have been many times that I have though " no way, he won't eat that " but eventually he ate something I offered. It is not like this food is disgusting.its just different than they are used to. Try and get creative about how you talk about food. There are things that my son loves to talk about and hears his peers talk about like French fries. I call baked carrot sticks " French fries " and that gets him to at least try it and well.they taste good! So he eats more. The other thing you can try is to make a plate for yourself first.start eating and say " oh yum, this is SO good! " and see what happens. Usually my son will get irate and want his own. lol Kelli SAHM to Kai 3 1/2- ASD and Tatum 1 1/2 NT SCD since 5/05, off for 3 months, back on 3/10/06 _____ From: pecanbread [mailto:pecanbread ] On Behalf Of memoryalbumcreations Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 3:35 PM To: pecanbread Subject: Intro Diet...again Hello, all, I have been mostly a lurker on this board, gaining info where I can. We have been SCD legal for about 2 months and I've seen only slight changes. I didn't start with the intro diet as I think it's going to be insanely difficult to get my son to eat ANY of the foods allowed. This is still the case even after two months of being SCD legal without intro! I have asked this question before and have never gotten a straight answer (sorry if this sounds cranky, you all know how frustrating it can be) but I do believe that starting the intro diet will give the bugs in my kids' guts the kick in the pants they need to clear out! I have noticed a little die off but not enough behavior change for my taste. My question is: Since my son is soooo picky (won't even put a tiny morsel of something in his mouth even if promised a toy, treat or any other kind of bribe) HOW do I get him to eat the intro diet? Do I tell him these are his choices, list the foods on the intro, and let him scream until bedtime or he gives in?(which I think will take the 2-5 days you're supposed to be on it) Should I physically force him to eat it? (I doubt this is a good idea) I would like to hear specific ideas on what to do to get him to eat if any of you have any. I believe he has Sensory Integration Dysfunction as well as the PDD-NOS he's been diagnosed with. Sorry this was so long...any help would be greatly appreciated. --Mel Wesley 4.5 yo ds PDD-NOS possible SID Phoebe 2.5 yo dd quirky behaviors SCD approx 2 months For information on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, please read the book _Breaking the Vicious Cycle_ by Elaine Gottschall and read the following websites: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info and http://www.pecanbread.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 > > Ride it out. So by this you mean give them the choices of the foods they could eat and let them tantrum until they eat something? --Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Oh thank you Mel for posting this today! I just started my son on the intro today and it was a rough day. I SOOOO want to give him something else tomorrow. I feel bad for him! I know, get over it. I think it's harder with my son because he is truly so innocent. He doesn't have a bad bone in his little 2 year old body. With his ASD he is non-verbal and until recently had little receptive language (what he understands from me). He is obedient and sweet and I feel terrible taking away all his favorite foods. He already was SCD, we just didn't do the intro before right, so here we are. He did gobble down 2 chicken pancakes this morning, but nothing at lunch, then 1 scrambled egg at dinner, but wouldn't touch his hamburger. My son doesn't really like wet textures in food. He will drink, but doesn't like jello or applesauce or things like that. So I made him soup and picked out some of the meat, but he scoffed at it. I am not sure what else to try. What can I do about broth, since he is so weird with that stuff? He hasn't had real noticable die-off. He was silly and laughing a little (like he used to earlier), then stimming more, but no rash like he has gotten before. Now, tonight though he has woke up several times and just acts like he feels rotten. No fever or snot, etc. since we've had that before with die off, just moaning and rolling around. I have NEVER been able to get activated charcola down him. He won't do capsules and will not take the powder any other way, so we have only done epsom salt soaks and rode it out in the past. NOT FUN! Lots of crying and gnashing of teeth! Anyway, it's good to know that this isn't killing him! He is usually an eater, so he is scavenging and running around wishing he could find something to eat. I am giving him VERY watered down legal juice. He frustrates me with water. He just throws it down. So I let him and then he gets his water down juice with meals. So, if he refuses to eat tomorrow- I should keep him hydrated, but do I give him more watered down juice to do that, or hope he finally gives in with the water. I don't want to make him dehydrated. Sorry, so long. Just glad someone else's child did the same thing. Does this stuff sound right? Also, diarrhea has been gone, but really unusal NO BM today. That is odd. My son's stools have firmed up, but usually 3 a day or so. Please tell me he's not heading for constipation after all this! :0 Thanks for any help! Laurie~ intro right way starting 5/9/06 SCD previously 5 weeks` Mom to Ally 10, Chase 3, 2 ASD and 6 months- my sugarbabies! If the child is refusing to eat, inadvertently, they are giving their intestine and immune system a break, and some initial buggies get starved to death. > > Let them tantrum like any kid would. Sometimes my feelings for having my special needs children makes me feel guilty for any disciplinary action I might take. That's just me. Over riding this has paid off. If there is anything I can do while they are young, before they are out of my care. I am thrilled Hunter will, no matter what, not have to live a life in institutional care. I am happy that Ben will not have to live a drastically short life of pooping himself to death. Do it now, and get on with the program. > > I say this all with hindsight about our own experience...lol...I had no such forsight at the time. If you chose to go this route, make sure your child stays hydrated. > > > Summer > > memoryalbumcreations wrote: > > > > Ride it out. > > So by this you mean give them the choices of the foods they could eat > and let them tantrum until they eat something? > > --Mel > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 This sounds exactly like what we just went through and are still going through most days. Mason is an incredibly picky eater and even after 2 weeks (our 2 week anniversary is today) he still isn't really loving the foods - he actually pushed a little boy at school for a Wheat Thin (how sad is that?). Typically he isn't aggressive at all - but since starting this diet he has been a rage monster! I'm hoping it's die off (we have also started a course of Nystatin). Time will tell. He's also reverted back to what I call " tunnel vision " - he is back to obsessing over certain objects - puzzles and his new Leap Frog Leapster are all he seems to want to do. The Leapster just got put away for an extended rest - I hate taking away everything he loves. Out of sheer desperation I think he has been motivated to speak more and pull me to the kitchen to say " eat " and " more " (banana) but he just falls on the floor in a heap of tears when I offer him the same foods intro and stage 1 foods over and over - I so hope it gets better! In the beginning, Mason went 3 days w/out a BM - he was having 1-6 mushy stools each day prior. Now we are having 1 BM a day (notice how I say " we " like his poops have become my poops...LOL!) and it's mostly firm. I find that we are introducing foods really slowly - but Mason is primarily living on eggs, Chicken Cupcakes (from the recipe section on Pecanbread), Applesauce, Pear Sauce, Bananas and very soft green beans, and banana pancakes. I did go ahead and give him avocado (stage 2) - which was a favorite before the diet and he has tolerated it fine. I think I will try a nut butter pancake over the weekend and see how he does - he was a major PB junkie prior. He still refuses to eat the soup, hamburger, etc. etc. Admittedly, this is pretty rough and I'm a gung ho, grab the bull by the horns kinda mom, but most days I just want to give him Mac and Cheese (even though he hasn't had it in 4 months - GFCF prior). I won't - but I want to. *sigh* Hangin' in there - Amy w/Mason - 3.5 yr. old - ASD SCD 2 weeks > From: pecanbread [mailto:pecanbread ] On > Behalf Of Laurie > Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 8:36 PM > To: pecanbread > Subject: Re: Intro Diet...again > > > > Oh thank you Mel for posting this today! I just started my son on > the intro today and it was a rough day. I SOOOO want to give him > something else tomorrow. I feel bad for him! I know, get over it. I > think it's harder with my son because he is truly so innocent. He > doesn't have a bad bone in his little 2 year old body. With his ASD > he is non-verbal and until recently had little receptive language > (what he understands from me). He is obedient and sweet and I feel > terrible taking away all his favorite foods. He already was SCD, we > just didn't do the intro before right, so here we are. > > He did gobble down 2 chicken pancakes this morning, but nothing at > lunch, then 1 scrambled egg at dinner, but wouldn't touch his > hamburger. My son doesn't really like wet textures in food. He will > drink, but doesn't like jello or applesauce or things like that. So > I made him soup and picked out some of the meat, but he scoffed at > it. I am not sure what else to try. What can I do about broth, since > he is so weird with that stuff? > > He hasn't had real noticable die-off. He was silly and laughing a > little (like he used to earlier), then stimming more, but no rash > like he has gotten before. Now, tonight though he has woke up > several times and just acts like he feels rotten. No fever or snot, > etc. since we've had that before with die off, just moaning and > rolling around. I have NEVER been able to get activated charcola > down him. He won't do capsules and will not take the powder any > other way, so we have only done epsom salt soaks and rode it out in > the past. NOT FUN! Lots of crying and gnashing of teeth! > > Anyway, it's good to know that this isn't killing him! He is usually > an eater, so he is scavenging and running around wishing he could > find something to eat. I am giving him VERY watered down legal > juice. He frustrates me with water. He just throws it down. So I let > him and then he gets his water down juice with meals. So, if he > refuses to eat tomorrow- I should keep him hydrated, but do I give > him more watered down juice to do that, or hope he finally gives in > with the water. I don't want to make him dehydrated. > > Sorry, so long. Just glad someone else's child did the same thing. > Does this stuff sound right? > > Also, diarrhea has been gone, but really unusal NO BM today. That is > odd. My son's stools have firmed up, but usually 3 a day or so. > Please tell me he's not heading for constipation after all this! :0 > > Thanks for any help! > Laurie~ intro right way starting 5/9/06 SCD previously 5 weeks` Mom > to Ally 10, Chase 3, 2 ASD and 6 months- my > sugarbabies! > > > > If the child is refusing to eat, inadvertently, they are giving > their intestine and immune system a break, and some initial buggies > get starved to death. > > > > Let them tantrum like any kid would. Sometimes my feelings for > having my special needs children makes me feel guilty for any > disciplinary action I might take. That's just me. Over riding this > has paid off. If there is anything I can do while they are young, > before they are out of my care. I am thrilled Hunter will, no matter > what, not have to live a life in institutional care. I am happy that > Ben will not have to live a drastically short life of pooping > himself to death. Do it now, and get on with the program. > > > > I say this all with hindsight about our own experience...lol...I > had no such forsight at the time. If you chose to go this route, > make sure your child stays hydrated. > > > > > > Summer > > > > memoryalbumcreations <melcab@> wrote: > > > > > > Ride it out. > > > > So by this you mean give them the choices of the foods they could > eat > > and let them tantrum until they eat something? > > > > --Mel > > > > > > > > > > > > For information on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, please read the book > _Breaking the Vicious Cycle_ by Elaine Gottschall and read the following > websites: > http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info > and > http://www.pecanbread.com > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Also read another SCD book by Natasha -McBraide, 'Gut and Psychology Syndrome' ISBN # 0-9548520-0-1; it's likely to give you more helpful ideas about getting started. Agape, memoryalbumcreations wrote: Hello, all, I have been mostly a lurker on this board, gaining info where I can. We have been SCD legal for about 2 months and I've seen only slight changes. I didn't start with the intro diet as I think it's going to be insanely difficult to get my son to eat ANY of the foods allowed. This is still the case even after two months of being SCD legal without intro! I have asked this question before and have never gotten a straight answer (sorry if this sounds cranky, you all know how frustrating it can be) but I do believe that starting the intro diet will give the bugs in my kids' guts the kick in the pants they need to clear out! I have noticed a little die off but not enough behavior change for my taste. My question is: Since my son is soooo picky (won't even put a tiny morsel of something in his mouth even if promised a toy, treat or any other kind of bribe) HOW do I get him to eat the intro diet? Do I tell him these are his choices, list the foods on the intro, and let him scream until bedtime or he gives in?(which I think will take the 2-5 days you're supposed to be on it) Should I physically force him to eat it? (I doubt this is a good idea) I would like to hear specific ideas on what to do to get him to eat if any of you have any. I believe he has Sensory Integration Dysfunction as well as the PDD-NOS he's been diagnosed with. Sorry this was so long...any help would be greatly appreciated. --Mel Wesley 4.5 yo ds PDD-NOS possible SID Phoebe 2.5 yo dd quirky behaviors SCD approx 2 months For information on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, please read the book _Breaking the Vicious Cycle_ by Elaine Gottschall and read the following websites: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info and http://www.pecanbread.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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