New to SCD and the list -- can you lend some hope?

[Guest guest]

Hello-

I'm new to the list and have already found lots of good information.

This the first time I'm posting, so I'm including our general story

to include to give enough background.

Our son B is 2 yrs 8 months old with high-functioning autism. We

started GFCF in November and had great results (like increased eye

contact, less " spaceyness, " and less stimming). He also has speech,

OT, and social development therapy 1x each per week. B has acquired

quite a number of words, which he uses generally when he needs

something and occasionally spontaneously. He still stims (mostly hand

flapping and making random sounds), but we can engage him and bring

him out of his own world which is something that was much harder 9

months ago. He occasionally gets really into chewing his fingernails

or on his lip, and I've noticed lately that he seems to move and look

at his fingers more.

In January, we started treating a yeast problem with Nystatin and had

another nice bump in development. But, we've been at a plateau since

about March (after a second bout with the rotavirus). We (especially

my husband) are feeling a bit hopeless, and we just really want to

see some forward progress again.

After reading BTVC, we knew we had to try SCD, which we started 2

weeks and 2 days ago (actually, I think the Gerber pear juice we were

using in the beginning was probably illegal, so we've been strictly

SCD for about a week). We're doing stage 1, with some stage 2 fruits

that have been thoroughly cooked. B has been very gassy and

constipated -- when he has had BMs (which were formed before SCD),

they've been loose (not runny), very dark, and extremely smelly. His

breath is horrible -- smells like a beer factory. He also swings from

being easy to engage to being very distant. On a positive note, the

red ring around his anus has gone away (until it disappeared, we

didn't realize how bad it had been). We noticed tonight a weird

looking red spot on his face (by his ear).

As for supplements, he gets Kirkman's Spectrum Complete (SCD

compliant capsules), L-acidophilous, and calcium. We also started s.

boulardii (approx 1/4 a capsule) a few days ago -- our DAN told us to

get going on the diet first and then introduce the s. boulardii to

pick up where the Nystatin left off.

1) Can anyone provide some hope for us? I want to believe that this

could have a huge impact, but we've hit a period of feeling a little

down.

2) Is there a general timeframe where we might see some positive

forward progress?

3) Any reactions or insights on anything I've said above.

Thanks for any help, ideas, or advice you can provide.

Shari

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group Shari,

<<In January, we started treating a yeast problem with Nystatin and

had another nice bump in development.>>

<<After reading BTVC, we knew we had to try SCD, which we started 2

> weeks and 2 days ago (actually, I think the Gerber pear juice we

were using in the beginning was probably illegal, so we've been

strictly SCD for about a week).>>

Yes, the Gerber juice is SCD illegal.

<<We're doing stage 1, with some stage 2 fruits

> that have been thoroughly cooked. B has been very gassy and

> constipated -- when he has had BMs (which were formed before SCD),

> they've been loose (not runny), very dark, and extremely smelly.

His

> breath is horrible -- smells like a beer factory. He also swings

from

> being easy to engage to being very distant. On a positive note, the

> red ring around his anus has gone away (until it disappeared, we

> didn't realize how bad it had been). We noticed tonight a weird

> looking red spot on his face (by his ear).>>

These may be die off symtoms. You can try epsom salt baths and/or

activated charcoal to see if they alleviate them. Please read

http://pecanbread.com/new/temporarysymptoms.html for descriptins and

help.

<< As for supplements, he gets Kirkman's Spectrum Complete (SCD

> compliant capsules), L-acidophilous, and calcium. We also started s.

> boulardii (approx 1/4 a capsule) a few days ago -- our DAN told us

to > get going on the diet first and then introduce the s. boulardii

to > pick up where the Nystatin left off.

>

> 1) Can anyone provide some hope for us? I want to believe that this

> could have a huge impact, but we've hit a period of feeling a

little down.

It does sound like die off. Especially likely since you besides the

diet you are also doingprobiotics. The combination of starving the

nasties and replacing bad microbes with good microbes means increased

die off.

<<2) Is there a general timeframe where we might see some positive

> forward progress?>>

It will depend on the severity of his overgrowth and damage to his GI

tract.

<<3) Any reactions or insights on anything I've said above.>>

If the epsom salt baths and or activated charcoal (don't take

activated charcoal with meds or supplements as it will absorb

them/negate them) http://www.enzymestuff.com/activatedcharcoal.htm

Sheila, SCD Feb. 2001, UC 23yrs, PCOD 22yrs

mom of and