week 1 of pro-efa and epa has been GREAT (but i have a question)

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My 3 year old has finished his first week on Pro-epa and Pro-efa. I can

hardly believe the progress he has made in just 1 week!

* On day 1, he started to explore his mouth and tongue with fingers

and hands. He is now chewing and suck on his hands and fingers.

(Question about this below)

* On day 2, he played and thoroughly enjoyed his sandbox . OT

recommened that we have a sandbox but he has refused to play it in for

the past 5 months.

* Day 3: I asked him if he wanted his milky (via a feeding tube ).

He has a g-tube b/c he started refusing to put anything in his mouth at

25 months old. So he will normally respond to my question by signing

'milk' but this time he communicated that he he wanted to eat chicken

nuugets from Mcdonalds. (He signed " eat " , pointed to himself, and then

he said 'Maaahhhccccc' (for Mcdonalds) and then signed 'chicken'.) I

immediately took him to Mcdonalds where he eat 2 chicken nuggets.

* On day 5, he ran for the first time. Now he has started running

while shrieking 'faaaaa' (for fast)

* On day 6, he started playing with a little boy at the park. It

has been his preference to be held and carried while at the park. If he

did leave my arms, he would stand in the corner of the playground and

not engage with other children. The last time we went to the park, he

seemed so much more interested in hanging out with the kids. When a

little boy approached him, he did not run away from him - at first

anyhow. When he did run, the other child thought it was a game and

chased him. I expected him to freak out but he started giggling! They

continued to play chase for the remainder of our time at the park.

Needless to say, I am blown away ! He seems less inhibited and more

confident. He is trying new things and moving his body in new ways. He

is requesting food and eating -- 6 months of OT and eating therapy

couldn't convince him to do this. AND he is actually using sounds and

signs to communicate his thoughts and requests. He has never

communicated like this -- he has only used signs to identify people or

animals.

QUESTION: I am happy to see him exploring his mouth however I am little

worried that is becoming a compulsion. He is now sucking on his

fingers/hands or playing w ith his tongue for the majority of the day.

He sometimes with such ferver that he makes himself gag and spitup. He

doesn't take his fingers out when he tries to speak so it has been

difficult to accomplish anything in therapy. Today for instance he has

been sucking on 2 fingers since 3:30 (it is now 6:30pm) and has gagged

himself twice. Has anyone else witnessed this response to Proepa/Proefa?

Should I be concerned? Is there something I should do?

Thanks everyone!!!