Re: food - this long - sorry

[Guest guest]

((Hugs)) My son, also 13, sounds like a clone of your son! It IS addictive

behavior and we have to treat it as such. Yes, sometimes it is like living in a

jail around here with all the food and snacks locked up, but that is better than

trying to deal with the stealing and lying - LOL! Even my purse is kept locked

in our bedroom to prevent the " misplacement " of funds which mysteriously appear

in his pocket! Also, better than dealing with the infraction issues -

behaviorally and physically. The physical issues (splitting lips, red rashes,

diarrhea) and behavioral issues (foggy mind, more difficulty managing own

behaviors, etc) don't matter much to me - so it is OUR issue, not HIS. At

least, that is how he sees it right now. Just as heroin addicts do ANYTHING to

get their next fix, so does our son to get his gluten and casein. You are NOT

alone - there are many here with the same issues!

Marilyn in MO

> From: mblaman2001 <mblaman@...>

> Subject: ( ) food - this long - sorry

>

> Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 9:04 AM

> My son is 13 years old and we are having major food issues

> with him

> and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.

> He craves

> sugar and bread so badly that he smuggles it and eats it.

> I find

> juice boxes/wrappers/empty containers all over the house.

> Huge

> amounts if it is available. He has tried to get his aides

> to buy him

> soda at school since he doesn't have access. He tries

> to take cash

> from my wallet to buy junk food once he gets to school if

> we don't

> have any here. I have tried to eliminate junk food at home

> but he

> gorges when he goes anywhere else. If I try to have it

> here and give

> him something at lunch and dinner in the hopes it will keep

> him from

> compulsively eating it in between, he just hunts for it in

> the middle

> of the night and eats it all. I understand compulsive

> behavior but I

> don't know how to help him. He reacts very strongly to

> sugar in his

> system - very agitated, moody and as he is getting older is

> getting

> physically aggressive too. When he hasn't binged, he

> is calm and

> sweet and clear eyed. It is such addictive behavior. My

> heart

> breaks for him most of the time because he leads a very

> lonely life -

> middle school is difficult socially, has very little

> interest in

> anything other than his obsessions, no real friends or

> hobbies. I am

> finding that his homelife is now filled with negativity too

> since I

> am feeling very agitated towards him because I don't

> know what else

> to do. He lies about everything he steals and I don't

> know how to

> handle the dishonesty issue anymore either. He is on

> zoloft for

> anxiety and has been for over a year. He has seen a

> counselor for

> years but really doesn't share anything with her so it

> doesn't really

> help. Has anyone else gone through such a challenging

> behavior

> problem? Any experience shared would be greatly

> appreciated.

[Guest guest]

My son is 10 and we have delt with similar problems. We started

several years ago locking things up. I have soda in the house but it

is in a locked bin in the fridge. The only beverages he has access

to are milk and water. All snacks (crackers, cookies, chips, ice

cream, popsicles) when we have them are in a locked pantry so he has

to get us to give him things. What he can get to is bread, apples

and oranges, cheese, yogurt. So if he is really hungry he has access

to items that I control. As for the money, my son also was taking

change from our change jar to buy candy or soda so we now keep that

locked also. I have been able to " rig " things so everything has the

little 3 digit combination locks (like a bike lock) so it is easy to

get into when we want to and we don't have to find a key. The only

issue is that we have to make sure he doesn't see the combination but

when he does we just reset the locks to a new combination. For the

most part he doesn't even try to get into things now.

We also had a problem at school when we would send snacks to school

he would eat a bunch of them each day so after a couple days two

weeks worth were gone. Now the special ed teacher keeps his snacks

in her desk and he has to go get it from her.

I don't have a good answer for why he goes overboard on the snacky

sweet foods but he isn't starving to death since we locked things up

so I am not worried. He has healthy food available and he must eat

his dinner if he wants dessert. I control the snacks. So far so

good.

Vickie

>

> My son is 13 years old and we are having major food issues with him

> and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences. He craves

> sugar and bread so badly that he smuggles it and eats it. I find

> juice boxes/wrappers/empty containers all over the house. Huge

> amounts if it is available. He has tried to get his aides to buy

him

> soda at school since he doesn't have access. He tries to take cash

> from my wallet to buy junk food once he gets to school if we don't

> have any here. I have tried to eliminate junk food at home but he

> gorges when he goes anywhere else. If I try to have it here and

give

> him something at lunch and dinner in the hopes it will keep him

from

> compulsively eating it in between, he just hunts for it in the

middle

> of the night and eats it all. I understand compulsive behavior but

I

> don't know how to help him. He reacts very strongly to sugar in

his

> system - very agitated, moody and as he is getting older is getting

> physically aggressive too. When he hasn't binged, he is calm and

> sweet and clear eyed. It is such addictive behavior. My heart

> breaks for him most of the time because he leads a very lonely

life -

> middle school is difficult socially, has very little interest in

> anything other than his obsessions, no real friends or hobbies. I

am

> finding that his homelife is now filled with negativity too since I

> am feeling very agitated towards him because I don't know what else

> to do. He lies about everything he steals and I don't know how to

> handle the dishonesty issue anymore either. He is on zoloft for

> anxiety and has been for over a year. He has seen a counselor for

> years but really doesn't share anything with her so it doesn't

really

> help. Has anyone else gone through such a challenging behavior

> problem? Any experience shared would be greatly appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

> My son is 13 years old and we are having major food issues with him

> and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences. He craves

> sugar and bread so badly that he smuggles it and eats it. I find

> juice boxes/wrappers/empty containers all over the house. Huge

> amounts if it is available.

I haven't posted here before...newbie. I have a 13 year old son with

the same issues regarding food. It's been suggested to me that I take

him in to test for the amount of yeast in his system. An overgrowth of

yeast in the body can cause them to crave sweets and breads. Just a

thought that we're going to check out...

Blessings!

Laurie

[Guest guest]

Why do autistic children crave breads and things with wheat gluten??

Conni

[Guest guest]

Many ASD kids have high yeast when they are tested. The theory is that they crave the complex carbohydrates and sugars in order to "feed" the overgrowth of internal yeast. Once you get the yeast under control there are usually other health and symptom benefits beyond just food cravings.

If you are interested in this topic there are several good books on the topic:

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies

By: Boch, MD

Children with Starving Brains: By: Jaquelyn McCandless, MD

Changing the Course of Autism: By: Jepson, MD

From: clbrew311@... <clbrew311@...>Subject: Re: ( ) food - this long - sorry Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 9:52 PM

Why do autistic children crave breads and things with wheat gluten??Conni

[Guest guest]

See the doc about changing the meds to find something that will address his OCD.

RoxannaYou're UniqueJust like everyone else...

( ) food - this long - sorry

My son is 13 years old and we are having major food issues with him and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences. He craves sugar and bread so badly that he smuggles it and eats it. I find juice boxes/wrappers/empty containers all over the house. Huge amounts if it is available. He has tried to get his aides to buy him soda at school since he doesn't have access. He tries to take cash from my wallet to buy junk food once he gets to school if we don't have any here. I have tried to eliminate junk food at home but he gorges when he goes anywhere else. If I try to have it here and give him something at lunch and dinner in the hopes it will keep him from compulsively eating it in between, he just hunts for it in the middle of the night and eats it all. I understand compulsive behavior but I don't know how to help him. He reacts very strongly to sugar in his system - very agitated, moody and as he is getting older is getting physically aggressive too. When he hasn't binged, he is calm and sweet and clear eyed. It is such addictive behavior. My heart breaks for him most of the time because he leads a very lonely life - middle school is difficult socially, has very little interest in anything other than his obsessions, no real friends or hobbies. I am finding that his homelife is now filled with negativity too since I am feeling very agitated towards him because I don't know what else to do. He lies about everything he steals and I don't know how to handle the dishonesty issue anymore either. He is on zoloft for anxiety and has been for over a year. He has seen a counselor for years but really doesn't share anything with her so it doesn't really help. Has anyone else gone through such a challenging behavior problem? Any experience shared would be greatly appreciated.

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.15/1921 - Release Date: 01/27/09 18:15:00

[Guest guest]

They like bland foods. They like the textures of these kinds of foods and the taste of them too. I know others will say they are addicted to wheat and gluten but I do not agree that is true. There is no proof of it at all. I think instead it is a choice based on texture and taste. My own ds will take tastes of other foods now - very tiny tastes - but it all seems to hinge on it being a food that is bland and with an acceptable texture to it.

RoxannaYou're UniqueJust like everyone else...

Re: ( ) food - this long - sorry

Why do autistic children crave breads and things with wheat gluten??Conni

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[Guest guest]

I have and still am going through what you are mb la man 2001. I bought my husband a pie last night, they all had a piece last night after supper, but during the night and early this morning my son has almost eaten the rest of it which was more than half a pie. He does this all the time. I hid cokes under my bed so he won't drink them all, and he was just in here begging me for a coke, but if I don't watch closely today he will try to get more than one, although he promises he just wants one. He has gained a lot of weight since he has gotten off the gluten/casien free diet, and his moods are awful. He cheated sometimes while on the diet, but I know the more sugars, etc. they eat, the more they want. And I asked his doctor about his medications just this week to see

if they were making him gain weight, and he said no. He just needs to not drink sugary drinks, watch his diet and exercise. He is on Prozac 30 mg in the morning, plus I give him a Lorazapam 0.05 mg for his nerves. He isn't as depressed anymore. He takes Vistril at night to help with his insomnia. Some of our children prefer to be alone with their interests, etc. I know we wouldn't like it, we like friends and being around people, but they are different. I know he does like to be around only a certain few relatives and family friends, they are usually the ones that show him ginune attention and love. He thrives around them. We will all make it through this with our children, it's not easy, we have to keep trying and not give up, we need to keep giving each other support, what works for one child may not work for another, but we need to keep trying and tell each what has helped our child. And

hope that it works for others. If your son does't seem to be having success with his counselor, seek another one. Maybe he needs someone fresh with new ideas and knowledge. Don't feel like you are alone, most of us are going through the same things you are right now. I don't have all the answers either, I know I get tired of just water and milk, so you know these kids must too, it's hard, we just have to find a solution and hope for the best. I have been told Aspartane is bad for all of our brains, and it is in a lot of things, I can't find gum that doesn't have it in it, so I have stopped chewing gum. So the diet drinks are not good for our kids either, most of them have Aspartane in them too. Most diet sweets, read labels and try to not give this to them if you can help it. I hope this has helped, take care, we are all sisters in this. pj

From: Roxanna <madideas@...> Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 7:47:46 AMSubject: Re: ( ) food - this long - sorry

See the doc about changing the meds to find something that will address his OCD.

RoxannaYou're UniqueJust like everyone else...

( ) food - this long - sorry

My son is 13 years old and we are having major food issues with him and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences. He craves sugar and bread so badly that he smuggles it and eats it. I find juice boxes/wrappers/ empty containers all over the house. Huge amounts if it is available. He has tried to get his aides to buy him soda at school since he doesn't have access. He tries to take cash from my wallet to buy junk food once he gets to school if we don't have any here. I have tried to eliminate junk food at home but he gorges when he goes anywhere else. If I try to have it here and give him something at lunch and dinner in the hopes it will keep him from compulsively eating it in between, he just hunts for it in the middle of the night and eats it all. I understand compulsive behavior but I don't know how to help him. He reacts very strongly to sugar in his system - very agitated, moody and

as he is getting older is getting physically aggressive too. When he hasn't binged, he is calm and sweet and clear eyed. It is such addictive behavior. My heart breaks for him most of the time because he leads a very lonely life - middle school is difficult socially, has very little interest in anything other than his obsessions, no real friends or hobbies. I am finding that his homelife is now filled with negativity too since I am feeling very agitated towards him because I don't know what else to do. He lies about everything he steals and I don't know how to handle the dishonesty issue anymore either. He is on zoloft for anxiety and has been for over a year. He has seen a counselor for years but really doesn't share anything with her so it doesn't really help. Has anyone else gone through such a challenging behavior problem? Any experience shared would be greatly appreciated.

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.15/1921 - Release Date: 01/27/09 18:15:00

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/2009 5:49:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, clbrew311@... writes:

Why do autistic children crave breads and things with wheat gluten??

My teen aspie eats everything and anything, but mostly craves carbs. Give him a bowl of oatmeal and toast, he's the happiest kid around. Eats just a bagel for lunch, with just a tiny bit peanut butter or butter or cream cheese and can eat half a box of pasta for dinner, garlic bread, then cake or cookies if I let him,

\What's with that???

"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school." Bruce Springsteen, No Surrender.

[Guest guest]

On Sep 27, 5:42pm, " Roxanna " wrote:

}

} They like bland foods. They like the textures of these kinds of foods and =

} the taste of them too. I know others will say they are addicted to wheat a=

} nd gluten but I do not agree that is true. There is no proof of it at all.=

} I think instead it is a choice based on texture and taste. My own ds wil=

} l take tastes of other foods now - very tiny tastes - but it all seems to h=

} inge on it being a food that is bland and with an acceptable texture to it.=

I can't speak for anyone else's kid, but I agree that for mine, the

limited diet has to do with texture and fear of the unknown, not

addiction to the foods he will eat. Although he does have a strong

sweet tooth, he won't eat sweet foods with a repellent texture, like

applesauce. And he gets frightened by any food that seems " weird " and

then will never eat that food again, which is frustrating beyond belief.

Willa

[Guest guest]

Willa,

that is the same thing for my ds and food. He really looks like he wants to eat better but he can't seem to get himself to eat "weird" looking foods or deal with the variety of textures.

RoxannaYou're UniqueJust like everyone else...

Re: ( ) food - this long - sorry

On Sep 27, 5:42pm, "Roxanna" wrote:} } They like bland foods. They like the textures of these kinds of foods and =} the taste of them too. I know others will say they are addicted to wheat a=} nd gluten but I do not agree that is true. There is no proof of it at all.=} I think instead it is a choice based on texture and taste. My own ds wil=} l take tastes of other foods now - very tiny tastes - but it all seems to h=} inge on it being a food that is bland and with an acceptable texture to it.=I can't speak for anyone else's kid, but I agree that for mine, thelimited diet has to do with texture and fear of the unknown, not addiction to the foods he will eat. Although he does have a strongsweet tooth, he won't eat sweet foods with a repellent texture, likeapplesauce. And he gets frightened by any food that seems "weird" andthen will never eat that food again, which is frustrating beyond belief.Willa

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.234 / Virus Database: 270.10.22/1946 - Release Date: 02/11/09 08:01:00