Good week -- but get this ...

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2005
Good week -- but get this ...
3
Mon, 10-17-2005 - 1:35pm

Hi, everyone -- it has occured to me that I've only posted when things are going wrong and times are tough. So I thought I'd post to say this has been a GREAT week. Calvin is doing so well. It's one of those deceptive times when I think "why does he have this diagnosis?" But I'll enjoy it while it's here. :-)
Weird thing, though. After last week's attempt to try him on potato milk (the DariFree stuff) which did NOT agree with him (blowout city every morning) we finally just gave up on the casein-free part of the diet and put him back on regular milk. And he's doing great. No behavior changes or anything. So, hmmmm ... we're still gluten free though. Any thoughts on this? I just think it's curious is all.

Hope all your weeks are going well, too.

Kellie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 10-17-2005 - 5:27pm

yeah kellie! sounds great!!

kids can be sensitive to gluten and not milk. in time you might want to try a gluten item to see if there are any problems. with the diet, most people have said after time they need to keep removing more and more because the good affect wears off. ie-soy, corn, rice, etc.

glad to hear things are well. valerie

~Valerie
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Tue, 10-18-2005 - 6:31pm

Hi Kellie,

I am so glad you are having a great week! I know this diet stuff is difficult, but each child is different. You know your child better than anyone. As with any of these therapies, I think you just have to see what works and what does not with your son. Then, after a little while, you will fall into a pattern and life will be good!

With Eric, he is more sensitive to gluten, but less so to casein. Although I still use the Darifree, since he does not have a reaction to it, but with milk he always had terrible diarrhea. I think he might be more "lactose intolerant" than casein intolerant--having nothing to do with autism. I do let him have soy and the "fake" cheeses that have a small amount of casein. However, give him anything with a hint of wheat and he totally spaces out and has stomach problems too. I am convinced wheat affects him more. Over time, you will see how your child does. I agree with Valerie that the way to really "test" the diet is to slowly add things back and see what happens.

For example, I had not given Eric any gluten at all for several months. Our nutritionist suggested letting him have something with oats in it. He did fine. But with wheat, no way. So now I am able to give him much more now that oats are included. But I think you have to be on the diet for awhile to be able to tell your child's reaction.

But I am really happy things are going well.

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 10-18-2005 - 7:40pm

Dear Kellie,

We had a similar experience. Took Malcolm off everything in Feingold diet and saw much more relatedness in him right away. Slowly added things back and offenders seemed to be milk and wheat. Malcolm spent over 2 years on wheat-free, dairy-free diet pretty strictly (probably an occasional slip, but no noticeable behavior changes). Then we started letting him have yogurt and even some cheese, and no difference. We basically keep him wheat free and lactose free, as my husband is lactose intolerant anyways so we already eat that way. The wheat free is easy 'cuz he doesn't miss it much. I try to steer him away from the milk, even lactose free, cuz I feel like he's crankier when he gets alot of it. Dairy is harder for him to turn down 'cuz he LOVES "cow's milk", as he calls it (as opposed to soy milk, which he also loves if it's Silk Very Vanilla, yum yum.)

As we know a boy who is super reactive to wheat and milk, one of Malcolm's close friends, we also know how big those reactions can be and how obvious they are when a child is really allergic.

I'm very glad you've been having a good week. We have, too. In fact, the last month has been terrific and we are enjoying life with our happy boy.

yours,

Sara
ilovemalcolm