A while ago when we started the GFCF diet I thought going to the movie theater was going to be a real problem. Candy everywhere, popcorn, loud noises, background noise, lots of people, bright lights….you name it and its there. However I started tackling one thing at a time and I realized that as a child going to the movie theater is such a treat that we needed to find a way to make it easy to make better choices.

Loud Sounds: Occasionally when the noise is really bad my son wears noise free head phones, he can still watch the movie but during parts that hurt his ears he feels safe to use these.

Bright Lights: We bring a pair of sunglasses in case of a period of high stimulation lighting

Candy: We pre-order candy from www.choclat.com and put it in cute bags to take with us to the theater, it portion controls the amount of sugar and relaxes mom and dad about GFCF ingredients. You can also buy candy at the theater that does not have gluten or casein: Starbursts, Gummy Bears, Sweet Tarts, Sprees, Gobstoppers & Nerds. Anything with chocolate is off limits that is prepackaged at the theater.

Popcorn: Believe it or not popcorn has milk in it! Who knew. Well if you pop kernels at home or if you get a popcorn without dairy, put that in a cute bag and bring that along as well.

Soda: I don’t give my kids soda because I hate all the sugar but sometimes if they want a treat Sprite is the best choice. Coke and Pepsi contain carmel coloring which is a gluten derivative. Crazy all the things gluten turns up in right!?

I hope this helps you enjoy the theater without the worry that I had going in our first few times. Reese would feel so deprived and it would break my heart. Every child deserves the chance at memories that fill them with joy, now you can make this one joyful for them and yourself!!!

For those of you who have children with GI problems and their kids are also on the Spectrum. I wanted to share with you some things I’ve been doing to help Reese. I realized that Apple Juice was causing him some severe reflux but he wasn’t telling me. He was burping a lot or having a lot of gas. I eliminated that from his diet which is a lot harder than people think actually. Apples are in a lot of things and so is apple juice. Fruit Punch etc. I did find that Juicy Juice has some juices that don’t contain apple and that White Grape Juice is also a pretty good replacement. We do organic juice because I don’t love all the sugar either for him. He is taking suppliments as well to combat the reflux and general GI discomfort. His probiotic works quite well and so does his digestive enzyme. The only problem I have is that they become “chunky” when mixed with liquids. I’ve been trying my way around that because it makes Reese gag. I don’t blame him! He won’t take it in his water and it seems to clump right away which is aggrivating. He also takes a vitamin and mineral substance from Brain Child Nutritionals that is great. I also give that to my 3 year old who is in the middle of an IU diagnosis for possible ADHD. Reese also gets Cod Liver Oil as well which helps with his bowel. Overall I would recommend a supplimentation program for any child on the spectrum especially if your child is a picky eater. This helps boost their nutrition.

If you have multiple children on the spectrum, have allergies, asthmas, ADD or ADHD I highly recommend Dr. Kenneth Bock’s book “Healing  the new Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma & Allergies.” It is VERY eye opening and a great way to organize your thoughts, especially when you have multiple children in these categories. It connects these four in a way you never saw before and its quite fantastic. Dr. Bock will be at the ARI conference in Baltimore from April 8-11. If you are interested in hearing him and others talk visit www.defeatautismnow.com

In a path for my wellness for RD, I began putting together a list of all the things I am doing to help him get better:

Gluten Free/Casein Free Diet

Zeolyte Drops

Probiotic

Digestive Enzyme

Brain Child Nutritionals Spectrum Support Pak II Vitamins (which includes: Mixed Carotenoids, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B-6, Folinic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B-5, Choline, Inositol, Bioflavonoids, TMB, DMAE & N-Acetyl Cyateine.

Brain Child Nutritionals Minerals (which includes: Calcium D-Glucarate, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Potassium and Methlysulfonymenthane.)

Cod Liver Oil

Epsom Salt Baths

 Athia Toxin Removal Cream.

His reflux has improved, but his tantrums are the same, he eats little and has to be by my side. Maybe because he thinks I have all the answers. The truth is I don’t. I’m frantically researching and trying ultimately not to dissapoint him or myself. I want so badly for him to get better. Maybe it will make me better and yet I am realizing he needs Speech therapy and so does LW…his brother. I think I am destined to have to kids on the spectrum and or a Aspie Son and an ADHD son. A crystal and indigo child by some people’s interpretation. Now to many that sounds like some sort of liberal bullcrap, which I have to say sometimes enters my mind. I’m not a hippy or some misguided person but sometimes I find comfort in things even in they aren’t true. Maybe its my way of getting through things and that isn’t neccessarily that’s bad.

I find that Autism is like a rollercoaster. I’m on this ride that makes me sick sometimes and scares the crap out of me. I enter into dark tunnels with sounds that enter my ears but sights I can’t see. By the time I let my fear subside and try to tackle the problem I’m out of the tunnel and back up a hill headed downwards to another scary turn. I think I see the station and I’m headed that direction when it twists and turns me upside down. Maybe its cheesy but it’s exactly the journey that is Autism. I feel that I lose a bit of myself with each turn and I wonder if the woman I be will ever return. I don’t blame my son, he is a joy, but I am beginning to wonder why. Why so many parents have to go through this hell with their kids, why they struggle, go into financial ruin, have little relationship left to share together, have to ignore their other children to save the one who needs the most help, and yet are left with the thought that things might never get better. I’m a spirtual person but sometimes I wonder why this happened. What God is telling me and how I should go forward. I guess only time will tell….but time is painful and leaves scars that aren’t quick to heal. I’m not sure how much healthy skin I have left to scar. That’s what scares me most.

I read both of Jenny McCarthy’s books and I’m very greatful for having the chance to read them. They made me feel like i’m not alone in the world and also made me sad. But these books are empowering. I think there is something to be said for a generation of women who fight the system to save their kids. I’m fists up to the belief that she is correct that this generation of mothers will pave the way for other moms. I’m working each day trying not to drive myself nuts but its not always easy. I want him to have a good day and sometimes it just hurts my heart. I would really suggest reading these books, its a great insight into the world of Autism from the biomed parents perspective. I know not all ASD parents are biomed but I think its worth reading about other parents struggles because it can help you clarify your own sometimes. Also I think its good to be informed. I wasn’t a biomed mom and now I am, I think you have to walk a lifetime in someones shoes to try and understand why they do things but I’m really not a judgemental mom either way. I hope this blog just helps others out and maybe me in the process…

I’ve been truly pleased with the GF/CF diet. It gave Reese a break from the terrible belly pain and me a much needed break from the reality that is Autism. In the meantime, I sort of held all my eggs in one basket. Hoping and praying that this would be the answer, truly it’s a piece of the puzzle but its not the whole puzzle. Its helped him so much with his reflux and his belly pain has decreased but not gone away completely. He does tell me every now and again that his belly hurts but I think the problem is actually related to the fact that he just doesn’t eat enough, he’s still afraid to eat and he can’t go the bathroom for days. He is on a toxin removal that helps slowly remove toxins but its not enough. His body is more seriously affected than I had originally thought. It makes my stomach ache thinking about how much we have changed and how much further we have to go. Reese is doing a great job and I’m just so proud of him.

Stimming is really making me feel crazy somedays. We were on vacation and he just couldn’t stop flapping and saying the same thing over and over again, or acting like the tasmanian devil. He would come back later and say sorry and then go right back and do it all over again. I felt so bad for him when it would happen and then all of the sudden i’d just get so angry this was happening. I knew part of it was withdrawl but also his little body is changing and reacting to all these new things he was getting. Sometimes you question whether what you are doing is right or if you are just imagining things. This was one of these moments. I upped his Zeolyte drops and he went the bathroom. He seemed to feel better and even act a little better. I was surprised at how correct I really was and how much the gut and brain connect.

Just like Jenny McCarthy said I feel like i’m getting a degree from the University of Google, Barnes and Noble, my DAN dr. and my ASD Angel Mommy. Its empowering but also sad. I like every mom with a child on the AS don’t want this degree, we’d rather be blindly ignorant with children who are happy, healthy and not in need of being saved. But that’s not the card I was dealt. A lot of things have happened to me in my life but the most valuable to me has been being Reese and Logan’s mom. In the words of Rachel Coleman, “you’ve taught me more in your lifetime than I’ve learned in mine.” So maybe, I’m meant for something too. Meant to help others with their pain or something, but I’m going to try and be as positive as I can for myself but also for my family.

Reese has ASKED for Raisins, Hot Dogs and tried Beef Stew today. I couldn’t be more proud of him and how hard he is working. His circles under his eyes are slowly getting better and he took his probiotic and went to the bathroom soon after. He is on his way to Gastro healing and I couldn’t be happier.

At the same time I have this underlying anger that this took so long. That my pediatrician doesn’t believe in this diet yet in 1 week my child’s reflux has DISAPPEARED! I’m just a bit disenchanted with the APA and the fact that my Gastro Doctor for Reese doesn’t believe in this diet yet I removed him from all Meds and he is clearly getting better just astounds me!

I just finished reading Mother Warriors by Jennny McCarthy, which is an outstanding book for anyone with a child on the spectrum. It gives you such insight in to other parents belief’s and the courage they took to heal their children. That book was truly fantastic and I’m so happy I read it.

I hope this blog helps someone considering the diet and makes them consider going that extra step. Its worth every minute.