Strep titer negative...please let the hacking loogie thing end as quickly as it started.

This seems like a perfect spot following my last post on what Autism is officially to talk about co-ocurring issues with the diagnosis.  It's classified as a mental condition but I totally agree with the fact that it all stems from medical issues, whether it's genetics or auto-immune related.  About a month ago, Clarkie was half-sick for about a week; low-grade fever, and tired.  Not quite a cold, but sort of.  Anyhow, he slept it off, and about a week later started this grating hacking a loogie sound.  You know the one;  usually heard from old men who no longer give a shit.  Ahhhh!  It continues!  It's very loud and at times he does it over and over again.  I'm actually starting to be less bothered by it which is a good thing, but damn, I hope it goes away.  When it does, most likely something else will take its place.  That seems to be how it goes with him.  He did it the other day in a store and a lady laughed.  It's especially noticeable in public situations.  I generally do a good job not caring what other people think....but it's SO loud!!!  Anyhow, I started thinking about it and poking around on the internet at Tourette's...generally thought of as people shouting out the eff word in inappropriate situations.  Tourette's is officially diagnosed if a tic lasts at least a year.  Throat clearing is the most common tic there is!  Then on a forum parents were discussing how their child has done this for YEARS!  Oh, God!  Kept looking (what else can I do in the evenings while Daddy's watching Transformers?) and came across a doctor who treats Autism as well as PANDAS.  I'd never heard of this before.  It stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections.  It's a tic related thing with the most common tic being throat clearing!  Thought I was on to something, so had his blood drawn for a strep titer.  Doctor called today and no strep.  Damn, I thought all of this could end with an anti-biotic.  No such luck.  I tried Tums thinking maybe it was heartburn.  Tried making him drink water after he does it....doesn't dissuade him.  Autie parents are always trying to be cognizant of triggers for behaviors...Nothin' I can see.  It's random.  Sometimes he does it a lot.  Sometimes not at all...for awhile.  I don't react.  I don't even think he knows he's doing it.  He's certainly not trying to push my buttons or be annoying but....I guess it's just going to have to play out.  Most likely, as soon as I really get used to it, it'll stop.  I hope.  As soon as I quit hoping maybe....being conscious of it; Autistic kids seem to have a radar for other people's deepest thoughts.  I'm getting there.

Anyhow, Autism isn't just a mental thing.  There are numerous medical issues our kids can have.  Co-occurring medical things are:  "seizures (25%), subclinical seizures (60-80%), low muscle tone (about 30%), sensory sensitivities (about 30%), gastrointestinal problems (chronic constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, abdominal pain in about 50%), and sleep problems (about 50%)."  This list isn't conclusive.  Dental issues are common.  We've dealt with those too.  Reasons for all of these issues can be found on-line if you're interested.  Between the two of them our kids have all of these issues except seizures, thank God.  I've read seizures can start at any age but in many cases don't until a child is older.  This would be especially hard to watch and deal with and I hope it never happens.

About three years ago we took them to a neurologist in Pittsburgh who is unofficially a DAN doctor....Defeat Autism Now.  His big thing was the mercury in our ecosystem.  He showed us a map of Autism rates in the US, and the highest rates coincided with the areas that burn the most coal, which emits mercury.  Where we live in NW Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California via China.  Interesting.  The B was conceived about a month after moving here from Michigan though.  They take a bio-medical approach ranging from supplements to hyper-baric oxygen chambers to chelation to neuro-feedback.  We were sent to the lab at the Children's Hospital and they each had about 15 really big vials of blood taken.  It was expensive as our (very good) health insurance didn't cover the testing, and pretty traumatizing for the B.  We said we'd never do it again.  We haven't, and he gave us a pretty standard (for Autistic kids) protocol of supplements.  Testing results said their immune systems were like raging fires while for most of us it's simply burning.  This is a common thing with those with auto-immune issues.  The body starts attacking itself.  We tried it but they were nearly impossible to get into them.  One of the hallmarks of Autistic kids is being incredibly picky eaters.  I've heard of kids eating only one kind of cookie.....for years.  Ours are both picky but getting better.  Clark's meals are healthy but tend to be generally tan or white in color (common).  Only pork-chops (pasture-raised, hormone, etc. free), fried eggs (also healthy ones), raw milk, etc.  They both eat about ten things.  It's like a diner up in here at meal time.  Yeah, yeah, I know, hold out...don't give in, etc. but the options we give them are all healthy....and frankly, it's just another of numerous battles to fight.  I can't fight all the time, and they're getting better. Bernie eats carrot sticks as of a couple weeks ago!  Eventually, we seemed to be wasting a LOT of money dumping supplements down the drain, etc. so we stopped.  For the past year or so, we've gone gluten-free, dye-free, all organic, and started back up with the supplements; the ones the DAN doctor recommended as well as some others I've read about.  They're currently taking MB12, Omega-3, Zinc, Vitamin C, a "greens" vite, a multi, pro-biotic, magnesium and a couple others I'd have to get out of my chair to recall.  Specific reasons for all of them, but that's another post (I'll never do).  All of them are quality (and pricey)...so many of the supplements out there are just junk.  Bernie refuses to drink milk but Clark will drink raw milk, and that's healing and not a problem with the casein intolerance many Autie's have.  It's my firm belief for everyone that you are what you eat, and it seems it's getting a bit easier to get the supplements in them, and the more quality of a diet they eat, the healthier they are physically and mentally.  To boot, I've lost about sixty pounds and seem to have an incredibly healthy, on-track infant.  Clark's communication has increased a lot as well as his eye contact and functional play.  Bernie's behavior is atrocious whenever he has gluten now....I struggle with allowing him to have it at birthday parties and the like.  I give in so he doesn't have to bring his own cake, and then we pay for it for the next two days.

We're keeping on keeping on with all of this.  Autism is treatable.  A lot of people find this train of thought and action offensive; that their child is not broken and why fix what's not broken.  I just want to do whatever's in my power to have the healthiest family possible.  I'm the healthiest I've ever been since cutting out all the crap....not only food, but personal-care products and cleaning supplies.  Always learning and trying to do better.  Besides the actual parenting, it's my bag.  By the way, coconut oil and baking soda is the best deodorant EVER.

More info. and the quote above is from:  http://www.phxautism.org/understanding-autism/autism-and-co-ocurring-conditions/