Feeling GREAT!

[Guest guest]

Your situation sure gives me hope for my 13 year old Aspie. Thanks for sharing your story it's very encouraging. Rabecca Whalen <rabeccawhalen@...> wrote:

Hi guys!

I thought I best check in since it has been a while since my last posting… Things are going… really GREAT!!! I can not believe the growth I have seen Tyler go through in the last two years… I am so proud and amazed at what he has been able to accomplish!

Gone are the days of animal noises, extreme rigidity, incredible sensory integration issues, massive social deficiencies, and the inability to sit still (without rocking, tapping, flicking, moving his head, or some other form of major movement). Gone are the days of crying at school, getting picked on, getting lost when the directions are individually tailored to him, having troubles focusing unless he was in the front and center of the classroom, or melting down if his schedule deviated from the one he typed up and printed out at the beginning of the day.

What does Tyler do now? Well, he has made some friends, is a mentor to some younger boys (ages 9-11) who have had difficulties with trauma or social situations, sticks up for the “little people”, is able to empathize with others, is able to act appropriately most of the time in social situations, is able to handle sensory stimulation, no longer fidgets or has repetitive movements, is able to organize his school work and work off of generalized directions, can work as part of a team without taking over or shutting down, is able to handle conflict appropriately (without melting down, shutting down, or obsessing over it), and is excelling academically.

I was called in for a team conference the week before school let out (very scary). When I got to school, all his teachers and counselor were waiting. They wanted to let me know that they had added things into his 504 Plan to make sure he didn’t fall through the cracks as he transitioned into the high school. They also talked about all the growth they have seen this year, how much they have learned from Tyler (who now is great at self advocating and appropriately educating others). Because of his academic interests, they got approval from the high school to have him placed mostly in advanced courses (mostly with sophomores and juniors) at the honors level, which means he will be with others who are academically focused (nerds, spectrum kids, etc). They had also collectively written up a letter

to the dean of our local community college asking for the dean to consider Tyler as a “student who would excel at perusing his intellectual pursuits while maintaining full time status in ____ High School”. They had all signed it. As a group, they wanted Tyler to have the option of taking college level courses to supplement his education while still getting the social interactions and growth that occurs in high school. They also figured it would make the transition from high school to college easier for him and would also show him that the attitudes and behaviors common in high school are very temporary and that there is something to look ahead to beyond his high school years. Well after talking it over with Tyler (who was very excited about the prospect), we took him to the college the day after he graduated 8th grade for both placement tests as well as to meet with the dean. The tester couldn’t believe Tyler at age 14 wanted to take the college placement test and let us

know she thought we were all nuts for even considering having a kid spend his summer on academic pursuits. She seemed to change her mind when he scored perfect scores in both reading and writing placement tests and high enough to be placed into Math 60 after the math placement test. Tyler was a bit disappointed about the math score, but not having taken high school math classes yet, he did well! Anyway, the meeting with the dean went really well. Though he tried to scare Tyler away with the promise of challenging work and responsibility, the more he talked, the bigger Tyler’s grin became! He is now allowed to enroll in any courses he wants other than math, which he will get more of in high school. The dean looked at his high school plan that the teachers laid out and said with just a couple more classes over the next four years, Tyler will graduate from high school with his 2-year college level AA transfer degree already completed.

Anyway, needless to say, Tyler is enjoying the idea of having the choice.

Within 2 days of taking the college placement exam, Tyler had been approached 3 times by different organizations/people and offered paying jobs. They had observed him “just being him” and thought he would do really well for what they were looking for. (Tyler still neatens things as he comes to them, is now very conscientious of helping others, and is seen as a hard/enduring even if slower worker). This is during a time when almost all the teens and college kids around are complaining that there aren’t jobs in the area to be had! Tyler accepted 2 of the three, one that he has started and the other that will start when he comes back from a weeklong church teen camp. He was also recruited by the church to help lead the vacation bible school this year, as the younger kids have started to really

look up to him (the actually like his antics!). He is a weekly volunteer at the church, where he runs the lights and projection system for the service. Because of his volunteering and now working as well as going to camp, he didn’t end up finding the time to take a summer class at the college… Yet, he knows that he is able to now when the opportunity presents itself!

Is Tyler still considered an Aspie? You betcha! He still is working hard at recognizing social cues and body language. He is still awkward/stilted in his walk and has some sensory issues, though not as major. He still becomes obsessed with things and is unable to tear his thoughts away from his new “interest”. He still sees girls as people instead of “sexual beings” or “objects of obsessions”. There is no real interest in that direction, thankfully!!! He still operates emotionally at about age 10-11 (but 10-11 is better than 7!!!!) Actually, he still has all the traits he had before… He is just better at controlling and masking them, especially in public and around other people! He has learned to “look normal” and “act normal”. Yet, some of it goes deeper, like the empathy… He is really

starting to get some of it!!!

So there’s my update… Tyler is 14, going on 11 emotionally and going on 19 academically. He is able to work well for and with others now due to being able to “fit in with societies standards of conduct”. He is growing socially and is making friends… and kids look up to him!!!

I hope everything is well with all of you… Have a great long weekend!!!

~hugs~

Rabecca

[Guest guest]

Wow!!! This was some update. Congratulations to Tyler for all his progress. I am new to this group and just really starting to learn about AS, but I do know that this is tremendous progress. Keep up the great work Tyler. We are all so proud of you.

[Guest guest]

Oh that is wonderful Trish

long may it continue

luv Dawnx

[Guest guest]

***....without ANY pain and with NO feeling of fatigue at all. I don't know if its the warm weather or .....I have massively changed my diet to be candida free for the last 10 days or so or ...... I have been taking Nutri Adrenal Supplement for five days and also CoenzymeQ10.

Hello Tisha,

Fantastic !!!! Long may it last....

I think how quickly adrenal support works depends on the degree of your illness, and everybody is different. I reckon it's the combination of all the supplements, but most importantly, your change of diet, that makes you feel so well. Stick with it - a good sugar free diet is the key building block for wellbeing. Refined sugar is a poison and builds up as toxins in your system, giving you a lot of muscle pain.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

Hi Tisha,

So good to hear of folk feeling better!

Subject: Feeling Great!

Hi everyone

I have just had my best day for at least two years and am so excited I

feel like I've won the lottery!!!! My daughter and I even went to a

garden centre and I walked around leisurely looking at plants without

ANY pain and with NO feeling of fatigue at all. I don't know if its the

warm weather or .....I have massively changed my diet to be candida free

for the last 10 days or so or ...... I have been taking Nutri Adrenal

Supplement for five days and also CoenzymeQ10.

Whatever it is - I am making the most of it! lol!

Can anyone tell me how soon anyone would expect the Nutri Adrenal

support to make a difference - I feel sure that 5 days would be a

miracle.

Thanks

Tisha

------------------------------------

TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical

practitioner before changing medication.

[Guest guest]

I'm six weeks on the diet now...and in spite of my quasi-diet on vacation and

weekly cheats, I gotta say....I feel so great!

After I posted my two weeks without headaches success story, I went back to

having headaches and wondered if this was a temporary improvement. But not only

am I headache free again the last two weeks (die-off? retracing?), but I see my

energy really improving. I think I forgot what it felt like to feel ENERGETIC.

No more napping over recent weeks or post-lunch energy slumps. I was even

working yesterday evening (something I never do) at something complex mentally

because I've felt so focused, calm and clear-headed.

And best of all, I'm working out at the gym again. For the last 9 months, I have

had debilitating neck, shoulder and knee pain. I know I need to strengthen these

muscles but any slight exercise activity would send me into months of pain.

Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and even light weights for my

quads and hamstrings and NO pain today. Unbelievable. My mood is calm, even,

content but bright...even as I am titering off anti-anxiety meds with no

problem.

I haven't experienced much re-tracing that I can notice yet so perhaps that is

coming with more die-off, but today is wonderful.

Oh...and did I mention I've lost 13 lbs in the last six weeks? I'm back at my

ideal weight...as long as I don't lose any more!

Thank you Bee!

Chris

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm six weeks on the diet now...and in spite of my quasi-diet on vacation and

weekly cheats, I gotta say....I feel so great!

+++Good for you Chris!!

>

> After I posted my two weeks without headaches success story, I went back to

having headaches and wondered if this was a temporary improvement. But not only

am I headache free again the last two weeks (die-off? retracing?), but I see my

energy really improving. I think I forgot what it felt like to feel ENERGETIC.

No more napping over recent weeks or post-lunch energy slumps. I was even

working yesterday evening (something I never do) at something complex mentally

because I've felt so focused, calm and clear-headed.

+++What a wonderful improvement you've had. Your headaches may come and go as

you progress.

>

> And best of all, I'm working out at the gym again. For the last 9 months, I

have had debilitating neck, shoulder and knee pain. I know I need to strengthen

these muscles but any slight exercise activity would send me into months of

pain. Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and even light weights for

my quads and hamstrings and NO pain today. Unbelievable. My mood is calm, even,

content but bright...even as I am titering off anti-anxiety meds with no

problem.

+++Exercise is good, but not nearly as important for building up muscle strength

as " proper nutrition. "

+++Unbelievable is right Chris! That's very well done!

>

> I haven't experienced much re-tracing that I can notice yet so perhaps that is

coming with more die-off, but today is wonderful.

>

> Oh...and did I mention I've lost 13 lbs in the last six weeks? I'm back at my

ideal weight...as long as I don't lose any more!

+++Wow! You are loaded with great wins! May I also post this message in our

Success Stories?

> Thank you Bee!

+++You are so very welcome my friend! Onward & upward!

All the best, Bee