advice needed

[Guest guest]

Hi, !

I have a chewer too. Some of it is just sensory, so we got him some "chewies" from the OTs we used to see. I think you can get them online too -- I know Southpaw Enterprises has them, but if Kiernan works with an OT, maybe s/he can get some for you.

However, we were told by our doctor that sometimes, when Autistic children especially do this, it may be a sign of GERD (Acid Reflux). So, we did a trial of Zantac for him, and the chewing stopped. Now, I will say that it still comes and goes. Once, we found out that since he had grown and gained weight, his med dosage needed to be adjusted. After the adjustment, the chewing stopped. But, I have noticed that during periods when he's particularly stressed out (oh, say, the HOLIDAYS for instance!!! Yippee.), the chewing comes back. In fact, he's doing it again right now. But, I can tell that it's a stress reaction based on other behaviors, so that's when I'll give him the chewie for a while.

I don't know if that's what's up with Kiernan, but maybe it's worth looking into.

--Suzanne

-----Original Message-----

From: mystique2574@...

Sent: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 2:26 AM

Subject: [ ] advice needed

Kiernan has developed a new habit... whenever he is wearing any sort

of drawstring pants, long sleeve shirts or even his backpacks.. he's

chewing on them.. he chews the drawstrings (which we have now removed

all of them) chews on his right sleeve (for some reason it's never the

left) and the hanging straps from his backpack... I tried putting him

in short sleeve shirts.. but now he pulls it up and chews on the front

hem over his tummy... it's been going on a few weeks now.. and I've

tried everything from telling him no repeatedly, changing what he is

wearing...cutting the extra on the backpack straps... to trying to

replace what he's chewing on with something else (chewy..teething ring

sort of thing.. or snacks) but nothing has seemed to work so far.

There is also no pattern as to when he is doing it... he'll do it

while playing.. while we are working.. and even between bites of food

while eating..

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

[Guest guest]

Colleen & Suzanne,

Thanks for the advice.. I think we are going to work on getting him

some of those chewies...I know I've seen them on ebay as well.. but

I'll talk to his OT on Monday.. I know I mentioned it to 1 of them

and they are the one that suggested giving him snacks that may fill

that sensory need (squishy or crunchy or whatever might work) but

since that's not working..need to look in another directions.. he's

also one that chews holes in his sleeves... or just soaks them to

where we need to change shirts on a regular basis.. gotta love these

kids..they do give us reasons to be creative!

>

> Hi, !

>

> I have a chewer too. Some of it is just sensory, so we got him

some " chewies " from the OTs we used to see. I think you can get them

online too -- I know Southpaw Enterprises has them, but if Kiernan

works with an OT, maybe s/he can get some for you.

>

> However, we were told by our doctor that sometimes, when Autistic

children especially do this, it may be a sign of GERD (Acid Reflux).

So, we did a trial of Zantac for him, and the chewing stopped. Now,

I will say that it still comes and goes. Once, we found out that

since he had grown and gained weight, his med dosage needed to be

adjusted. After the adjustment, the chewing stopped. But, I have

noticed that during periods when he's particularly stressed out (oh,

say, the HOLIDAYS for instance!!! Yippee.), the chewing comes back.

In fact, he's doing it again right now. But, I can tell that it's a

stress reaction based on other behaviors, so that's when I'll give

him the chewie for a while.

>

> I don't know if that's what's up with Kiernan, but maybe it's worth

looking into.

>

> --Suzanne

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: mystique2574@...

>

> Sent: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 2:26 AM

> Subject: [ ] advice needed

>

>

> Kiernan has developed a new habit... whenever he is wearing any

sort

> of drawstring pants, long sleeve shirts or even his backpacks..

he's

> chewing on them.. he chews the drawstrings (which we have now

removed

> all of them) chews on his right sleeve (for some reason it's never

the

> left) and the hanging straps from his backpack... I tried putting

him

> in short sleeve shirts.. but now he pulls it up and chews on the

front

> hem over his tummy... it's been going on a few weeks now.. and I've

> tried everything from telling him no repeatedly, changing what he

is

> wearing...cutting the extra on the backpack straps... to trying to

> replace what he's chewing on with something else (chewy..teething

ring

> sort of thing.. or snacks) but nothing has seemed to work so far.

> There is also no pattern as to when he is doing it... he'll do it

> while playing.. while we are working.. and even between bites of

food

> while eating..

>

> Any ideas?

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

__

> Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and

security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from

across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

>

[Guest guest]

,

I don't remember where you live, but Cleveland Clinic rehab in

Westlake always has a bunch of them. That is where I bought mine.

They were only $6.50. I know that the therapy place we go to now

doesn't carry anything in stock.

Colleen

> >

> > Hi, !

> >

> > I have a chewer too. Some of it is just sensory, so we got him

> some " chewies " from the OTs we used to see. I think you can get

them

> online too -- I know Southpaw Enterprises has them, but if Kiernan

> works with an OT, maybe s/he can get some for you.

> >

> > However, we were told by our doctor that sometimes, when

Autistic

> children especially do this, it may be a sign of GERD (Acid

Reflux).

> So, we did a trial of Zantac for him, and the chewing stopped.

Now,

> I will say that it still comes and goes. Once, we found out that

> since he had grown and gained weight, his med dosage needed to be

> adjusted. After the adjustment, the chewing stopped. But, I have

> noticed that during periods when he's particularly stressed out

(oh,

> say, the HOLIDAYS for instance!!! Yippee.), the chewing comes

back.

> In fact, he's doing it again right now. But, I can tell that it's

a

> stress reaction based on other behaviors, so that's when I'll give

> him the chewie for a while.

> >

> > I don't know if that's what's up with Kiernan, but maybe it's

worth

> looking into.

> >

> > --Suzanne

> >

> >

> > -----Original Message-----

> > From: mystique2574@

> >

> > Sent: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 2:26 AM

> > Subject: [ ] advice needed

> >

> >

> > Kiernan has developed a new habit... whenever he is wearing any

> sort

> > of drawstring pants, long sleeve shirts or even his backpacks..

> he's

> > chewing on them.. he chews the drawstrings (which we have now

> removed

> > all of them) chews on his right sleeve (for some reason it's

never

> the

> > left) and the hanging straps from his backpack... I tried

putting

> him

> > in short sleeve shirts.. but now he pulls it up and chews on the

> front

> > hem over his tummy... it's been going on a few weeks now.. and

I've

> > tried everything from telling him no repeatedly, changing what

he

> is

> > wearing...cutting the extra on the backpack straps... to trying

to

> > replace what he's chewing on with something else

(chewy..teething

> ring

> > sort of thing.. or snacks) but nothing has seemed to work so

far.

> > There is also no pattern as to when he is doing it... he'll do

it

> > while playing.. while we are working.. and even between bites of

> food

> > while eating..

> >

> > Any ideas?

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

_____________________________________________________________________

_

> __

> > Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety

and

> security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos

from

> across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

M It must be very hard for your friend to watch her son using a feeding tube,

unfortunate. Another reason for stem cell research, in my opinion, and a whole

other debate.

I must express my thoughts here, strictly opinion. Impact feeding has shown lots

of success and benefits, at this junction I would agree with the medical

establishment.

I hope for a speedy recovery and return to health.

http://www.impactinformation.com/home/index2.htm

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\

09-a7e0-0a3cac74a2d0

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Zaloga GP, 1998 Crit Care Med 26:1143-1146

>

> This email below is written by my best friend who is looking for advice. Any

help will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks! Margo

>

>

> My 22-year-old son suffered a serious spinal injury and has been confined to

an ICU for the past 3 weeks. Yesterday he received a tracheostomy, in place of

a breathing tube down his throat. Since he's been under ICU care, he has

received only Nestle's Impact formula* as sustenance, and I am very concerned

that he's never needed a nutrient dense food-based diet more than right now. We

have been told that he may remain on tube feedings for several more weeks or

even months. The dietician feels he's receiving proper nutrition, and is so far

unwilling to allow augmentation or supplementation to this formula. In addition

to being critically injured and paralyzed in arms & legs, my son is battling

hospital contracted pneumonia, c-diff intestinal infection, and the trach

renders him unable to speak or eat normally. In short, despite heroic efforts

of excellent neurosurgeons, my son became ill, almost from the moment he entered

the door of the ICU. Nutrition--food as medicine--appears to be the last

consideration there.

>

> My question: I am trying to research some sort of supplementation that will

easily pass through a feeding tube--one which the dietician cannot claim may

clog the tube or object to for other reasons (ie she claims no added probiotics

may be added because of concerns/liabilities re contracting meningitis). As his

mom, I'm more than willing to sign release of liability, and am happy to

prepare, administer, etc any supplementation-- however, this plea appears to

fall on deaf ears. I thought of preparing bone broths, wheatgrass juice,

sauerkraut juice, healthy oils, ie flax & cod liver oils....below are the

ingredients of the Impact formula. Do you have any suggestions or knowledge

about these matters?? Thank you so very much for your help.

>

> Impact Ingredients

> Water, maltodextrin, sodium caseinate (milk protein), palm kernel oil,

L-arginine, calcium caseinate, refined menhaden oil, citric acid, sunflower oil,

potassium citrate, calcium phosphate tribasic, yeast extract, cellulose gel,

sodium citrate, methylparaben†, magnesium chloride, hydroxylated soy lecithin,

potassium sorbate†, potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium chloride, sodium

ascorbate, choline chloride, calcium carrageenan, cellulose gum, sodium

benzoate†, high selenium yeast, high molybdenum yeast, alpha tocopheryl acetate,

high chromium yeast, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacinamide, alpha

tocopherol (to preserve freshness), copper gluconate, calcium pantothenate,

manganese sulfate, ascorbyl palmitate (to preserve freshness), thiamine

hydrochloride, BHA/BHT (to preserve freshness), beta carotene, vitamin A

palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, potassium

iodide, phytonadione (vitamin K1), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), cholecalciferol

(vitamin D3). Product information and values are subject to change. Ingredient

and nutrition information current as of April 2008.

>