Pica

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In a message dated 2/15/2000 7:14:05 PM !!!First Boot!!!, SMILINGGAIL@...

writes:

<< He

even licks the water or juice out of his cup like a dog! When I talk he

sometimes tries to put his tongue to my mouth to " feel " it. VERY STRANGE!

>>

Maddie too Gail. When she is in the kitchen, we have to put the dog's bowl

up because she's eaten his food and likes to stick her face in and drink

water from his bowl (YUK) (Believe it or not, she has the sweetest breath.

I swear I don't know why) Maddie also does what we call *french kissing*.

She is always trying to touch tongues, even with her teachers and therapists.

And remember a while ago guys, when we were talking about stockings? Well,

Maddie doesn't just rub my legs when I wear them................she licks

them!!! Now, I HAVE to tell you my leg licking story. One night I was

getting ready for a women's guild meeting at my kids' school. I was serving

on the board and we were going to do a group picture. I had black leotards

on and was putting on my make-up while Miss Maddie was licking my legs up and

down. Well, one of my friend's pointed out to me at the meeting that

apparently before licking my legs, Miss Maddie had been eating cheese curls.

Yep, you got it!!!!!!! This was the week before Halloween, so I made a

joke about being decorated for the season (you know, orange and black). I

had to go to the ladies' room before the pic to wash my hose....I still asked

them to shoot the pic from the knees up......LOLOL

Donna (who now checks the full length mirror before going anywhere)

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In a message dated 2/15/2000 7:35:31 PM !!!First Boot!!!, SMILINGGAIL@...

writes:

<<

Donna,

Is Maddie into chewing socks? We have a tough time with Seth taking off his

shoes and chewing his socks. He has tons of " chew socks " all over the

house,

but there is something about those dirty, smelly ones that appeal to him!

Keeps his teeth clean since he doesn't stand for a toothbrush or anything

Clean in his mouth! I've got to check out this tubing thing. Do you know

if

it's like the surgical tubing? We tried that and Seth prefers the socks.

Tubing to " sterile " I guess! lol

Gail

>>

LOL Oh yea Gail. She chews her sock while dangling her shoe by the laces in

front of her face. A sight to see!!! She never keeps her socks and shoes on

which is a pain in winter cause her little feet get so cold.

We've tried tubing for her to chew on and she won't chew on it either. Too

appropriate I guess....LOL I lay on Maddie to brush her teeth. She is

totally fine with it. If I don't lay and block her hands, she pushes me

away. It's like it's a reflex. When it's time to brush, it's so cute. She

lays down and puts her hands at her side. I'm not hurting her; just keeping

her hands from flying up to her face. And I make goofy faces and goofy

sounds the whole time, so she's actually enjoying herself.

Donna

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In a message dated 2/15/2000 7:32:06 PM !!!First Boot!!!, Scherb@...

writes:

<< He drags his sandwich between his toes and then eats it. His

real favorite to so this to is spagetti!!! Just got pictures back

yesterday, you can see the frosting from Essie's b'day cake on the bottom of

his foot--haha! >>

OMIGOD !!!! THis is hysterical. I must be sick, cause I get such a

laugh outta this stuff. You know, kids do weird things, DS/ASD or not. I

remember my son n (now 14) when he was between 5 and 9, would eat his

sandwiches from the middle out (he would request that I NOT cut them so he

could do this). LOLOLOL His teachers were amazed to watch him do it. LOL

Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna, I'll have to try Maddie style of tooth brushing. lol . this is the

funniest site I have ever seen! I would have never believed any kids could

be so much alike as JJ, Maddie and Seth! Seth swings his shoes by the laces

(or what's left that he hasn't chewed up) while chewing his socks too! other

weird things....sleeps all night folded in half...picks my nose when I'm

sleeping...licks my ears....slams his butt on the floor over and over...puts

everything he can grab into the toilet...list is endless!

still smiling gail

[Guest guest]

, when we did sensory things here, I would fill a tub with different

textured foods, Seth wouldn't touch with his hands but would walk in the

stuff. I even tried holding him upside down to confuse him into thinking it

was his feet in there! what we won't do! lol Guess I do some weird things

too! lol

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/0 1:35:28 PM, SMILINGGAIL@... writes:

<< He has tons of " chew socks " all over the house,

but there is something about those dirty, smelly ones that appeal to him! >>

Gail,

Hannah is a sock chewer too--she is 15 and starting to outgrow this a little

but still will chew her sleeves if she has long sleeves. I used to give her

a washcloth to chew on to satisfy her. It worked well in the car and on the

bus. I would give the bus driver a ziploc bag for Hannah to dump the rag in

when she arrived at school and a fresh one for the ride home. Lately she has

been satisfied with her tape player on the bus and only chewing her sleeve

sometimes occasionally.

Pam

[Guest guest]

>

> << He

> even licks the water or juice out of his cup like a dog! When I

> talk he

> sometimes tries to put his tongue to my mouth to " feel " it. VERY

> STRANGE!

> >>

>

> Maddie too Gail. When she is in the kitchen, we have to put the

> dog's bowl

> up because she's eaten his food and likes to stick her face in and

> drink

> water from his bowl (YUK)

Matt too. He puts his bowl of cheerios on the floor and tries to eat like

the dogs. He drinks from their water, pours water on the floor and licks

it up, goes out the back door and scratches the door with his foot to be

let in (uses his leg and foot, not hand), likes to " play fetch " with the

dog's toys, and once......sit down for this one, gals........I put his

pull up on him for bed. He had to pee. He got down on all fours, lifted

his leg, and peed in the pull-up! I had to laugh! Coudlnt' he observe

and repeat PEOPLE behavior instead of dogs. I wonder if this is why he

wont' poop in the toilet. I should teach the dogs to poop in the toilet

and maybe Matt would follow suit!

BUt I can dream, cant' I???

S

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[Guest guest]

....puts

> everything he can grab into the toilet...list is endless!

> still smiling gail

>

>Gail,

Last Christmas eve (1998), while we had all inlaws over for our

" Christmas Party " Matt flushed a large plastic whixtle down the toilet.

On Christmas Day, we had guests ariving from Costa Rica. I had never met

this boy and his father (My 14 year ols son had been to their house for a

student exchange program, and they wanted to visit us). The whistle made

it to the " stack " in the basement. I learned more about old house

plumbing than I ever wanted to know! I had to meet our guests at the

airport and take them to a Hotel until the next day when Roto rooter

finally got the stack cleared!. By the time it got there, the plumbing

for the whole house was backed up. I had a wonderful time trying to

explain to this father (HE spoke some English, I speak no spanish above

Sesame Street) why I was taking him to a hotel. THen I had to pay for 2

rooms, and Roto rooter. That was one expensive whistle! We try to watch

him more closely now, but he still manages to put many things in the

toilet. He usually comes and gets me before he flushes now!

Smiling,

S

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Yes, we get no sleep at our house....most of the time. Sometimes, if I catch

it when he first wakes up..I change his diaper and then he will let me hold

him in my lap, real close (while I sit on the floor) and tell him how good

and sweet he is. He will go back to sleep (sometimes) within 5 min (after he

gets warmed back up). If it doesn't work, I turn on the stereo and let him

'rock' to the music (it really hurts when he pulls my hair). Wimpy, I

guess...then I go back to bed and wake up about an hour later and put him in

his. I think he wakes up because he is cold...won't keep a blanket on and we

always use the footed sleepers. It's terrible if he wakes up and starts

yelling...then baby sister wakes up and cries...so we have two. Brother

seems to be able to ignore it most of the time.

Ann with , and

[Guest guest]

has always had nice breath...brother and sister's changed when they

weaned. It's that a nice thing, though...nice breath.

Ann with , and

[Guest guest]

Oh, does the most interesting 'wet willies'....one of his OT's said

that her husband doesn't even do that! Then he just giggles.......

Ann with , and

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/01 10:39:52 AM Eastern Standard Time,

mashawnag@... writes:

<<

I was just wondering what is PICA?

Isnt when a person craves things such as dirt and

metal, etc, usual things that are not usually eaten

inour diet. I know pregnant women oftne are ones that

get it, and have found many on this list who's kids

have it too, I dont know how common it is in kids,

nathan puts things in his mouth but doesnt eat them,

usually spits them out when I tell him too. He likes

coins especially, but also legos, marbles, superballs,

and other small things he can put in his mouth, but

not hard candy, chokes on that, go figure, and

ofcourse he will eat playdoe if not very closely

supervised, lol, but who's kids dont eat playdoe at

one time or another? shawna.

>>

a,

Here's the definition from my Taber's Medical dictionary. Pica: an

eating disorder manifested by a craving to ingest any material not fit fo

rfood, including starch, clary, ashes, toy balloons, crayons, cotton, grass,

cigarette butts, SOAP, twigs, wood, paper, metal or plaster.

Note that I wrote soap in all caps.....that's Maddie's latest obsession. And

Taber's does mention that pg women get this. But it's also more common in

those with autism. If your child just mouths, it wouldn't constitute pica.

Maddie (and Seth) eat these things and swallow them. Maddie eats all of the

above, and much more......if we let her that is!!!! We've now added

candles to her list of obsessions.

Donna

[Guest guest]

I was just wondering what is PICA?

Isnt when a person craves things such as dirt and

metal, etc, usual things that are not usually eaten

inour diet. I know pregnant women oftne are ones that

get it, and have found many on this list who's kids

have it too, I dont know how common it is in kids,

nathan puts things in his mouth but doesnt eat them,

usually spits them out when I tell him too. He likes

coins especially, but also legos, marbles, superballs,

and other small things he can put in his mouth, but

not hard candy, chokes on that, go figure, and

ofcourse he will eat playdoe if not very closely

supervised, lol, but who's kids dont eat playdoe at

one time or another? shawna.

--- Doug <doug.smith@...> wrote:

> Hello everyone,

> because bailey put

> all that stuff in his mouth as well.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/01 1:47:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, duffey48@...

writes:

<< Here's the definition from my Taber's Medical dictionary. Pica: an

eating disorder manifested by a craving to ingest any material not fit fo

rfood, including starch, clary, ashes, toy balloons, crayons, cotton, grass,

cigarette butts, SOAP, twigs, wood, paper, metal or plaster.

Note that I wrote soap in all caps.....that's Maddie's latest obsession.

And

Taber's does mention that pg women get this. But it's also more common in

those with autism. If your child just mouths, it wouldn't constitute pica.

Maddie (and Seth) eat these things and swallow them. Maddie eats all of the

above, and much more......if we let her that is!!!! We've now added

candles to her list of obsessions.

Donna >>

GADS Donna!!!! They didn't list FECES ?????!!!! LOL And a few of Seth's

favorites.....pebbles, sand, and chalk. LOL I don't know about Maddie,

but I *KNOW* Seth can smell these things that he eats, and can find them

where ever they are.

Gail

[Guest guest]

> but I *KNOW* Seth can smell these things that he

> eats, and can find them

> where ever they are.

a little hound in there huh?lol shawna.

--- smilinggail@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/29/01 1:47:30 PM Eastern

> Standard Time, duffey48@...

> writes:

>

> << Here's the definition from my Taber's Medical

> dictionary. Pica: an

> eating disorder manifested by a craving to ingest

> any material not fit fo

> rfood, including starch, clary, ashes, toy

> balloons, crayons, cotton, grass,

> cigarette butts, SOAP, twigs, wood, paper, metal or

> plaster.

> Note that I wrote soap in all caps.....that's

> Maddie's latest obsession.

> And

> Taber's does mention that pg women get this. But

> it's also more common in

> those with autism. If your child just mouths, it

> wouldn't constitute pica.

> Maddie (and Seth) eat these things and swallow

> them. Maddie eats all of the

> above, and much more......if we let her that is!!!!

> We've now added

> candles to her list of obsessions.

> Donna >>

> GADS Donna!!!! They didn't list FECES ?????!!!!

> LOL And a few of Seth's

> favorites.....pebbles, sand, and chalk. LOL I

> don't know about Maddie,

> Gail

>

>

[Guest guest]

ya, i have a tabers and moser's med dictionary too,

just didnt look it up, thanks though, im relieved

somewhat, at least nathan doesnt eat them, whew!

shawna.

--- duffey48@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/29/01 10:39:52 AM Eastern

> Standard Time,

> mashawnag@... writes:

>

> <<

> I was just wondering what is PICA?

> Isnt when a person craves things such as dirt and

> metal, etc, usual things that are not usually eaten

> inour diet. I know pregnant women oftne are ones

> that

> get it, and have found many on this list who's kids

> have it too, I dont know how common it is in kids,

> nathan puts things in his mouth but doesnt eat

> them,

> usually spits them out when I tell him too. He

> likes

> coins especially, but also legos, marbles,

> superballs,

> and other small things he can put in his mouth, but

> not hard candy, chokes on that, go figure, and

> ofcourse he will eat playdoe if not very closely

> supervised, lol, but who's kids dont eat playdoe at

> one time or another? shawna.

> >>

>

> a,

> Here's the definition from my Taber's Medical

> dictionary. Pica: an

> eating disorder manifested by a craving to ingest

> any material not fit fo

> rfood, including starch, clary, ashes, toy balloons,

> crayons, cotton, grass,

> cigarette butts, SOAP, twigs, wood, paper, metal or

> plaster.

> Note that I wrote soap in all caps.....that's

> Maddie's latest obsession. And

> Taber's does mention that pg women get this. But

> it's also more common in

> those with autism. If your child just mouths, it

> wouldn't constitute pica.

> Maddie (and Seth) eat these things and swallow them.

> Maddie eats all of the

> above, and much more......if we let her that is!!!!

> We've now added

> candles to her list of obsessions.

> Donna

>

>

[Guest guest]

What does PICA stand for?

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In a message dated 1/30/01 9:02:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

brink_00@... writes:

<< What does PICA stand for?

>>

Good question . I have no idea. Anyone else?

Donna

[Guest guest]

, Hi I am not sure what the inititals stand for ...but I do know that

people who have pica eat non-edible objects...paperclips, sheets, string,

napkins, coffee stirrers, etc...I will check my records and try to get you

some information on PICA...I work with two individuals who are diagnosed with

PICA disorder and that is their main diagnoses. I will get back to you...but

probably not until tomorrow some time.. there is some information on the web

about PICA that I printed out...I will get the address to you...Mental Health

Net has some information. I will write more later.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

If you are speaking of the eating of non-edibles, it is pica (not caps) and

is a word - may be suggestive of low Iron levels. Of course that doesn't

count in the psychotic ( and I would add the autistic as well).

I just had a child with severe pica moved from my house. I couldn't keep her

fom eating all the things she found to eat - plastic, african violets, sand

from the bottonm of the fish tank, etc. She did not have an iron deficiancy

but was autistic like and probably psychotic if one can be with an IQ of

about 20.

Sara

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In a message dated 2/1/01 7:09:21 AM Eastern Standard Time,

pastmidvale@... writes:

<< If you are speaking of the eating of non-edibles, it is pica (not caps)

and

is a word - may be suggestive of low Iron levels. Of course that doesn't

count in the psychotic ( and I would add the autistic as well).

I just had a child with severe pica moved from my house. I couldn't keep her

fom eating all the things she found to eat - plastic, african violets, sand

from the bottonm of the fish tank, etc. She did not have an iron deficiancy

but was autistic like and probably psychotic if one can be with an IQ of

about 20. >>

Yes Sara. I knew it wasn't an acronym, but thought maybe it was a shortened

word for something. Thanks.

The pica is one of the worst behaviors Maddie has. Living with 5 kids makes

it very difficult to watch over her. She loves hanging in the tv room and

her bedroom, but I have to make sure it's clear of things she'll eat. The

very second she comes in the door, she heads to the living room (candle

searching) and then the bathroom (soap hunting). I have one candle in the

living room and one in the dining room that I love, but when Maddie's home,

they go on top of the mantle. And it's funny, but there's a giant Winnie

the Pooh case in her bedroom full of crayons, markers and arts and crafts

stuff. But she doesn't know how to open it. In one sense, I'm glad her

fine motor skills aren't up to snuff.........sounds evil, but it keeps her

from doing things like that and from being able to open doors. HOwever, her

gross motor skills are TOO GOOD and that's why we're gated up everywhere!!

And why we had to get central air in our house-----she can reach the top of

the windows now, so even in the summer,they have to stay closed.

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/01 11:20:47 AM Eastern Standard Time, duffey48@...

writes:

<< The

very second she comes in the door, she heads to the living room (candle

searching) and then the bathroom (soap hunting). I have one candle in the

living room and one in the dining room that I love, but when Maddie's home,

they go on top of the mantle. >>

LOL Donna!!!!!! Sounds like our house!!!!!!! Seth chewed the cable cord off

today. Good thing we don't have cable anymore! He chewed it right off and

then handed it to me! LOL What a kid! Now he discovered the window sills.

Ohhhhhhhh how on earth to I keep him from eating them??????? This kid is

literaly eating us out of house and home. I find the pica harder than the

downs and autism put together.

Gail

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I don't know that their were two types of pica. okay now I understand that

their are two different types of pica.

The first type of pica, has to do with low iron level, right? And how is

it not edible, if its suggested for low iron levels?

How do you tell if a child has (or is on) pica?

From,

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In a message dated 2/4/01 10:57:32 PM Eastern Standard Time,

brink_00@... writes:

<< Donna,

I don't know that their were two types of pica. okay now I understand that

their are two different types of pica.

The first type of pica, has to do with low iron level, right? And how is

it not edible, if its suggested for low iron levels?

How do you tell if a child has (or is on) pica? >>

,

No, there are not two different kinds of pica. Only one, but one of the

reasons someone may develop pica is a low iron level. It is also seen a lot

in individuals with autism. A child with pica will crave to ingest

inappropriate things. For instance, while Maddie will eat many things she

shouldn't, she is obsessed with soap and candles. Searches the house for

them. Just today (Kept her home from school today since snow was

predicted-----Yep, we are getting it) I took her to Allie's school to do

lunch duty (they ended up closing her school so she's home now too) and

Maddie sat in the back of the classroom. She managed to find a little play

dough on the floor that I had to sift out of her mouth before she swallowed

it. It's really the worst to deal with.

Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna,

Okay their two types of pica, I got that I think. So thanks for

explaining it also.,

>

>,

> No, there are not two different kinds of pica. Only one, but one of

>the

>reasons someone may develop pica is a low iron level. It is also seen a

>lot

>in individuals with autism. A child with pica will crave to ingest

>inappropriate things. For instance, while Maddie will eat many things she

>shouldn't, she is obsessed with soap and candles. Searches the house for

>them. Just today (Kept her home from school today since snow was

>predicted-----Yep, we are getting it) I took her to Allie's school to do

>lunch duty (they ended up closing her school so she's home now too) and

>Maddie sat in the back of the classroom. She managed to find a little

>play

>dough on the floor that I had to sift out of her mouth before she swallowed

>it. It's really the worst to deal with.

>Donna

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