Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Dr. McCandless, I was just wondering if you had any ideas for constant stimming causes other than yeast. My son has always stimmed and I use to think it was yeast related even when our tests indicated no yeast. I'm beginning to think it must be something else after all these years. We're currently trying nystatin(previously used many months of diflucan), candex,theralac,threelac,digestive enzymes,gse and soon to rotate to ampho B. Should we not see any changes in stims, can you suggest any other things to try/tests? We've never tested amino acids but I don't know if an imbalance would cause constant stimming. We were strictly on the diet(own pots/pans/utensils,etc) for 2.5 yrs when he was younger but still battled stims. We've chelated for 1.5 yrs approx 2 years ago as well(dmsa/la). Any other ideas are appreciated. Thanks so much. Eileen( 8yo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 " Stimming " or self-stimulation is a serious problem for many of our children, and is their way to try to self-regulate to handle their world. Chemical imbalances of many sorts are contributory, as I've had kids get better or worse when certain nutrients are added, taken away, increased, etc. Deficient minerals certainly can play a role, as adequate zinc has helped many kids decrease or stop their stimming; also calcium and magnesium. Mercury poisoning itself prevents many important metabolic functions from operating properly (for instance, mercury knocks out methionine synthase and prevents the essential methylcobalamin from entering the brain cells) and is undoubtedly a source of chronic chemical derangement that contributes to stimming and other autistic symptoms. The often-noted increase in stimming with yeast and bacteria and abrupt cessation with adequate treatment definitely indicates that gut infection can play a role. It's a challenging problem as I can give one child, for example, P5P+Mag and it will stop their stimming, and I can give it to another who will start stimming on it. Each child is a bio-chemical universe unto him/herself, and must be assessed independently. I happen to feel basically stimming is a way to handle anxiety, and our world is extremely confusing and frightening to our children. One of the most important tests I feel is the 40-Amino Acid assessment (I use Meta-Metrix only for this) as the neurotransmitter precursor level can tell you a lot about what may be going on. If you are able to do some testing, I would suggest the MetaMetrix ION (Individual Optimum Nutrition) test: It checks Amino Acids, Homocysteine, RBC Minerals, Vitamin Panel, Fatty Acids, and Orgainic Acids. It is a world of information and would be the 2nd place to start to get the kids well; the 1st would be a religiously adhered to restricted diet with no refined sugar, followed by a 90-food IgG test every 4-6 months to see what may still be inflaming the gut. Until gut inflammation is addressed and taken care of, it will be almost impossible for our kids to absorb and digest the proper nutrients for good brain balance, thus the need for large doses of vitamins and minerals and the problems of dosing, getting them down, etc. After I say all that, there are still some children who will continue stimming, meaning we have not yet found the proper nutritional balance, or there is ongoing heavy metal toxicity that has not been handled, or they got such a heavy dose of damage that the injuries persist in spite of all our efforts. These are the kids who may need some of the prescription psychotropics like SSRI's or anti-convulsants to help them manage their anxiety/stimming/acting out behavior, though I personally feel everything else ought to be tried first. Dr. JM Dr. McC stims/ideas > Dr. McCandless, > I was just wondering if you had any ideas for constant stimming > causes other than yeast. My son has always stimmed and I use to think > it was yeast related even when our tests indicated no yeast. I'm > beginning to think it must be something else after all these years. > We're currently trying nystatin(previously used many months of > diflucan), candex,theralac,threelac,digestive enzymes,gse and soon to > rotate to ampho B. Should we not see any changes in stims, can you > suggest any other things to try/tests? We've never tested amino acids > but I don't know if an imbalance would cause constant stimming. We > were strictly on the diet(own pots/pans/utensils,etc) for 2.5 yrs > when he was younger but still battled stims. We've chelated for 1.5 > yrs approx 2 years ago as well(dmsa/la). Any other ideas are > appreciated. Thanks so much. > Eileen( 8yo) > > > > > Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at <http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 I want to add a few words in support of Jaquelyn's comments on the " binding anxiety aspect of stimming. " My experience with Chelsey fully confirms this. Moreover, I can often tell something about the flavor of the anxiety by the particular form of stimming (finger sucking, repeated words, screaming, finger flicking, etc.) The anxiety has two parts: her basic emotional state at the moment and the inability to express it verbally. Stimming is a language unto itself. Apart from the biomedical treatment of the situation, I have found it important to learn this language and then ask her to tell me in words what she is feeling. Sometimes, even when she doesn't give me anything that could be called a direct answer, I feel she gets it. Over time, I trust she will convert some of her stimming into words. If I want her to learn my language, it seems only fair that I learn hers. Jack Jaquelyn McCandless wrote: " Stimming " or self-stimulation is a serious problem for many of our children, and is their way to try to self-regulate to handle their world. Chemical imbalances of many sorts are contributory, as I've had kids get better or worse when certain nutrients are added, taken away, increased, etc. Deficient minerals certainly can play a role, as adequate zinc has helped many kids decrease or stop their stimming; also calcium and magnesium. Mercury poisoning itself prevents many important metabolic functions from operating properly (for instance, mercury knocks out methionine synthase and prevents the essential methylcobalamin from entering the brain cells) and is undoubtedly a source of chronic chemical derangement that contributes to stimming and other autistic symptoms. The often-noted increase in stimming with yeast and bacteria and abrupt cessation with adequate treatment definitely indicates that gut infection can play a role. It's a challenging problem as I can give one child, for example, P5P+Mag and it will stop their stimming, and I can give it to another who will start stimming on it. Each child is a bio-chemical universe unto him/herself, and must be assessed independently. I happen to feel basically stimming is a way to handle anxiety, and our world is extremely confusing and frightening to our children. One of the most important tests I feel is the 40-Amino Acid assessment (I use Meta-Metrix only for this) as the neurotransmitter precursor level can tell you a lot about what may be going on. If you are able to do some testing, I would suggest the MetaMetrix ION (Individual Optimum Nutrition) test: It checks Amino Acids, Homocysteine, RBC Minerals, Vitamin Panel, Fatty Acids, and Orgainic Acids. It is a world of information and would be the 2nd place to start to get the kids well; the 1st would be a religiously adhered to restricted diet with no refined sugar, followed by a 90-food IgG test every 4-6 months to see what may still be inflaming the gut. Until gut inflammation is addressed and taken care of, it will be almost impossible for our kids to absorb and digest the proper nutrients for good brain balance, thus the need for large doses of vitamins and minerals and the problems of dosing, getting them down, etc. After I say all that, there are still some children who will continue stimming, meaning we have not yet found the proper nutritional balance, or there is ongoing heavy metal toxicity that has not been handled, or they got such a heavy dose of damage that the injuries persist in spite of all our efforts. These are the kids who may need some of the prescription psychotropics like SSRI's or anti-convulsants to help them manage their anxiety/stimming/acting out behavior, though I personally feel everything else ought to be tried first. Dr. JM Dr. McC stims/ideas > Dr. McCandless, > I was just wondering if you had any ideas for constant stimming > causes other than yeast. My son has always stimmed and I use to think > it was yeast related even when our tests indicated no yeast. I'm > beginning to think it must be something else after all these years. > We're currently trying nystatin(previously used many months of > diflucan), candex,theralac,threelac,digestive enzymes,gse and soon to > rotate to ampho B. Should we not see any changes in stims, can you > suggest any other things to try/tests? We've never tested amino acids > but I don't know if an imbalance would cause constant stimming. We > were strictly on the diet(own pots/pans/utensils,etc) for 2.5 yrs > when he was younger but still battled stims. We've chelated for 1.5 > yrs approx 2 years ago as well(dmsa/la). Any other ideas are > appreciated. Thanks so much. > Eileen( 8yo) > > > > > Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at <http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 I really love your comment on learning their language...my son 7 years old also has difficulties in expressing...i found some answers when joining a what to do with brain injured children course in your country, in Philladelphia...the lecturer said : there is no connection between brain injured (they put autism in this category too) and intelectual ability, but there is a huge connection with their ability to express...i found their way of giving 4 words a choices so they can point ...(but we hold their hands and we feel where the hands heading)...seems to be very fair with them...he is less frustrated...and other things like their program (crawling, creeping, patterning, masking)...it really turn our kids to be less stimmy...4 months ago he was just like craving for vestibular and so pica..but after doing those things...it decrease alot...but we do all dr. Mc Candless and DAN! way as the very basic....if anyone interested...iahp.org...they also now taking care of hyperactive and disorganized child....above all...to love means looking throught our eyes of love...to understand more...good luck everyone... Nia Tanjung - Indonesia Jack Zimmerman wrote: >I want to add a few words in support of Jaquelyn's comments on the " binding anxiety aspect of stimming. " My experience with Chelsey fully confirms this. Moreover, I can often tell something about the flavor of the anxiety by the particular form of stimming (finger sucking, repeated words, screaming, finger flicking, etc.) The anxiety has two parts: her basic emotional state at the moment and the inability to express it verbally. Stimming is a language unto itself. Apart from the biomedical treatment of the situation, I have found it important to learn this language and then ask her to tell me in words what she is feeling. Sometimes, even when she doesn't give me anything that could be called a direct answer, I feel she gets it. Over time, I trust she will convert some of her stimming into words. If I want her to learn my language, it seems only fair that I learn hers. > >Jack > >Jaquelyn McCandless wrote: > " Stimming " or self-stimulation is a serious problem for many of our >children, and is their way to try to self-regulate to handle their world. >Chemical imbalances of many sorts are contributory, as I've had kids get >better or worse when certain nutrients are added, taken away, increased, >etc. Deficient minerals certainly can play a role, as adequate zinc has >helped many kids decrease or stop their stimming; also calcium and >magnesium. Mercury poisoning itself prevents many important metabolic >functions from operating properly (for instance, mercury knocks out >methionine synthase and prevents the essential methylcobalamin from entering >the brain cells) and is undoubtedly a source of chronic chemical derangement >that contributes to stimming and other autistic symptoms. The often-noted >increase in stimming with yeast and bacteria and abrupt cessation with >adequate treatment definitely indicates that gut infection can play a role. > >It's a challenging problem as I can give one child, for example, P5P+Mag and >it will stop their stimming, and I can give it to another who will start >stimming on it. Each child is a bio-chemical universe unto him/herself, and >must be assessed independently. I happen to feel basically stimming is a >way to handle anxiety, and our world is extremely confusing and frightening >to our children. One of the most important tests I feel is the 40-Amino >Acid assessment (I use Meta-Metrix only for this) as the neurotransmitter >precursor level can tell you a lot about what may be going on. If you are >able to do some testing, I would suggest the MetaMetrix ION (Individual >Optimum Nutrition) test: It checks Amino Acids, Homocysteine, RBC Minerals, >Vitamin Panel, Fatty Acids, and Orgainic Acids. It is a world of >information and would be the 2nd place to start to get the kids well; the >1st would be a religiously adhered to restricted diet with no refined sugar, >followed by a 90-food IgG test every 4-6 months to see what may still be >inflaming the gut. Until gut inflammation is addressed and taken care of, it >will be almost impossible for our kids to absorb and digest the proper >nutrients for good brain balance, thus the need for large doses of vitamins >and minerals and the problems of dosing, getting them down, etc. After I >say all that, there are still some children who will continue stimming, >meaning we have not yet found the proper nutritional balance, or there is >ongoing heavy metal toxicity that has not been handled, or they got such a >heavy dose of damage that the injuries persist in spite of all our efforts. >These are the kids who may need some of the prescription psychotropics like >SSRI's or anti-convulsants to help them manage their anxiety/stimming/acting >out behavior, though I personally feel everything else ought to be tried >first. Dr. JM Dr. McC stims/ideas > > > > >>Dr. McCandless, >>I was just wondering if you had any ideas for constant stimming >>causes other than yeast. My son has always stimmed and I use to think >>it was yeast related even when our tests indicated no yeast. I'm >>beginning to think it must be something else after all these years. >>We're currently trying nystatin(previously used many months of >>diflucan), candex,theralac,threelac,digestive enzymes,gse and soon to >>rotate to ampho B. Should we not see any changes in stims, can you >>suggest any other things to try/tests? We've never tested amino acids >>but I don't know if an imbalance would cause constant stimming. We >>were strictly on the diet(own pots/pans/utensils,etc) for 2.5 yrs >>when he was younger but still battled stims. We've chelated for 1.5 >>yrs approx 2 years ago as well(dmsa/la). Any other ideas are >>appreciated. Thanks so much. >>Eileen( 8yo) >> >> >> >> >>Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at >> >> ><http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com> > > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.