What recovered from autism really means?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

People everywhere talk about how different treatments can help children recover

from autism. I have even seen many people say that their children are

recovered. When I see their children and compared them to my son, my son is

doing much better and I don't consider my son recovered yet. So I'm confused...

I really want to know what " recovered " really means. I would really like people

to be able to measure improvements by using the same metrics " measuring stick " .

For me the meaning of recovered is being able to be independent in life,

happy, have friends, be successful in school, be able to find a job and keep

it(not be an expense to this country), be a confident person and most important

be 100% healthy.

In your opinion, what recovered means to you?

JR

[Guest guest]

-Hi JR. that is a great definition of " recovered " .

I too feel it is being able to function without supports in everyday life. My

son is " recovered " (thanks to Dr. JM!)and for him there will always possibly be

gut issues that trigger behaviors and some ADHD type issues when gut is not

doing well... but he has been without supports in school for years and is on

grade level, has friends, goes to bday parties, talks a mile a minute (had NO

words until he was over 2.5 years old) and swims, is starting to read, etc. He

is behind in some areas slightly such as math skills which are so reliant on

developmental level... this due to the time lost developmentally while sick but

is basically on target in all areas. FWIW, there have been times when I had him

on absolutely no supplements since his diagnosis was removed.. for about 2

years. We now take supplements and resumed diet and we treat gut as needed. I do

not think he would be back on the spectrum if I stopped all these interventions

since I have done so before but I think he is better off if I support him with

diet and supplements. My son was tested with ADOS at time of diagnosis and

retested later and made perfect score to everyone's surprise when his diagnosis

was removed so from the standpoint of the testing.. he was recovered but I

really do feel that there will be some issues with many children for life. I

hate to say that but I think for those whose immune systems and brains were

affected and also guts affcted that they can " recover " and function fully in

mainstream world in many cases but there may always be some health issues that

have to be addressed. Just my .02 from seeing my son and other " recovered "

children that we know. When people see my son they have no idea he was ever on

the spectrum unless he is having a gut flare and behaviors are challenging but

that is pretty well controlled most of the time now and even at those times

people tell me he just looks like a typical little boy.. but one in my book who

has some impulse and " good manners " issues! We have also treated ADHD at

times and he responded well. So.. I agree with your great definition of

" recovered " and think it may have different meanings for different people .. for

us it is being able to function in mainsteam situations without supports and

being able to develop relationships with others and enjoy life.

Best Wishes,

-- In csb-autism-rx , " "

wrote:

>

> Hi all,

> People everywhere talk about how different treatments can help children

recover from autism. I have even seen many people say that their children are

recovered. When I see their children and compared them to my son, my son is

doing much better and I don't consider my son recovered yet. So I'm confused...

I really want to know what " recovered " really means. I would really like people

to be able to measure improvements by using the same metrics " measuring stick " .

>

> For me the meaning of recovered is being able to be independent in life,

> happy, have friends, be successful in school, be able to find a job and keep

it(not be an expense to this country), be a confident person and most important

be 100% healthy.

>

> In your opinion, what recovered means to you?

>

> JR

>

[Guest guest]

When I hear the word " recovered " I always wonder what exactly the person saying

it deeems as recovered. I guess losing the ASD diagnosis is one way to define

it, but to me " recovered " would mean being able to function in day-to-day

society without assistance (or no more assistance than any other child of the

same age) and not having anyone notice a difference. However, I think a lot of

people use the term very loosely. I'm glad you brought this up because I often

think the same thing.

>

> Hi all,

> People everywhere talk about how different treatments can help children

recover from autism. I have even seen many people say that their children are

recovered. When I see their children and compared them to my son, my son is

doing much better and I don't consider my son recovered yet. So I'm confused...

I really want to know what " recovered " really means. I would really like people

to be able to measure improvements by using the same metrics " measuring stick " .

>

> For me the meaning of recovered is being able to be independent in life,

> happy, have friends, be successful in school, be able to find a job and keep

it(not be an expense to this country), be a confident person and most important

be 100% healthy.

>

> In your opinion, what recovered means to you?

>

> JR

>

[Guest guest]

I have a little bit different perspective on healing autism and

" recovered " than most of the people on this group because we are pursing

our path differently. We are using homeopathy and are controlling our

diets fairly well, but not completely. Our son is now allowed small

amounts of wheat, and I do not worry about small infractions such as soy

sauce and the like.

I believe that our son's issues were caused by an ongoing infection

that I had while pregnant with him which went undetected throughout the

pregnancy. The infection remained undetected (despite routine testing

with numerous in vitros) until four years later when I went to see a

reproductive pathologist who uncovered five underlying infections, four

of which were not caught previously.

Our son was diagnosed with HFA and SID. He was in my opinion at most a

mildly autistic boy, but there was no denying the social, motor delays

and sensory sensitivities he was dealing with. He also was very hyper

and I think in the hands of a different psychologist, would have been

diagnosed ADHD and possibly ODD.

He occasionally has some remaining reminders of his previous

difficulties, especially if he eats wheat or dyed food (licorice is the

worst). With big infractions, I notice dark circles under his eyes,

speech slowing and even slurring, some sensory sensitivities such as

touch aversions, and outbursts of oppositionality and tantruming.

I believe our son's key to wellness lies in dealing with the infections

to which he was exposed in utero. I realize this view is not

mainstream, but it reflects the perspective of the reproductive

immunologist we saw, a great deal of epidemiological evidence from his

lab over the years, and also corroborating evidence in symptoms in the

my immediate family and that of my husband's.

In dealing with long-term tough systemic infections, I no longer have

tremendous faith in antibiotics. This is due to the fact that the

doctor we worked with finds the infections in his patients, but is only

able to cure some of them with his massive (10 days IV and 2-3

months--depending on what your liver can take-- oral) antibiotic

protocol. Also, after our own treatment which was very encouraging at

the outset, many symptoms returned. In addition, we have seen much

greater results and reversal of symptoms through homeopathy. Homeopaths

view antibiotics as damaging, and I have come to appreciate this point

of view from the homeopath's perspective.

I do appreciate the power of good nutrition in healing underlying

infections, and wish to continue to improve our own nutrition as a means

to assist the healing. I also appreciate the need to avoid foods which

are injuring the gut in most of our children. But for us the most

powerful weapon in our arsenal is homeopathy. With homeopathy we have

found remedies that by themselves will counter the effects of a piece of

licorice, that will take my son from impossible to compliant, that will

turn my son from shying away from challenges to challenging himself,

that take him from refusing any help and being unable to focus, to

accepting and giving help and being available for learning.

Last year our son did a sp ed preK year, and a ton of therapies. This

year our son went through a mainstream kindergarten and fit right in.

He is still doing OT and speech. He has friends, is very outgoing, and

is doing very well academically. He even enjoys writing now--at least

he did before summer started!

I believe we can heal our son's underlying infections and get him

completely and truly well. I hope that he will be able to eat " regular "

food but also hope he will choose to eat the best wholesome foods

available to him. I think we can heal him completely and are well on

our way.

I am an optimist. I cannot approach health issues any other way.

www.relentlesspursuitofhealth.com

wrote: Hi all,

People everywhere talk about how different treatments can help children

recover from autism. I have even seen many people say that their

children are recovered. When I see their children and compared them to

my son, my son is doing much better and I don't consider my son

recovered yet. So I'm confused... I really want to know what " recovered "

really means. I would really like people to be able to measure

improvements by using the same metrics " measuring stick " .

For me the meaning of recovered is being able to be independent in life,

happy, have friends, be successful in school, be able to find a job and

keep it(not be an expense to this country), be a confident person and

most important be 100% healthy.

In your opinion, what recovered means to you?

JR