2 questions on diagnostic tests...

[Guest guest]

1) What type of thyroid tests should be done? My son's neuro has

ordered a TSH and Free T4. I personally see an endocrinologist due

to hyperthyroidism with goiter (I have had it since my pregnancy with

my son), and when I have my blood work, he always includes some kind

of T3 test (usually Total T3). My son (Evan) is scheduled for this

blood work, along with a CBC and MRI, EEG and BAER tests. Should I

ask about testing his T3?

2) I have been giving Evan Omega-3 fish oil for the past 3-4 weeks

and seen great improvement in his focus and socialization...no

talking yet, but definitely some purposeful vocalizations. The neuro

saw him back in October, and, based on his exam and interview with

me, he suspected PDD but did not rule out apraxia. Evan is somewhat

hypotonic (he " w-sits " and does feel " solid " but doesn't really tire

easily). No sensory issues that I can really see...he doesn't eat as

much variety as I'd like but he does seem to try more things than my

6-yo used to try at his age (25 months)...definitely no vestibular or

tactile sensitivities (if anything he *might* be a slightly

undersensitive). He does tend to enjoy making lots of noise, so I

suppose there could be some auditory hyposensitivity??? However, I'm

not sure that he tries to be noisier than any other 2 yo. I have not

noticed any stimming behavior...no head-banging or anything like

that. He really only cries/gets mad when I try to have him do

something that he doesn't want to do. Sorry to ramble...just wanted

to give a little background on why I don't really think he's got

PDD. My real question is, do I *have* to take him off of fish oil

until he has an official diagnosis? It seems to be helping enough

that I really don't want him to regress, but he is still quite

delayed and it's not like he's started speaking or anything. All

that the Omega-3 has really done is improve his socialization/eye-

contact/focus/etc. I will not start the Pro-EFA until at least after

his tests are done. I just don't want to waste time waiting for a

diagnosis when that could take until age 3 if he really does have

PDD. I have felt so much better about his situation ever since

starting the fish oil...it would be heart-breaking to have to watch

him regress:-(

Thanks,

Laurel, mom to Evan (25 mo, Pierre Robin Sequence, cleft repaired

with fistula remaining, 2nd set of tubes, expressive and receptive

language delays [both were at about 15 months at last testing])

[Guest guest]

Laurel,

I really believe in the combination of fish oil and borage oil (which contains

GLA); that combination has opened up my son's mind. I also like what B6 (with a

B complex) and magnesium does. Although, my son has not been diagnosised with

any ASD, he has a weird combination of symptoms. If he is not on our

sugar-free, dye-free natural diet and his oils he is an emotional reck and

cannot seem to communicate properly. He sobs almost nonspot for no reason.

When we lived in Ottawa, Ontario Canada, these emotional outburst had to be

controlled with the B6/ magnesium combination. When we moved to another part of

the province he still needed the oils.

Hope this helps.

Shalom,

Lynn