please support- am at end of my rope!

[Guest guest]

Kate,

First, understand I am not a medical person so take this for what it

is worth. However, the enzyme group has some guidelines that result

in a very high success rate.

I would look into a probiotic even if it is just acidophilus. People

need some good micro flora in the gut to help it get healthy.

Otherwise anytime you kill out bad stuff there is nothing to replace

it with or fill in the gaps except....other bad microbes! Think about

trying to take a weed patch and turn it into a lush lawn with the

requirment that you don't use lawn seed. Just how is the lawn

supposed to get going? If you are using SCD yogurt, that is good

because it has live cultures. If you aren't, consider an acidophilus

or other acceptable probiotic.

The trick is to start really low and slow. Healing is a nuturing

activity. We coax and guide new growth just as you do seedlings.

The second suggestion is to start an enzyme program. Even if you are

on a special diet, you need to be able to digest your special diet

food. You kids sound like they can use all the help they can get. I

would suggest looking at Carbo by Enzymedica. It is very low in

proteases and is often gentler on very injured guts. You can use a

very low protease enzyme product without giving up the enzyme action

of the other non-protease enzymes. Start this low and slow - like at

about 1/4 to 1/2 capsule per meal for a couple days. Slowly increase

to 1 full capsule at each meal and large snack. Do this for a couple

weeks and then you can try adding in proteases such as Peptizyde. It

is quite helpful to dose the proteases separately. Start the

Peptizyde slowly just as you do the Carbo. This stair-step method as

been quite successful in other cases such as yours where just about

any and every food causes problems.

I am sure others will have other food suggestions but these two ideas

can be used with any eating plan. The enzymes may help your kids eat

foods and minimize any reactions because they are basically pre-

digesting the food in the stomach. Then as the gut heals, you can

taper off enzymes if you wish, or continue with them for addition

healing. Feel free to write me if you want as this may be a bit off-

topic for this group. Or you can visit www.enzymestuff.com or join

the enzyme group.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/enzymesandautism/

Best to you!

.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Kate,

All of our hearts go out to you, and I think most of us have been exactly

where you are more than a few times. It can be hard, but the results are

worth it. One thing that has helped us deal with some of the melt downs and

die-off (including the crankines, etc ) are epsom salt baths. Our son could

literally be trying to rip of my head and screaming and fighting, but within

a few minutes in the tub, he would just miraculously return to his loving

self. The baths are a wonderful way to get out of the kitchen and spend

some time with the kids while they are in the tub. :-) It allows for

everyone to take some time off and relax. Dakota now asks for them when he

starts to fell " icky and flippity " as he calls it because he knows how much

better he feels after them.

We went through the intro diet for a long time--we still need to go back to

it regularly just because Dakota has many complex health issues. So, I do

know how hard this can be. Supplements helped us immensely (see pecanbread

website link for approved supplements). We always used them before, but

switching to SCD legal ones made a huge difference for us. I could also

sigh a little bit knowing that he was getting what he needed even on the

days that he could only swallow chicken broth and squash puree.

Jody has tons of tricks up her sleeve for getting kids to eat beyond the

intro diet without major problems. A few suggestions that worked for us is

squash and/or carrots and pineapple juice pureed and frozen. Anything made

into popsickle seems to go down easier. But, what foods have you been

adding? Have you added one at a time--this can help eliminate problem foods

or foods that they are not just ready for yet. I know you said that you

followed the stages--cooked, peeled, de-seeded. We started yogurt (only a

1/4 tsp. for us at first) every day followed by the epsom salt baths. This

worked well--eliminated the gas and cramping, and he now tolerates and loves

the yogurt. I spent a lot of time cooking muffins, breads, etc. and it did

get exhausting. I do not do this as much any more--I make one huge batch

once a week and then freeze them. This works well for us. List some former

favorite foods and those things that were craved prior to SCD, and all of us

can try to offer suggestions on easy things to try.

Hang in there--it does get better. It took a long time for Dakota to show

progress, and I would get discouraged. But, he is now doing SO much better

and I am so glad that I stuck with it. It has given us back our loving

little boy.

whole family SCD

Mom to Dakota (7--NF, BWS, CDD with seizure activity; GFCF 3+ years; SCD 1+

year)

and (4--healthy, loving, supportive little brother)