Slow-Motion Miracle: One Boy's Journey Out of Autism's Grasp

[HuckleB]

Slow-Motion Miracle: One Boy's Journey Out of Autism's Grasp

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/education/29autism.html

"Six years ago, my son James fell down a well, and he's still climbing out. James has autism. He is one of 150,000 or more American children classified in the last decade as having the once-rare disorder, including 25,000 in 2003. Half a century ago, polio epidemics left perhaps 5,000 children a year with some degree of disability, and the sight of children stricken overnight galvanized the nation. But autism's arrival, and the response to it, has not been so dramatic.

In James's case, a bubbling 2-year-old who loved "mashed totatoes" and sword-fighting faded away. In his place was a nearly silent, unhappy child who repeated meaningless phrases, lay on the floor squinting or pulled cowboy boots on and off until his feet were raw. Every day he fell a little further out of the world.

But one recent afternoon James sat at our kitchen table with his best friend, Larry, goofing off instead of doing homework. They made dumb jokes and gossiped about their "girlfriends" at their school, just up the street. It's hard for me to explain how many dreams-come-true are reflected in that one sentence.

James's journey is by no means over. He still has significant problems with reading comprehension, math, attention and social skills. He gets stuck on favorite subjects - though this year, the Yankees, thankfully, replaced the War of 1812. He can sound as if he is speaking a second language, with the halts and mangling of idioms that implies. With his peers, he hovers at the border of acceptance.

..."

--------------------

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Great article, great series..... hope it's not the last.

The Times has published a great series over the last couple of weeks about autism.

I work in the field... a field famous for quackery and confusion, among many other obstacles. The series sorted out a lot of stuff for me. Educational system in NYC has no clue about how to deal w. autism nor train teachers to do so.

I'm clipping the articles to post on our bulletin board after the vacation ; it's INFINITELY more useful than anything the system provides... and the system provides MOUNTAINS of ( largely unreadable... because it's poorly written...) material on autism and related disorders.

[1monster]

3. I've subbed several times in a class for autistic high schoolers and there

is almost no instruction going on in those classes. They have things they are to do, but it is more like day care than school. There is no one on one teaching that goes on for more than fifteen minutes at a time... I doubt that the teacher or the aides have any real idea on how to teach the kids.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. That's the rule... not the exception.

Welcome to the school system.

[DianeG5385]

5. Parents need to object to this

I had to change classes for my autistic son when I felt there was no teaching going on and they were merely trying to keep him under control. The magic happened for him when, in his new class he was required to sit at a regular school desk and follow the Edmark teaching program. He had a schedule, a calendar learned the days of the week, basic math, money, can read simple sentences can identify many words and had been essentially put in a highly structured environment which enabled him to progress. It also helped him feel like he had some control over his environment and he became much more manageable. It gave him PRIDE!

It is extremely difficult to find a good program for such kids, the teachers work hard to maintain order and parents of regular kids resent the money spent on them I've heard it with my own ears! They are not treated as a "permanent" part of the school and are often arbitrarily passed from school to school which is the worst for an autistic child. Lawrence has been at middle school for two years and at the beginning of the first year it was clear that his teacher had no knowledge of how to put a program together for him so he objected by running from the classroom.

My niece who is a classroom aide for autistic kids and had worked with Lawrence the previous three years was being "faded" from Lawrence because they thoght he was too dependent on her presence. Big mistake! Well out of desperation they brought her back and she essentially trained the staff on how to deal with autistic kids. She is amazing and has helped others besides my son!

You have to stay on top of their educational program and insist that they stretch and challenge your child to see how far they can go. This is done gently by gradually introducing new things and allow them to get a little frustrated, then retreating back a bit. Once they get something new it's so cool! My son, once completely mute, is now a chatterbox, but almost impossible to understand unless you know him well and understand his idiosyncratic speech. Our goal now is to slow him down and work on his articulation. There is stuff in that little mind that wants out, we need to help him. He is VERY autistic but I'm grateful for how far he has come!

[Smarmie Doofus]

20. Edmark! I love that company....

they have a great program for teaching non-readers to read that... dare I say it... really works. Used it for a number of years with MR kids but it's good for all sorts of problems. Also used to be a good website for free downloads.

Yes... "nobody" seems to want autistic kids, or at least it seems that way sometimes. But they don't realize that there are HUGE differences in behavior, potential, social characteristics, etc. among autistics themselves. So in a way, the term itself is rather misleading and does kids with potential a disservice.

Lawrence is a lucky kid, judging from this and the post below.

Best of luck the rest of the way.

[DianeG5385]

24. Edmark is great! It taught him to recognize words

and he just flies through the lessons now. Once he got it. It was a huge struggle at first to get him to try because I think it was so hard for him. But patience and persistence and a little success warmed him to it. Now he can read simple sentences and sits and reads magazines at home, but refuses to tell you what he reads and will stop if you press him too much. I give him a Martha Stuart Living and off he goes! He has made a distinction between what he does at home and at school. School is definitely for academics and home is for fun and relaxation he doesn't like to mix them.

[cornermouse]

18. I've found that your location (state and school system)

can make all the difference. Some are only interested in babysitting, but others really do make an effort to do as much as possible. We settled in a school district that was very oriented to teaching our kids. The school district in the next town could not have cared less about their disabled. You just have to get out there and interview/talk to the special ed. director and teachers.

[Dancing_Dave]

12. You are true Hero!

I worked with a number of autistic kids at the Children's Aid Society of New York camp for handicapped kids. I know it ain't easy! :yourock:

[InvisibleBallots]

2. "once-rare disorder"

I remember a SJMN article about how autism is becoming common in Silicon Valley. It was speculated that many highly intelligent people have the genetics necessary to spread autism to their kids, and all these highly intelligent people were breeding with each other, making autism more prevalent. Tragic, but fascinating.

[ORprogressive]

6. wait.....

Autism spread by genetics? That's a smoke screen. There evidence suggesting a link between the vaccine Thimerosal and autism. The issue was over high mercury levels in some batches, I believe. The Dept of HHS researched and sealed the file.

This has affected my family.

[tavalon]

7. I was going to respond to the above poster who has one piece of the puzzle

You,however have a much bigger piece of the puzzle. After two years of passionate research borne out of my medical knowledge I know the biggest and the smallest players in this effective genocide of potential. I lost my faith in the NIH, CDC and the IOM during that little journey. My belief in what the AMA represented was reorganized in my mind and they became a far less benevolent agency to me.

We were well on the way to cracking the coverup when the Bush administration came along. We are much further behind thanks to their preference for absolute opacity whenever possible.

What they did was an honest mistake that coat thousands of children their future as productive, happy citizens. Then they covered it up and in the covering up they felt they had to continue with the policies that were poisoning these children because otherwise they would be exposed and the vaccine programmes would be in jeapordy. It's from the point when they knew and started spending money, massive amounts of money to keep us from learning what they did that they because criminals and murderers.

This is a quick synopsis of this henious thing that was perpetrated and may well have been gotten away with.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. So are the vaccines still the same?

Or have they changed them?

[tavalon]

34. Luckily

for the most part, they are not, they no longer have thimerosal. The CDC and the NIH took they're everlovin sweet time on that one! Unfortunately, much of the flu vaccine that they've been pushing on pregnant women still has the full dose of thimerosal. Sheesh, send that mercury straight to the placenta, why don't you!?

[InvisibleBallots]

9. I've read that Asperger's is genetic?

I don't know anything about it other than reading a few articles. :shrug:

I have family that seems to fit the profile of Aspergers, but it would be a very mild case if so.

[UpInArms]

10. here's where Eli Lily got their "get our of jail free" card

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/HSA_RoAPS.html

excerpt:

The Cure Autism Now Foundation noted on their website that, "In an eleventh hour maneuver, the House suddenly amended the Homeland Security Act with a rider that makes it impossible for families who believe their children were neurologically damaged by non-essential mercury based additives in vaccines to sue for civil damages --- even in cases of fraud or criminal negligence." <20>

Parents Requesting open Vaccine Education (PROVE) and The Connecticut Vaccine Information Alliance (CTVIA) state that not only does the Act "let drug giant Eli Lily off the hook for thimerosal based vaccine induced injuries and deaths," but there are "no personal, religious, or medical exemptions" for the forced smallpox vaccinations, if the authority is exercised, and "no guarantees for humane quarantine laws." <21>

...more...

inserted by Dick Armey - former GOP slime rep from Texas

:argh:

[Dancing_Dave]

15. That is totally nauseating!

:puke:

When are people in this country going to wake up?

[Midlodemocrat]

11. I think the link between thimerasol and autism

has been disproven. I had recently read some interesting journal articles about a link between autism and processed foods. My sister in law has a niece with severe autism, so we are always looking for a way to help/reach her. I had also read some encouraging information about putting a child on the Feingold diet, which apparently reduced some symptoms in some children.

[phylny]

31. There is definitely a genetic piece to the autism puzzle.

It's possible that something else in the environment is aggravating it, but having worked with many kids with autism, many of them have a sibling, cousin, or parent who are also on the spectrum.

[EFerrari]

37. Yep. My mother in law and my husband both have IQs over 150

and are both somewhat autistic. Both very high functioning Aspies, I think. And because of their intelligence, no one noticed.

[Demeter]

8. To Speak of "Cure" Is Cruel as Well As Inaccurate

One doesn't recover from autism; one learns coping skills, compensation techniques, and how to game the system to get some protection from an uncaring and ignorant world. The real differences of those afflicted are structural, organic, subtle, genetic, and almost completely unknown at this point.

If a high-functioning person doesn't want therapy, then he is free to go without--there are no laws to coerce him.

But for those who are fighting for a chance to have some connection with everyone else, there is a great need for support in all forms.

I have read about the mercury poisoning theory--but my child was affected at birth, had anyone known what to look for. And it is true that with geeks marrying each other, the rate of autistism has climbed. But in the last 4 years we've had multiple changes: it could be the Pill, or marijuana, or some other environmental trigger, coupled with a genetic suseptibility.

[Shiraz]

13. Fragile X Syndrome

is the genetic component in my son's autism.

[Mr_Spock]

29. I'm getting a bit tired of this word "cure" associated with these articles

That and the word "defect" to describe a person who thinks and communicates differently. It's sickening to me. My child was born with her processor fully programmed for this "geek" type of thinking. It was pretty obvious after 1 year. The genetics also seem so obvious to me, but so many people want to just put people into the "normal" and "abnormal" boxes only. Forget about having individual personalities or "tendencies", everybody wants to be "normal" in this world so don't expect them to help out with the oddballs and freaks in the family.

[phylny]

32. Many parents of children I work/have worked with have said

the same thing. Many knew "right away" or "looking back" at their infants that "something wasn't right."

One mother of a boy with PDD said that she could tell in the womb and thought her son would be born with mental retardation because of how little he moved and acted while she was pregnant.

Anecdotal, to be sure, but info nonetheless.

[HuckleB]

39. It would be interesting to study with home videos.

Research has been done using home videos of people who later "developed" schizophrenia. Reportedly, they grew up without anyone noticing anything different about them compared to other children. Yet, a variety of test subjects, with a variety of developmental and psychiatric knowledge (meaning none to professional level) have watched home videos and picked out the child who later developed schizophrenia as the child where "something wasn't right." Anyway, it would be interesting to do similar studies with children who reportedly developed Autism at two or three years of age.

[adadem]

14. We could have

written that piece. Our 14 year old with autism is now doing great but we shudder to think of what would have happened if we had not moved to Michigan and found the perfect school for him.

We shouldn't have had to move, sell our house at a loss, sell my husband's business and start all over again because the vast majority of states have no clue about educating autistic children.

We were lucky...few parents are and those who are have certainly fought a major battle with the school districts and government.

[DianeG5385]

16. I am fortunate to live in Northern Calif.

where we were able to craft a very good program for Lawrence. I was fearful when he was at his worst that he could never take care of himself or be educated. There is so much trapped inside of autistic kids and alot of their frustration comes from their inability to communicate effectively. The biggest difference has been his increasing verbal abiltities. He's much more able to let you know what he wants. He also selects his own clothes, is trying to cook his own food in the micro (when he thinks no one is looking!)and is a great caretaker of his dog, Scout. Every accomplishment is acknowledged with yays and good job! He is very sensitive and blushes easily so we don't overdo it but he loves being praised!

The other day, I went to run an errand and he assumed I went to the grocery store. When I returned, he rushed out to the car saying "help please, help please"? His way of saying I'll get the groceries. I just said thanks, but no groceries today! I love it when he is ready to be so helpful!

[DianeG5385]

17. I have to say that I am blown away by the number of people

on DU with autistic kids or working with autistic kids. There is an explosion of autism spectrum disorders and we need to discover why. I don't think the gov't knows either, but I wish they wouldn't protect the big pharmas from investigation so we can know the truth. It's as if they could care less and are more interested in protecting corporate interests. Sickos!

[KamaAina]

19. Don't forget us DUers with autism

there are quite a few of us running around loose over here :-) although I, for one, would never describe myself as "journeying out of autism's grasp" :puke:

[DianeG5385]

22. I'm glad to meet and sorry for the oversight!

I hope each and every day brings additional accomplishment for Lawrence and that one day he can chat online although he has absolutely zero interest in computers or videogames unlike other autistic kids. He does, however, love to watch the Home Shopping Channel late at night with his dog by his side. The first time I saw this I nearly fell out of my shoes laughing but it was sooo him!

He likes to pick my clothes out for me too!

[David Zephyr]

23. Wonderful Article, HuckleB. Thanks!

:)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

25. Resources I have collected.....

www.hriptc.org

http://www.autism.org/vitb6.html
All 18 studies known to me in which vitamin B6 has been evaluated as a treatment for autistic children have provided positive results. This is a rather remarkable record, since the many drugs that have been evaluated as treatments for autism have produced very inconsistent results. If a drug shows positive results in about half of the evaluation studies, it is considered a success and the drug is then advocated for use with autistic patients. However, despite the remarkably consistent findings in the research on the use of vitamin B6 in the treatment of autism, and despite its being immeasurably safer than any of the drugs used for autistic children, there are at present very few practitioners who use it or advocate its use in the treatment of autism.

Dairy and autism:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067163265...

From Publishers Weekly
When Callahan's son Tony was diagnosed as autistic at age two, she struggled to understand the conditionabout which little is knownand worked tirelessly to help him improve. Her story takes us through Tony's early years, which included many bouts of screaming for nine hours at a time, head-banging, staring and generally nonresponsive behavior. This account about raising a difficult handicapped child stands out because of its honesty in discussing often ugly feelings. Callahan and her husband experienced extreme guilt, anger and shame, and for one harrowing moment they contemplated killing the boy. By age five, Tony began leading a normal life, and Callahan, a registered nurse, came to believe that a cerebral allergy to cow's milk may have caused Tony's autistic behavior and may account for autism in others. First serial to Ladies' Home Journal.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

[DianeG5385]

26. I tried the B6 and Magnesium routine

and it did not work for my son. Dairy, I haven't tried.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

27. Something far beyond B-6

There are many anomalies associated with a pro-inflammatory state in the gut with many children who are autistic.

Many children have been shown to be lacking sugar chains on various glycoprotein molecules that coat our cell walls.

I will provide this link to show that I am not imagining this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15622451
>>Spontaneous mucosal lymphocyte cytokine profiles in children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms: mucosal immune activation and reduced counter regulatory interleukin-10.

Ashwood P, Anthony A, Torrente F, Wakefield AJ.

Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom, [e-mail].

A lymphocytic enterocolitis has been reported in a cohort of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study tested the hypothesis that dysregulated intestinal mucosal immunity with enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production is present in these ASD children.<<

And I will post this link in case you are a person who is willing to believe that there are answers out there that many people will not find unless someone points them in exactly the right direction.

I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS SITE... LET'S GET THAT STRAIGHT RIGHT OFF SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ALL THE CRITICISMS.

http://www.autismtoday.com/AlternativeOptions/ao_glyconutrients.htm
Find out more about this breakthrough technology has helped many, including Former Seattle Seahawk, Curt Warner, who explains how they found help for their twin boys with autism.

To learn more about how glyconutrients can help people with autism and many other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, asthma, allergies, hormonal imbalances, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, myositis, and more, click here

Trust me, I have seen the results of some of the above... it can be called nothing short of a miracle in many cases.

[DianeG5385]

28. Thanks for all the info!

I have to tell you that Lawrence has never had gastrintestinal issues although he does favor carbs and dairy products. I think I may tru diet on him and see if there is any noted difference if there is, I'll report back!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

30. He favors them because he is addicted to them. There is a

protein in cow's milk called beta-casmorphin. It is a morphine clone.

Children who are autistic and or schizophrenic do NOT digest this protein well if at all.

This protein is carried to 22 locations in the brain and acts similar to morphine. Not good. You need to google for the autism vs glyconutrients thing. I KNOW there is something there for you.

I do know that the Pavlovian society in Europe saw remarkable improvements in a small group of schoolchildren who were given glyconutrients daily. They help to complete malformed and incompletely formed glycoproteins that sit on our cell walls and are responsible for ALL CELLULAR messaging in the body.

Why I mentioned the Beta-Casmorphin thing.
http://www.health.ufl.edu/post/post0399/post03_19/1.html

March 19, 1999
Researchers cite possible link between autism, schizophrenia and diet
By Melanie Fridl Ross


Findings from two novel animal studies indicate autism and schizophrenia
may
be linked to an individual's inability to properly break down a protein
found
in milk, UF researchers report in this month's issue of the journal Autism.

The digestive problem might actually lead to the disorders' symptoms, whose
basis has long been debated, said UF physiologist J. Robert Cade, M.D.,
cautioning that further research must take place before scientists have a
definitive answer. When not broken down, the milk protein produces
exorphins,
morphine-like compounds that are then taken up by areas of the brain known
to
be involved in autism and schizophrenia, where they cause cells to
dysfunction.

The animal findings suggest an intestinal flaw is to blame, said Cade, whose

team also is putting the theory to the test in humans. Preliminary findings
from that study - which showed 95 percent of 81 autistic and schizophrenic
children studied had 100 times the normal levels of the milk protein in
their
blood and urine- have been presented at two international meetings in the
past year but have not yet been published.

When these children were put on a milk-free diet, at least eight out of 10
no
longer had symptoms of autism or schizophrenia, said Cade, a professor of
medicine and physiology at UF's College of Medicine and inventor of the
Gatorade sports drink. His research team includes research scientist
Zhongjie
Sun, M.D., and research associate R. Malcolm Privette, P.A.C.

"We now have proof positive that these proteins are getting into the blood
and proof positive they're getting into areas of the brain involved with the

symptoms of autism and schizophrenia," Cade said.

More than 500,000 Americans have some form of autism, according to the
Autism
Society of America. The developmental disability typically appears during
the
first three years of life and is characterized by problems interacting and
communicating with others. Many individuals exhibit repeated body movements
such as hand-flapping and may resist changes in routine.

Schizophrenia is noted for disturbances in thinking, emotional reaction and
behavior and is the most common form of psychotic illness. More than 2
million Americans suffer from it, according to the National Institute of
Mental Health. People with schizophrenia often hear voices not heard by
others, or believe others are reading their minds, controlling their
thoughts
or plotting to harm them. In addition, their speech and behavior can be so
disorganized that they may be incomprehensible to others.

In the UF studies, researchers injected rats with the protein
beta-casomorphin-7, one of the key constituents of milk and the part that
coagulates to make cheese. They then observed their behavior and later
examined brain tissue to see whether the substances accumulated there.

Beta-casomorphin-7 was taken up by 32 different areas of the brain, Cade
said, including sections responsible for vision, hearing and communication.

"This could explain several of the things one sees in autism and
schizophrenia, such as hallucinations," he said. "If part of the brain puts
out a false signal because of casomorphin, it could result in the person
seeing something that's not really there.

"There are a whole number of behaviors that the rat has after
beta-casomorphin-7 that are basically the same as one sees in the human with

autism or schizophrenia," Cade added.

Researchers suspect the process begins in the intestine, where the body
absorbs the protein when a person eats foods containing it.



You may want to read Brain Allergies if you can find it.

[DianeG5385]

33. That's why I'm giving this serious thought!

I KNOW he favors them, but he likes his veggies and meat as well. Given a choice, he'd go for carbs and milk products, however. As I indicated, I'll check out your info and I'm planning to experiment with his diet and see if I see a difference. Again, you have given me valuable info, thanks!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

36. An issue that involves the concentration of heavy metals in the

nervous system due to a weak protein (made by the body, everybody makes it) called metallotheinin (sp). This protein is involved with the clearing of heavy metals, arsenic, aluminum, lead, MERCURY, etc.

Since this protein doesn't function well in people with Type A personalities, many Autistic children and interestingly enough, violent offenders... a buildup of of these metals several times above what is considered baseline for most people occurs.

Along with this.... zinc and calcium get "pushed out of the way" so to speak. This laboratory seems to have it going on in this area.

Sample Advanced Metallothionein Profile (AMP)
from child with autism.

Metallothionein
Interest in metallothionein (MT) has attracted considerable interest in the last two years because of data collected by William Walsh, Ph.D. of the Pfeiffer Institute, which indicates the copper to zinc ratio is abnormally high in individuals with autism. Dr. Walsh theorizes that the reason for this abnormal ratio is a deficiency of MT or an altered function of MT in individuals with autism. Based on this theory, Dr. Walsh began offering a treatment for this deficiency based on the use of nutritional supplements that include zinc, the amino acids found in MT, and other nutrients. However, it is estimated that zinc has over 200 different biochemical functions so the benefits of zinc might be completely unrelated to metallothionein. If metallothionein is low in autism, such a deficiency might help to explain why children with autism responded unfavorably to vaccines containing heavy metals like mercury. MT chelates mercury. If MT were low, more mercury might be free, causing greater toxicity. The amino acid sequences of human MT 1 and 2 are given below:

mdpncscttg gscacagsck ckeckctsck kcccsccpvg cakcaqgcvc kgssekcrcc a MT 1(B)
mdpncscaag vsctcagsck ckeckctsck ksccsccpvg cakcaqgcic kgasekcscc a MT 2

[gorbal]

35. That is a very interesting article

People shouldn't be thinking "What causes autism" instead they should think "What various factors in our enviroment effect the central nervous system and cause a variety of symptoms" There is so much affecting everyone at any one time, it is never "JUST" on thing that is affecting us. For example, I am only seem to have a reaction to milk in the summer, when the air is pollinated.

I think there is a big difference between people who wan't their kid to be "normal" and those who just want a connection. We worked long and hard to forge a connection with my once severly autistic brother Josh, and I'm so glad we did.

Sigh, I wish I could call him. Alas, I can only call him on Sundays.
:shrug:

[Karenina]

40. Eliminating dairy products

CAN, in some instances, alleviate symptoms. I did "anecdotal research" for my son's pediatrician after discovering HOW MUCH it helped my son.
The good Doctor, whom my kids adored and out of whose office I often had to DRAG them, told me point blank, "I wasn't trained to go there. Bring me info. Here's how you do it so I can use it." I did so and he subsequently adopted lactose-intolerance testing into his routine. It IS DEFINITELY worth examining.

[gorbal]

41. Oh I know all about that

After being put on every autism diet you can think of as a child I know about food alergies. But my point is, there isn't any "one" cause of the "one" disorder. People will manifest many different symptoms for different reasons. I am glucose intolerant, my brother is lactose intolerant. My brother was diagnosed classic Kanners autism, I have different sensory integration issues than he has.

For anybody who hasn't heard of ANDI-

http://www.autismndi.com/parentsupport/

One of it's founders wrote and interesting book called "Unraveling the Mystery of Autism" An interesting book, whether or not you agree with all of it. Because of my problem with carbohydrates, unfortunately I cannot go on her diet, but it is still interesting.

:)

[Karenina]

42. My bottom line is

Check out what may work in ANY degree. "Autism" is a catch-all. In my observances of HUNDREDS of children, I only found 3 who exhibited the same manifestations my son did. Of those 3, ONE profitted from the deletion of dairy products. Of those who did not manifest similar symptoms, a good SCORE did better once dairy products were eliminated. Wheat and pickled products were on my list of suspects. I burned out after 10 years being a single mom with scant support. My kid is still WD (wired differently), correcting papers for his calculus prof at his University, to pick up extra cash. We LAUGH about it.

[EFerrari]

38. Dairy? Wow. I had my husbband go off dairy and there was

some improvement - in different areas, actually. I'll have to check into that. Thanks.