We are amazed!!! After over 18 months of worrying about Jack's constipation/diarrhoea and getting nowhere with Drs/Peads etc who tell us it's 'one of those things' we took matters into our own hands - after loads of research on the internet - I bought a book called Diet Intervention and Autism. It came on Friday - a day when poor Jack had a really bad time and I changed his nappy 14 times and he clung to me like a little koala bear. I read through it briefly on Friday night - got some of the info I needed - whipped off to Asda and bought lactose free milk and gluton/wheat free bread, so we were at least prepared for breakfast time and started implementing the 'diet' on Saturday.

By Saturday night Jack was more settled and happy, his runny poos were slowing down (though didn't firm up until yesterday) and he looked a lot brighter. We're continuing with the gf/cf theme now and can't believe the change in Jack. His cheeks are rosy, he's laughing a lot more - real belly laughs too, his tummy's no longer bloated and his wind has subsided. He's not jigging around crying when he's about to poo and appears to be 'chatting' a lot more. His nursery teacher and carer have both noticed the change and we're being fully supported with the 'diet' there aswell.

We're a bit mad that all the times we've mentioned intolerance to milk, certain foods etc, we've been dismissed like we're talking alien. Jack could've been spared a lot of trouble and we could've have been spared a lot of worry!

I'm giving it another week then I'm going to ring our Paed and GP to tell them - if they don't support us I'm going to ask to be referred to a specialist to have him tested for these intolerances. We're absolutely convinced now that this is the diet for Jack.

Today another book I ordered arrived - Autism and Gastrointestinal Complaints - what you need to know. It's a short book but really interesting and backs up everything we're doing.

I'd really urge anyone to try it if you've been having the same problems as we have.

i have got a friend who's son is 5 and has had problems for most of his life going from constipation to diarrhoea and same as you kept asking for a test for intolerance but was told it would be too stressful for him. she then decided to give him goats milk and cheese and within a week he is a different child. its only a blood test so couldnt see why they put him through years of this as now she cant keep him away from milk lollies and stuff (she has 5 other Children so cant keep choc or lollies out of house) which if he hadnt had them from a younger age he would be used to it

We follow the specific carb diet with our little one- it takes a lot of time and hard work as everything has to be prepared form home but it is well worth it. Her Crohns settled down within a wk ish of starting the diet about 2 years ago and we haven't looked back!!! She does have a flare up on occasions but on the whole it has been very successful. I learnt about the diet on a bio med course in Bournemouth and no docs seem to know anything about this diet!!!!!!! I do hope you get him tested soon for intolerances as that will be a big help. Good luck. X

(05-26-2011 03:05 PM)Ilovecake Wrote:  We follow the specific carb diet with our little one- it takes a lot of time and hard work as everything has to be prepared form home but it is well worth it. Her Crohns settled down within a wk ish of starting the diet about 2 years ago and we haven't looked back!!! She does have a flare up on occasions but on the whole it has been very successful. I learnt about the diet on a bio med course in Bournemouth and no docs seem to know anything about this diet!!!!!!! I do hope you get him tested soon for intolerances as that will be a big help. Good luck. X

I agree that it's well worth the effort! So far we've been lucky that we've found loads of 'free from' stuff in the supermarkets, though I've realised that sometimes it's labelled 'free from' but only be free from gluten - or wheat - and not dairy, which we think is probably Jack's biggest problem. I'll try anything to help him though and fingers crossed, this seems to be working so far. The book I got has loads of tried and tested recipes in it for family meals and baking etc, so we've had some interesting teas this week! I've decided to ring our Health Visitor next week and invite her to come round - or we'll go see her - so she can see just what he's like on this 'diet'. xx

Yeah that would be a good idea......it just seems so unfair that docs etc don't know much about diets for children with Autism and never seem to encourage parents to give it a try!!!!! Keep me updated with the health visitor. X