I want to write more about this topic. As a matter of fact, I recorded myself, on the way to Drew's school, talking about the details to put in this particular post. Due to my (still) dead laptop, I don't have the time or energy to sit down here and type all that out now. It's an important one though. So, just to document...
1.) Ran out of epsom salt (mag sulfate) about six weeks ago. Replaced it with magnesium chloride bath flakes. Good behavior- didn't feel it was necessary to reorder salt.
2.) Next two weeks: Good behavior and great speech but also added additional ProEFA. A few night wakings.
3.) Decided to try bananas, strawberries, and avocados - very small amounts and limited. No obvious reaction.
4.) Next two weeks: Behavior more up and down; continued language gains. Random night wakings.
5.) Next two weeks: Continued with bananas, strawberries, and avocados- less limited. Constipation. Behavior still up and down with more echoic tantrums (explanation later). Minimum 3 night wakings/week including leg cramps and stomach aches. My gut feeling was to try "No Phenol" to help balance the extra phenols in his system. No go!
6.) Appointment with Dr. Bradstreet: Sulfate issue/Phenol issue. Must include mag
sulfate! I didn't even realize that although I have always been very conscious of high phenolic foods, that switching Drew from mag sulfate to mag chloride would cause a difference where phenols are concerned. Duh. He has always been a reactor to them which is why I do not give highly phenolic foods. Due to his behavior being so good and also being so desperate to try new foods, I let my guard down. It wasn't obvious at first where the problem was most likely coming from because of a somewhat delayed reaction. Also, he probably had enough sulfate in his system in the beginning to handle the first few trials of bananas and strawberries. Then, the sulfate was depleted and so was his ability to regulate himself after eating those highly phenolic foods.
This all probably doesn't make sense if you're not familiar with a PST deficiency. I will, hopefully, explain soon. In the meantime, if you are concerned, just google autism and phenol. And, if you haven't already, definitely give epsom salt baths a try. We've been doing them for almost two years with no side effects EXCEPT when we run out of salt (which by the way has happened before with a reaction- so I don't know where my head has been). They are calming, if swallowed might help with BM's, and give the body the much needed sulfate our kids so desperately need. It is much better given transdermally than orally (with our kids who have gut issues). Also, note that sulfate is necessary for healing the gut.
1.) Ran out of epsom salt (mag sulfate) about six weeks ago. Replaced it with magnesium chloride bath flakes. Good behavior- didn't feel it was necessary to reorder salt.
2.) Next two weeks: Good behavior and great speech but also added additional ProEFA. A few night wakings.
3.) Decided to try bananas, strawberries, and avocados - very small amounts and limited. No obvious reaction.
4.) Next two weeks: Behavior more up and down; continued language gains. Random night wakings.
5.) Next two weeks: Continued with bananas, strawberries, and avocados- less limited. Constipation. Behavior still up and down with more echoic tantrums (explanation later). Minimum 3 night wakings/week including leg cramps and stomach aches. My gut feeling was to try "No Phenol" to help balance the extra phenols in his system. No go!
6.) Appointment with Dr. Bradstreet: Sulfate issue/Phenol issue. Must include mag sulfate! I didn't even realize that although I have always been very conscious of high phenolic foods, that switching Drew from mag sulfate to mag chloride would cause a difference where phenols are concerned. Duh. He has always been a reactor to them which is why I do not give highly phenolic foods. Due to his behavior being so good and also being so desperate to try new foods, I let my guard down. It wasn't obvious at first where the problem was most likely coming from because of a somewhat delayed reaction. Also, he probably had enough sulfate in his system in the beginning to handle the first few trials of bananas and strawberries. Then, the sulfate was depleted and so was his ability to regulate himself after eating those highly phenolic foods.
This all probably doesn't make sense if you're not familiar with a PST deficiency. I will, hopefully, explain soon. In the meantime, if you are concerned, just google autism and phenol. And, if you haven't already, definitely give epsom salt baths a try. We've been doing them for almost two years with no side effects EXCEPT when we run out of salt (which by the way has happened before with a reaction- so I don't know where my head has been). They are calming, if swallowed might help with BM's, and give the body the much needed sulfate our kids so desperately need. It is much better given transdermally than orally (with our kids who have gut issues). Also, note that sulfate is necessary for healing the gut.