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sufi
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19 Feb 2011, 7:22 pm

I found this article on line and found it interesting.

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Leaky gut syndrome in conjunction with autism is still being researched; a number of studies and research are under way to better understand how the syndrome starts, why it can be prevalent in autistic children, and how to treat it. Simply, leaky guy syndrome is the inability of the intestinal wall to keep out large, unwanted molecules. This symptom of autism most often signifies that the intestinal wall has been altered to become permeable. Leaky gut syndrome in autistic children may occur because of increased sensitivity or allergies.

Leaky gut syndrome is problematic for one's health because it allows molecules and substances (such as proteins) that are normally filtered out of the intestinal tract into the intestines. Because these molecules are not usually allowed inside the gut, the body misinterprets these non-harmful substances as a virus or infection and begins to produce antibodies to attack them. In turn, this creates a process where one's body recognizes certain foods, as well as any of the body's regular molecules that are similar to these foods, as harmful, causing an auto-immune disease where the body attacks itself. These are merely two possible outcomes with leaky gut syndrome. Others include the transportation of bacteria normally found within the intestinal tract to move into the bloodstream and cause an infection anywhere in the body as well as a weakening of the liver, which causes more toxins to circulate throughout the body, leading to a number of medical problems.

What can cause leaky gut syndrome? Researchers are still working to more fully understand the causes, but current medical diagnoses suggest that a diet high in alcohol and caffeine intake, certain drugs like ibuprofen and antacids, or a diet high in carbohydrates can decrease the thickness of the intestinal wall as well as other possible reasons. These are just a few possible reasons, and ways to treat leaky gut syndrome are just as uncertain as the reasons. Because of the sensitivity of the digestive system with leaky gut syndrome, many parents of autistic children find that putting their child on gluten- and casein-free diets can help. Both gluten and casein are proteins, and a diet with these proteins may irritate and inflame a leaky gut syndrome - though at the moment, researchers are still studying this. You may also treat leaky gut syndrome by avoiding alcohol, caffeine, ibuprofen, or spicy foods - all of which can cause irritation in the intestines.

Understanding leaky gut syndrome is an ongoing process, for parents with autistic children, doctors, and researchers, but this does not mean that there is nothing you can do to treat it. Simply being aware that your autistic child may have leaky gut syndrome will help you to better understand and improve his or her life.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-heal ... z1ESC68y4Z
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution


Now I am wondering how I can bring up the subject to a stinky employee of mine and if he would understand it.


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PatrickNeville
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19 Feb 2011, 8:20 pm

This is something that i believe i may have. Recieving treatment is a different thing altogether though. tests are vague and it is not very successful in diagnosing.

i am investigating my own health issues at the moment and here is a draft letter i have prepared for my doctor. there are a few possibilities i am looking into.

"Firstly I would like to mention I have the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) mental health issue of Aspergers and Mild Autism officially diagnosed. So far in life this has lead me to a lot of difficulty with social interaction and most specifically, verbal communication is extremely difficult due to most of my cognitive capacity being used up by being overly self concious about how i am speaking and trying to related to the person. This gives me little opportunity to communicate my thoughts as I would like to. Because of this, I would prefer to be able to communicate by email as I can write in my own time and think so much more clearly.

This way I actually hope to engage in meaningful productive discussion and not be wasting my own time and the time of others, by failing to be able to communicate in a verbal conversation.

Now health wise;

I do not sleep properly. Takes me from about 1 hour to 2 hours to fall asleep almost every night. Wake up a few times every night. Takes from about 5 minutes to 25 minutes to fall back asleep. Wake up suddenly from dreams a few times a week.

During the day when i first wake up it may take me about 30 minutes to an hour to fully wake up. After that, any time from about an hour to 6 hours i will start to feel very bad brain fog.

by brain-fog i mean;

heavy headed tiredness
Inability to focus
poorer memory, especially short term
inability to be coordinated
agitated more easily
Verbal communication skills become worse than they normally are
More likely to become paranoid
Lack of ambition

I remember being like this since a very young kid, so it is nothing new, but something definitely getting worse over time.

Tests have shown that my B vitamin levels are fine, that Iron levels are fine and that my Thyroid levels are fine.

I have sensitivities to sugar, to many psychotropic drugs (which includes Alcohol, Caffeine, SSRI's, Cannabis and various stimulant substances). None of which I go near at all now, apart from sugar which is found in lots of food.

Recreation drug use is absolutely nothing to do with it. I know this because I have noticed sensitivities since I was a young child. I just thought it was fair to mention to show that I do realise that in general, my body is very sensitive to what I ingest.

I also suspect I may have sensitivities to wheat and other gluten containing products.

It is also likely in this case that I am sensitive to food additives such as Glutamate compounds which is found in a large variety of food products. I believe this because when I used to eat at places like McDonalds and Sub Way, I would have very large energy crashes an hour or so after eating there.

It is likely sensitivities I have are making the symptoms of Autism I have much worse than they could be. On this alone, I believe I should be entitled to receive testing and treatment.

Have considered the following things in this article. Many of the things listed sound entirely plausible but it is very difficult for me to single out any specific causes without being put through testing first. I have asked for testing in the past for fatigue related things, but have made little progress in tacking the causes.

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/brain_fog.htm

Would appreciate help looking into the following potential health problems contained within that article and help in being taken seriously by the NHS for obviously having some kind of health problem which I cannot over come myself. "


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PatrickNeville
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19 Feb 2011, 8:33 pm

Forgot to say if you are having similar issues and your symptoms are similar. use or adapt the letter i wrote and see if you can get things checked by health professionals. then try a letter approach with your boss as well.


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pensieve
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19 Feb 2011, 9:25 pm

PatrickNeville wrote:
by brain-fog i mean;

heavy headed tiredness
Inability to focus
poorer memory, especially short term
inability to be coordinated
agitated more easily
Verbal communication skills become worse than they normally are
More likely to become paranoid
Lack of ambition

I remember being like this since a very young kid, so it is nothing new, but something definitely getting worse over time.


Inattentive ADHD, possibly?
I can't fall asleep until 12:30/1am at night no matter how early I go to bed. I'm thinking it's delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Also,
oh Callista, save us from this madness and speak your wise words of wisdom.
Or just set these people straight.


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sufi
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19 Feb 2011, 9:44 pm

PatrickNeville,
Good Letter, I have thought of doing one since I also have trouble verbally.
I know a lot of parents here have talked about gluten- and casein-free diets.


Quote:
then try a letter approach with your boss as well.

not my boss, I am the boss. It is an employee who I suspect is on the spectrum. Only know he was diagnosed as 'mentally challenged'. I am forever sending him home to shower. As a result he gets jobs that do not have contact with the public. Still the res of the staff put up with it.


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If you have two options you have a delema.
If you have three options you have a choice.
Look for three or more options.
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PatrickNeville
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19 Feb 2011, 9:45 pm

I think you are right, but i also have come to realise that at certain times, as the day goes on things get worse, and things get especially worse after large meals and sugary meals.

combination of things really. i also suspect a yeast infection which is poisoning my kidney and when fed with certain foods, poisons the brain more.

that are lots of possibilities to brain fog so i am not ruling out anything yet.

want to get testing, but like i said in the letter it is difficult for me to communicate verbally so writing a letter may get me further.

people say doctors are actually quite sceptical of this type of thing. i guess they are trained to, but people who have later offically been diagnosed and treated for these kinds of things say tht the process of getting it recognised properly can be difficult and docotrs lead them in the wrong direction.

because of this i want to learn more so that i can try get treatment for whatever may be wron me done so that i can feel awake, have energy and do well in life.


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PatrickNeville
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19 Feb 2011, 9:56 pm

sufi wrote:
PatrickNeville,
Good Letter, I have thought of doing one since I also have trouble verbally.
I know a lot of parents here have talked about gluten- and casein-free diets.


Quote:
then try a letter approach with your boss as well.

not my boss, I am the boss. It is an employee who I suspect is on the spectrum. Only know he was diagnosed as 'mentally challenged'. I am forever sending him home to shower. As a result he gets jobs that do not have contact with the public. Still the res of the staff put up with it.


I am in the UK and going to apply for the low rate of DLA of about £20 a week so that i can buy certain supplements to benefit my health and attempt a gluten free diet.

I have wanted one for for a while but it is difficult to afford.

I know i am sensitivities to sugar, to MSG, caffine and other psychotropic substances. my guts often dont feel right. so in all likely hood, gluten is doing me no favours.


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bluecountry
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19 Feb 2011, 10:36 pm

What's the difference between leaky gut and IBS?
I have been diagnosed with IBS.
I have constant bloating, distension, alternation between diarhaa and constipation.

I am lactose intolerant...I have a dairy free diet and have tried a FODMAP gluten free diet...to no avail.
Wondering if I have leaky gut or just IBS.



cave_canem
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19 Feb 2011, 10:43 pm

what is a "FODMAP gluten free diet"? I thought a gluten free diet was a gluten free diet.

I am on a gluten free diet. I had many of the symptoms you described (with the exception of constipation) before I stopped eating gluten. Now, I no longer have to worry about where the nearest bathroom is.

I did an elimination diet to figure out what was bothering me (alas, it was gluten).



PatrickNeville
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19 Feb 2011, 11:25 pm

bluecountry wrote:
What's the difference between leaky gut and IBS?
I have been diagnosed with IBS.
I have constant bloating, distension, alternation between diarhaa and constipation.

I am lactose intolerant...I have a dairy free diet and have tried a FODMAP gluten free diet...to no avail.
Wondering if I have leaky gut or just IBS.


For leaky guy the description in the original post is a good explanation.

IBS is when the food you are eating irritates the guts and passes through much quicker. that is a simple explanation though.


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StuartN
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20 Feb 2011, 1:50 pm

sufi wrote:
Now I am wondering how I can bring up the subject to a stinky employee of mine and if he would understand it.


He sounds like a stinker of a boss.