Fun With NeuroTransmitters

So ya’ll remember we had some fun with Neurotransmitterslast spring, right. 

We did their recommended relatively expensive supplements for a few months but just didn’t see any wow’s with them.  So we stopped.  And we didn’t see any immediate issues with them.   We also last fall as part of the Unique Healing protocol backed way off on Dominic’s extra vitamins, including his multi and his b complex.  Again, no immediate reaction, BUT starting in December, Alpine began tracking escalating sensory seeking self stimulating behaviors.  They’ve increased noticeably each month since.

The NutrEval test we reviewed with Dr Kucera  yesterday noted was that Dominic’s level of B Vitamins was dismal. Dismal enough that he and his nutritionist both agree that it looked like the B Vitamin profile of a kid with the MTHFR genetic mutation.   Actually, we had labwork orders to check for thatparticular mutation after the last visit, but I never had it pulled (mostly because blood work with Dominic is a complete nightmare).   So we all agreed we should probably treat Dominic like he has that mutation (it really just means he needs a good b complex vitamin every day) and eventually get the test.

The NutrEval also noted that Dominic had extremely high (like off the charts) levels of 2 excitatory neurotransmitters, glutamate and aspartate.  According to my 15 minutes of googling, both of those chemicals are supposed to convert to GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) with AST, an enzyme manufactured in the liver.  AST has a required cofactor of P5P, which is the bio available form of vitamin B6.   

DING DING DING

So I’ve added B6 (P5P) back to Dominic’s regime and we’ll see how it does.  I have an email out to the nutritionist to see if the dosage is high enough.

I’m starting to think I should’ve taken biology and chemistry classes for my sciences in college instead of psychology and geology.

Doc appt went well...

Our appt this morning with Dr K went very well.  He's extremely pleased with the speech results and gut results we've had (and was happy to be given a copy of the unique healing book).  His nutritionist, C, was really impressed with the ingrediants in the Bowel Strength supplement, and seemed very receptive to the whole thing.  They do not want us staying on a maintenance dose of Colloidal silver, but that was their only negative.   He's also didn't object to to the cranial sacral / NAET stuff - said he'd seen NAET work and while he agrees with me it makes no sense, he's seen it work.  I gave him the study, and he asked if our NAET practitioner had given it to me.  Seemed suprised when i told him I'd found it on my own. don't know why, by now he should know I do my homework.

He wasn't tremendously happy with me having removed so many of Dominic's supplements, but in the long run we didn't add many back in.  I'd already added in a b complex and magnesium,  and they were definately needed.  So i got brownie points for reading his symptoms right (i didn't mention it was the Chiro's idea to add them back... ).  We are going to put him back on a multi vitamin, add back Gaba and Lysine (both were very low), and add Vit E (to help with the Apraxia and as an antioxident) and they only wanted to add 1 new thing, something called NRF2 pathway activator.  Its apparently good for naturally increasing the bodies Glutathione stores.   It appears to be broccoli seed, turmeric, black pepper and green tea.  So we'll give it a shot.  I've been underwhelmed with all of our previous glutathione increasers, so we will see if we like this one.  They sell it there for 3/4's the price it is online, oddly enough.  Everything else i can generally find cheaper online.

We also have decided to do the Vit A protocol again.  I pointed out that he had a toxic response (eg the super dry skin), so we decided to cut it in half and give it a shot.   So we'll see how that goes.  I will probably wait until we get the other stuff integrated in and then give it a whirl.   Fortunately, there's only 1 new thing.  everything else, we've had before and know he's not going to react poorly.

We'll go back the end of May and report in on how we're doing.   Fun times.

Funnies...

This weekend we had a play date at the mall.  This is kind of unheard of because crowds of noisy kids are hard for me Dominic.  We met up with our friends and after a brief warm up period, Dominic played very well on the kids play structure.  He never got out of eyesight of me, and played mostly appropriately (if one can call sitting on the pointy top of a tree appropriate. but whatever).  Anyway, the funny moment came when another child screeched at the top of his lungs.  And Dominic looked over at me, put his finger to his lips and Shushed said other child.   It was very cute.

----

Today, at Alpine, he was working on writing.  They have been using a highlighter and then having Dominic trace the highlighted area.  Today, as his therapist reached out to do the highlighted portion, he put his hand up and said "I got it" and pushed her hand away.  And he had it.   :)

----

Dominic has learned to button!  Or rather, Dominic's fine motor skills have improved so much that he can now button - completely independently - the adorable plaid flannel pj's he got for his birthday.

Reasons not to mess with a Special Needs mom (found on Facebook)

The majority of these, if not all, fit me. :)

1. Some of us have given up on social skills and don't care what we say or do.

2. We're not afraid to have A serious "meltdown" of our own.

3. We are tired and all the patience we have is for our kids.

4. We have A far shorter fuse for nonsense as a result of our responsibilities but A FAR thicker skin.

5. We can get you in a hold/lockdown position in less than 3.5 secs.

6.We can shoot you a look that would make a linebacker tremble in his boots.

7.Chances are it's been awhile since we've had a full night of sleep and that will give us a reason to plead insanity.

8. Our tolerance and patience is for our kids who didn't choose to have special needs, not for someone who CHOOSES to behave inappropriately and is ABLE to control their actions.

9. We're probably already on edge and it would be stupid to push us over.

10. We are sleep deprived and already defensive, and we spend all of our patience on our children, doctors, therapists, social workers and teachers, why would we waste an ounce of it on a total stranger?

11. We've had to fight from the moment of our child's birth so by the time you piss us off we're seasoned battlers and could win a war.

12.We devote our lives to our children and don't need more stress and people who don't understand our life.

13. Wherever there is a cub, there is a mama bear...We're always watching

Pretty Graphs

Continuing the Dr K. appt prep work... these include the data from Alpine for January and the first 15 days of Feb.

Can't argue with the data.  Going to be a VERY interesting appointment. In spontaneous manding (requesting) Dominic has seen a 65% improvement since June and in spontaneous tacting a 48% improvement since June.

apparently its been a good day. :)

So, first, Dominic is now 7!  His birthday was Saturday and we had a chill day including dinner that he got to eat with NO restrictions (we challenged all his allergies).  There was both dairy and gluten involved, and we had no immediate brain fog/hyperactivity/diarrhea!  Quite impressive.  He had one round of non compliance Sunday morning that Rod thinks could be dietary infraction related, but I don't.... i think he was just enjoying playing with his new toys and didn't want to go brush his teeth.  So we'll see.  Certainly lots of changes from the last time we tried a dietary infraction.  (this is something that the unique healing author really wanted us to try a while back, she thinks that we've got enough healing done in his gut for the sensitivities to be lifting.  Maybe she's right. Go figure)

Dominic had his 4th NAET session on Sunday.  Here's a better version of the link to the study I tried and failed to post last time.  Its midway down the page.  Dr A got very excited because the yeast protocol she used on Dominic last time stuck.  Mold came back, so they're flip flopping, but since Mold and yeast are so interrelated we both expect it to take a while longer to get rid of the both.  Once both are gone, we expect much faster results.

seriously, for as long as we've fought yeast, if NAET treatments can make it go away in a month, I will send this lady as many clients  as I can.  She is the most amazing combination of Chiropractor and true intuitive energy healer I've ever met. Which is why she's so good at allergies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of results...

January thru 1/23, Dominic averaged 121 mands per day,  the first week of Chiro visits he averaged 130.75 mands per day and the past 6 class days at Alpine (so last week and today), he averaged 169.5.

For tacts, Jan thru 1/23 he averaged 120.  The first week of Chiro he averaged 139 and the second week of chiro he averaged 139. 

So we've seen a much bigger increase in requesting (interactions!) than we have in labelling, So thats interesting.  Both have gone up measurably. 


A year ago, he averaged 60 tacts and 78 mands for the same time period.

Today, Alpine got a 7 word sentence out of him.  He said, independently "I want to race: Ready, Set, Go".  My mom called Alpine to check in for a tax document and the receptionist told her that SHE'D seen an increase in verbals in the last two weeks.

So for now, I'm thinking this crazy Cranial Sacral / NAET thing is pretty awesome. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And speaking of NAET.  We went out to dinner for Dominic's birthday 3 days after she used NAET to clear me of my allergy to perfumes.  We were waiting for our table when a guy came in DRENCHED in cologne. I could smell him from 20 paces.  It was awful.   But i didn't get a headache.  First time I can remember smelling perfume and not needing an antihistamine to combat headache/swelling.  Very Very Cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After we got home from Alpine today, Dominic sat down (!) with me to write his name on 19 different valentines.  I did have to help with hand positioning  / provide stability, and his writing is ATROCIOUS!  But he did it! he wrote his own name  19 different times.  This is the first year that he's been able to help write his own valentines.

I still can't tell you what NAET really does...

But I feel great!

Here's a study of NAET effectiveness in treating Autism.  Very interesting...  I'm printing a copy for Dr K.

Working on the Dr K paperwork for our appointment the end of this month... Should have data throught Feb 15 to graph up this time next week.  When we saw him in July, the supplement list included 31 different supplements each day.  Now it has 10.  Thats a MAJOR shift.   Its going to be interesting to see how Dr K (and his nutritionist) feel about this.  Given that they make money off their supplements, I'm going to need to be very careful how I approach it.

Based on the last Data we received from Alpine (which was midway thru January), i think the data is going to show that his verbals have improved by 25-30% since June.  We shall see. :)

IEP's and Dentists, oh my

Its been a whirlwind week.

Tuesday, Dominic went to the dentist for a regular cleaning. No cavities (yay!).  And he was calm/compliant enough for the dentist to get xrays.  This is the first time he's had xrays in a nonsedated form (they did them when he had the surgical cleaning a little over a year ago).

Today,we had Dominic's IEP meeting.  No suprises, still planning on him being full day next year at D11.  He'll have the same para he has today for mornings, and a different para in the aftenroon.  So a full time 1-1 para.  Which is good.  He's getting 240 minutes a month of Speech therapy (an hour a week, split into a couple of sessions depending on their staffing next year), and 30min a month of OT.

Verbals are seeming to be a bit higher this week than last.  Excited to get data next week to prep for the end of month doctors appt.  WE're continuing to do Chiro/NAET/Cranial Sacral, and also are very interested to see the data from that.

Funnies

Last week, Dominic;s therapist got a 6 word sentence out of him... They were playing on the swingset, with her pushing him and she asked if he wanted another push.  And he said: "No, I want to push you".  So they switched places and he pushed her.

-----

We kind of missed the stage of development that my mommy friends referred to as "potty humor".  So with these Toy Story wall stickers that Dominic has to name Every night, there is one random one that he very deliberately placed directly under the elephants butt.   (Dominic has a Dr Seuss room, complete with a giant Horton on one wall).  When I ask him who that one is, he says "poop" and then laughs.  I think we've hit the potty humor stage...

Alpine funny plus Mom gets Cranial sacral / NAET

funny story from the Alpine pickup.  Dominic's therapist told me with huge eyes "Dominic did great! we walked across the hall at snack time and without me even promping, he independently said "I want pretzels for snack".  I was so happy i picked him for tickles, and he looked at me with a very confused look on his face and said "pretzels!"".  The insider funny to this is the pickup/tickles is one of the reinforcers the Alpine staff uses with Dominic, and sometimes so are the pretzels.  So he asked for pretzels and got a tickle.  And he wanted pretzels instead.

I took myself to the cranial sacral / Naet / chiropractor that Dominic went to on Saturday today.  I have seen a chiro off and on for probably 15 years, and he retired suddenly last year when he injured his shoulder.  It'd been at least a year since I had an adjustment.  She gave me probably the most thorough physical exam I've ever had (reflexes of every joint, flexibility/range of motion of most of my joints, and pain levels from a paperclip poke on each side of the body to determine balance), and then the gentlest adjustment i've ever had.   We talked in depth about my allergies, since the NAET is a big reason I'm going to her, and her first question was when did I notice them.  They started when  we lived in the (very humid and damp) Ohio River Valley.  While i don't specifically recall mold, the schools we went to were extremely old as was the house we lived in, so i'm sure there was some.  Mold was the thing i tested most allergic to in the blood tests I had done last fall and it turned out to be the thing i reacted to most with her muscle testing evaluation.  She theorizes, and i don't disagree, that I got overrun with mold spores when we lived in Ohio and they've adversely affected my immune system, causing these sensitivities to so many other things.  Including the majority of the foods that Dominic has blood tested allergic to (wheat, eggs, legumes....) according to her testing.  So we started with her using the NAET principles to clear the mold allergy, and she believes that there's a good chance the rest will clear after that goes.  So interesting.  I have no earthly idea how this all works, but I know far too many people who completely disbelieved NAET and ended up with their allergies (in some cases anaphylactic) gone.  

Anywho, she was THRILLED to hear about the shifts we've seen in Dominic (see yesterday's post) just from the "very little" she did on Saturday.  i think we're scheduled to start the allergy stuff w/Dominic this saturday.  We'll see. 

Update on Dominic / Cranial Sacral

I've been playing with numbers and data again.. I'm going to see the Chiro tomorrow for myself, and wanted to be able to tell her exactly the changes we'd seen in Dominic since the first CS adjustment on Saturday. (the chart tracking averages is now WAY to big to post on the blog, but i still keep it)

1.  Based on Data From Alpine.. verbals averaged from Mon-Wed sessions at alpine this week are up from last week, as follows:
Last Week's average:  Mands: 108 / tacts 105
This weeks average:  Mands 119 / tacts 148
I will qualify this with the fact that Monday and Tuesday were much higher than today at Alpine.  So this is something we want to watch longer term than just a few days for accurate trending.

2.  Negative behaviors are heading down.  I dont have exact data yet, but will by the end of the month. Therapists are all reporting much lower instances of head hitting (today there was 1, yesterday 3) which is nice.  He does seem to be reviving some old ones (like biting), but he tends to do this as he eases out of behavioral patterns - bring up old ones just to check and see if they're still not acceptable.  So i'm not terribly worried.  I have not seen him bonk his head since Sunday when I saw it once.

3.  Focus has improved at home significantly.  He has spent way more time independently (eg, without the dog), playing outside in the last 4 days than he had in the entire month previously.  He's also been suddenly enjoying sitting quietly on the floor playing with his toys without any background distraction (eg a movie).  This is a huge shift.  He played for an hour and 15 minutes today before he brought over the movie The Incredibles and asked to watch it.

so, we'll see.  Too early to get excited, but these are all nice to see.