LuvPerNrsng

((((My son also has high functioning autism and removing milk from his diet didn't help one bit. I'm not saying it doesn't help anyone- only those who have some sort of an intolerance to casein products in the first place, though. Have you any reason to suspect that dairy is a problem for him- digestive problems, etc? Given the havoc a change in diet can cause for a child with autism, especially a change as drastic as withholding something he consumes in such quantity, I think caution is warranted. Why not ask the pediatrician if there are any tests that could reliably taste this child for a casein intolerance?))))))))))))) I know of friends who also seen no benefit when milk was removed from their childrens diets..but then again casein is in alot of things, and the removal has to be absolute for benefit to take place. Personally, I do not believe that a milk allergy is the cause of my sons autism even though he is sensitive to the protein, removing it does however make for a happier child...I feel that there are other things involved. I have had my son tested for heavy metals in his system and he does have toxic levels which has led me to read alot of studies on children where by genetic suseptibility and/or environmental insult/s are unable to rid metals from their bodies there by causing neurological damage and acquiring the symtoms of autistic characteristics. As for asking a pediatrician, remember the reference was for a young adult that I work for, not my son. But I have since discussed this more in detail with staff and his milk consumption has been significantly lowered as there are health risks related to consuming large amounts of milk as this man did. It's a start for us. As for testing casein, the test "my son" took was a gluten/casein urine peptide test through Great Plains Lab. Thank-you for your post

Congradulations jleski on your new found experience with DD nursing and welcome to the site. Something that has helped me greatly is the fact that not only does my son have disabilities but I had alot of books that gave me a better understanding not only of him, but they have helped me out alot with the clients I work with. If you can purchase or lend from a library try to find books related to your clients disabilites. In working with DD children or adults you will find yourself also working with support people like speech therapists and occupational therapists and physical therapists, dietary specialists and such. You will be able to provide continuity of care if you knew techniques that the PT is using for muscle strength and flexability or help out on non OT days by doing a "brushing" protocol on your tactile defensive clients. I have found certain books dealing with Sensory Integration Dysfunction that has helped me understand my clients with Autism better. Whether they have CP, Down's Syndrome, Autism, Mental Retardation, Wilsons Disease, Fragile X Syndrome etc... reading about non-nursing issues regarding these and more disabilities will give you an edge and really help you to understand your clients. Let me give you an example: One day, I came to work and found that one of our Autistic clients was still up at midnight..and continued to stay up and refused to go into his room, that, and his self stimming behaviors were worse. We were perplexed but not shocked (he has horrible sleeping habits). Anyway, I walked with him to his room. he stood by the door, grunted and left. As I looked in his room I saw that they had added a mattress to his bed. They apparently had done this that day. Did they do anything wrong. Not if this client hadn't had autism. People with Autism need and thrive on sameness. Their rigid thinking prevents them from accepting something new without help easing into a situation. I told the others that they cannot simply just change this young mans room and expect him to be ok with it. And that by doing this they were asking for behaviors. I simply took the extra mattress off and put his familiar dark sheets on the bed. Guess what? He immediately laid down and slept all night. Detailed charting was in order here because of what I knew about Autism and what I knew about the client and his behaviors before and his actions later. Till this day, there still is no double mattress on his bed. They are learning that you just can't spring something on a person with Autism and expect them to be adaptable. Good Luck with your New Field.

I have had cna's that have behaved this way..hostile, chip on the shoulder. I even overheard one say yesterday (about a new LPN that was just starting out, learning her way around)...that "somebody better tell her soon that we run this place". I had the pleasure of asking her, "what exactly do you run?" Keep your chin up and remember a few things that has helped me deal with difficult personalities. 1. If they don't sign my paychecks...then I don't need to stress over them 2. People treat you the way you let them (which btw I think its pretty interesting that she is up in arms over you...you're obviously a threat to her because you are not a push over!) 3. People usually dig their own holes. 4. Let her own this problem not you. 5. And for gods sakes, be the voice of reason....your superiors will get the picture. 6. (My personal favorite)- Kill her with kindness. That just makes her look insane!

*****I would have to concure with you. That is so true about the amount of work that would have to go into removing "all" forms of casein for the diet to be effective. And its also true that the casein/gluten diet doesn't work for all. He still literally drinks a gallon of milk a day. I know that there is something that I can do about that regardless if my supervisors research and the family agrees to try the diet. I might just have to be ok with that.******

I appreciate the responses that you both have given me. I have been looking on the internet for articles supporting removal of milk from this young man's diet. It's amazing what you find with goolge under casein gluten free diets, or milk AND autism, etc.. As far as working with the M.D.- wow if I only had that much power..lol. I have a book called Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD by Dr. William Shaw from Great Plains Laboratory. I can share that with my supervisor. Plus I did come across an interesting article called Dietary Interventions for the treatment of Autism...but it contains more than just the milk/casein issue we are discussing. I will leave a link for that. You asked why I decided to remove milk from my sons diet. Well my son has regressive autism..meaning he was perfectly fine, born healthy as far as I know- talked on time, walked on time, etc.. only right before 3 years old did I know that he was regressing. By three and a half my son was headbanging and biting. Over the years he has matured. Is just as intelligent as I thought and wanted him to be. But his social communication was poor. My son could talk at you..not with you. I cannot say one particular treatment has turned my son around to where he is learning, calm, less meltdowns, etc..Because being a desparate mother I tried alot at the same time. But I know that milk played a part in all the things I have to do for him. Others being..epsom salt baths, vitamin suppliment and antioxident protocol, yeast treatments. My son had an interesting diet...he would only eat things that contained milk or wheat. His favorite and only foods at one time was pretzels, icecream, sour cream, cheese sticks. And that was it! His behavior was worse, I dont' know how to explain it. I know that off of it, he is much better. And I can see a big difference on his school report if someone in the lunch room had let him have a milk. I know the "wheat" is next on my list. Its just so expensive to accomplish because I know that I will need to substitute with specialty items. Well that was a bit longwinded...that's what usually happens when I start talking about my kid. Here are some articles I ran across and I will keep working up the chain of command for the young man I work with. http://www.gnd.org/autism/autism.htm http://trainland.tripod.com/paul.htm

Hi all, This is a question to anyone who is good at convincing skeptical people about Autism treatments. I am a nurse for a group home for young DD adults. One in particular concerns me. He is Autistic and he drinks at the most a gallon of milk per day. What I know about milk and wheat products and the potential harm they do to these particular kids is not bearing any weight on getting them to stop giving this child milk even just to "see" what happens. I have discussed this issue with co workers. I have discussed the issue with supervisors...but unless I have some kind of offical medical journal stating that milk is bad for autistic people, I dont' know what else I can do. This is really bothering me...My own son has high functioning autism and I have seen the difference in removing milk in particular. I just feel the young man I work for could benefit greatly if milk wasn't such a staple in his diet. And I would like to see it at least "tried" to see what happens. How do I make the people I work with understand I'm not talking voodoo? Thank you for any responses.