On Tuesday, we braved the icy roads and headed out to see our new DAN! doctor. I really didn’t know much about him, except he follows the best protocols for chelation, and my neighbor uses him. It was a regular doctor’s office, but his staff knew exactly how to distract a child with autism. The kids were well-behaved, given the length of the wait and the lateness of the hour. (It was a 7:30 appointment, and we got home at almost 11pm.) The doctor was very nice, and since I came armed with a list and all my suspicions, all he needed to ask were a few questions about history. He provided a site and recommendations for supplements (costly!), a battery of tests for the kids, and options on lab work. We opted for the smaller test that will be covered; the other tests he told us run $600-700 per child. (Wow!) The next consultation can be done by phone, after the labwork (round 1, I presume) is in.
He told us to continue on the casein-free diet, but rather than jumping into to gluten-free, to eliminate the foods that our kids go crazy for. For Zoe that means anything tomato-based or red, apples and berries. For Amelia, that means chocolate. (And we haven’t had her birthday party yet, good grief!! What will I do???)
For mom and dad, that means more deprivation (good grief, I MISS pizza!) and lots of screaming. Zoe just LOOKS at tomato sauce and she MUST HAVE IT. Augh, this will be hard…
FAREWELL, BELOVED ITALIAN FOODS THAT ARE RED! LIFE WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU...
Delena@LivingLearningLaundry says
Oh, I feel your pain. =) I remember when I discovered (entirely on my own) that I was Celiac. The lifestyle change is still difficult sometimes, and this is just shy of two years later. Casein-free and soy-free are even more challenging, I’ve heard, because I’ve been able to eat some things on my GF diet that my friends couldn’t on their SF or CF diets. One diabetic friend of mine must also avoid casein AND soy, in addition to her diabetic diet. I cry for her. =)
In all things, just a little transition at a time. And hang in there!
Delena
admin says
Thank you Delena! This is the ‘eliminate favorite foods’ diet. Not glutens, but if Zoe can’t have sauce, she has no interest in pasta. VERY challenging. I wish I’d tried this when they were MUCH younger…easier when you’re still teaching them to eat. AND I’ve been trying to reduce anything (the very very little we still buy) with high fructose corn syrup. The worst part is the cost of the substitute stuff, yikes! So back to basics: chicken with lemon and garlic, for example. And fruits for desserts. Why not? Crazier things have happened, lol…
Delena@LivingLearningLaundry says
Oh, I feel your pain. =) I remember when I discovered (entirely on my own) that I was Celiac. The lifestyle change is still difficult sometimes, and this is just shy of two years later. Casein-free and soy-free are even more challenging, I’ve heard, because I’ve been able to eat some things on my GF diet that my friends couldn’t on their SF or CF diets. One diabetic friend of mine must also avoid casein AND soy, in addition to her diabetic diet. I cry for her. =)
In all things, just a little transition at a time. And hang in there!
Delena
admin says
Thank you Delena! This is the ‘eliminate favorite foods’ diet. Not glutens, but if Zoe can’t have sauce, she has no interest in pasta. VERY challenging. I wish I’d tried this when they were MUCH younger…easier when you’re still teaching them to eat. AND I’ve been trying to reduce anything (the very very little we still buy) with high fructose corn syrup. The worst part is the cost of the substitute stuff, yikes! So back to basics: chicken with lemon and garlic, for example. And fruits for desserts. Why not? Crazier things have happened, lol…
Jessica says
Great attitude to have, you will find alternative foods and never look back! The hardest part is going out to eat, anywhere, you must travel with your own food. Although, being dairy free, I find, is easier then gluten-free, as far as eating out. Gluten is truly in everything, it’s unreal. I am just dairy free and I can still eat out, but the kids, it’s complicated. At least there are a lot of restaurants that have allergen-free menus now. The problem with that is that they are not free of food dyes, MSG and high fructose corn syrup, among other nasties.
Glad to hear the appointment went well. I am curious to know what tests he is ordering? And what were the others that were optional?
Jessica
Jessica says
Great attitude to have, you will find alternative foods and never look back! The hardest part is going out to eat, anywhere, you must travel with your own food. Although, being dairy free, I find, is easier then gluten-free, as far as eating out. Gluten is truly in everything, it’s unreal. I am just dairy free and I can still eat out, but the kids, it’s complicated. At least there are a lot of restaurants that have allergen-free menus now. The problem with that is that they are not free of food dyes, MSG and high fructose corn syrup, among other nasties.
Glad to hear the appointment went well. I am curious to know what tests he is ordering? And what were the others that were optional?
Jessica
Dr. Leona Allen says
I enjoy reading the blogs on your site. I know this journey is challenging, but it does get easier. Stay with it, you are doing a great job!
Dr. Leona
http://CuteOrganicBaby.com
admin says
Dr. Leona, thank you! I know it gets easier…but of course, then a new challenge arises, and it gets challenging again. Such is the life of a parent! Thanks for commenting.
Dr. Leona Allen says
I enjoy reading the blogs on your site. I know this journey is challenging, but it does get easier. Stay with it, you are doing a great job!
Dr. Leona
http://CuteOrganicBaby.com
admin says
Dr. Leona, thank you! I know it gets easier…but of course, then a new challenge arises, and it gets challenging again. Such is the life of a parent! Thanks for commenting.