Guest
I can't believe it - but I have my sweet little boy back again. The sweetness had all but escaped from my 4-1/2 year old. Like many of you I'm sure, I had read every parenting book I could find. We had been to psychologists, sought help from daycare teachers/directors/owners, doctors, etc. The raging tantrums, constant opposition/defiance, hitting, general mean-spiritedness had taken its toll on so many who were around him. The worst part for me was knowing how unhappy he was! He didn't like being so impulsive. He had told me, the psychologist and others that he didn't know how to stop his body from doing those things - it "just happened" and "I can't help it-I'm sorry!!!".
We had tried switching his diet (we rarely gave him processed foods or foods with artificial dyes and flavors) - avoided certain favorite foods and substituted others - but hadn't noticed any changes in behavior. In June I found your wonderful site. And at the time there was a string of emails about a child "raging" on ketchup. Wow! Someone else was describing exactly what I had been seeing for years from my son! Someone else understood!
I continued doing some research and found a wonderful research lab that does the ELISA food allergy and a variety of other diagnostic tests (many for ADD/ADHD, by the way). I played phone tag with our holistic (& homeopathic) MD about having these simple tests done. He was doubtful the test results would be helpful. But when I made an appointment pleading my case in person (with lots of back-up data from our pre-school and psychologist, and info from the lab's website), the doctor indulged this mom's wishes.
Kenny was sensitive (ie delayed reaction of hours to 3 days after eating the food) to 60+ of the 100 foods they tested him for! EVERY meal I fed him - from as far back as I can remember- contained a food he was sensitive to. Basic foods like Wheat, Soy (he LIVED on soy butter & jelly sandwiches!), peaches, strawberries (he alternated between those 2 yogurts daily) carrots (he used to have a "healthy" carrot snack every afternoon), honey.... all vegetables except asparagus! Tomatoes (what child DOESN'T eat ketchup & spaghetti sauce!) - and on and on. We immediately removed all 60+ foods from his diet.
What a change! For the first time since he was born, I'm using words like reasonable, calm, PATIENT to describe my child! Don't get me wrong, he's still challenging - but more in-line with what you expect from a 4-yr old.
Other people, his teachers, etc cannot believe this is the same child. One month into this diet, and my son doesn't complain a bit about not eating any of his old foods. He feels so much better now and is control of his body. He's hardly ever in trouble anymore - he's laughing - enjoying his friends ---- and playing unbelievably well with his 2-yr old sister.
Thank you to all of you who wrote about your child & the food allergy info. It reassured me I was on the right track and helped me not give up the fight to find out what was wrong. This is the site of the lab I mentioned: www.gsdl.com I believe they can refer you to a doctor who approves these tests if you need one. Thank you & best of luck to you!
Take Care,
Kenny's mom
4-1/2 year old boy- former difficult child - now my darling angel boy
2-1/2 year old girl - wonderfully spirited
husband - married 9+ years
We had tried switching his diet (we rarely gave him processed foods or foods with artificial dyes and flavors) - avoided certain favorite foods and substituted others - but hadn't noticed any changes in behavior. In June I found your wonderful site. And at the time there was a string of emails about a child "raging" on ketchup. Wow! Someone else was describing exactly what I had been seeing for years from my son! Someone else understood!
I continued doing some research and found a wonderful research lab that does the ELISA food allergy and a variety of other diagnostic tests (many for ADD/ADHD, by the way). I played phone tag with our holistic (& homeopathic) MD about having these simple tests done. He was doubtful the test results would be helpful. But when I made an appointment pleading my case in person (with lots of back-up data from our pre-school and psychologist, and info from the lab's website), the doctor indulged this mom's wishes.
Kenny was sensitive (ie delayed reaction of hours to 3 days after eating the food) to 60+ of the 100 foods they tested him for! EVERY meal I fed him - from as far back as I can remember- contained a food he was sensitive to. Basic foods like Wheat, Soy (he LIVED on soy butter & jelly sandwiches!), peaches, strawberries (he alternated between those 2 yogurts daily) carrots (he used to have a "healthy" carrot snack every afternoon), honey.... all vegetables except asparagus! Tomatoes (what child DOESN'T eat ketchup & spaghetti sauce!) - and on and on. We immediately removed all 60+ foods from his diet.
What a change! For the first time since he was born, I'm using words like reasonable, calm, PATIENT to describe my child! Don't get me wrong, he's still challenging - but more in-line with what you expect from a 4-yr old.
Other people, his teachers, etc cannot believe this is the same child. One month into this diet, and my son doesn't complain a bit about not eating any of his old foods. He feels so much better now and is control of his body. He's hardly ever in trouble anymore - he's laughing - enjoying his friends ---- and playing unbelievably well with his 2-yr old sister.
Thank you to all of you who wrote about your child & the food allergy info. It reassured me I was on the right track and helped me not give up the fight to find out what was wrong. This is the site of the lab I mentioned: www.gsdl.com I believe they can refer you to a doctor who approves these tests if you need one. Thank you & best of luck to you!
Take Care,
Kenny's mom
4-1/2 year old boy- former difficult child - now my darling angel boy
2-1/2 year old girl - wonderfully spirited
husband - married 9+ years