Lyme Disease ? - Autism Spectrum Message Board

Kolby · 01-09-2007, 01:41 PM

Do a google search and you will find that some reports are stating that 90% of child with Autism have Lyme disease.

Has anyone had their children checked for this?
Should we now worry?
Michelle

jeffreys mom · 01-09-2007, 10:10 PM

Hi Michelle;

How are guys??? Funny.... we are always somewhere on the same page of things. FYI... Last June, my son was bitten by a tick while we were at a cookout in the woodsy part of New Hampshire. I actually saw the tick on him and it was beginning to burry itself into the skin at the corner of my son's eye. I was able to get it off but it was already working in getting under the skin.

Right after that, within a day my son developed a high fever (103). He also suffered the most significant regression he has ever had and it lasted about a month. I did take him to the pediatrician the day after the bite but was told that it takes time for it to show up in the blood work ( about 16 days ) if it was Lyme disease.

Fortunately he got better from the illness and the regression worked itself through. I never did get him tested for Lyme because he seemed to recover from what ever it was that bothered him. It was pretty frightening though.

I also know of another Autistic Child that contracted lyme disease and it really did a number on him. He never fully bounced back from being sick with it.

I don't know if our kids are more prone to getting Lyme Disease, but the Neurological problems associated with it are much too much for ours kids to handle.

How is Kolby ??? Did you ever resolve his #2 thing?

Kolby · 01-10-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffreys mom

Hi Michelle;

How are guys??? Funny.... we are always somewhere on the same page of things. FYI... Last June, my son was bitten by a tick while we were at a cookout in the woodsy part of New Hampshire. I actually saw the tick on him and it was beginning to burry itself into the skin at the corner of my son's eye. I was able to get it off but it was already working in getting under the skin.

Right after that, within a day my son developed a high fever (103). He also suffered the most significant regression he has ever had and it lasted about a month. I did take him to the pediatrician the day after the bite but was told that it takes time for it to show up in the blood work ( about 16 days ) if it was Lyme disease.

Fortunately he got better from the illness and the regression worked itself through. I never did get him tested for Lyme because he seemed to recover from what ever it was that bothered him. It was pretty frightening though.

I also know of another Autistic Child that contracted lyme disease and it really did a number on him. He never fully bounced back from being sick with it.

I don't know if our kids are more prone to getting Lyme Disease, but the Neurological problems associated with it are much too much for ours kids to handle.

How is Kolby ??? Did you ever resolve his #2 thing?

Oh get him checked you just never know. My Dad had it and he was down for the count for a while. I've never seen one on Kolby. At least they are trying to find out what causes Autism. They've said older dads, lyme, shots...
I really kinda feel like it might be some type of combination.

Kolby now goes #2 in the potty. Just decided by himself it was time. He does wait a few days though and then he has a lot come out of him. Alsways the size of a potato. But not dry or green or anything odd. Just like it sits in the bottom of his intestines for a bit. He never says it hurts or stays on the potty too long. Never pushes or anything. I believe it is he who won't release it.
But thankfully that drama is over and he is going on his own.

He is doing pretty well overall but still doesn't always understand conversation and can't really tell you how his day was. So I am pushing for a pragmatic course for him. Since his speech therapist has dropped him to about 15 minutes per week. UGH! What is that women thinking? Anyway I have gone to a really nice higher up to get that corrected. He still has his moody days. Sometimes more often then I would like. But he is good with eye contact and doesn't run and hide when people walk in the door. He is no longer obsessed with any one thing (the alphabet). He has never had any stimming or staring at things. He has never spun wheels or played with one toy for a while. So our main thing now is the conversation and his temper. Oh and his eating better. I really feel Kolby's diet has a lot to do with his temper and his speech. But that is just me. I'm not saying every Autistic child should change their diet.

How is your son doing? Is he talking well?
Michelle

jeffreys mom · 01-10-2007, 09:43 AM

Michelle;

I believe you are right about the diet. I have found that when my son eats certain things it triggers severe behavioral issues. It makes me sad for him since it's things I know he loves but I truly feel affect him adversly. He loves Cheeze its... Gold Fish... but when he has them he is completely behaviorally off with eye contact, hitting, he bit my daughter the last time he ate them.

When I remove all dairy he does terrific !!!!

He does very well talking about things that he wants to talk about. His problem comes when he is asked something he tends to flood with thought and has a hard time getting it out. He does eventually but it's alittle bit of a challenge. It is coming though !!! He also has a difficult time with the give and take of conversation. If it's not his topic then he sometimes resists and insists that it be about his interest. He's really beginning to look more Asperger like as he gets older.

He is so cute and often funny but very literal about everything and extremely rigid about how he thinks things should be. I'm always changing things so he gets used to the change and he accepts it although reluctantly.

He is extremely intelligent. He is beginning to read some and he amazingly has picked up basic math skills and although it wasn't taught to him. He picks up anything that is concrete very easily.

He also ( yaaaay !!!! ) has learned to play with my daughter and the expansion of his play has come so far. He is learning how to play with others cooperatively and does very well with the imitation.

He goes to our public school in an integrated setting for 10 hours a week. The school after a huge battle started providing 10 hours of 1:1 ABA outside of his school day. I have used some of the 1:1 time to enroll him in a private preschool with typical kids and the ABA person attends for part of that time to enhance his social skills. The private school teachers tell me he does so well that he blends with the other kids. It's not obvious unless you know what you are looking at.

Jeffrey was 4 in November. He has one more year before kindergarden. It's my hope and a goal that he be ready to attend with no additional assistance.

Most times he does very well. It seems that he's on a rollercoaster though. Whenever he is about to develop new skills, he seems to be thrown off and the PDD signs are noticable and it appears he regresses. But so far there seems to be a pattern of regression followed by a significant developmental gain and then he's great for a while.

Long winded.... sorry. Thanks for asking

Ann Marie

BetsyAnn · 01-10-2007, 12:31 PM

Kolby, that is very interesting about the Lyme. I did some searching after I read your 1st post. I read that if one member of family has lyme that others can catch it from them, especially if they have immune disfunction.

Jeffrey's Mom, it is wonderful how well your little guy is doing. I am so glad you were able to get him that exta ABA. It sounds like he is ready for kindergarten already! I bet he will be top of his class. I'm sure it just melts your heart to see him playing with his sister.