We get to have Gastrointestinal problems too?

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Yep. I've got a complicated case of Ulcerative Colitis. That showed before anyone figured out I had ASD. Double stigma, yay!

This article is a bit technical, but offers the interesting view that phospholipid disorders in autism may be part of the puzzle of gut and other problems that seem to occur at a higher incidence on the spectrum than in other populations. Phospholipids are part of the cell membrane. Phospholipid disorder raises inflammation in the body (immunologists have known this for a long time) and inflammation is the start of complex chain reactions.

While undergoing some investigations a few years ago for my immune deficiency, the clinicians noticed that I had a defect in phospholipid function; this article suggests the phospholipid fault may be present in all people on the spectrum. It may be that this will prove to be one of the more reliable biomarkers for recognising autism in the future - or not. Whatever, it will probably interest anyone who is already interested in the physical side of things re ASDs.

http://www.medref.se/eyeq/bell.pdf

Very interesting information, B19.

I have had GI issues all my life and asthma--also an inflammatory disease.

I tried active yogurt, but like other yogurts, it caused cramping and other nasty effects, so I limit my exposure.

I am looking forward to seeing where this research goes.

Do you eat lactose free yoghurt? If not, maybe that is the reason for the bad reaction.

Adamantium, here is another 2013 scientific article that you may also find extremely interesting relevant to ASD and the issue of phospholipid dysfunction due to anti-phospholipid factors in ASD populations. Again, it is very technical though if you have the kind of mind that enjoys that, the information is very thought provoking and perhaps very illuminating too. This avenue of inquiry may (or may not) eventually offer more useful findings - for the actual ASD population - than the current vogue for MRI (or not).

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2013/935608/

It may be that taking lecithin could be helpful to modulate this phospholipid dysfunction/deficiency. Lecithin has very specific effects on the body lipids. There is some research on that too, it is easy to find on google if anyone is interested.

Hmm, if that happened today she'd probably immediately write a blog post about how hard life is "taking care of" an autistic child.

*note: that was a general statement of our times, not meant to be an attack on you or your family.

Keep calm and Chamomile on.

I don't have tummy trouble but my mum has a severe, chronic gastrointestinal illness. Apparently it usually skips a generation...

I don't have any gastrointestinal problems.

There is a stigma against colitis?

Certain foods cause me phlegm and post nasal drip, including cheese and milk products, but I like cheese, and sometimes like to make homemade ice cream out of powdered milk and chocolate Ovaltine, so I put up with it. I don't really care much for just drinking milk, so I don't usually buy liquid milk. Keeping the powdered version around makes more sense, as it won't go bad on me. I have also never liked adding milk to cereal. I prefer to eat dry cereals that way. I will sometimes make cooked cereals, but use water in the cooking process. I will sometimes add a little juice or fruit preserves to the cooked cereals, though.

I have had a lifelong problem with acid stomach and acid reflux. I found that greasy fried foods and stress made it a lot worse, so some years ago I switched to rarely having greasy fried foods. Living with relatives caused most of my stress. Almost ten years ago my living situation changed to a solitary one, reducing my stress levels, so now I rarely need to use any antacids. I actually still have part of a bottle of chewable mint antacids that I brought with me when I moved up here almost a decade ago. That's how good my changes were.

I have always had a weak bladder, but usually make it to the bathroom in time. Unfortunately, I sometimes get too engrossed in surfing the web, or wake up with too full a bladder.

I have IBS, and have always had bowel problems, sometimes diarrhea, but mostly constipation, and colonic inertial. I found out some years ago, through a colonoscopy, that I have a kink in my bowel, which I had suspected for decades. The bowel problems eventually led to my getting hemorrhoids. I tried probiotics, but they give me diarrhea. I have tried every type of fiber laxative available here--Metamucil types, Citracel types, and Benefiber, but they give me gas and diarrhea. Fiber from eating fruit, veggies, and whole grains is gentler on my system, while still doing the job, but none of that will cure the kink in my bowel, but they do help some. As long as I am able to poop, it's best not to have surgery, as that usually leads to scar tissue gradually building up, causing a new blockage, and then you have to have surgery again in a few years to remove that new blockage, leading to more scar tissue, another blockage, and more surgery, etc., etc., etc.,.

Awesome book! Found it at a book sale for $2! Highly recommended!

I've been diagnosed myself with 'moderate chronic gastritis' and IBS-C. When I asked my gastro doc who did the scopes if a gluten-free diet would help, he just shook his head & said no - the closest thing to a natural recommendation he made was to suggest a special probiotic that costs $45.99 for a 30-day supply, not covered by OHIP. I'm only on welfare - that ain't happenin'

Whenever I go through a period of great anxiety (nowadays it's usually because of work) my digestive system collapses!
My boss' job is pretty much holding everything together for everyone (about 30 people), which means people asking for all sorts of things that have to be done right away, all day long! It also demands a lot of telephone talking, which I absolutely hate! That said, I got so traumatized by the first time I was in charge during my boss' vacation, that on the second time I got hemorrhoids three days before she left.
Also, I had a bizarre infection that affected all my digestive system. After a few days in charge, I was in so much pain and going to the bathroom every 5 minutes, so one of my colleagues demanded I should stop working, and drove me to the hospital.
I did a bunch of exams to find out what the problem was, and after all my doctor told me it was all caused by stress.
I'm not sure how much it has to do with being Aspie, though. Almost everybody on my father's side of the family has gastrointestinal problems... But I'm the only one on the spectrum, so far.