Autism and GI problems

Post Reply New Topic

First of all, let me just say what a great forum this is. As I've started to figure out the autism spectrum and my place in it, I've learned that your issues are my issues.

One of the biggest surprises to me as I've been researching autism and Aspergers is the link - or at least suspected link - with gastrointestinal problems. For me, this has been a lifelong issue and without going into all the specifics, I've been hospitalized three times in my adult life with GI problems and "cramping" often leads to me passing out (once or twice a year on average). On several occasions, such fainting episodes have lead to minor injury and when I come around, there is usually an intense white static in my head that takes a couple of minutes to work through. In my early 20s, I thought I might be having seizures but testing was negative and the whole thing has been kind of an annoying mystery for the last 20 years.

Even after coming to the conclusion that I'm likely autistic, the GI link never occured to me until I started looking into the causes of autism. I know the MMR vaccine theory has been largely debunked but the GI issue seems to be a central part of that debate.

Just kind of curious as to what kinds of experiences others have had and if anyone can point me in the direction of some good research on the subject. I've been googling around and have come across numerous studies, some suggesting the link between autism and GI problems is fuzzy at best and others suggesting a statistical correlation among those with autism and chronic GI issues.

Thanks in advance.

I wish I knew more resources to direct you to, but I don't. I do think that the GI problems are somehow related to Autism, though. There does seem to be a very strong statistical correlation. Most people I've talked to or heard from with autism spectrum disorders have some very serious GI problems. I've suffered from them too, though I've never needed to be hospitalized.

One thing I've been curious about is whether or not stress and anxiety might be one of the contributing factors. It probably doesn't explain everything, though, because I used to have problems ever since I was a kid. And I don't think I was under significant stress at that time.

Well, whatever the case, I hope others can help out more. I'm curious too to see if anyone has any good research to share.

In genera, Irritable Bowel seen as largely being caused or exacerbated by anxiety and anxiety is something that a Aspies we all live with. I have IBS and the more the stresses I have the worse I get stomach cramps. Hope this helps your understanding.

I don't have any links for you to read. But I have struggled with GI problems my whole life also. I think my are anxiety related. Just my guess though.

I've suffered from severe stomach aches my entire life. My doctor said it was IBS but couldn't suggest anything to help. A couple of years ago, I decided to cut milk out of my diet and I've been pretty much fine ever since. Well, except for a couple of days ago when I ordered an iced chocolate without thinking about it - sure enough, within half an hour, the pain started. I'm now fairly convinced that I'm lactose intolerant.

Whether it's related to AS, I don't know, but there do seem to be a lot of Aspies with stomach complaints, so it's a possibility.

I admit I'm partial to too much coffee in the morning, which doesn't help my stomach or my anxiety!