Gut and digestive dysfunctions in AS??

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Hello,

I seem to recall reading somewhere that people on the spectrum have abnormal stomach/intestinal functions. I'm not sure if my fellow Aspies (and autists) have experienced this but I know that I have, including the following:

- more squeamish than the average person
- very little tolerance for reading as a passenger in a car (slightly more on a train) w/o feeling the urge to vomit
- getting the flu about 2x a year
- more choosy about foods - sometimes get sick just looking at certain foods, like bean salad at a bar-b-q...
- occasionally have days where I've got the runs several days in a row, just like that

However, I sometimes wonder if this is because of my occasional anxieties that have surfaced in the past as a comorbid symptom. I don't seem to get this much more anymore, since I'm in a guy in my late 30s and my life has been stabilized for the last third of it or so, but in my younger years (and every now and then...) I got gut issues. And I suspected that was because I didn't get my diagnosis till 27, so a lot of that anxiety was brought on by constantly thinking "what the hell is wrong with me, why am I so different." I also tend to get flu more often than most people.

But I don't understand how this could be directly induced by ASD, because ASD only seems to affect the "lower" brain functions such as motor skills, natural instinct, and nonverbal communication. I don't think it affects brain stem regulated body functions such as digestion, any more than it would heartbeat or breathing. Who knows - do you?

Well, they did some research on the idea, and found that autism isn't associated with digestive disturbances more than other developmental disorders. So, there's no direct connection, really.

What does seem to be different from autistic to NT is that autistic people are often hypersensitive. That makes digestive problems more of a problem for an autistic person than for an NT.

Since digestive problems are very common for everyone in general, it stands to reason that they would also be equally common on the Spectrum--which they are. Treating them can actually increase your coping skills a good deal, not because it has any effect on your autism, but because they are no longer taking up attention and energy.

Your vulnerability to carsickness is probably due to sensitivity to your vestibular sense--your inner ear rather than your digestive system. There's a topic floating around the General forum about dyspraxia that mentions carsickness; check that one out.

Being choosy about foods can be a result of taste/texture sensitivity. You may be able to increase your range of foods by exposing yourself to them slowly.

Anxiety can express itself as indigestion, yes. I've heard of more than one kid who was so afraid to go to school that s/he threw up in the morning, due purely to anxiety. It's called "somatization"--psychological experiences expressing themselves as physical symptoms. Happens to everybody, to some degree.

Regarding the flu: If you're vulnerable to that, have you considered getting flu shots? I get mine every year. They don't cost much; I've never paid more than about $25, and sometimes you can get them for free. It's really worth it to skip a week's worth of huddling in bed feeling miserable, and I just can't afford to miss that much school.

Hi Jayo, when you say you get the flu 2x per year, do you mean influenza or what's commonly called a "stomach flu"?

Anyway like many people I have a slight sensitivity to wheat gluten. There is some debate whether this is related to AS or simply a coincidence. I do know that 1 year on a gluten-free diet has not only improved the physical symptoms such as diarrhea and loss of appetite, but also relieved some of the mental fatigue, irritability, and insomnia I used to experience. However it hasn't seemed to help with other things like hypersensitivities or social interactions.

Reading down your ist I see we have some traits in common. I also get carsick easily and am a picky eater. Interesting discussion~!

Yes, I too have heard of gut issues, as well as some motor control issues, for those on the spectrum. I have always had a little bit of a lack of hand/eye coordination, and hand motor dexterity. Also, I have suffered with reading induced car sickness, and other gut issues. I did eventually find out several years ago that I have a kink in my bowel, but that is only part of the problem. In addition, I have taste/texture sensory issues with foods. This makes me hesitant to try new foods. I will buy new foods and keep them on hand until I am ready to try them. This is often not for several months. I have always hated baked beans because they don't taste like food, are extremely overcooked, and seem "dead" when I have tried them. Many other foods also seem "dead" to me also. Recently, I did get a can of dark red kidney beans to try, because I want more canned foods on hand for emergencies. Although I don't care for them, and they are also tasteless, they are not overcooked, and don't seem "dead" like the baked beans are. The BBQ sauce I put on them did help get them down. I will get a few more cans to try them with BBQ meats, and with cheese, because I think I can handle them occasionally when mixed with flavorings, so they will help expand my emergency supplies. I will also try some of the other canned beans, but I will avoid the baked beans. I was surprised by one thing, though. I had expected to have a lot of gas from them, but didn't get a bad gas reaction to them, just the usual amount I have from my usual intestinal problems.

I have always been a picky eater, which did cause a lot of trouble when I was growing up. I prefer to have my own choice of what I am willing to try, and when I am willing to try it. I can't stand being pushed around over food issues because of all the childhood hassles. However, I still have family problems over my eating habits--and I am in my 50s! I am so glad that I now live alone! Many foods provide a bad taste/texture experience to me, so I can't eat them. Others irritate my stomach and/or my intestines, and must be avoided. I can't eat soups or broth, because the least little bit of oil in them makes me nauseous. One of the worst for me is chicken soup or chicken broth--and I like chicken. I also can't stand any creamed foods except ice cream, and apple sauce, and the new fruits sauces that are mixed with apple sauce.

My intestinal problems have given me a lot of trouble all of my life, from enemas as a child on down the years to hemeroids now. I spend a lot of the time on the toilet, but a lot of that is due to the kink in my bowel. I also have gas and abdominal discomfort on a regular basis.

According to what I have read from a number of sources these food and gut issues are not uncommon among people on the spectrum, like we don't have enough trouble with other sensory issues and social issues.

I think the best way to handle food and gut issues is to stay in control of what you eat and when. Do try new things, but on your own schedule, not someone else's. I have managed to try a number of new things at restaurant buffets in small amounts, and by taking free samples of food being offered at supermarkets. For instance, I found out that I liked raw cauliflower a little bit that way, but hated broccoli.

We on the spectrum have a lot to deal with, but remember, we are all:

A Different Drummer

If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
Perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
However measured or far away.

--Henry David Thoreau