LaurieAnn
Just for the record, that post was not fully directed at you.
I have three children, one ASD, so yes I empathize with raising a child on the spectrum as well as with being a parent. If you would like help finding resources I am willing to assist. There are ways to get funding for all sorts of help, if one is willing. Not always easy to find, but it is out there.
Some places even have respite funding-where a trained worker who IS happy to spend time with an autistic child, regardless of where on the spectrum they are, will either take your son in for a weekend, or come to your home to care for him so you and your husband can have some away time.
My son is also noticing, just recently, that he is 'different' (not the word he used). Rather than cry with him (I wanted to) I have engaged him in social training, found a socail skills group for him and, (I am so very thrilled) he has made incredible progress. I will happily share those resources with you as well.
I have family also, that are 'uncomfortable' and make ridiculous statements and are not involved. I no longer care. My family does not need persons involved with us that are that uncaring. I am sorry you went through that.
My offer to help find resources in your area is sincere. Check my profile, email address is there.

LaurieAnn,

No, it isn't a picnic, and venting is sometimes necessary. Honesty about the difficulties in parenting children is, too, I think. I hope you'll join Sirenity, others, and me over at www.raisingautism.co.nr/. We'll be a soft shoulder for you. :-)

It is not only one study that shows a correlation. DAN doctors, the only doctors that actually treat autism, have been finding this correlation between autoimmunity and autsim for decades and speaking out about it. Yes, DAN doctors who are in possession of some of the best data concerning what is going on insides the bodies of people with autism....the same DAN doctors who have offered their data to the American Academy of Pediatrics only to be turned down. So no, I will not control the finger waving when it comes to the AAP. In my opinion,then have grossly neglected Autism and need to be held accountable.

I don't enjoy feeling this angry . And yes, I am angry and I'm not sorry for it. You have NO IDEA what my family has been through. My autistic child had a complete change in personality and became violent...most of the day, everywhere. For two years the pediatricians told me "that's just part of the autism, there's nothing you can do." Finally I had enough and demanded an EEG, turns out it was like 4th of July in that child's head, he was seizing 24 hours a day. Why are so many of us unable to get doctors to take our children's health concerns seriously? Thousands of parents, including myself, report talking our autistic children who have severe GI problems for treatment only to have the doctor refuse to examine them.

yep, up to three times greater risk doesn't mean much when absolute values aren't provided. Is it 0.00001% versus 0.00003%?? Or 1 in 5 versus 6 in 10%?? People can cook numbers to say whatever they like. As I've always said, there's lies, da m n lies, and statistics.

Josephius, first I want to thank you dialoguing with us here. As a doctor I'm guessing it may not be pleasant to see heaped all that we are heaping here, and we can seem rude maybe, but thanks for sticking around and talking. I want to be clear that I understand that there are some very good doctors out there.

I think Craig makes a good point about some doctors not listening to patients. My son's neuro put him on Depakote, which has helped with the seizures but has triggered the onset of severe OCD and full blown panic attacks when he leaves the house. I suggested to the neuro that maybe he is on the wrong med. He replied that he loves Depakote for kids and that is mostly what he prescribes because they tolerate it well. I feel like he was one size fits all viewing my son...should we really assume what works well for a typical kid with seizures will automatically work for an individual autistic kid with seizures?

Here's the worst of it: instead of considering switching the med he suggesting adding Risperdal. I asked him if there are any side effects to which he replied, "no, none". Well, I turn on CBS news the next day and learn that the company that makes Risperdal is being sued because a significant % of boys on it develop irreversable lactating breasts. So, you see, I've lost any automatic trust in my son's doctors.

"They've been saying"

"They don't listen to us"

This is about SHOWING US THE DATA. Research, performed correctly, peer-reviewed and published. Not 'saying' something. Not BS claims. DAN! docs should know what their responsibilities are to humanity, if they are really doctors.

If they do not follow the proper procedure for testing and reporting, then what they say and do is little more than selling snake oil. Here's a hint: there's a reason why they do not perform the studies and publish, and instead, pedal their "treatments" over the internet or write books. That should be clue #1 for you. I guarantee you, a DAN! doc that publishes a bonafide study that is published in a reputable, mainstream journal will be front runner form the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Funny how it doesn't work that way, huh? That should be clue #2.

" dugmaze
"When will the Doctors and Scientists start listening to the parents?"
What bothers me the most is the healthcare professionals that know there are issues but only see them in their peripheral vision.
Trust isn't being broken, it's being shattered."
*****************
Good grief. Are you accusing the entire medical profession of a mind boggling coverup? So not only do you disbelieve the scientific studies that have been peer reviewed, and disbelieve anything the CDC has to say, and disbelieve that vaccines prevent deadly disease and believe that vaccines cause autism, believe that DAN doctors are the only doctors who magically escaped the conspiracy, believe vaccines/mercury/toxins/endless list causes autism yet also believe it is not genetic... you Also believe that doctors KNOW!! They know these untrained emotional parents are right! and that they what? pretend?

How about some realism

So, this is universally institutionalized then, because many doctors here in the U.S. trained at foreign schools. Perhaps it's medicine in general. Is it all corrupt nonsense? And those who enter the field? What are their motives.

Your perspective is highly questionable.

abitcrunchy

There are some doctors who realize that parents are open to being brainwashed by the many fear mongering, fact twisting organizations that use anecdotes over evidence. These doctors go on to sell their 'miracle cure' or 'amazing treatment' at great cost to the parents.

These treatments and cures are rarely harmless, sometimes downright dangerous. Do those doctors have a conscious? Does the almighty buck make it ok for them?
http://www.raisingautism.co.nr/ Is one of many places you can find info on these 'cures' and 'treatments'.

As for this woo link you posted, Shaken Baby syndrome is not a joke. "Medical professionals strongly suspect shaking as the cause of injuries when a baby or small child presents with retinal hemorrhage, fractures, soft tissue injuries or subdural hematoma, that cannot be explained by accidental trauma or other medical conditions. About three quarters of cases involve retinal hemorrhaging." *from wiki*

Care to explain what else would cause broken ribs, retinal hemorrhage, subdural hematoma? oh wait, let me guess... vaccines magically do these things. I see.
Studies to back up your passionate fear mongering please.

Sirenity, the Oraccolytes claim that the GFCF diet is snake-oil and show extreme contempt for anyone who uses it.

Parents have been using the GFCF diet for years now, and they have seen good results in most cases. I use it because my son is allergic to wheat and milk products.

I never claimed that there was a study that looked at children with Celiac. I was asking if one had been done.

Right, the large majority of people with autoimmune do not have children with autism. Exactly, this points to the complexity of autism in that there are many influences, this being but one in some cases. I have gluten intolerance and an autistic son. The medical community did not know officially that there might be a connection back when he was born so I am not blaming them for anything in this regard. But, to know since 2002 about the Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes 1 connection and just basically ignore it as a curiosity, unacceptable!