Ds1 (8) has been worrying us for a couple of months. He's a bright boy who has always done well at school, in all areas. He's particularly active - enjoys sports and physical activity, plays well with others but doesn't have a best friend as such.
He's just started in junior school and just before half term he was recommended for some special 'attention and listening' classes as his teacher was worried that he wasn't able to listen and pay attention properly. At home, he doesn't appear to listen, forgets things all the time, is incapable of concentrating on chores/homework/school reading without fidgeting or getting bored within minutes. He can sit and read books that interest him, but not for long periods of time. The only thing he can do for long periods is play video games, and he is obsessed by puzzle type video games (Tetris or Bubble Bash style things), he's also amazingly fast at them.
He constantly makes noise, moves about, seems to fling his limbs in all directions and leaps about. He doesn't play with his toys anymore, but can sit for a few minutes playing with ds2 (1). He doesn't seem able to accept responsibility when he does something wrong, hates being reprimanded, repeats bad behaviour, laughs when he accidentally hurts his brother. The list goes on.
Sorry this is so long, wanted to get as much down as I could remember. Would really appreciate anyone's input before I go see the GP.
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ADD, hyperactivity or just a boy?
ididnt · 28/12/2012 18:27
Sorry sipper, I am still here! Had a look and although there are similarities in what you describe, I wouldn't say the symptoms are exactly the same as your dd. Very interesting though all the same, and while I'd be interested to know on the off chance if this problem could be affecting my ds, I'd never have the confidence to persuade my GP. You're lucky your dh knew a bit about it! So glad you found a solution for your dd, and if ever we don't get anywhere with anything else, I will certainly bear in mind your situation 
Sadly I don't think there are many GPs who would even look for gut fermentation let alone test for it.
I feel this is a crying shame as am certain gut fermentation is far more prevalent than is known about.
i am convinced lots of kids could have their behavioural and/or learning issues 'fixed' if this was looked at.
Come on GPs, get it on your radar!
If you do feel some symptoms are same as my DD, but not all, it's worth bearing in mind that different people can display different symptoms.
If you think about how different adults can behave when drunk - some become aggressive, some are away with the fairies, some are merry and amusing, some morose, some wild and untamed, some dont sleep well (certainly not restorative sleep), some might also experience subsequent probs such as constipation or diarrhoea, some might have a variety of different behaviours or go through a spectrum. Looking at the variety of effects that alcohol can have on an adult body it's easy to understand how a child might be affected in numerous ways if they are fermenting foods in their gut.
You could do a mini trial to see if you notice any changes by cutting out sugar and yeast for two or three weeks. These are the main culprits and although there's a bit more to it if clearing out yeast/bacteria, it might be a good starting point for your own peace of mind to see what link you do or don't find.
Sugars include fresh fruits so they need to be out of bounds - but you can keep pineapple, mango, kiwi, papaya, melon, blueberries and green apples as these apparently ferment less, just keep a check on how much per day in order to avoid lots of sugar sneaking in - one or two portion and no more, but then that's in line with what we should be keeping it to anyway so that's not a crazy plan by any means. Cutting out sugar also means dried fruit, fruit juice etc and anything that it is an ingredient in - for instance lots of breakfast cereals, lots of sausages contain sugar (good little sausage company is ok as no sugar), some bacon brands have sugar in. Just need to have a blast of serious label reading and plan ahead for a few days at a time. The sugar in cows milk is also not great so switching to oat milk or goat milk for the two weeks would be useful too. (Ditto use goat butter and goat cheese). White potatoes best kept in check aswell as v starchy and they turn to sugar quickly. Don't have everyday and certainly not more than once a day. Sweet potatoes are ok.
On the yeast front, the obvious thing to cutout during mini trial is bread. Also other things such as use gluten free pasta instead of regular.
Sounds heavy going but is ok if you can make a list and plan. Just need to become an ingredients-reading addict! Fresh veg, meat, fish, eggs all fine. There really is plenty you can still have. I am about to cook the full Sunday roast chicken malarkey and the only thing I am changing is no stock cubes as most have yeast in - but I suppose I should be making gravy with juices anyway so it just makes me kee it fresher. Means you end up have a v healthy diet! Oh yes, meant to add, really helps if everyone does it together as is v supportive and also makes life easier for the cook.
Keep a daily note of what happens/behaviour, mood, bodily functions, learning, concentration, memory, focus. etc
For a two week pain in the behind it could be a major gain
The other thing that comes to mind is the whole sleep issue. I recall reading an article in new scientist ( a few years back so I can't get my hands on it at the mo) that said most common misdiagnosis of ADHD was actually sleep apnoea. Any sleep disturbance, or lack of sleep, commonly manifests as symptoms that can be mislabelled as ADD. By the same note, gut fermentation also affects sleep and makes it less refreshing sleep, threfore can have same 'ADD' effect.
Soz for long post!! Thought best to explain a bit more detail in case of use as this info seems to be sadly lacking from many of the usual routes. Am very fortunate to have a health professional DH who knows his onions....!
Accidental he's certainly been like this since around 3 years old, I'd say, but it appears to be worse now, or maybe we just notice it more because we can compare with other boys his age, whoc seem to be far more mature/in control of themselves to say the least.
sipper thanks so much for taking the time to give me all that info. We're no strangers to diet change - ds2 had trouble with cows milk from 4-10m and as I was bf, we cut it out of both our diets . Sugar and yeast however seem even harder to cut out! I will vertainly bear it in mind, particularly if we don't get anywhere with the other avenues.
Strangely, he seems to have calmed down a bit this last week, not completely gone, his impulsive and OTT behaviour, and I'll be interested to see how he is when school starts back, but he's been sleeping better and I've been making sure to exercise him every day (much like a dog 
), as well as cutting down on sugar, and he does seem better. We'll see...
I agree that diet is a crucial factor. As is sleep.
In case anyone hasn't had a chance to read the whole thread, I just wanted to say that this time last year my DD would have been labelled with ADHD.
Thankfully, knowledgable DH said no way and said she needed to be referred for a specific blood test, which revealed what was really going on.
Please see my first post earlier in this thread and read the other thread I link to for more details. Also, the info in my other posts in this thread.
Am certain that many children believed to have ADHD really do not.
Having seen what I've seen with my DD, and listening to what my DH knows, (he is a health professional), am sure there are lots of children who could be rid of these probs. It's not an overnight fix but is massively worth it against a lifetime of 'managing' and living with the label.
One year on and I cannot express quite how transformed my DD is
I am beginning to be persuaded by this, peeps. I can't get my head around that much label checking and diet-altering at the moment, but I think when we get back into the swing of routine I will have a look at that book you recommend MummyO4.
sipper sleep is definitely a factor here. He woke early this morning (I can only think it is nervousness about school because all through term time he wakes 5.30-6 ish and in the hols has been waking 7.30ish 
) and was worse today than he has been over the last week.
Will be monitoring how he is after school this week, but am fearing the worst.
Thanks sipper for the links. Have had a look at the first one and looks very interesting, and possible quite similar to the one MummyO4 recommended. He wasn't too bad after school today and in fact managed to play for 20mins after school without so much as a yell or twitch out of him 
.
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