Do you have GI issues? IBS, Gerd, Gastritis etc

[ofwarren]

Many studies show that GI issues are extremely common in autistic individuals. Do you struggle too?

My eldest has acid reflux, as does my middle autistic child. I have chronic gastritis, IBS, GERD and a gluten intolerance.

How do you manage this as an autistic person? It must be so hard for those of us with AFRID.

The main issue for me is that I don't know when I'm thirsty so I end up constipated and I've huge sensory issues with clothes touching my often sore or swollen abdomen, to the point where I'm considering buying maternity leggings. Frustratingly, I need compression to feel comfortable, just not around that area.

Absolutely yes - diagnosed ASD, but no diagnosis to match my chronic gastric symptoms which include IBS-type symptoms, reflux, heartburn, crushing indigestion and so on.

I take a LOT of OTC omeprazole, drink mint tea and hope for the best. I also wear a lot of tight compression-type garments (body suits, leggings etc) - a combination, I think, of sensory-seeking and and physical comfort.

It's dreadful isn't it
I'm on lansoprazole permanently and unless I eat a none processed diet and cut out basically everything nice, I'm in pain. I have to sleep eith the head of my bed propped up and I pop gaviscon like nobodies business.

As you say, there is a lot of interesting clinical data linking gut issues with ND diagnoses - the link between the 'big brain' and the 'little brain'.

Yes - IBS and acid reflux, had both since the age of about 9. Autistic.

I wonder what the physical connection is?

I've no idea. It's so weird isn't it.
Got to be something to do with the brain/gut connection thing but I don't know what.

HSD and gut issues are linked.
Autism and gut issues are linked.
Autism and HSD are linked.

My fucked up connective tissue may be the trigger but who knows?

I have issues too (I would say mild though). I take probiotic tablet and peppermint tablets which seem to sort the issues.

self diagnosed autistic.

I saw somewhere the link is high levels of stress due to masking, something along those lines anyway. Made sense when I saw it.

Yes. Autistic diagnosed Asperger's. Terrible acid reflux. Permanently on medication. I buy Nexium as it's more effective for me than lansoprazole.

Yes, I was first prescribed antacid when I was about 7 years old; I remember rolling around on the living room floor in agony. I have suffered terribly with heartburn/reflux my whole life and I live my life on the "IBS Express", as I jokingly call it.

I am diagnosed ASD but I'm also convinced I have Hypermobile EDS. I saw a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with generalised hypermobility spectrum disorder and fibromyalgia (and also PoTS, after he referred me on to a cardiologist), simply because I was one point short of the hEDS diagnostic criteria. However, I'm pretty sure my mum also has hEDS but without her being diagnosed, I won't get far as it's genetic.

I also saw a thing recently about persistent hiccups in hypermobile people and that's another thing I've always had a lot more frequently than others seem to.