Are these symptoms of an illness anyone recognises? And could it be connected to AS/AS traits?

[Mouth]

Hi. This might be a weird one but do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone?

I have 2 DSs - one is 4 and one is 20 months. DS1 is possibly very borderline AS but possibly just traits. DS2 is a bit delayed developmentally - no words yet apart from mama and animal sounds. Both are difficult / fussy eaters although there are phases when they get better (relatively speaking). Both have had reflux to some extent as babies. DS1 potty trained at 3yrs 3months but his poos are generally quite loose and sometimes yellowish (I know from wiping). They used to be mucus-y when he was a baby (up until about age 2). DS2 goes between phases of constipation and phases of yellow, eggy smelling, runny poo too.

I am wondering whether these sort of symptoms are common in AS or AS-type children - it may sound ridiculous but I can't help feeling everything is related. The AS type traits are worse when the tummy is bad, etc

DS1 possibly has asthma too and DS2 has a mild allergic skin condition.

I am thinking if there's some way of tackling the tummy problems, could it make symptoms / traits of AS lessen?

Hope this makes sense!

Gluten affects my DS who has ASD, his behaviour becomes very difficult to manage, and I've seen similar problems on this board too. I'm not sure if this would be the same for your boys but maybe that is affecting their stomach in some way?

Yes I've read advice about GFCF diets and have wondered about cutting down or elimintaing gluten from their diets, but I don't want to restrict their diets unless needs be...
I think I may ask doctor to refer my younger son for gluten intolerance test (if there is such a thing!). If it were confirmed I'd feel so much better about changing their diets.
Or I could try cutting it out for a short period - a week maybe - and seeing if it made a difference to tummies and behaviour.
Is the difference in your DS's behaviour very noticeable without gluten?

His hyperactivity levels are much lower, and he is less argumentative and defiant, this is also linked to additives too in his diet. I think you need to wait 4 weeks to see the full effects as their body will need to process the gluten still in the body, I'm definitely not an expert though, I didn't even know this was linked to asd until I came onto the sn boards, I just noticed the link in DS's behaviour as it was so obvious, when he had gluten or additives he'd repeatedly hit his head off the coffee table for example, but was calm with a more restrictive diet.

The benefit that DC with ASD get from removing gluten is different from having a gluten intolerance, so I don't think your GP could test for it. There are enough alternatives to wheat gluten and oat gluten to be able to remove them and substitute other starches, such as corn, rice, shop bought gluten free bread or potatoes without worrying too much about nutritional issues. Going casein free is trickier, I wouldn't without a dietician's advice. (Note, not a 'nutrionalist' non medical made up qualification)

Have a look at www.espa-research.org.uk for their take on GFCF. I sent off a urine sample from my DS2 to them to test before I started GFCF.

You may see a benefit with his gut quite quickly. I know from others they have seen benefits in behaviour as well. Unfortunately my DS didn't get any benefit from GFCF, but I still think it was worth a try.