DS2 has the munchies...

[sphil]

He has been on a food stealing spree over the last few days and has probably ingested more gluten than ever before. Not only is he as high as a flipping kite, but he seems to be absolutely ravenous the whole time - after school today he was demanding food constantly until dinner time, ate his dinner and was then asking for more half an hour later. Is this a common side effect? It is almost like a drug induced state - which I guess it is, if you subscribe to the theory that gluten has an opiate effect.

This morning he stole a huge bite out of DS1's Bovril toast - so that's gluten, dairy AND yeast. He's still awake and is standing rattling the stairgate across his bedroom door(which he has ignored for five years)and saying 'open, open'. He looks terrible - really tired, black circles etc.

Whenever dd1 has had a diet infringement she also has an appetite increase too.

Mostly I think she is constantly seeking something to replicate the high. we get lots of "I'd like some... I'd like some..." but she cannot supply the word for what she wants. Munchies is a good way of describing it. And she will eat and eat and eat. I guess in the hope that the next thing she tries will have the magic ingredient.

We are currently withdrawing her from apples. The scenes are quite awful, as she tries to negotiate more and more food at meal times, and I have to try to cal a halt when she has eaten enough without feeling as though I am denyng her food...

When DD gets like this one of those buzzy things in her mouth really helps: gives her the sensation she craves without madly eating (altho she doesn't have a restricted diet, I just have to watch her as she's very sensory seeking. Don't know if that is appropriate but it's one of these www.superduperinc.com/products/view.aspx?pid=OM516 (sorry can't do links as I'm on a French keyboard today and can't find those square bracket things)

Silverfrog - that's very helpful. I'm certain now that this is what DS2 is doing. He is usually 'normal' in his appetite - eats most or all of what is on his plate, asks for a snack mid morning and when he gets home from school, but that's it. Recently he just hasn't stopped asking - it's as if he's never satisfied - and he is also jumping down from the table without finishing, then running back and forward to grab mouthfuls (if we let him). This is something he used to do between 2 and 4, but hasn't done for a long time. But of course, he wasn't on a gf diet then...

This all started when he had his teeth out and then had to have ABs for an infection afterwards. My theory is that his gut has gone backwards as a result (he has been stable, digestion-wise, for about two years as a result of dietary and supplement regime). Consequently any infringements are having a more marked effect, causing further cravings etc etc.

DH and I have just been upstairs clearing up the second 'poo incident' in two days. This seems to be another effect of eating dairy/gluten - he stops using the toilet. Very depressing.

Brioche - I am off to look up the 'buzzy thing' you describe. Am intrigued - DS2 very sensory seeking orally (has been through any number of those chewy tubes) so it may well work.

The chewy tubes never worked for us but this thing is great. Not dead cheap (30 euros but prob. cheaper in the UK) but saves me a fortune on her nibbling her way through the cupboard!!

I am interested in this too - So does it go in the mouth like a sort of jazzed up toothbrush ?

silverfrog
Just out of curiosity-do apples have an addictive quality as my DS would eat them all day long if I let him. He is on a gf diet.

i believe that apples and grapes ferment quickly in the stomach and can cause (amongst other things) rather pungent aromas....

treatingautism.co.uk website has info on people who can advise on biomed things whihc work alongside gfcf and various other things free diet..

thanks for that! Will go check it out.