mHBOT for autistic DS/update 1/25/06

[wide awake]

Hi all,
Anyone have any experience w/ hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism, stroke, seizures ? Seems to be the new thing for autism, so naturally we started it today...DS liked it once he realized he didn't have to do anything but lie there and watch a video. We'll do some sessions that we pay for...at $190 an hour...then hope the Air Force lets us go to Travis and do them there. Anybody else w/ autistic kids feel like an idiot w/ the therapies we're willing to try ? And then I think that since HBOT is supposed to be good at helping inflammation, it SHOULD help DS...because I do believe that he has inflammation in the brain...we used steroids a long time ago...in the hope that he had Landau-Kleffner...and while the potential side effects didn't make it worth continuing, and his EEGs came back normal, DS did reach a higher level...so we'll see.

 

[mbb]

that's interesting though...

You know, I had a science teacher (a few years back!! ) that once told us that "everyone would buy filtered/bottled water, someday, because we're poisoning our groundwater"...and that whole class laughed...

So now I wonder - as I drink my filtered water - is there poison in this water that may have affected my children??...

And I also wonder what hope new therapies will bring for my kids, and others like them...so do I sometimes feel like an idiot?

Nope...and I'll bet neither does my science teacher.

I keep reading though - thanks for posting this

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess I think anything is worth trying if it has no negative side effects (other than on your wallet -LOL). If it doesn't help, at least it won't have hurt anything.

 

[wide awake]

I talked to the Hyperbarics doctor at Travis today. He was very nice but said he would have to have a study approved...in other words this isn't happening tomorrow...if ever. As for DS...good reports from school this week, and he is getting up 90 minutes early to have his treatment before school...we will see.

 

[wide awake]

Wanted to share...this was in his book today...
"very social, lots of interaction with his peers the last few days"...and for lunch he ate...bread dipped in ministrone soup (unbelievable...the soup part), sliced peaches and a cookie. He hasn't eaten sliced peaches in years, was one of his favorite breakfasts during his first 18-20 months of life. I don't know if it is the HBOT or not...he is also on the Pfeiffer protocol...but we'll see.
By the way, this morning was his 8th treatment.

 

[mbb]

Good news!

Yum..minestrone is one of my favs!

Glad to hear your DS has had some great days

 

[wide awake]

Thought I would update any of you curious on this topic. This has been a success. Gains are
1. has one-to-one correspondence...he has NEVER been able to count a group of objects...now he can
2. No aggressive acts since hbot began
3. Willingness to play games w/ others such as "Spill the Beans"
4. Willing to try new foods...has eaten raw carrots, cooked cabbage in
runzas, and grapes by the bowlful
5. Varied language...also can follow a script, i.e. he will recite one character's lines from a book, then I will do the others...the best "conversation" we've ever had
6. Able to participate and enjoy OT exercises such as riding the scooter board down an incline...important for using hands together across the midline of the body...he would NEVER have done this before...now loves it
7. Can cope w/ messy textures
8. Bowel problems have been healed
We finished our first 40 dives on March 10th, will be starting a new series on May 10th. DH and I are so convinced this has helped DS that when DH was told last week that he needed to retire or spend 12 months in Afghanistan it was not even a choice...DS needs this, and we can't do it on retirement income...so DH is training in Mississippi for two months, then on to Afghanistan. But we had no choice.

 

[disneyelaine]

Wow, this is very interesting. How old is your son? That is great, but very expensive. Still I know how it is to want to try new therapies. We are looking at neurofeedback right now. Has anyone done that one?

I hope you keep posting updates on your son! Thanks.

 

[wide awake]

DS is 15 years old. I've been looking at the neurofeedback too, and may add that. We felt positive about the hbot because DS responded well to steroids...which reduce inflammation, which happens w/ hbot also. There are cheaper places, I am toying w/ the idea of going someplace else in the summer and renting an apartment or condo...if DS did two dives a day we'd still save about $2000...one place in Canada charges $85/dive, and a place in southern CA. was selling a package of 40 dives for $75/apiece if you prepaid...so I need to get busy and make some arrangements.

 

[kdtwiss]

very interesting stuff - congats on your ds' gains!
Please keep us informed on less expensive places - I would love to try this for my ds!