Brett, Don't even get me STARTED on vaccines. We are chelating my son and there is quite a bit of mercury (from the vaccine preservative thimerasol) that is showing up in his urine analysis. I just have been reading somewhere online that the CDC is not concerned about the current vaccine schedule flu shots that still contain thimerasol. It makes me ill. I am having surgery this summer (hopefully), too. My big concern right now is the risk of death. I feel like there is no one else in my family capable of managing my son if something goes wrong. I am wracked with guilt about this. Am I being selfish for wanting this surgery so badly? -BJ

Hi everybody, I'm new to obesityhelp boards and so glad to have found this special group! I have a 6 year old son who was once diagnosed with Autism/PDD (moderate) and now has lost his diagnosis. We've done a ton of biomedical therapies with him that have literally worked wonders. He now speaks in fluent, total sentences, and is attending a mainstream kindergarten class. His biggest area of concern now is lack of social skills, so we're hoping this exposure to "typical" children will be a good peer modeling opportunity. I look forward to conversing more with you ladies! -BJ in Annapolis, MD

I also have a son with Autism. He is now 27 years old. Unfortunately, Jaysen has severe autism/mental retardation. He is the love of my life!! He was diagnosed at about 18 months through D.E.C. here in Raleigh, NC. He entered the school program (autistic classroom) at about five years old and finished at age eighteen. I am fortunate to have such a great son..it was very challenging however, because he is still in diapers and doesn't talk (some echoalia) But as a whole, he was low maintenance, until he got sick. He now resides in Goldsboro and goes to a workshop every day. I also have a 31 year old daughter who works at UNC in Chapel Hill and am very proud of her!! Good luck to you and your children!!

I too have a son with Autism/MR. He is 27 years old and resides at a facility about 45 minutes from home. He is non-verbal and still in diapers at night. I have seen just about anything and everything, although my son was so-o-o easy. He started in the school system when he was three years old and fed himself for the first time. I feel so blessed to have him and always, always thought he would stay at home with my husband and me. However, three years ago, he was found to have hemmoroids and had to have surgery after treatment that proved to be unsuccessful. How I dreaded that. He had four hemmorids!! I don't know if you have had any experience with meds, but my son reacts totally opposite when given something for pain. After his surgery...( total nightmare for him and us) and he came home from the hospital, we had to eventually put him in the hospital again for pain management. Here they gave him morphine just so he wouldn't get out of bed or rip out his IV. Not understanding all that was happening to him, and always being healthy,the only thing for him to do was lash out...AND HE DID !! At this point in his life, it was time for us to make a decision we both thought we'd never have to make..and I have cried so much and missed his little noises and all the things he used to do. But we did what was best for him. He now has round the clock care and goes to a workshop everyday and goes on fun outings. We go and see him anytime we want and bring him home frequently. To anyone who has a child/children with autism, I commend you for your strength and ability to care for them. I was always told God gave children like ours to special people and now I can say I believe this. I know how much I did for him, and love him. I would do it all over again because it has made me a much better person. On the funny side, he pulled an elderly ladies wig off while standing in line at Golden Corral!! He has this thing of tugging on hair, especially women. She was so nice, but I thought I would die!! My mother was with me and after we got our food and got him fed (he was starving,) he was fine and mother and I just LOAO!! How funny was that? Take care and good luck to you!

So good that your daughter is doing great,hopefully you have Early Childhood Intervention in place in her life. Since your daughter have already been dx,have your son checked asap,the sooner the better for his educational placement and oppurtunities. Keep me posted,please. [email protected]