No I haven't tried this diet BUT from what I read.... PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO THIS ROUTE! What seems to be a problem is that although it is used for epilepsy no one takes into account an autistic child who has difficulty communicating and can not tell you how they are feeling or doesn't feel pain like a typical child.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatm ent/diet/
The ketogenic diet, which is very high in fats and low in carbohydrates, was first developed almost 80 years ago. It makes the body burn fat for energy instead of glucose. When carefully monitored by a medical team familiar with its use, the diet helps two out of three children who are tried on it and may prevent seizures completely in one out of three. It is a strict diet, and takes a strong commitment from the whole family. The ketogenic diet is not a do-it-yourself diet. It is a serious form of treatment that, like other therapies for epilepsy, has some side effects that have to be watched for. More research is being done to learn about the underlying reasons for the diet's positive effect.
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General Information about Ketogenic Diet | |
If a diet is high in fats and heart disease runs in the family, wouldn't a doctor advise against it? Especially with the push to have low fat diets now?
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Also how do I get a tantrum throwing 3 yo who doesnt eat alot but enough to eat very specific foods? What if he doesnt want it..? I dont the nero people understand this.
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Most three year olds throw fits. That comes with that age. There is the old saying "the terrible twos, trying threes and fearsome fours". Throwing tantrums and fits at three years old is also part of their testing your boundaries and asserting some independence. It is not uncommon for a three year old to like very specific foods. If the child is getting enough to eat and there is no issue with not getting enough vitamins, I would say this is typical for a three year old. I do know that do recommend for three year olds to give them a multi vitamin.
Tammy
We are looking into putting my son on the ketogenic diet for siezures that have yet to stop through medication. First we are trying B6.
Just wondering if anyone has been through this process.
Also how do I get a tantrum throwing 3 yo who doesnt eat alot but enough to eat very specific foods? What if he doesnt want it..? I dont the nero people understand this.
I have an epileptic daughter, she started having seizures at 4 mo. old and it took until she was on several medications and 5 years old until she stopped having regular seizures. On October 19, 2003 was the last time she had a seizure. We are holding our breath's that we found the right drug! She is on Trileptal 300 mg. twice a day. It took time and adjusting medication she started on the standard phenobarb. and it never did the job for her. Then Depakane and I wasn't happy with the side effects she was having. So we went on to trileptal at age 3 and it took two years to hit optimum levels and no more seizures. She's still on the same dose and has gained like 10 lbs. over the last two years which means she's naturally weaning herself. We are going to streach past the two year mark on changing her dose to next spring before we lower it so that it doesn't distrub her schooling if she start's having seizures again.
I never considered the diet. It was too scarry the more I read about it. They put your child in the hospital and starve them for a day or two to change their metabalism only giving them vitimans and water and an IV that's it. Then they start them out drinking high fat butter milk! No way was I even thinking about putting my daughter thru that. They have to stay on the diet for years too, not being able to eat what other kids eat, parents haveing to eat the same types of foods and my dh has high cholosterol no way, plus I'm diabetic and there is no way I can completely get away from carbs.
Unless they wanted to do some radical brain surgery I wouldn't even think about trying the diet first. I've heard of kids getting very sick from it and some dying because they didn't take enough precautions or by trying to do the diet at home vs. the hospital. Take care in what you decide, you are your childs only advocate.