sort of a test poll | Autism PDD

lets see if this worksI think that my son had is genetically (like all autoimmune disorders) and then the lack of oxygen at birth slowed his development down, but then after all the vaccines (or any other outside environmental trigger, but I'm sure ours was vaccines) his poor little immune system crashed. I don't think that it's the vaccine or mercury itself...I think it is the AMOUNT of vaccines...there are a lot of shots. I think its a comconation of things for C. I think my dad is undiagnosed HF Aspie. My oldest has mild ADHD, but looking back I see sensory stuff. So thier is the genetic. But I also think the enviroment-pollution,toxins,all the crap out their...probably played a part,too. And I am on the fence about vaccines.

With my boys, I think it's genetics. However, I also think the environment could certainly have played a roll.

[QUOTE=YepperBepper]

My story is similar to Payne's Mom. We have a lot of quirky men on both sides of our family. Engineers, automechanics..a Dh who has self tuaght in auto mechanics, web page design and computer repair. Additionally, DH and I together are an autoimmune nightmare. Psoriasis, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. Liam had major decelerations during labor for close to an hour due to a cord issue. However he scored great on the APGAR. He tolerated all of his shots well (the ones with thimeresol) and had NO reaction until the MMR he received at 18 months. He received a flu shot as well that day. He also had an ear infection at the time. I think his immune system, already genetically succeptible (sp) became overloaded. He began his regression within two weeks. He developed senosry issues, allergies and gut issues overnight....

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I hate that you've gone through the same thing as us...but OTOH it's nice to know we are not alone.

Sarah fitted the " TOO GOOD" catagory or quiet and aloof :P..she was a super quiet, content baby and never cried for anything or anyone. I didnt worry till she was over 2 and it was only her lack of language that stood out to me..then slowly I realized she wasnt looking or responding to us normally and that her toe walking wasnt so cute anymore

She never had stims but noise was a big issue since she was a baby..she either screamed bloody murder or totally shut down.

My son was born at 25 weeks and need lots of oxygen even came home on oxygen. I feel it was due to the lack of oxygen going to his brain. He had a MRI done and it shows some abnormalities to his brain.
Mom to 4yr old Connor with high function autism
I voted none of the above/other because I think my ds' autism was probably there from birth. But, I wonder about environmental exposures and I also think that his flu shot at age 3 1/2 did cause a regression and made his behaviors much worse.I really don't know. I think personally, it's a combination of things, maybe genetics and an environmental trigger.

I think it's a combination of genetics + environmental exposures. We have a ton of auto-immune problems on both sides of the family: diabetes, psoriasis, irritable gut/IBS, etc., and the current thinking that ASDs are an auto-immune disease -- that they start in the gut & immune system and then impact the brain -- totally makes sense to me, based on my kid's issues. (For anyone who's interested, see the article in the March 2007 issue of Discover magazine, "Autism: It's Not All in the Head.")

My DD had a funky immune system and gut problems right from the start -- way too much gas and spitting up, rashes on her cheeks and arms, endless yeast diaper rash, and constant constipation that never cleared up despite everything my pediatrician recommended. She also had a big reaction to her vaccinations: she would sleep for 8 hours straight. It wasn't listed on any of the flyers our Dr. handed out, but "prolonged deep sleep" is considered a negative reaction to vaccines.

She was an early talker (said her first word at 7 months) but missed all her motor-skills milestones -- couldn't roll over, never crawled, couldn't finger-feed herself, didn't walk until almost age 2. After her MMR, she developed sensory issues and severe anxieties. My pediatrician kept assuring me she was just fine (mostly because she was such a good talker), so we didn't get her diagnosed until she was 3-1/2.

So IMHO, my DD's ASD came from genes + prenatal mercury exposue (I had 2 silver fillings replaced when I was 4 months pregnant) + food intolerances (wheat & dairy) + vaccinations. Her poor little immune system just crashed, she was never able to absorb the nutrients she needed because of her gut problems, and her brain development suffered as a result. We're now trying our best to repair as much of the damage as we can.