bid

Well, fellow Super Dudes... Have you seen the Female Inquisitor starring in the new TV advert for 'Thomson Local'?? She is modelling her new Super-dudette outfit (meow!), and is being hotly pursued by the Jester on the BatMo-ped!! Bid

That's brilliant! Sorry, I'm still going through the statementing process, so I'm not sure about time scales. But Nellie or Helen will know for sure! Bid

Poor you! I do sympathise, as a few years ago we had The Summer of Headlice. This was not my AS son, but my two girls...so I'm afraid I can't give you ASD-friendly advice. But - Elefan may delete me here - I can tell you the ONLY thing that has ever worked for us! I finally found a lotion called 'Nice'n Clear'. It is made by Natural Science and is more gentle than the 'recommended' chemical nasties! It is a natural product, containing Neem oil. One of the things that might help you with your son is the fact that you only have to leave it on for 10 minutes or so while you comb through...not overnight. I found that with the chemical nasties the little blighters were still alive the next morning, but with this product they are dead after the 10 minutes. One draw back for you, I guess, is that you need to repeat on days 3/7/10/14. Hope you find something to help! Bid

I don't know what you mean, Nellie!! Bid

Welcome to the forum, Shaz! You have certainly found the right place for advice, support and even a cyber-shoulder to cry on if necessary! I think we all remember that feeling of shock after dx, even those of us who had a pretty sure idea of what was wrong. You need to give yourselves time to come to terms with things. If you have a look around the forum, you should find most areas are covered...if not, just ask and someone will have an answer or know where to go for one. And if you like to live dangerously, there's always the BatCave (look in General Discussion) Keep posting! Bidx

(To the tune of 'Wonder Woman'...) The Female Inquisitor sashays into the BatCave triumphantly, wobbling slightly on her new Jimmy Choos. Her porcelain complexion has darkened to a delicate rose, and the fire of Victory sparks in her luminous eyes She swirls her pashmina-######-Super Cape over her shoulder, and places one delicate foot (no longer hairy ) on the Bat Pouffe. The Female Inquisitor is fresh from an encounter with The D.O.S.S.E.R.S (The Department of Social Services: Extremely Reliable Section ). She strikes a pose (she has obviously been married to The Jester for far too long!) and announces... "That's the last time that particular Social Worker will make the mistake of saying he 'knows how I feel'! It will take him weeks to remove my stiletto heel!!! " The Female Inquisitor

Hi, I wonder how they define 'severely disabled'? Do you think you need to be getting the highest care rate of DLA? Bid

Legolas, eh? ASM Woman!... The Female Inquisitor slides round the Bat Cave door and brushes down her new Super Dudette costume... She hitches up her new mithril-and-spandex bikini, and throws back her 'Arwen' cloak of grey figured velvet with a flourish! To her mind, all the Rohirrim are extremely easy on the eye!! She starts to whistle the Wonder Woman tune, but still no one notices her, resplendent though she is in her all-new Tolkeiness outfit. With a petulent stamp of her newly hairy(?) foot the Female Inquisitor flounces into the Bat Kitchen for a hob nob or three...although she's not too sure about the stretchy quality of mithril... Unfortunately she disturbs the Jester still struggling into his 'Aragorn' tights...it's not nice. Sometimes she despairs of the Fellowship of the Ring Doughnut! Bid

Oohh...loads of really useful advice! I'm going to check if my Council gives a reduction in Council Tax for Registered Disabled! Plus, did you know Vauxhall offer a 10% discount on cars for Registered Disabled?! This link is really worth a look. Bid

Hi Auriel had his first aromatherapy massage this evening, and he loved it! So far he has certainly seemed more relaxed this evening, and it will be interesting to see if it helps him fall asleep more easily. Bid

Oooohhh, a Cyber-Party!!! Are we holding it in the Bat Cave?? Bid

We haven't tried the diet, but when my son had his full assessment from the EP on Monday she came armed with loads of literature about the diet plus various supplements. Bid I meant she had info about supplements, not the actual supplements!

Hi baddad, Hee hee...just to make my life even more interesting one of my two food allergy sufferers has loads of more 'minor' allergies, including such odd things as cucumber, apricots, bananas, lemon, baked beans, sesame, peas, olive oil, cherries, honey and latex!! Her severe allergies are to dairy, fish and nuts. On the plus side, she did outgrow her severe egg allergy by the age of 6 (although she doesn't 'liiiike' eggs!) Bless her, despite all that she is the least 'picky' of my 4 and has the best appetite. The youngest is just severely allergic to dairy and eggs. Although when he was going through his bowel problem phase, he was intolerant to wheat and soya too. He is a nightmare to feed because he just won't eat anything much. Someone up there clearly thinks I have too much time on my hands! Bid

I'm not sure about the link with leaky gut, Esther. But another thing I find interesting, is that my youngest was treated at Great Ormond Street for bowel problems when he was a baby. Luckily he outgrew the problem by the time he was about 18 months, but it made me even more convinced that he shouldn't have MMR. Bid

Thanks guys! We have already discovered the Swedish glace pud, which I agree is scrummy! Unfortunately it seems to have disappeared from our local Tesco, and I keep meaning to ask if it is no longer available. Incidentally, if you carefully turn out an entire tub of the Swedish glace upside down on a plate, you can decorate it with sprinkles, etc, and turn it into an ice cream birthday cake! I have further problems because my youngest has a severe egg allergy, too. I have found that often the various 'free from' foods unfortunately contain something like eggs, or if they are egg-free they contain milk. And my favourite gripe is one particular brand which contains a warning that they have been made in a factory using nuts, so we can't buy those either!! It is very difficult with 2 children with severe multiple food allergies, especially as they have slightly different ones each. Only 2 months ago I had to use my youngest's Epipen because another child who had eaten cheese touched him or he touched the cheese (we weren't sure which). He certainly hadn't eaten the cheese, but had touched his mouth and eyes, and his airways still started to close. So it can be really scary. I think it is interesting that severe food allergies seem to appear in quite a number of families with ASD too. It would be interesting if research was done on the incidence of ASD and food allergies. I'm sure there is a link. Bid

Cheers Esther! I shall investigate these yoghurts... Auriel had his full assessment with the EP yesterday, and she came armed with lots of info about diets. I did ask him again if he wanted to try, and he was very definite that he really didn't want to try. I must admit to being a bit relieved, because with my two youngest having severe food allergies, I already have to cook 2 or 3 different meals (even if I do a recipe where I take out the littley's helpings before adding anything they are allergic to, it is still very time consuming!). But it would be nice to find some 'puddingy' things they will eat. Thanks, Bid

Morning all! Has anyone with a child on the cfgf diet found dairy-free yoghurts that are nice to eat? Both my younger children (NT) have severe, multiple food allergies, including all dairy. Over the years I have tried various soya yoghurts, etc, but none have been particularly appetising! Any suggestions? Thanks, Bid

Ooohhh Caped Confuser ...you are no longer an 'Advanced User', you are just 'Pookie'!!! The Female Inquisitor wrinkles her delicate nose and taps her cheek quizzically with a diamante-encrusted finger nail. "Tell me, Super Chum, why are you known as 'Pookie' among the hoi polloi?" (The Female Inquisitor is Classically educated...) As she teeters on her Emma Hope embroidered, kitten-heeled mules, the Female Inquisitor notices with horror the state of the Bat Cave! "Can a Super (probably near Spectrum, with a score of 28) Dude not have a discreet nervous breakdown without the Bat Cave going to wrack and ruin?? " She pulls on a pair of exotic rubber gloves...NO, not that sort! The kind that the large scary piece wears in 'How Clean Is Your House?'. Nothing like a good clear out to cheer a girl up when she feels the Forces of the Dark LEAord against her! The Female Inquisitor firmly grasps a pile of old rags lying in a musty corner of the Bat Cave... "Mwaarrghh! Harrumph! (Cough) Is it the Last Day of Term yet??" It is The Jester !! Well, that's just typical...not only is the Female Inquisitor having to battle the Ring Binder Wraiths, but she is also married to a pile of old poop! She exits in a flurry of sequins to the strains of 'Wonder Womaaan...' Bid

Cheers Cristy! Bid

Thanks Elefan, It's my friends on the forum who are keeping me going...plus their collected wisdom about all things statementy! Bidx

Sorry...I don't want to start a row, but I don't think it is fair to label people 'lazy' who don't try this diet. Mostly people on this forum are careful not to make accusations about the choices other parents have made for their children. My son was put on an exclusion diet (which ultimately was gfcf) by his consultant when he was 6 or 7. We followed it religiously for a year, and it was ultimately inconclusive...he was also extremely unhappy on this diet. If diet changes work for your particular child then that is great. But, all our children are different, and different things can work for different people. I for one do not believe that this diet is a 'miracle' for all children, but as I say if it works for your child then I am really pleased for you. But please don't assume it is right for every child, or that parents who choose not to follow it for various reasons are being 'lazy'. Bid

Lisa, You'll have to ask Auriel that one as he picked it himself for all his online activities...his real name is much less exotic! He does post here sometimes... Bid

Sudden ghastly thought! Do you think this new research project will discover a hitherto unknown link between ASDs and pre-conceptual joss stick abuse??? I am beginning to see a worrying trend emerging from our teenage confessions...were we ALL hippies or goths???!!! I think we should be told! Is it only safe to light joss sticks separately, or can you light 3 at once? Did Tone or Cherie ever inhale a joss stick?? Has little Leo had single joss sticks? OK...I'm off back to the Bat Cave now! Bid

Thanks Elefan! That's really interesting . I was beginning to think I was on board the 'Marie Celeste'!! As far the Statutory Assessment goes, the LEA have agreed to fast-track it , and it went to the Assessment Panel on Tuesday, about 12 days after the paperwork from the school went in! So I had a manic week or so to get my Parental Report together...thank you Helen for keeping me going with your PMs! We heard today that they won't make their decision until they get the EP's report, which is scheduled for July 20th. Some pertinent phone calls this evening by Jester pointing out that this is after the end of term, and the Head of the Assessment Panel rang us to say we should get a phone call tomorrow hopefully to organise an earlier EP assessment. Sigh... Anyway, I also had to get Auriel's specialist college application in this week too, so I have been snowed under with paper work!! I am going to pop into the pharmacy tomorrow and give the homeopath the quite detailed questionnaire he had given me to fill in, plus a medical report about Auriel. I shall then leave it to him to consider things, and hopefully Auriel will soon be able to start the treatment. I have had successful homeopathic treatment in the past myself, and I feel confident that as we are trying to help Auriel's acute anxiety this should hopefully be achievable. It's not as if we are trying to 'cure' the AS per se. I will let you know how we get on. I think it will be worthwhile even if it is only the massage that helps. Also, 'taking charge' of things has made me feel much better!! Have you thought of trying homeopathy again for your daughter to help with anxiety? Thanks again for your info! Bid

So has NOBODY tried this?? Sigh! Bid