Thursday, February 21, 2013

Rescuing my son: Testing for biochemical imbalance in the brain (Part 2)

After we got the results of the neurotransmitter test, our nutritionist explained to us the next step was to get Tommy into a neurotransmitter treatment ASAP. So we started with the this treatment on October 16, 2012. What make me confident about this treatment is that it is not invasive, it is safe for kids and it was the first thing our nutritionist brought up when I was just about to ask her. She read my mind! 


Our son's treatment was established according to the recommendation of clinicians from the top leader in neurocience treatments with the direction of our nutritionist. The treatment does not involved any type of medical drugs. The treatments consist in vegetarian capsules, medical food and oral spray. We have to give 3 pills, 2 sprays and a formula in the mornings as well as 2 sprays at noon, a formula at the afternoon during the afternoon snack and 1 pill and 2 sprays in the evening.

The propose of this treatment is to protect  his GABA neurotransmitter. I cannot get over that his GABA is in a perfect level. I always STUDY about everything in my action plan before trying with Tommy. When I was in my search of what was happening to Tommy and how to help him, it came across Ginkgo Biloba, which is well know among parents with a child with Down syndrome because scientist researches show that Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract can enhance memory and learning because it increases the GABA. This works perfect for an individual with GABA deficiency. When I asked our nutritionist about Ginkgo, she said she understood the reason, but she didn't advise to give it to Tommy. I am glad I followed her advise because neurotransmitters should be in optimum level. I don't doubt about what scientists have found about GABA deficiency in people with Trisomy 21 and the supplementation of Ginko Biloba to increase GABA receptors in people with Trisomy 21. Because this scientist discovering doesn't apply to my son's GABA test results, I am wondering again, Does Tommy have Moisac Down syndrome? For know, I will keep focusing in my action plan.

The main focus of the treatment is get DOPAMINE, NOREPINEPHRINE, EPINEPHRINE and GLUTAMATE into balance or at least near to normal. Specially GLUTAMATE because this nurotransmiter itself is a neurotoxin if there is in a high level in the brain. The treatment does not target SEROTONIN, but getting all the other neurotransmitters in balance will help to lower SEROTONIN. There is not a concern on high levels of SEROTONIN right now. But It doesn't improve, in the future, I will ask for a second opinion. Why? All neurotransmitter should be in balance for the brain and body to work properly.  High levels of SEROTONIN may not affect so much a typical person, but I see it as a red flag because of Tommy's genetic disorder and high levels of SEROTONIN may cause serious disease if it remains high. This is another reason Ginkgo Biloba is not recommended for Tommy. Ginkgo increases SEROTONIN, so there is not need to increase his levels. The more I read about neurotransmitters and trisomy 21, the more I understand the connection between many health issues our kids face due to biochemical imbalances. This treatment works also to improve muscle tone, which we are starting to see because Tommy is getting muscle tone faster in his cord as well as other areas of his body (oral muscles). I also think it is a mixture of the treatment and therapies.


Our nutritionist also incorporated a detoxification treatment to support the liver's normal function to realize toxins, which will help to lower GLUTAMATE faster. She also recommended epsom salt baths, which is other non-invasive way of helping the body to realize toxins. In our last appointment on February 18, 2013, she suggested to incorporate detoxification food in Tommy's diet such as: cilantro and parsley. Tommy already likes cilantro and it is part of our daily meals, just because we use a lot of cilantro to cook in my country, Panama.

The neurotransmitter treatment main goal is to protect Tommy's brain because, in a long term, this can cause irreversible damage to his brain cells, the same damage than drugs do. Before it was believed that brain cells couldn't regenerate, but today's neuroscience has found that they do regenarate. So the main benefit of this treatment will be seen in cauple of years when Tommy's brain cells will start the regeneration process. A scientist research  found in 2011 that neurons can regenerate with high brain stimulation which seems promising for people with Parkinson and cognitive impairment. 

Nutritional Intervention
It has been a year since we started the nutritional intervention. Tommy's recovery has been a long process that started with the nutritional therapy followed by the neurotransmitter treatment. We have weakness how this have improved his health by getting ripped off the asthma label. It feels so good having the note from the pulmonary doctor saying Tommy does not have asthma symptoms. This proves that  traditional medicine treat symptoms and not the cause. Tommy had viral asthma instead of classical asthma, but the available treatment in traditional medicine is for the classical asthma, so they just loaded him with steroids and drugs.  Having a patient with X label is more lucrative for the pharmaceutical investors. The doctors are just stock in the middle, they apply what they have been thought, so they do not know there is other way. When we got Tommy out of the hospital, they sent Tommy home with medications for asthma even when he wasn't diagnosed yet. We paid about $100 for those medications and every time we have to get the medications it was more and more money and Tommy was not showing real symptoms of asthma. Because of the label of asthma he had to get the most expensive flu vaccine. When the effective method for the viral asthma is lowering the internal inflammation, which is what we did thru nutritional intervention.

In our appointment on August,  our nutritionist was wonder why Tommy's anxiety was so high even when we were already supplementing with Omega 3, I decided to revise Tommy's nutrition because I was concern we were missing something. As I said, I STUDY everything that I am doing in my action plan, I read three books about nutritions and its effects in the body —so I got armed with a lot information.  I revised Tommy's nutrition from what he eats, the quality of water he drinks to supplements. So I made some changes:

Omega 3: Even we were supplementing with omega 3, the supplement we were giving to him didn't have high levels of EPA. So we got a high potency Omega 3 which has high levels of EPA. If you would like to know more about Anxiety and Omega 3 click here.

Water: The state where we live has a good quality of water and it is among one of the best in the country. But it is not complete free of toxins such as: lead, mercury, etc. So we get a water filter so all the water we use for cooking and drinking is filtered water. This will help to reduce the amount of toxins getting into his body. This will take work out of the liver because it won't have to work so hard in getting ripped off the toxins that are already in the system and new toxins.

Pills: Tommy just take one pill for hypothyroidism.  I asked to his ENT doctor if we could exchange his pill to one with less chimicals. She agreed and he is in a dye free pill. I am looking into organic replacement hormone pills, but it will take a while until we do this, because I need more time to study about it, but I alredy found a doctor to work with.

Zinc: We added zinc supplement to his diet, even when we didn't do a blood work. But we will request it a zinc test in his coming annual check-up. The reason we supplemented without the test is because Tommy had pretty much all the symtoms of zinc defficiency. My husband found a zinc supplementation that helps with absorption as well as keeps the zinc in optimal levels, so the zinc doesn't get poisoning. Two weeks after we started sumplmenting with zinc, Tommy's appetite began to improve and began to drink plain water without too much struggles.


Everything Organic: We are not 100% organic as I would like to, but we are moving forward. I will say we are between 60% and 70% organic. We are also trying that his supplements are also organic. Why everything organic? Because the organic label means free of contaminants if they are certified 100% organic, so this will help to reduce toxins getting into Tommy's baby. For fruits and vegetable to be certified as organic, the whole process of cultivating them have to be organic starting with the soil, following by the seeds. Then, the filtered or spring water  to water them as well as organic fertilizers and organic pesticides. As a consumer, you and I are not advise that chemicals from the pesticides in fruits and vegetables we eat go to the brain once they get into our system. So I feel I am slowly killing my kids if I keep giving them non-organic food. The more we, the consumers, demand organic food the more the organic food prices will be affordable for everybody and we will have a healthier society.


THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!


____________
In my next post, I will talk what is happening to Tommy after the first 4 months of treatment. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Celebrating Francis's transition to a big bed

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed

Because Francis began to climb on the changer attached to the crib, we got concerned he could get hurt. Therefore, it became a safety issue more than he truly being ready to sleep in a big boy bed. I honestly think it would be great if he could stay longer in the crib, but his safety is first. Both of my kids escaped from the crib at their 18-month. This make me proud of tommy because he was struggling with gross motor, but he jumped out of the crib. There is not a specific age for a child be ready for this big transition; according to the experts in child development, it ranges from 1 1/2 to 3 1/2  years old.

Our crib is a 3-in-1 convertible crib and it has been a key to be successful in this big transition in my kids life. Tommy didn't struggle at all, every stage was an exciting experience for him. Because the transition is done by stages rather than straight to a big bed.  The first stage is replace the big rail for a small rail. I did it yesterday evening because the mattress was already placed in the last level and Francis climbed to the changer at nap time. When Tommy and Francis saw me changing the rail, the both knew the meaning. Tommy started to say:"bed" following by Francis. It was so excited seeing them celebrating. They got on the bed and began to pretend they were sleeping. And of course, they began to jump. I was a big moment to see them celebrating together.





Once the crib was transformed to a toddler bed, we went down stairs to get dinner ready. Francis was so excited that he came to me several times saying: "Mama, Mama bed." When I told him it wasn't bed time, you can see his reaction on the picture below.


Finally, it was bed time. I let the boys play around in Francis room. They truly had fun in this transition.

  






 Everything was fun until I laid Francis down and tuned the light off.  Francis got scared of the change and he didn't want to lay down on the crib. So I gave him a little more time to stay awake and explore around so he was tiered more than usual. Before putitng him down I rocked him and he was tiered enough to stay in bed. I waited until my husband came home, and then, I checked on him. He was sleeping on the floor. I put him on the toddler bed. He slept thru the night fine in bed and didn't fall off.

First time sleeping without the big rail.

The boy made it! 
He slept through the night without falling off.
This picture was taken a few minutes after he waked up.

Today at nap time, he did great. He fussed a little, but he went to sleep for two hours without getting out of the bed.
Waking up from his first nap without the big rail.

 It is too early to say it is a successful transition, but I am happy with how it has been so far. 

Here is the picture from his second night.
When I was about to fix him, he switched his position 
and got into the middle of the bed.
Francis is not a baby anymore!


Saturday, February 16, 2013

The controversial "Welcome to Holland" poem

When one have a child with a genetic desorder or developemntal challenges, as a parent, one has to deal with a lot emotions, which at some point all these feelings build up, and we stumble!

Many parents may feel they don't do enough to help their kids, they may feel that not matter what they do nothing gets better. Many of us just smile when people brings to us the poem "Welcome to holland." It seems has become the way to welcome a new mom of a baby with special needs.  People hand out the poem with good intentions, but what they do not know many parents do not like the poem and don't get identified with the poem, regardless if they have a child with special needs. There is nothing against the poem, but the poem do not reflex how all parents deal with their feelings about having a child with special needs. As our children have special and unique needs, the emotions of parenting a child with special needs are also unique because we are individuals who face life and the situation of having a child with special needs in a unique way. It is easy to hand out a poem to a new mom! But what she really needs is knowing is that she is loved and supported in all ways.  Instead a poem, people send her favorite flowers, maybe just send her a letter with your own words, give her a phone call along her journey, not just when the baby is born. Or maybe, offer her help out with house keeping so she can rest and dedicate more time bounding with her baby with special needs. 

I am glad I have fund other blogger friends don't like the poem either. Among all the blogger friends who have post about they don't get identify with the poem, the post that I like the most is "Amsterdam International by Dana Nieder" which tells the true that is missing in "Welcome to Holland" about having a child with special needs. Before reading Amsterdam international you should read "Welcome to Holland".

Amsterdam International
Parents of “normal” kids who are friends with parents of kids with special needs often say things like “Wow! How do you do it? I wouldn’t be able to handle everything---you guys are amazing!” (Well, thank you very much.) But there’s no special manual, no magical positive attitude serum, no guide to embodying strength and serenity . . . people just do what they have to do. You rise to the occasion, and embrace your sense of humor (or grow a new one). You come to love your life, and it’s hard to imagine it a different way (although when you try, it may sting a little). But things weren’t always like this . . . at first, you ricocheted around the stages of grief, and it was hard to see the sun through the clouds. And forget the damn tulips or windmills. In the beginning you’re stuck in Amsterdam International Airport. And no one ever talks about how much it sucks.You briskly walk off of the plane into the airport thinking “There-must-be-a-way-to-fix-this-please-please-don’t-make-me-have-to-stay-here-THIS-ISN’T-WHAT-I-WANTED-please-just-take-it-back”. The airport is covered with signs in Dutch that don’t help, and several well-meaning airport professionals try to calm you into realizing that you are here (oh, and since they’re shutting down the airport today, you can never leave. Never never. This is your new reality.). Their tone and smiles are reassuring, and for a moment you feel a little bit more calm . . . but the pit in your stomach doesn’t leave and a new wave of panic isn’t far off. (Although you don’t know it yet, this will become a pattern. You will often come to a place of almost acceptance, only to quickly re-become devastated or infuriated about this goddamned unfair deviation to Holland. At first this will happen several times a day, but it will taper to several times a week, and then only occasionally.)A flash of realization---your family and friends are waiting. Some in Italy, some back home . . . all wanting to hear about your arrival in Rome. Now what is there to say? And how do you say it? You settle on leaving an outgoing voicemail that says “We’ve arrived, the flight was fine, more news to come” because really, what else can you say? You’re not even sure what to tell yourself about Holland, let alone your loved ones. (Although you don’t know it yet, this will become a pattern. How can you talk to people about Holland? If they sweetly offer reassurances, it’s hard to find comfort in them . . . they’ve never been to Holland, after all. And their attempts at sympathy? While genuine, you don’t need their pity . . . their pity says “Wow, things must really suck for you” . . . and when you’re just trying to hold yourself together, that doesn’t help. When you hear someone else say that things are bad, it’s hard to maintain your denial, to keep up your everything-is-just-fine-thank-you-very-much outer shell. Pity hits too close to home, and you can’t admit to yourself how terrible it feels to be stuck in Holland, because then you will undoubtedly collapse into a pile of raw, wailing agony. So you have to deflect and hold yourself together . . . deflect and hold yourself together.) You sneak sideways glances at your travel companion, who also was ready for Italy. You have no idea how (s)he’s handling this massive change in plans, and can’t bring yourself to ask. You think “Please, please don’t leave me here. Stay with me. We can find the right things to say to each other, I think. Maybe we can have a good life here.” But the terror of a mutual breakdown, of admitting that you’re deep in a pit of raw misery, of saying it out loud and thereby making it reality, is too strong. So you say nothing. (Although you don’t know it yet, this may become a pattern. It will get easier with practice, but it will always be difficult to talk with your partner about your residency in Holland. Your emotions won’t often line up---you’ll be accepting things and trying to build a home just as he starts clamoring for appointments with more diplomats who may be able to “fix” it all. And then you’ll switch, you moving into anger and him into acceptance. You will be afraid of sharing your depression, because it might be contagious---how can you share all of the things you hate about Holland without worrying that you’re just showing your partner all of the reasons that he should sink into depression, too?)And what you keep thinking but can’t bring yourself to say aloud is that you would give anything to go back in time a few months. You wish you never bought the tickets. It seems that no traveler is ever supposed to say “I wish I never even got on the plane. I just want to be back at home.” But it’s true, and it makes you feel terrible about yourself, which is just fantastic . . . a giant dose of guilt is just what a terrified lonely lost tourist needs.Although you don’t know it yet, this is the part that will fade. After you’re ready, and get out of the airport, you will get to know Holland and you won’t regret the fact that you have traveled. Oh, you will long for Italy from time to time, and want to rage against the unfairness from time to time, but you will get past the little voice that once said “Take this back from me. I don’t want this trip at all.”Each traveler has to find their own way out of the airport. Some people navigate through the corridors in a pretty direct path (the corridors can lead right in a row: Denial to Anger to Bargaining to Depression to Acceptance). More commonly, you shuffle and wind around . . . leaving the Depression hallway to find yourself somehow back in Anger again. You may be here for months. But you will leave the airport. You will. And as you learn more about Holland, and see how much it has to offer, you will grow to love it. And it will change who you are, for the better.© Dana Nieder 10/2010 All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

My Precious Boy, Francis!

It has been a while that I haven't written about my precious boy, Francis. The best word to describe him is "NON-STOP."

He is 18 month old and he brings so much joy to our family. He has a charming personality that makes him to stand out wherever he goes. We went to a birthday party, and by the end, one of the staff member was cleaning up the wrapping paper from the gifts. Then, Francis went there to help with cleaning up. When they were done, he gave her a high 5, meaning they did a good job. None of the other kids paid attention to help with cleaning up, just Francis.

Francis's fake smile
I love his fake smile. He does it since he was about 9-month old.

Apple Monster
Francis cannot see an apple because he has to eat it.
He is an expert apple tief at the grocery store
when Daddy gets distracted. 

Francis has good communication skills. He switches form one language to the other without a problem. If he requests bread and I ignore him, then, he requests "pan" (bread). He is properly starting use phrases, like "let's go;" "Tommy, come! or Tommy, ven." We are hearing many, many words in both languages. He began to answer simple questions, such as: What is this animal? or Who is this person? when he was 15 months. He perfectly names whatever is asked. He uses the words "Thank you" or "gracias" properly most of the time. Because of Francis bilingual communication skills, I know his learning process is faster than what it should be for his age. When he was a baby his pediatrician said we should be aware of language delay due to bilingualism, which I already knew about it. But Francis figured out how to be simultaneously bilingual without interrupting his language development.

His knowledge and comprehension are impressive. When we are getting ready to go out, I just tell him something like; Oh Francis you are forgetting your coat, he stops and goes back to get his coat from the hook. He mastered a 6 piece puzzle with one explanation and one practice. He can currently put a puzzle of 8 pieces together very quick and as soon as he is done he says: "again" and takes the pieces out and put them all back again. He currently recognizes and label the numbers up to 10 and label all the letter of the alphabet in random order and can sight read single words. I was impressed when I saw him taking a catalog and naming the letters of the min heading of the cover, here was when I realized he was learning the alphabet. Wherever we go, if he sees a sign or a poster he names the letters he sees; I usually pay close attention when we go out if I heard him naming letters because I want to follow his lead and encourage him to keep his initiative of practicing the alphabet. 

His playing skills are way ahead of the game, sometimes when he is playing along, if one pays attention Francis is counting his toys up to three and whatever number comes to his mind. His pretend play is skills are really good. His abstract thinking is impressive. For example: He was eating a slide of zucchini and it had a small whole in the middle, he took the zucchini and showed it to us and said that it was the letter O. He knows that circle, rectangle and square are under the category of shapes. I don't sit to teach anything to Francis, he just absorb it from being around. So I have been looking for simple ways we can satisfied his curiosity for learning without feeling the pressure I cannot keep up with him. 

Francis's pretend play
He began to do simple form of pretend play since his was 13 month.
But now, his pretend play sills have gotten more complex 
as you see it the photos and videos.

Francis also pretends that he is sleeping.
I realized it during the Christmas break.


Francis is acting up that he is dramatically crying.
He is a good actor!


He began to open small jars, as well as, open door with handles when he was 16 month. He is already getting curious about open doors with knobs. He also began to pour at his 16 month. He likes to color at the glass door. He says: "Coco" which means he wants to color. But his favorite school utensils are the markers, because he enjoys to take the lid off and put it back while he names the colors. Yes! He is also very interested on learning the colors and he actually can properly name some colors. He is always busy discovering things with his little hands. Having good fine motor skills help him to have great self-care skills. He can unzipped and zip (He needs minimal assistant), so he takes his coat off almost by himself. He likes to brushes his teeth. He loves to help around the house. I let him to help because it is a good way to increase his self steam and encouraging love for learning at the same time.  I am not doing any activity to help him to develop fine motor skills, it is just happening. This is other reason I know Francis's thinking process is ahead because while Tommy was in the Early Intervention Program, the therapists explained to me that fine motors skills is the way they determinate how babies and toddlers use their minds.

Putting toothpaste oh Tommy's toothbrush
(He was 16 month)

He loves to color with markers rather than crayons.
Markers are more fun for him because he 
likes to take the lid off and put it back. 

In this photo, Francis was disappointed because 
Tommy got on the bus to go to school.

Opening door with a handle
(He was 16 month)

He is a great helper!
The littler broom is one of his favorite toys.

So he is "NON-STOP."

Other people who don't know us are also noticing that Francis is a little ahead of the game. A couple of time my husand has been asked in the grocery store how old Francis is and when he says his age, they think he is older or they noticed Francis language skills are really good for his age. Francis had his 18-month check up on January 23rd and the doctor when over his milestones with my husband. He told my husband that Francis is doing everything for a 2 year old and maybe more. The lady from Parents as Teacher also see Francis's advanced development and started to brought toys for older kids. He enjoys to play with her to the point he doesn't like when she have to leave.

I avoid to do structure activities with Tommy if Francis is around because Francis creates too much distraction. But Francis is a good learner, so he is learning things really quick and he is picking a lot for the few moments I do things with Tommy and he is around. As any toddler, he needs an environment that nurture his curiosity for learning, which is what I am doing. I realized he doesn't need me to sit with him and teach, he just need to be around of all kind of educational sources, developmental toys and when possible be part of the activities I do with Tommy; as well as, a lot of free play because he can express what he is learning from his surroundings during free play. So I don't feel a guilt anymore for not dedicating time to him as I would like to. It is not about quantity is about quality. So I will be focused on providing sources that will enrich his knowledge, as well as, teaching him healthy eating habits, this is the best heritage I can give to my charming boy.


Saturday, February 2, 2013

Rescuing my son: Testing for biochemical imbalance in Tommy's brain (Part 1)


Because of the connection between stomach-brain, many neurological disorders start in the stomach rather than in the brain. This is the reason why the first step in my son's wellness plan was to determinate if he had food allergies. Based on the blood work results, it was positive that my son has food sensitivity, rather than food allergies —his food sensitivity is caused by inflammation in his intestine, click here to read more about it. The next step, it is checking bio-chemicals in Tommy’s brain due to food sensitivity or food allergy affects the stomach's capacity of absorbing the nutrients that are necessary for a properly brain function, resulting in a biochemical imbalance in the brain.


NEUROTRANSMITTERS TEST
Understanding Neurotransmitters
According to medterms.com, a Neurotransmitter is "A chemical that is released from a nerve cell which thereby transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue. A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another." 

Under the direction of our nutritionist, we tested Neurotransmitters in Tommy's brain. Based on Tommy's behaviors, such as: irritability, repetitive behaviors, lack of motivation, waking up in the middle of the night among others, our nutritionist decided to test for the following neurotransmitters:

SEROTONIN: An adequate amount of serotonin is necessary for a stable mood, as well as, to balance any excessive excitatory (stimulating) neurotransmitter firing in the brain. Serotonin controls processes in the body, such as: carbohydrate cravings, sleep cycle, pain control, appropriate digestion and auditory processing. If there is an issue with auditory processing, this directly affects language development. 

GABA: This neurotransmitter is mainly responsible for inhibitory signals between neurons. It also contributes to motor control, vision, and other cortical functions. It is also responsible for memory storage

GLUTAMATE:  80% of brain's neurons release glutamate. In high levels is toxic. Glutamate’s most vital function as a neurotransmitter is in cognitive activities like memory and learning

DOPAMINE: One of its functions in the brain is to regulate mood and movement; therefore, it is required to be in balance for body and brain optimal performance. If it is too high or too low, we can have focus issues such as: forgetting easily what has just been learned or read, or not being able to stay on task.  Dopamine is also responsible for our desire to get things done —in other words, for our motivation.  It also has important roles in pleasure and subjective feelings of happiness.

NOREPINEPHRINE: This neurotransmitter can cause 'anxiety' at elevated levels as well as some 'mood dampening' effects. This neurotransmitter is most involved in the “fight or flight” response under stressful situations. Norepinephrine also works as a hormone. As a neurotransmitter, Norepinephrine helps to regulate state of being awake or reactive to stimuli, dreaming, and moods. As a hormone, norepinephrine increases blood pressure and heart rate, as well as, constricts blood vessels; which are responses that occur when we feel stress.

EPINEPHRINE: It is what we know as adrenaline. It control attentiveness and metal focus.

When it is in elevated levels is a factor  that contributes to restlessness, anxiety, sleep problems or server stress.  Epinephrine also regulates heart rate and blood pressure.

Sample collection on August 14, 2012
Neurotransmitters are tested by urine sample. So collecting the urine sample for the test wasn't a fun process because I always did something wrong and I had to star over again. So every time that I failed collecting the sample, I had to request a sample kit at our Nutritionist's office, which make the whole process longer. But I kept trying until I got it right. 

Discussion of Test Results on September 2011

Serotonin: 310.9 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A  HEALTHY RANGE
This is the cause of Tommy's auditory processing issues. The treatment will also focus on place its level into the normal range. 


GABA: 6.8 in the preferable range. PERFECT LEVEL
I was expecting it completely off, based on all scientist research I have read about the GABA receptor and Trisomy 21. Scientists have found a deficiency of the GABA receptor in people with Trisomy 21. But one more time, Tommy has broken stereotypes...Yahoo! 

Glutamate: 189.7 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE
The high levels of Glutamate are a concern for our nutritionist, because glutamate in an elevated level is considered pure toxin. So we have to work on lowering it to an adequate level and support his lever to realize toxins. 

Dopomine: 370.1 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE
We have to work on lowering his Dopamine to a normal range, so Tommy will be able to get back the motivation he lost.

Norepinephrine: 95.0 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE
The excessive level of NOREPINEPHRINE indicates that Tommy is under an extreme anxiety. If there is ANXIETY, it also means that the cortisol levels are too high. Further testing was not necessary to check for cortisol because the levels of NOREPINEPHRINE already proof he has anxiety. The treatment will be focused on lowering his norepinephrine levels, as well as, the cortisol. 

Epinephrine: 15.1 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE
The treatment will also focus on place its level into the preferable range.

So based on the test results, a treatment was formulated to get the neurotransmitters on balance by supporting the adrenal and thyroid glands, as well as, the natural liver's detoxification function.

Our nutritionist has become a very important member of our team to help Tommy to reach his full potential. I advise to any parent who is rising a child with a genetic disorder to work with a nutritionist right since the beginning. I started my own nutritional intervention since I was pregnant with Tommy and I do believe that it made a huge different for him. He is one of the healthiest kids that are seen at our local Down syndrome clinic. He just goes there for his annual check-ups. If I had met our nutritionist when I was pregnant, without a doubt, I would be working with her since then.

Testing is the only way to find the right treatment and biochemical balance to formulate an individualized wellness plan for a person with T21 or any person. I am TRILLED that Tommy's GABA receptor is in a perfect range because due to the inflammation in his gut it could be completely off, but GOD knows everything! He always shows me that he is by my side even when I think and I cannot go on. Tommy's GABA receptor is the logical explanation to me, why he was doing developmentally good previous to the hospitalization. This is the reason why he recalls events from the past. For example: One day, I showed him a photo of a cockroach and I named it in English. The next day at bath time, he began to sing "La Cucaracha" (cockroach) a Spanish song we hadn't sung for so long (Tommy is simultaneously bilingual, not doubt about it). So I will focus on protect his GABA neurotransmitter, as well as, getting all the other neurotransmitter on balance and that Tommy's gut can completely heal. 


Biochemical unbalance in the brain has not been rule out as a possible cause of my son's regressions and sensory issues.

Note: Due to there are a lot information to share, I will do this post in several parts. In my next post, I will talk about our experience with the neurotransmitter treatment and nutritional intervention.