Anemia

[AsheSkyler]

When you first start digging on autism, you get the obvious stuff. No eye contact, often toe walks, picky eater, meltdowns, shutdowns, and all the other advertised stuff. Then you hang around the autistic community for a while and you start finding out about the OCD, ADD, Tourette's, Celiac's, and other things. Naturally, since autism can not yet be proved biologically (but they're workin' on it with cool things like brain scans), it's currently a matter of logging coincidences and cohabitating conditions for our own curiosity's sake.

As some may know from my persistent bragging, I am FINALLY getting tested for some biological issues I'm having, even if it is a bit annoying going from "you're perfectly normal, you crazy lazy woman, and I refuse to do any simple blood tests that may prove you're right" to "you're gonna die if you don't fix this and why didn't you get this taken care of sooner". No balance... Anywho, one of the theories being explored is anemia. Specifically, pernicious/B12-deficiency anemia. I find that rather interesting, and not just because technically in my case a dwindling supply of red blood cells is a side effect of a side effect of a side effect that's possibly a side effect of the main problem that I'll be testing in the future. The first lady and person I knew with autism had a plethora of medical issues, including anemia. Another lady I came to care for a great deal is also severely anemic among her score of problems. Which types they have, I don't know, but I do know it's difficult to keep under control.

So between my current testing and the tummy trouble thread, I want to ask: Is anemia perhaps one of the common things autistics deal with? Anybody here been diagnosed with any kind of anemia? And if so, are you one of those who have a severe case of it that despite medication you still have extreme exhaustion and other problems like brittle nails?

 

[Aspieistj]

I have been on and off B12 shots for years. Sometimes I am OK with only oral medication of B12. FWIW

 

[AsheSkyler]

I have been on and off B12 shots for years. Sometimes I am OK with only oral medication of B12. FWIW

I'm hoping if I do have pernicious anemia that I can make it up with a supplement of the methyl-B12 type. Those muscle shots hurt! Couldn't use my arm all day. And she offered to skewer my butt instead!? I need to sit, ma'am!

This is a really good topic Ashe, one that I had no idea was related to Autism in general. Although the more I read scientific journals and papers, vitamin and mineral deficiencies seem prevalent among the autistic population, or perhaps the inability of our bodies to synthesize any of these substances as well as others. Allergies seem rampant, gluten intolerance, specific food preferences are connected it seems with the other difficulties.

Throwing out some ideas here, that in no way conclusive; Anemia in infants has been linked to umbilical cord clamping at birth: http://www.whale.to/a/morley5.html

The numbers of children with iron deficiency and autism is quite high:
Abstract https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2473

Here a hypothesis about excess consumption of iron that leads to autism:
http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(03)00126-9/abstract?cc=y=

The more I look at these journals and articles, papers, studies, have begun to realize that there's so much contradictory information out there related to this. It seems that excess iron and iron deficiency are both indicated as related to autism, so that 'exact' amounts of iron in a Mother's system at childbirth are the only indicators for a non-autistic child. How that could be monitored I have no idea, there are so many fluctuations. Suspect what it all means is that researchers have to rule out some things before being able to take another path that's relevant.

My ever growing Causes list appreciates the contribution.
Parasites seem to be another favorite. Too many or not enough and you get an autistic baby. Or develop it later in life yourself if you don't have enough creepy crawlies. My personal favorite of what mothers do wrong to cause autism is the position they were in when they conceived.

One thing I may explore further on in the thread with those who are anemic is if they also tend to get a ton of other issues to deal with. Is it more of a standalone woe or does it tend to just be along for the ride if it notices a lot of other problems coming your way? In example, if my labwork comes back positive then my anemia is due to a stupid endocrine system and the deficiency would otherwise not exist. Er, assuming I wouldn't have it, anyway. A large branch of my family tends to have anemia, but I'm not sure which kind.

I hadn't heard of a lot having allergies. Interesting. Although I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Aspies are often the nerd stereotype and nerds are known for sniffles and sneezes.

 

[Ylva]

I've been low on dietary iron routinely. I got a contraceptive staff over a year ago to stop menstruating, but it still happens. Still not convinced it has to do with autism, beyond the fact that picky eating and a monotone diet might affect it.

 

[AsheSkyler]

I've been low on dietary iron routinely. I got a contraceptive staff over a year ago to stop menstruating, but it still happens. Still not convinced it has to do with autism, beyond the fact that picky eating and a monotone diet might affect it.

Depending on what you cook, perhaps a cast iron skillet will help you out a touch? It's been said to release trace amounts of iron into your diet.