Maybe this new drug will cure autism?

[Ronald Zeeman]

I like my rare perceived superpower, did me well over the years.

 

[the_tortoise]

Eating more salt, ironically leads to more fluid retention...and may result in serum levels of sodium...due to dilution...to not rise.

[...]

Medical Conditions

• Kidney Disease: Kidneys unable to excrete excess fluid, leading to water retention.

Nope, checked constantly because of
other meds. Also have no edema, no water retention.

• Heart Failure: An excess of fluid builds up in the body.

Nope. Heart is fine, has been checked regularly for decades -- all is good unless I have something very very rare that shows zero symptoms except orthostatic hypotension in the absence of slightly increased salt intake.

All doctors I have seen have kept tabs on that because of ADHD meds and others that can cause various heart problems.

• Liver Cirrhosis: The liver can't properly regulate fluids, causing water retention.

Nope, liver function has also been checked constantly for most of my life because of certain meds I take/took (no more healthcare for me, choosing death if body doesnt miraculously defy all odds and survive without them) and would likely have been checked regularly for the past decade just because of how many meds I had to take to not die.

• Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH): The pituitary gland releases too much antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which makes the body retain water.

This is interesting, but again I have no water retention unless it can be totally
invisible even when you are not overweight at all (you can see my ribs and spine right now...my body weight fluctuates a bit over time because when I am stressed or have extra expenses taking money I dont have, and that cannot be put off, I dont eat much)

Only time I have had edema (quite dramatic too) that was not very transient and limited to site of localized injury was from extremely high dose prednisone, and its appearance and disappearance did not coincide with any change to salt intake.

Also the diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension and suggestion to attempt to eat more salt (not a lot more - doc was clear, didnt advise me to massively increase intake, told me to aim for an additional 1/2 tsp and not much more because of the dangers of excessive sodium...said if it didn't help by next appt he would look for other causes, but it did help quite a lot so was left at that) was years before high dose prednisone (actually
have had the orthostatic hypotension thing my entire life...it just got really bad at one point...had it even as a little kid)

And the prednisone-side-effect edema went away forever when the dose was actually still quite high (turned out I should take it forever at 3-4 mg a day but that ends soon and whatever happens happens)

• Hormonal Imbalances: This can be related to conditions like hypothyroidism or adrenal insufficiency.

This one is interesting and of all things on your list seems most likely, for 2 reasons:

Family history of thyroid issues on both maternal and paternal side (one one side always hypothyroidism, affecting multiple people through generations)

Personal history of possible adrenal insufficiency - the latter was investigated decades ago and never again because it was not found, though, so seems unlikely....still:

If my situation changes and I ever seek healthcare again, I might ask about it.

Medications

• Diuretics ("water pills"): These medications can increase the excretion of sodium.

Nope. Never taken these and don't routinely consume a lot of caffiene nor excessive vitamin C nor herbal diuretics either (take no herbals).

 

[the_tortoise]

• Antidepressants and Pain Medications: Some of these can cause increased urination or sweating.

At one time was on a lot of pain medication, but that was years after the suggestion to eat more salt.

Never taken anti-depressants.

Unless ibuprofen counts (suspect it doesn't) -- that I have to take every day for an RF-negative spondyloarthritis..soon will be only medicine i take.

Is possible I have an autoimmune fever syndrome though...was one differential suggested by the same doc who also had Behcet's at the top of her list of differentials.

Literally every single diagnosed autoimmune/rheumatic condition I have doesn't quite match the diagnostic criteria ...nobody is actually 100% certain and until I started to get undeniable extreme symptoms necessitating more careful investigation, for a while I was regularly accused of being a hypochondriac...

Sadly led to bad situations that could have been easily treated earlier and likely prevented severe complicatoons....

Also led to me for many years deciding none of my very real symptoms could ever be legitimate...or at least deciding there was no point in acknowledging them even to myself....it was so bad...

And now is worse so I am done trying.

Spoiler: Story is tangential digression

everyone who knew me at the time (when i refused all healthcare for years) cannot forget the months I spent downplaying the seriousness of certain alarming symptoms...

everyone begged me about one of these things to see a doctor while I said "No its not that bad, I'm fine, it will go away" (it did but it came back four times in less than ten years, worse each time in different symmetrical sets of joints) when my hands turned red then purple, skin itched like mad, hurt so much I cried in private a few times, every joint so swollen none of the joints would bend for weeks, could barely dress myself or wipe my
bottom bc my hands were virtually unusable...

when my dad suggested i apply cortisone cream and the swelling reduced over weeks, all the skin turned deeper purple the peeled off in massive sheets like I'd had second degree burns...

There are so many stories like that involvong different things....

by the time I was gently convinced to see last family doctor (last doctor I will ever see probably) in particular, (before he became not just creepy but an abusive, shockingly negligent jerk and then seemed to just give up entirely...this illustrative anecdotal narrative is from when he was an excellent doctor, albeit sort of creepy:_) he actually had to gently gently pressure me to accept any diagnosis or treatment for anything...

It is sad dark humor hilarious to think about it now, how I would (for one example) sit in his office coughing and gasping for air in between parts of sentences, and this once-awesome-doc-turned-monster, after many many occasions of expressing mild concern that was probably less than mild in retrospect, started out casually mentioning he noticed I was out of breath/could not stop coughing..:taking his cue about how to proceed by how badly and with how much denial i reacted, how terrified i seemed....

eventually he would say slightly more each time ....once I stopped so severely panicking at the mere observation of respiratory symptoms, got acclimated to it as not-a-sign-of-extreme-danger and stopped shutting down the conversation ... he started adding more observation/commentary slowly (first addition: "You often come in couging" the end, tortoise is already on edge; second addition after "seems like you can't catch your breath....")

Took months of this every week (never understood at first why he wanted to see me
so often...do now) to get me to let him listen with a stethoscope for wheezing. And more than once finding it before he gently said "You know, I think you do have asthma...and I can prescribe you an inhaler if you want, You don't have to accept. Just think about it...if you want to breathe better"

Was crazy how careful he had to be to keep me from basically just shutting doen all discussion, running away and never coming bsck. Didnt even accept the inhaler for a while...

years ago would have said thank goodness for his dedication and skill because a few months after I finally accepted the inhaler I would have died from the first of many truly life threatening exacerbations without it, caused by grass pollen (was lawnmowing)

...now I am worse than before as far as healthcare avoidance and reasons to distrust and just wish I had never met him so I would be dead now...but I digress...)

• Other Drugs: Carbamazepine, vincristine, and certain antipsychotics can contribute to hyponatremia.

Interesting. I took amantadine at the time as an off-label alternative to ADHD meds (asked to try that before restarting stimulants because it works for some with closer to 24 hour coverage, and because of anecdotal evidence of possible benefit for sensory processing issues -- did not help sensory for me sadly, and doctor pushed for stimulants again)

Did a quick internet search and apparently amantadine can cause hyponatremia with SIADH type symptoms.

Currently take moderate-high dose
anti-epileptic but did not at the time more salt
was recommended.

Fluid/Water Balance Issues

• Drinking Too Much Water:
  Overwhelming the kidneys' ability to excrete water, seen in conditions like psychogenic polydipsia.

Nope, if anything prone to not drinking enough water.

More than one lab tech has told me to drink more water because veins seem partly collapsed when they are trying to draw blood...leading me to think I dont normally drink enough water.

Possibly I am just generally bad at consuming enough of all life sustaining nutrients/ food and water generally.

• Excessive Fluid Loss:
  Chronic vomiting, diarrhea, or severe burns can lead to sodium and water loss, and if fluid intake consists of non-sodium-containing fluids, hyponatremia can result.

Have none of these.

Other Causes

• Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol can interfere with the body's fluid balance.

Drink literally no alcohol ever,

• Illicit Drugs: Ecstasy (MDMA) can lead to excessive water intake and increased vasopressin secretion.

Don't use illicit drugs. Tried a few in youth -- not enjoyable at all -- aversive actually -- once was enough.

• Reset Osmosat Syndrome: In certain chronic, debilitating conditions, the body's osmoreceptors are reset to a lower threshold for ADH release, resulting in a stable but low sodium level.

I don't know you or your medical condition, but I've never heard of a physician recommending consumption of more salt. What I might suggest, if you do use salt, is to avoid the more common, processed NaCl with that of sea salt, which has higher concentrations of calcium and other micronutrients.

Will have to look that syndrome up.

Am a fan of sea salt, that is generally the only kind I consume. Regular table salt has a subtle off taste to me.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I like to use KCl.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I need more people around who think like me. An autism epidemic would suit me fine.

Maybe what we are experiencing is not an "epidemic" but rather a form of evolution. Maybe we are the next step forward...but right now...being in the middle of this transition between the "old" and the "new"...our minds and bodies are struggling. Give this another few generations, when we become the majority, and inherit the Earth... when we control the stream of consciousness and create our own physical world, it will become a better place.

Maybe what we call "sensory issues" and "emotional dysregulation" is a manifestation of our heightened sensitivity to not only our physical world but streams of consciousness...being caught within a middle stage of evolution towards a much more profound step forward.

Maybe our lack of neural pruning in childhood and adolescence, maybe our different neuroanatomy and physiology is the physical manifestation that will allow us to make those steps forward. We are experiencing evolutionary "growing pains".

There may be good reasons for us not being able to identify the "smoking gun" that causes autism...maybe because there is a much larger and more profound plan for humanity.

So...NO...we don't need to regress to the level of neurotypicals.

Positivity and optimism.

 

[TBRS1]

Maybe what we are experiencing is not an "epidemic" but rather a form of evolution. Maybe we are the next step forward...but right now...being in the middle of this transition between the "old" and the "new"...our minds and bodies are struggling. Give this another few generations, when we become the majority, and inherit the Earth... when we control the stream of consciousness and create our own physical world, it will become a better place.

Positivity and optimism.

I'm gonna go with this because it sounds like an imaginary world I might enjoy.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I like being the one eyed person in the world of the blind. If I had only known when younger. Never used as bargaining chip just told them what I would do after I started position then did it. Figured they would notice reward me, got pissed left started again same story. last position gave me large raise after first few months then asked me to stay after I turned 65. Now they worry even threatened to sue me calling what I did proprietary, Even through they have no idea how i did it.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I'm gonna go with this because it sounds like an imaginary world I might enjoy.

Think of all the physical things man has created...it all begins with imagining.

 

[Tired]

So...NO...we don't need to regress to the level of neurotypicals.

oh wow that's rude

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Noticed the guy who threatened suing took early retirement. I guess being unable to transfer what I did to other plants Also noticed they no longer own L. A. plant which had printing capability. What's in Canada stays in Canada.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I like being the one eyed person in the world of the blind. If I had only known when younger.

I like this analogy.

It sure seems like it some days...being able to sense things that others do not, being able to imagine things others do not, feeling isolated in your own intellectual world...a world that seems "not ready" for what you have to offer.

Every now and then I try to let people into my world only to find out they either are not capable or they are so locked into their paradigm that there is cognitive dissonance...where no amount of evidence will open their minds. I can't help repeating myself when I say how isolating it is.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I did a number of unorthodox things over the years, so obvious why did nobody else see it. Worse part a lot of what I see is documented in text books if you just look. Just the connection was not obvious. Some person with PHD saw it I just repurposed it to my issue.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

oh wow that's rude

No...you miss the intent. I wouldn't go there. You're missing the context and perspective of the broader narrative and experience.

Words...low bandwidth...your reaction proving it. I wish we could speak in a language of meaning and avoid all of this.

The broader narrative here being that (1) we have a segment of our population that sees us as "less than"...as "undesirable"...that by it's very name autism spectrum DISORDER is implied that this is something that is not welcome within the neurotypical world. (2) We are a marginalized community...we are not fully integrated into their world...and as such, it becomes isolating. (3) We have a group of people that want to eliminate this "horrible disease" called autism and will come up with all manner of potential causes, treatments, and therapies to try to make us "better". (4) What I am learning from the non-speaking, apraxic, but highly intelligent, savant-like autistics is that there is "something else" out there that most people have been blinded to...that they can access. Most people would look at the outside and come to the false conclusion that they "are not in there" or "mentally retarded"...when in fact, they may be just trapped within this apraxic body...and their minds further advanced than ours.

So, when I propose this idea that maybe this autism "epidemic" is something of a step forward towards a much higher plain of consciousness...but currently, we are experiencing the "growing pains"...the physical and mental struggles of an evolutionary process...and I say, "NO, I don't want to regress to the level of neurotypicals" it means I don't want their cures and I don't want to mask in order to fit in with their "old" and "antiquated" paradigm. I want us all to advance to that higher plain of consciousness for the benefit of future humanity.

 

[Tired]

No...you miss the intent. I wouldn't go there. You're missing the context and perspective of the broader narrative and experience.

Words...low bandwidth...your reaction proving it. I wish we could speak in a language of meaning and avoid all of this.

The broader narrative here being that (1) we have a segment of our population that sees us as "less than"...as "undesirable"...that by it's very name autism spectrum DISORDER is implied that this is something that is not welcome within the neurotypical world. (2) We are a marginalized community...we are not fully integrated into their world...and as such, it becomes isolating. (3) We have a group of people that want to eliminate this "horrible disease" called autism and will come up with all manner of potential causes, treatments, and therapies to try to make us "better". (4) What I am learning from the non-speaking, apraxic, but highly intelligent, savant-like autistics is that there is "something else" out there that most people have been blinded to...that they can access. Most people would look at the outside and come to the false conclusion that they "are not in there" or "mentally retarded"...when in fact, they may be just trapped within this apraxic body...and their minds further advanced than ours.

So, when I propose this idea that maybe this autism "epidemic" is something of a step forward towards a much higher plain of consciousness...but currently, we are experiencing the "growing pains"...the physical and mental struggles of an evolutionary process...and I say, "NO, I don't want to regress to the level of neurotypicals" it means I don't want their cures and I don't want to mask in order to fit in with their "old" and "antiquated" paradigm. I want us all to advance to that higher plain of consciousness for the benefit of future humanity.

oh sorry, i thought you would get that it was a joke from me... should have posted an emoji. i understood the point of your post and it makes sense to me

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I did a number of unorthodox things over the years, so obvious why did nobody else see it. Worse part a lot of what I see is documented in text books if you just look. Just the connection was not obvious. Some person with PHD saw it I just repurposed it to my issue.

I've had several experiences like this in my professional career.

I have run into situations where my physician colleagues are looking for say...a series of highly specific, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that didn't exist...but refused to entertain some 200+ studies done over the years that form a robust "body of evidence". Depending upon the specifics, I have waited 10, 20, 30 years for practices to change...in the mean time, the "standard of care" was causing harm, but it was the "best we have" at the time. Very frustrating being "right", while watching people suffer and die, and waiting decades for the rest of the world to catch up to that conclusion.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I'm seeing stuff now I have AB positive blood noticed during covid one guy did a study on blood type in relation to covid he was criticized for not including AB's in his study. took me a few minutes to find out Korea has a very large AB population could he not have worked his colleagues in Korea. After all they also had covid. I know we are a very small sample in Europe.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I'm seeing stuff now I have AB positive blood noticed during covid one guy did a study on blood type in relation to covid he was criticized for not including AB's in his study. took me a few minutes to find out Korea has a very large AB population could he not have worked his colleagues in Korea. After all they also had covid. I know we are a very small sample in Europe.

It is frustrating. I can appreciate the scientific method of creating "controls", but sometimes, as you point out, when the study is "too controlled" or perhaps "limited"...the information gleaned is also limited. As such, necessitates the need for further studies...if there is an interest and a team willing to do it...and it can take years for knowledge to accumulate this way.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I have noticed with my own statistics AB blood type may anecdotally be related to resistance to covid.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Any body interested my stats Only temperature has a skewed distribution. I think my immune system is even more sensitive to covid then the test.