And... we're back to GFCF

Wow- I honestly did not expect this, but the changes were in fact big enough for us to go back to GFCF. I'm not sure if my approach is going to be as strict, but it is going to be strict at home and when I have the ability to control it. We're going to do our best with snack time and special events at school, out and about at special events and birthday parties, etc... but if there's something that I can't give her a suitable alternative for, and she is melting down because she can't have it... (in public, at a party, etc.) it can just cause more trouble than it's worth, for all of us. So... that's my approach... to do the best we can, within reason, and get right back up on the horse if we fall off one day. In the meantime, we need to stop supplements for 5 days in order to do the NutrEval test accurately, and get this: I just found out that Highmark recently decided that this is one test that they will pay for IN FULL!!! The list price of this test is around $900!! Maybe strides really are being made with insurance companies realizing that biomed does help many, many people, just like not-so-many years ago that they discovered with chiropractic. Now, I will say that we are paying a pretty penny to see this doctor and to have these tests done, but we are very grateful to have our insurance paying for the bulk of these tests. There are unfortunately many people who are not so lucky. Just to give you an idea...
Blood work: over $1,000 (we only had to pay $17)
Comprehensive stool analysis: $400 (we have to pay $169)
Hair analysis: $100 (we have to pay $55)
Urine peptides: $110 (but we decided not to do this one)
Bloodspot TRIAD: $916 (we have to pay $183)
NutrEval: $900 (we pay nothing!!)
First doctor's visit: $350 (doctor doesn't participate with insurance... ugh)
One-hour follow up: $200
Supplements: TBD; At this point we are spending about $100/month and this is almost guaranteed to increase

So I look at this and realize how lucky we are... and how not-so-lucky many, many families are. The cost of these tests and doctor's visits combined is over $3,800 (for us about 1/4 of this)!! And that is just to get started. Now I just wish that insurance would take a look at paying for some of these recommended supplements, which can get very expensive as well! There is a fabulous program with Generation Rescue for families that qualify... you need to have an autism spectrum diagnosis, (which our daughter does not) plus you also need to qualify financially, which we wouldn't... but what a great program for those who need it! http://www.generationrescue.org/resources/rescue-family-grant/

Wish us luck with our continuation of biomed! If I wasn't before, or if I was a bit skeptical... I am now much more of a believer, based on what I have seen after adding gluten and casein back into our daughter's diet. There is definitely something to this! I'm sure not for everyone, but certainly for our daughter. I can't say that it was perfect and changed everything, but it changed alot- mainly her impulsive behaviors were effected, and that is HUGE.

I will keep you posted as we continue... our follow-up is now scheduled for October 18, since more tests are being done, and we can just talk about it and address it all at one time. Waiting for everything will help us to determine which steps to take first, which can wait, what may be most effective... will help us to prioritize. In the meantime, sticking with GFCF as much as possible. Say a prayer that my sweet girl can learn to be more accepting of having to be "different."