Sugar High

Now, stick with me here as this post may be long and mostly incoherent as I am still trying to grasp the situation. 

Stink.

My poor child is having a sugar issue.  About a month ago I took him to the nutritionist, his first visit since he was an infant.  Our reasoning at the time was because he was having stomach aches, often, and I was hoping to narrow down the cause. 

So, we walk into the room and she begins to hook him up to the machine after only asking one question, 'what's going on?'.  I told her about the stomach aches and how they seemed to be unexplained. 
A few minutes later, the testing was complete, and Stink was free of his electrodes and able to move about. 

The nutritionist began to read the results.....

"Is Stink hyp...." and before she could finish, Stink was jumping about with a small figurine from her office when he quickly broke the tiny teacup off and was pretending to drink from it.

"What?  Oh Stink!  Put that down!" as I took the pieces from him turning my head back to the nutritionist. "I am so sorry.  What were you saying?" I asked.

"My question was, is Stink hyper?  But I can see." 

"Um, yes.  Stink!  Come here!  Sit down!  Um, yes he can be.  He also doesn't sleep.  Can't sit still.  Is constantly running around and I am sure if he could, he would climb up the walls. Stink, get down!" was my answer. 

"I can see why.  He seems to have a sensitivity to sugar.  All sugar actually, including fructose.  If we don't get this under control, he is going to have a hard time in the next couple years."  she stated. 
"It seems he cannot process sugar like you or I.  His body creates a huge high from small amounts and then he crashes.  Thus the hyper activity and then the very cranky moods." was her explanation.

And that is where it began.  The sugar test.  Do you realize just how much sugar is in EVERYTHING!
I have found myself in the grocery store reading every label.  No go-gurts.  No candy.  No cookies.  Gum.  Lollipops.  Ice cream.  All of your kiddy items, the ones that I would give to keep them quiet.  Gone. 

Now, we have watered down juice, because ALL juice has sugar in it and he hates water.  He drinks a lot of milk.  And decaf ice tea without sugar.  At the moment, fruit is out, although he can have pears.  And let me tell you, when the Good Humor man comes around and the neighborhood kids are getting ice cream, he is not a happy camper.  And his poor sister is right in the mix as I can't let one and not the other. 

I could completely deal with wheat, or milk or eggs.  But SUGAR!  How? 
And to top it off, he is stuttering.  Not bad, but noticeable.  Especially when he is tired.  Which is most of the day since he refuses to sleep at night.  It's like a vicious cycle. 
So, I have a three year old who can't have sugar and now sleeps back in the crib with the tent so he can get a full nights sleep without escaping and wondering around the house.  And I spend at least 45 minutes each evening on his floor in front of the crib keeping him calm and lulling him to sleep. 
And another wake up during the night where he wakes up and yells, "Mommy!  GET  ME  OUTTA HERE!" 

We have an appointment with the regular pediatrician next week for some more thorough testing.  But for now, we are in limbo.  Hoping.  Waiting for the sugarless less-sugar diet to kick in and bring my good-natured little boy back. 

Comments

[Lisa (Jonny's Mommy)]

Are they sure it is sugar, or could it be just the high fructose corn syrup? I know it sounds crazy, but high fructose corn syrup makes me have panic attacks, feel nerved up and eventually I throw up. I know TMI...but it's the only thing I've been able to link it to. When I cut back on sodas and everything under the sun that has high fructose corn syrup then I feel 10 times better.

Maybe it will turn out it won't be all "sugar" but just high fructose corn syrup...which will be hard because that is in EVERYTHING--spaghetti sauce, crackers, bread, blah, blah, blah..you name it..it's there. But it can be done....I can find something to eat at times...just less processed stuff.]

I hope things work out and you let us know what is going on. I'd really like to know in case we ever have an issue.

[debbie]

This sounds horrible. I am so sorry you all are going through this. One of mine was allergic to all milk proteins. Trips to the grocery took hours. I feel for you.

[lora]

good luck. this sounds awful.
can you do sweeteners, you know, if you want to pump chemicals in your babies?

[karen]

EEK! Sounds like a tough situation. But seems like you are starting to get to the bottom of it. I'm hoping things settle down for you soon.