Autism and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders

This is VERY interesting.

I have had reflux since I was a baby and I went on medication to control it. When my medication became ineffective, I had fundoplication surgery to repair my hiatus hernia to reinforce my valve with part of my stomach and a titanium implant by wrapping it around my oesophagus. My surgery failed to resolve my problem but this was always a risk that I was aware of. My medication was changed and increased and I have been managing by taking that ever since.

I was diagnosed with Barrett's Oesophagus at the time of the my first surgery.

This is very interesting. It's quite interesting that you have managed to resolve your issue.

Do you have any other GI-related issues other than this?

I am the same. I have had operations throughout my life to correct issues, none of which have ever actually helped at all.

I follow the FODMAP diet and if I deviate away from it for more than one meal, then I suffer the consequences of doing so for days/weeks afterwards. Generally, I won't eat away from home because even when I go somewhere "trusted", I always end up regretting it.

I am generally okay if I stick to a diet plan and take my Esomeprazole on time every day on time.

If, however, I get stressed or overstimulated, this can impact my GI system. I have been trying to keep track of changes in my GI with things that are going on in my life rather than keeping the two separate. When something is going on that is causing me physical or emotional stress, my GI system starts to get upset too.

Generally, I won't eat away from home because even when I go somewhere "trusted", I always end up regretting it.

I take Esomeprazole and if I forget to take it for one day then I cannot sleep either. It also then disrupts my eating schedule which ultimately leaves me with an upset stomach, etc. which can take days/weeks to get balanced again.

I only know about this because I have been doing a lot of research into conditions that may mask a diagnosis of autism and GI issues like acid reflux is high up on that list.

Not that I'm aware of,but I've never  tried anything like an elimination diet..

I also have a long history of GI problems and learned about the association whilst preparing for my ASD assessment last year (which resulted in diagnosis).

After delays due to a disbelieving GP, I was diagnosed with GORD at age 9. I'd also been told that I'd be on medications for life, but the top dose became increasingly ineffective. A couple of years ago, I had surgery to repair my hiatal hernia and reinforce the valve with an implant. Since then, I haven't needed any PPIs.

I also have diverticular disease with complications and Barrett's Oesophagus.

I have had chronic and severe indigestion, which I resolved, and diverticular disease, which is still a problem. I was investigated for a suspected stomach ulcer, but nothing was found. I still had agonising indigestion, but eventually the penny dropped and I put two and two together. For a number of years I could not drink cask conditioned beer without horrible stomach pain. I reviewed what I was regularly consuming that might be related to cask beer and I thought yeast! Cask beer and leavened bread both contain yeast. I cut out leavened bread from my diet and my stomach symptoms disappeared completely. I obviously have a food intolerance for yeast.

I've had stomach issues my entire life. I required a few operations when I was born. My diet is quite limited these days and have bought some of the most annoying night time symptoms under control in the last year by cutting out fermentable sugars (Google FODMAP). Food is no longer fun, or if it is, I have to resign myself to problems for a few days after.

I have other problem also lasting my whole life - bloating, flatulence, often diarrhoea. Doesn’t matter what I eat or drink, it’s always like this. But often getting worse, this is one of the reason why I avoid trying new foods and restaurants generally. 

I haven't been diagnosed with anything that I know of, but I am prescribed Omeprazole, which I can afford to forget to take for exactly one night before sleep becomes impossible. I didn't realise it could be autism related. I always figured it was diet induced.

No, I haven't. I was only diagnosed with ASC a few months ago, aged 65.

Interesting. I know there are studies on Coeliac Disease and it's links to autism but I don't personally have it. Have you ever done any research into the two being linked?

I have Coeliac Disease and have had it since infancy.

That is certainly something that I have experienced in the past.

Does anything in particular trigger that for you?

Does chronically going from constipation to the opposite end of things count  as such?

I have that too, as a result of my acid reflux. I was diagnosed with that at 20.

Do you have other GI issues?

I have Barrett's oesophagus.