i'm not sure if this counts but ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder) is VERY common among ASD/ADHD peeps. nuerodivergents can depend too much on safe foods - it contributes heavily to low bone density and increased risk of fractures, along with deficiency in certain vitamins and nutrients. i recently left residental treatment with an extra 30 pounds because i was literally malnourished. i was starving for most of my life without realizing, i thought i was just a picky eater. if anyone here has trouble eating i highly reccomend talking to your doctor or consulting an eating disorder specialist. it's very easy to miss until it's too late.
Thank you for sharing and, like you, I think this is a huge issue for many neurodivergent people. I'm so pleased to hear of the progress you're making 🧡
@anyascelticcreations I really sympathise. I've thought of ending it all, seriously because I couldn't cope with the pain and amount of days at the same time. 💙
Migraines are the bane of my existence... Perimenopause makes them worse, apparently. The last few months I have had some of the most severe headaches of my life, I spent 48 hours vomiting every hour on the hour a few weeks ago, I thought I was dying, I almost caved and went to the ER, but I couldn't justify the enormous debt, headaches get written off at the ER, I know that well enough... Since that happend, I have had at least a low grade headache CONSTANTLY, I am going to the chiropractor Thursday, and if that doesn't help... I don't know. (I got kicked in the chest by a horse a year ago, and it broke a rib and messed my neck up, and the headaches started happening more frequently then, and have just continued increasing in severity, i am desperately hoping it's a pinched nerve or something with my neck, I have never had neck pain im my life until that accident, amd now it sounds like glass crunching when I move my head or neck...)
@pariahmouse7794 Shrooms have been shown by modern science to cure migraines. Mine stayed gone for a lot of years after using them. I'd use them again if I could.
@@pariahmouse7794 Yes, people who don't get migraines don't realise we can be throwing up cyclically or not be able to walk or communicate etc, not able to stand the slightest bit of light or noise To give people an idea, I nearly died of bacterial meningitis because I thought it was a migraine. A migraine is basically a type of meningitis (inflammation of the meninges). Let's hope yours are temporary. I've been suffering for 41 years and I know how very depressing it can be. 💙
PMDD is more common in autistic people, too! This video was very interesting, I had no idea many of these were more common in autistic people, and a few of them were surprising. Astigmatism?! Thanks for another great video ❤
PMDD! You're kidding! I diagnosed myself and then took evidence to my doctor in the noughties about that after catching a segment with Richard & Judy on This Morning about it! I'm gobsmacked! Bloody awful thing! I've been on hormone balancing antidepressants ever since. Did some of your symptoms decrease with perimenopause or just change? Sorry, you might not even be around that age!
Gastric issues, food sensitivities, allergies, intolerance to heat and cold, Guillain Barre syndrome, eye issues, I am sure that I am missing a bunch and they all got way worse menopausal.
@@AutisticNotAlien I hear you on that one. I have had them my entire life. I remember as a kid my Mom having to give me Gas X or Tums and those issues got much worse in my early 20s. I realized that I was autistic a few years ago after much research and a son being diagnosed in my mid to late 40s.
Yes, sometimes my blood sugar drops and I need orange juice and carbs to stop me crashing. During my teens, my aunt used to get me to carry mini Mars bars in my bag.
@@elliedelacy8193 yes, also had to carry sweet things though i now eat low (complex) carb, high protein/healthy fats and fibre and that helps. It seems to be related to our sensitive nervous systems - I don’t think that’s officially documented anywhere. By my own observation, the only other people I’ve met with this condition have been autistic/adhd
This is so informative and unfortunately relatable, had my gallbladder removed a year ago, diagnosed w/Fibromyalgia (& I suspect EDS), but I had no idea about the ingrown toenails and ear issues... not to mention the choking... I'm quite blown away, thank you for sharing your research!❤
Lizzie's voice is 100% autistic ASMR.👍 I suspect that many of us have adapted similar speech as an autistic hypersensitivity response in order to comfortably regulate the sound of ourselves.
I wish all autistic people with chronic or frequent health problems get sleep studies and evaluated for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). There are 13 sub-types of EDS and all have genetic markers apart from the most common type, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), which a rheumatologist can diagnose.
Do you reckon you can have late diagnosis of that as an adult too? I've had it from birth apparently but only diagnosed in the noughties. It's affected my gait badly.
Yes EDS is something that GPs never think of, and they can be very dismissive if you bring it up. I insisted on a genetic test and it turns out I was right. Several times I was left in tears from being gaslighted by my GP.
Excellent video! I can relate to a number of the things listed. Stomach ulcers, reflux, migraines... the list goes on. Thank you Lizzie for all your hard work researching & presenting this. It really does help to raise awareness!
Lizzie, couldn’t believe when you said about choking and laryngeal spasm. I have experienced exactly the same thing, choking on my own saliva and even water. Awful experience. I’m not medically diagnosed as autistic but I’m diagnosed with ADHD. I’m suspecting that I may be autistic, too.I’m currently waiting to see specialist. I had had very sensitive stomach all my life and didn’t know why. All my emotions negative and positive always gave me anxiety and eventually stomachache since I was a child. Now I have acid reflux problem without heartburn but restricted to my throat(LPR). You have mentioned gallstones I had kidney stones removed twice. Thank you for sharing I will look into this subject further. I wish you luck and all the best ❤
Oh crikey, I'm sorry to hear you have similar issues as laryngospasm is horrendous. In case you're not aware, it's worth your time to look up Larson's manoeuvre (there are TH-cam videos on this) as it can help to 'unlock' the spasm more quickly - though I'm often in such a panic I forget about it in the moment. 🧡
And endometriosis, gastric issues, ear infections as a child, so manybthings. I got my ADHD diagnosis no problem but she said we could talk about autism if I really wanted to. I do!
I have diabetes which I attribute to stress from a traumatic event. But having more recently also found out I'm autistic I've slowly realised that stress and not dealing with that event normally which was hard to describe, can be much more easily explained in terms of autism resulting in the causal links autism > stress > diabetes. Before I was diagnosed with diabetes (I lost half my body weight) I was treated like a hypercondriac by GPs which is another huge issue that feels common to autism, so it all folds into one big challenge when it comes to doctors/health issues and autism. It's also lead to visiting the doctor being stressful in itself and avoiding doing so. You'd think that an autism diagnosis would make doctors more attentive to the patient, looking past their communication skills, but I've found it makes many professionals disregard you even more.
I very much can relate to a few of the things you've mentioned here! Myopia, astigmatism (anti-glare on glasses can really help with this, especially at night time), I do also have a weird problem where I can see... But the lights might be so bright at night that I can't see where I'm going properly. Not sure what that is though, dysphagia, bruxism mostly at night (dentist told me), tinnitus (and at the moment, also newly pulsatile tinnitus), hEDS. Gut-brain axis, eating habits, posture, and stress/ trauma could play a part in stomach problems. But it seems that people who are ASD and ADHD (among others), can have a low vagus nerve tone as well. The vagus nerve controls regular functions, like digestion, weight etc. There's also a tendency to be emotionally heightened or hypervigilant, impacting the autonomic system (fight or flight. This might also link in with masking). The parasympathetic system is where we need to be spending more time (rest and digest). Another common issue for ASDers is hypermobility (HSD).
My goodness you have just made me realise it’s so likely I’m autistic and I have IBS, double stigmatism, eustachian tube dysfunction and the dreaded choking caused by laryngospasm. I’m so glad I’m not alone! I have had both ear drums reconstructed and wear double hearing aids. Thank you for sharing!
Very important video, thank you for sharing in a very caring and compassionate manner. 🥰 If this were a game of Bingo, it would be a very easy win for many, maybe a full house. 😞 I've also noticed getting older it's not just jaw bruxism but whole body bruxism especially while I am asleep. ASD's tend to sleep in the T'rex hand position or arms crossed (self defence protective mode). I also have a lot of tension too, which leads to stiffness the next day. Add in some night terrors (especially as a child) and vivid dreams as well. It's exhausting never having refreshed sleep ( adds to to CFS). Asking for professional help doesn't come easy, white coat syndrome aside, going for help and being repeatedly gaslit and shut down, told to go away by medics has been a real problem, many of us go undiagnosed or tested. From day one lactose intolerant but I still haven't had a Dx (that's a minor thing, I won't go into the rest) etc. The staff made my poor mum feel bad because I could not keep her milk down long enough for me to thrive. 😞 I empathise with any of you going through unresolved issues.
Whoof, mission accomplished - I wasn't aware that any of several issues you mentioned and which I also experience were correlated with autism (although, obviously, as a late-diagnosed AuDHD, much of anything relating to autism still comes as a surprise.) Dysphagia is especially interesting, in that I have always had a pronounced fear of choking but which I realize now is very much due to what I can only describe as esophageal sensitivity - all of my eating habits are adaptations to account for this particular hypersensitivity. To top it off, my night vision is also quite 💩.
I'm sure there are other studies out there with findings contrary to some of the example studies I've given, but I think there's certainly an overall theme going on that we seem to more likely to develop a whole load of illnesses. And yep, can relate - I've also always had a fear of choking and an overall extreme sensitivity around my throat/neck area. 😬
Thank you 🙏 my son suffers from so much mentioned, thank you for helping me understand him and what he is going through. ❤️❤️❤️🕊🙏 God bless you Lovely 🥰
Thank you for your video, you come across as kind and authentic. Regarding the ingrown toenails, I have wide toe box footwear (the toe box is literally as it sounds, the space your toes fit into - it's really narrow on lots of shoes and trainers). They may help with balance and preventing foot conditions and may help if you have ingrown toenails and normal shoes are causing you pain. You can usually get a pair online for around £40. Mine just look like regular pumps.
I am autistic and I had my gallbladder removed. Years ago. It has made me feel worse. It just added to my intestinal problems. I found out Gall stones come from not having enough fat in your diet which is good for you. And it causes your gallbladder to become sludgy and make gallstones. Check into the keto diets. Can make you healthier. Meet and high fit diets are good for people with autism.
Wow Lizzie! You mentioned so much here that I can relate to. I've had ongoing tinnitus for over 30 years. I went though a long period of time when I had multiple ear infections every year. I had to deal with stomach pain though much of my school years. My swallowing difficulty started when I was about 14 years old. I was so stressed out In the school lunchroom that it became impossible for me to swallow and I spent much of my school years standing in a hallway at school during lunch time. This is something I still have to deal with to this day and I'm 71. I don't drive at night as I have almost had to come to a complete stop on the highway because I was so blinded by oncoming headlights. You are right about ingrown toenails being painful. I've also had a salicylate sensitivity and related asthma for 40 years. Another thing that I have in common with some other autistic people is that I tend to have an extremely low cholesterol level compared to most people. Without a deliberate effort to raise my cholesterol my level is around 90 mg/dl and my LDL cholesterol has been as low as 28 mg/dl. Too low cholesterol can interfere with brain function, hormone production and immunity. There is much information on the internet about the relationship between low cholesterol and autism in some autistic people. In an effort to keep my cholesterol at about 160 mg /dl I eat 6 eggs every day and use about half a cup of cream a day. This helps me to function better and feel better. As far as surgeries go I had my appendix removed when I was 5 years old. I have had 2 separate sinus surgeries. I have had a kidney surgery and a prostate surgery. Thank you for your video; I do find this interesting.
Hi Lizzie, this was an interesting topic that is not often discussed. The most pervasive physical issues I've had have been digestive/dietary issues. It seems the list of foods that don't inflame me or give me GI issues is shorter than those that do. I tried a "plant based" diet several years ago and unfortunately had to give it up after about a year because it gave me terrible inflammation and stomach problems, while oddly enough, it seems there are many people who feel better on plant based. But not me.
@@scottfw7169 I know what you mean, Scott. I'm glad plant based works for some people, but there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet. And there are so many "superfoods" such as spirulina, kombucha, apple cider vinegar, etc., that trigger intense inflammation in me (they work for some people, but just not everyone). And beans and nuts? For me, they give me major issues.
Can relate. My MCAS only allows me to eat around 30 foods atm and I absolutely cannot do a plant based diet. Although I would LOVE to be vegan (for animal welfare issues) I get so tired of seeing this diet being described as the best thing ever as it can cause so much inflammation for some of us. 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic The best success my family & I have had with nutrition, full house of neurodivergents (autism, ADHD & OCDs), is a low carb/no carb animal based - high animal fat & protein. It’s basically an elimination diet with so many healing effects for my/our Fibromyalgia, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, GERD/reflux, swallowing issues, IBS/IBD, migraines, severe facial spasms, mental health disorders etc etc - too many to list 😅 It is an absolute game changer! Plus it’s cheaper at checkout! Just to note, I’m a huge animal lover and only buy products that are humanely sourced (live in Australia). I’ve tried plant based in the past and become too inflamed from the toxins plus plant nutrients aren’t as bioavailable to the human body ie cause many deficiencies. I’d previously had my gallbladder removed, complete hysterectomy re severe endometriosis etc, R hip replacement etc, too many to list AND wish I knew to eat this way years ago!!!!!! Thank goodness my family & I now know what true nutrition is, and it’s definitely not inflammatory plants!!! It breaks my heart that at age 53 I’ve already suffered so much with my health but am so very grateful to be now eating a ‘no inflammation’ diet and regaining a much healthier happier life 🙏🙌💗 Good doctors & influences to look up are: Dr Ken Berry (US) No Carb Life (Dave Mac) (Aussie living in Japan) Kent Carnivore (UK) Dr Anthony Chaffee (American living here in Australia) …plus many others… too many to list… Also, get your Vit D checked, most are deficient… plus many other deficiencies. It’s been a journey but learning so much and can’t argue the benefits of optimum nutrition with our autism, ADHD & OCD, and physical health. Sorry for going on, getting carried away but just want to help because I know how hard it all is 🤗💗
@@CharmedMum I hear what you're saying and, believe me, I've done LOADS of research on nutrition and elimination diets myself. However, I can only eat what my body allows me to eat as MCAS causes me debilitating nerve pain that lasts for weeks and a host of allergic symptoms, swollen tongue, vision issues (I could go on!) Mast cell stabiliser meds help a little, but I still have to be super limited with foods (and careful with environments as I also react to smells, including, yep, food smells) 🧡
@@Imagination_lives plants are full of toxins that cause most people inflammation plus their nutrients aren’t as bioavailable to the human body ie cause many nutrient deficiencies. Best nutrient dense bioavailable foods for humans are animal products, especially eggs (if no histamine issues), ruminant meats ie beef, lamb etc, butter, clean bacon… and so much more. The human body needs quality useful animal protein and fats to properly function, especially the brain. The brain needs plenty of animal fat to utilise much wanted good cholesterol 😊
Other bodily stuff - hypermobility. I mean it can make for some nice party tricks (I just sit down naturally and people say "how can that be comfortable?") but there can also be pain. Weirdly for me it seems hip hypermobility contributed to ankle pain. Also - not anything that's a problem, but apparently certain eye colours are more common in autistic people. I have hazel eyes an apparently they're disproportionately common.
I'll add this one, it seems many of us have odd reactions to medications and anesthesia. We are more likely to have health issues, more likely to be gaslit by doctors and often less able to advocate for ourselves. This no doubt is part of the reason many of us pass away at earlier ages than out neurotypical peers. I have so much medical trauma from doctors and dentists I will delay going for as long as I can. They won't believe me and they will (and have) harmed me, so I avoid at all costs, even for regular screenings. This is particularly bad here in the United States where doctors process people as objects on a assembly line to get through as fast as possible and not actual unique humans. The care is very cookie cutter and if you diverge from the norm you will fall through cracks.
This is a very interesting video. I can relate to a lot of it. I have hED and PCOS. But I also had my gallbladder removed in my 20s. I had no idea about that. But I also grind my teeth. I just always assumed it was a stress response, but yeah. I can see how that is connected. I also never realized that other people experienced the "choking on your own spit" phenomenon. I mean, I guess I thought it could happen to anybody, but it happens to me a lot.
Citrus and bromeliad juicing in a nutribullet, so that you have the whole fruit will help you. Citrus and bromeliad (pineapples) prevent and break up gall stones and kidney stones.❤🙋♀️
Great video, I can relate with many of what you're saying. I also have scoliosis (S-shaped spine) since I was 11 years old, which is getting worse aging, I'm 57. Also foot problems since childhood. And I have heard that these two conditions relate to each other.
I know I have a very nervous stomach. I believe I have undiagnosed endometriosis because I’ve had period cramps pain so bad that I’ve thrown up. I’ve had ear infections my entire life. I’m sure there’s more. I wasnt diagnosed until 62 so I also have imposter syndrome. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone 🦋💜
What a lovely personality you have, and you speak to camera so eloquently. Despite my suspected ADHD, you certainly held my attention! ... I'm 62, and I have social anxiety and OCD. I was bullied all through school. I suspect autism and ADHD, and I asked my GP for a diagnosis years ago, but to no avail. At this rate, it's going to be too late! 🤣 12:22 For over 30 years (yes, 30 years) I've suffered from recurrent ear infections. My doctor said it was bacterial and fungal. I've been to the ENT Clinic numerous times over the years. I have periods of deafness, and I've now lost hearing in my right ear altogether. I went to my GP recently, but nothing has been done. The tinnitus is deafening. I fear my hearing is being permanently damaged. Not being able to hear properly is getting me down. I have astigmatism too! I'm myopic, but my corrected eyesight (with contacts) is incredibly good for my age, although I have Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) in both eyes, which is common in people my age (62). I am VERY prone to acid reflux. Fortunately, not too bad at present.
Sure enough I have 7/10 of these issues and high functioning autism. Interesting to learn there's a correlation and I'm not just broken in a bunch of random ways.
Gallstones; gall bladder disease (Yes, completly remove gall bladder) Stomach ulcers (yes, a small one) Bruxism (teeth grinding) (yes, especially on my left side. they've had to replace my filling 5 times in less han a year. I've controlled it now) Ingrown nails (Yes, I've had to remove them myself)
Oh my, SO many thing I relate to here. My stim is bruxism-related: I click and lightly clench my teeth from side to side, so much so that I have worn my teeth down and now they are oddly shaped. TMJ issues too. Ears (tinnitus, ear infections, and insanely itchy ear canals) ✅️ IBS ✅️ Gallstones, check (I no longer have a gallbladder). ✅️ Terrible, horrendous period agony (now I have a mirena - bliss) ✅️ Eyes... I have macular degeneration in one now ✅️ Bones... a couple of breaks, yes. I always had sprains, though. Gawd. ✅️ Look, I'll just say CHECK to this entire video. ✅️ Probable undiagnosed hEDS. ✅️
I can definitly relate. I've learnt that my inability to breathe when I have just choked, then cough has a name - laryngispasm. Indefinitely have that eye coordination thing too. Closing one eye can help a lot, especially when I am tired. I've recently been diagnosed with Functional Neuroogical Disorder and yes, its more common in Autistics I found a paper online or at least "Autism Spectrum Disorder May be Highly Prevalent in People with Functional Neurological Disorders". If you want to check it out, that's the title. You should find it if you search with those words.
@@pardalote for me, massive levels of food intolerance made MCAS very obvious (and my neurologist refused to discuss any of this, even though I knew food was the cause of horrendous nerve pain). In the end I was eating just 3 foods, extremely malnourished, and had to seek a private MCAS doctor. Don't get me wrong, I believe FND to be a valid diagnosis/condition, but there are many misdiagnoses going on, and particularly for those with MCAS - my doc has seen many instances of this. If you think you may have MCAS, I'd have a look at the Mast Cell Action website for signs and symptoms. It's a UK charity but has lots of good info on their site.
Very interesting! I am short sighted and have a lot of troubles driving at night. I have also had the chattering teeth once or twice in my life when i was super anxious ir having some panic and it felt very similar to being freezing cold, yet it was on warm days and i was fine a moment before.
I have had otitis media, I have astigmatisms, I have had ingrown toenails. I recommend wide toe box footwear for ingrown toenails or people struggling with balance. You can usually find pumps online for quite cheap, so no need to go for one of the heinously expensive brands.
Wow. Just discovered your channel. We are the same age. And I am also starting menopause. Just watched a few of your videos and I can so relate to you. I was diagnosed age 41. I have 4 kids all diagnosed too.
I'm primarily Dyspraxic and clinicians I visit have mixed opinions as to whether or not I'm on the Autism spectrum. One thing I can say is that managing my health is tantamount to a full time job. I was born hypotonic with slight joint hyper mobility. And I have long found it necessary to exercise religiously and meticulously plan my diet and meals, preparing everything from scratch rather than eating any highly processed convenience foods. Anything short of that and I'm much more likely than the average person to suffer the adverse health consequences from it. I'm now 50 and have been borderline diabetic twice in my life, the first time being at only age 22, just from slacking off my health regimen for a few years. I'm also really prone to hypertension if I don't do adequate amounts of high intensity max VO2 training, or if I'm not careful with my caffeine consumption. I have to take most of my caffeine from either green or yerba mate tea vs coffee. I suspect that in general many neurodivergences likely have a good degree of comorbidity with various physical health conditions.
It seems if you really do the research that most of these conditions discussed do fall under the umbrella of a connective tissue disorder, such as Ehlers, Danlos, and mast cell activation syndrome, and pots, and they all just ride together. So is autism another symptom another presentation of coping mechanisms to deal with all of these underlying medical issues or is it truly a social disorder?
I can only really speak to auto-immune diseases. These have definite genetic components and so tend to run in families - as does ASD. I am convinced that the parent who gifted me the auto-immune stuff was also autistic. As a non-medical professional, it makes sense that genetics play a role.
Yep. Both run in our family. Being an avid researcher, I was digging for the connection years before I could find any studies happening on it. It was the fine and gross motor issues that first prompted me. It was something long dealt with in our family and seeing it crop up in both conditions just really made sense.From there, it has been a long series of connecting dots on so many things we have always thought were just "family quirks". Glad others are seeing it too.
I have underdeveloped eustachian tubes.I had frequent ear infections as a child. I get occasional ringing or throbbing in my ears. I also have fluid buildup issues and ear blockage at times. As a result I have mid range hearing loss. I have difficulty seeing at night. I gag easily. I've had digestive issues since I was a kid and my mom's solution was prunes. I'm nearsighted but developed periferal vision loss due to my mom making me wear my glasses all day instead of when I actually needed them.
When you mentioned Strabismus, I thought that Jean-Paul Sartre might be autistic ('Quel surprise!' some more educated people than me may say.) I remember reading that Sartre was friends with Albert Camus, but then they didn't, er, see eye to eye...Anyway, thank you for another wonderful video. I love the knowledge, pace, compassion, background, camera angle, fonts...Truly, you're helping so many people.
Ha! Thanks for your lovely feedback, Neil. I often think I'm sat at a really awkward angle (as I'm trying to avoid glare on my glasses) so it's nice to know it's not too bothersome! 🤓👍
@@CreativeAutistic Ah yes, glare - it's annoying, isn't it? I'm still trying to fix issues like that in my own videos. I wince when I look back at the earlier ones I made.
OMG Lizzie I'm so very happy for you and your amazing channel's success, you deserve all the success in the world because you're such a lovely and genuine person ❤ I'm so proud of you and it makes me so very happy that more people see how amazing you are ❤ All my love Sally 🤓👍🏼❤️
Aww, this means so much to me, Sally. Thank you! 🤓 🧡 I'm just so sad I've not made any Clay Disarray content in a while but I'm reacting to clay at the moment, hence why I'm doing so much stuff on here. Maybe the universe is telling me something as this channel's doing waaaay better than CD ever did, so I guess it's more motivating. Anyway, I think *you're* amazing - thank you for being here and for being my friend 🧡 🧡 🧡
I've had enough of gp's, i reffered myself to a social prescriber and recieved a phone call from a social prescriber, they are linked to gp surgeries and work in the community. I told her iv'e been going to the doctors complaining of episodes of heavy fatigue for years and they havent reffered me to an expert? . She said you dont visit the gp very often, i said yes that is the point!! So When i do visit the gp it means it is serious and it is a last resort, and when i do go and see them its always about fatigue, but why am i going to keep going and getting more frustrated. I dont think she understood how frustrating it is, when they say we will do another blood test when they have already done too many to remember and have come back fine!! Other people have been reffered who have the same symptoms as me, i emailed a woman who runs a fibromyalgia support group and she said why havent you been reffered!?😬🦂
i understand this frustration with doctors and for similar reasons I rarely go to see one. Too often it's a case either of being given the impression you're wasting their time or they just don't seem to know the answer to a health problem. Doctors can do some tremendous work but at the same time we often overestimate their abilities or the quality of care they offer.
I’ve had my gallbladder removed! Dr said it was very unhappy! 😮 I had PMDD and likely Endometriosis, I was in pain for three weeks out of every month! I was born with Congenital Hypothyroidism too. I’ve had strabismus as well, it to took three surgeries to correct.
Very interesting to hear these 10 health conditions. It certainly makes you think!! I had early menopause at 39, which led to Osteopaenia. I have arthritis, polyps, anxiety, depression, CPTSD. I had problems with digestion and joint pain so am now on a gluten free diet which has helped. I get acid reflux. I know alot of my co-occuring issues are related to a lifetime of high anxiety, all the adrenalin and fight and flight state that I experience every day!!
I've had stomach discomfort for as long as I can remember - a little like a constant mild stomach ache plus heartburn. i'm very reluctant to go to a doctor because of previous bad experiences with doctors who give the impression i'm wasting their time. I also suspect they might say it's all down to my unbalanced diet which may be the case but may not be the explanation. On the other hand I fear in hypochondriac style that I'll be referred for tests and then find I have some dreadful illness and maybe end up cut to ribbons! I suppose this all ties in with health anxieties - including anxieties about even consulting a doctor - which I suspect are also more common among autists. Sometimes it seems easiest just to put up with things but I know that is the wrong approach and I don't recommend it.
I choke on my own spit a lot and had no idea the 2 were linked! I also have astigmatism , bruxism and endo too. I keep on at the doctor till I got my endo diagnosis and the only treatment I could get was to stop my periods completely. I take back to back contraceptive pills now so no periods no pain, which is fantastic as the pain was debilitating and apparently there’s a link between asd and feeling more intense period pain. Something I wish I knew in my teens and 20’s as I suffered for years and was just told it can’t be that back it’s just a period.
What I would like to add is the aversion to being touched... So, in my case, I have some traumatic experiences with anyone in white coats. I only go if it is really dangerous/deadly. Strokes/TIA's are also commen with autistic people. Anything that happens to my body is a trigger for anxiety and fear. Especially after my stroke.
We are raising our 17 y/o grandson in 2020 he was diagnosed with nystagmus (the eyes dart back and forth making reading impossible) and farsighted, and his glasses have fixed the nystagmus, the doctor said nystagmus is an Autistic trait, but he said that he will eventually become nearsighted. Unfortunately, when we are not able to care for him, he will have to go into a group home, mentally he is about 8-9 years old with a reading level of 1st grade. He also had an ingrown toenail, because he wouldn't let me cut his toenails. Another issue is he does not have regular BM's he goes every 3 days, which I read is also a trait. He just recently got evaluated and the doctor noticed his long fingers, in fact, his middle finger is way longer than the rest of his fingers. He also picks at his fingers constantly.
Hi, I’ve recently been diagnosed with autism in my late 50s. I can relate to many of the issues you mention. I suffer with migraines, I have to take daily medication to prevent attacks. I’ve had chronic migraine syndrome too which meant I was getting 13 plus migraines a day and this lasted for 8 weeks. I’ve never suffered from any kind of fracture but I’ve always had problems with my right knee. I had a total knee replacement when I was 39 - that was my 9th surgery and now I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in that leg. Another issue I have is that I can’t tolerate a lot of medications, in particular, opioids and anticonvulsants which are used to treat neurological pain which is really frustrating. Thank you so much for sharing.
If you have gallbladder problems I highly recommend taking the first opportunity you can to have it removed. It runs very strong in my family. I've had 3 episodes of acute pancreatitis in the past few years. Scans were inconclusive with my gallbladder so they couldn't say if my gallbladder was causing the pancreatitis. It was removed out of an abundance of caution. It appeared normal when removed and I've had pancreatitis again since. But it's a relief for me to know that I never have to worry about gallbladder problems on top of my pancreas issues and Crohn's disease.
Thank you for sharing, Haley - it's nice to hear positive stories about gallbladder removal. I'm hoping that it may help my mast cell disorder as a diseased gallbladder causes a whole load of inflammation. 🧡
I developed tinnitus in my 50s and have had IBS, GERD, ulcer, gastritis on and off since my teens. I was diagnosed with endo though I treated it myself. I think our stress responses cause a lot of dysregulation resulting in a breakdown of the body. Also have astigmatism, hate driving at night. Everything looks elongated.
Well this was very interesting! I bet just like you that many autistic people are more creative and self-employed too! I truly believe my mum is on the spectrum but when I spoke about some things after a recent diagnosis that I had confirming after decades that I had Dyscalculia and some Dyspraxia, she just said "Oh no, I was just very opinionated for a girl in those days." What I've always found with her is that she gives her opinions on things regardless of whether they were asked for or not. She can be quite abrupt and critical. My assessment that the doctor read out to me said that I was borderline some other things too but she didn't elaborate which was SO annoying! I think I am borderline autistic because of the way I was as a kid and teenager but luckily I found some great friends after I left school that I still have. The tinnitus description you gave is the type I've had a couple of times in the past when I had really bad sinus infections. I get sinusitis often. I thought it sounded like I had a tiny woodpecker drilling in my ear! I used to pick my nails and the actual bottom of my feet because I was born with a very high instep but hammer toes so I walk on my 'balls.' I often made them bleed because the skin would be so hard that I'd dig in and then pull the skin too far and it would start bleeding. This was usually after I'd had a bath. I stopped that in my teens. I do still pick my finger skin though. I wish I could stop but I don't even notice I'm doing it sometimes! Oh and the choking thing! That freaked me out! That happens to me quite often and I live alone. I have visions of me dying by choking! I used to struggle to chew enough before swallowing so then that would hurt a bit and I nearly choked on a fish finger sandwich when I was at school one time! Astigmatism in both eyes. Had a lot of headaches since my twenties. I had 20/20 vision until my late twenties though. Increased computer usage I believe has contributed. I do really struggle with car lights at night but I'm only a pedestrian! I have never learnt to drive for reasons. I find that even though I have brown eyes, I can't stand bright daylight either! I have to wear dark sunglasses and I've told friends that I can no longer cope with sitting in the sun for hours with them as it gives me headaches. I apologise for my essay but that might be another symptom of mine! I will subscribe as you've really piqued my interest. Plus you're an artist.
There isn't a "borderline Autistic" condition. I would sincerely ask, or even pay for, a formal diagnosis. Your mum does not sound like she's Autistic, otherwise she would relate to you. Why not take a closer look at your dad, and/or his family. I also have ADD. I wasn't diagnosed untilbthe age of 67 years old (I'm now 75) it was the best thing I've ever done for myself.
Hi some of the conditions you mentioned are news to me although have heard of endometriosis and POTS. I have HEDS only discovered it at the same time as an Autism diagnosis about 3 years ago in my 60s. Have had spasms and tension which I always thought was psychosomatic but am being told and looking stuff up can be mast cell activation. Also there are articles saying it can be common with Hypermobility alone. Also Jessica Eccles says Agoraphobia can be more common with Hypermobility. I have had travelling problems but have overcome them quite a bit but my assessor said it could be Autism because I have strong timing issues with it. I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia in the 90s. A couple of years ago I came across it was common in Autism. Led me to look stuff up and lots of oh! Oh! Oh! Moments. I was shocked to discover that eating disorders are common with Autism when I came across the Maudsley research. I have had a strange and severe eating disorder all of my life. Was in a clinic for a year. The main link in research is anorexia but also ARFID is common. Mine was not ARFID but might have had something like that as a child. I have tinnitus, kind of got used to it. You mention toes. Well I have in growing toenails. But more noticeable is I have sandal gap toes which strangely is said to be common with Autism and Downs Syndrome. Also I was referred to a Geneticist. One or two physical traits of Fragile X syndrome such as Pectus Excavatum. Was informed I could not have Fragile X as I have three degrees etc. I did read though that not all Fragile X people having learning disabilities though. What is strange though is the overlaps. What does it reveal about categorisation in general. Could I be a bit Fragile X and Downs. Well probably not. However there is such a thing as Mosaic Downs where those who have it don’t look obviously Downs etc and just a few altered genes etc. So what it all about folks. Anything else. Oh a bit of Thyroid stuff! Have Functional Neurological Disorder. The Neurologist said common with Autism and Dyspraxia.
More food for thought! I had endless ear problems as a child. Wouldn't be surprised if I am osteoporotic - I last had milk aged 3 when I was waterboarded with it by some lovely nursery staff! Migraines since about 7 - I think that a link with ASD is confirmed. Raynaud's since about 5 or 6 - lots of people in the community seem to have this. Don't even get me started on IBS/digestive issues and 'women's troubles'. Pica - eating paper - mostly as a child, but I still get the urge. There is a confirmed link to ASD. Skin picking - since I started school. A carefully curated collection of auto-immune diseases, which took over a decade to get diagnosed. On the plus side, now that my Sjogren's Disease is very advanced, I no longer have any spit to choke on. 🤣 The big problem is that the knowledge is stored piecemeal in obscure academic papers, and collectively in the ASD community discourse. GPs have no inkling.
Lots to relate to here! I HATE milk too 😆 I’m sorry to hear about you Sjogren’s as I’ve researched a little on this so I know how tough it is. My MCAS doctor thinks I may have it but as she’s private I can’t afford testing, and my NHS GP’s are just shite with this kind of stuff. An advanced case must be VERY challenging, particularly when combined with other autoimmune diseases 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic Sjogren's diagnosis is a tough one. Very few GPs are aware it can play merry hell with every system in the body - they tend to dismiss it as 'just dry eyes'. Even rheumatologists vary a lot on diagnostic criteria. The treatment options are woeful - it's all about mitigation and managed decline. If you're looking for info the Sjogren's Advocate website is put together by a sufferer who is a qualified doctor. There's a US bias, but the basis is sound.
I had HORRIFIC periods. I went on continuous birth control for years until that stopped working. Then I had a total hysterectomy at 28. No real issues in menopause, not on HRT. Doctors were always concerned about bone density, but I never had it tested. Shocked to hear about the chōking and swallowing! I'm also getting worse with that. I get these half burp, half hiccup/ spasms that sound like I'm gasping for air. I've nearly chōked to 💀 twice, basically on my own spit, somehow getting stuck only being able to inhale. Nearly ruptured my lungs. Not sure if I have one of the conditions you mentioned. Chewing on my cheeks as we speak. Had ear infections every other week as a kid. Pick at my skin and nails all the time. Someone else mentioned lots of eye floaters - me too. I do have weird issues with my eyes, but not poor sight based on traditional tests. Interesting!
Gallbladder out this year after years of pain. Astigmatism, ibs, far sighted, on spectrum for hypermobility, bruxism, choking issues recently. Wow, who knew.
1-Bruxism. At the age of 6, my front baby teeth were mere slivers. And while I went to the Dentist twice a year, none of them commented on this. At the age of 35, I had to stop the Dentist when he stated “Mandibular Tori present” to his assistant, to explain. I had to ask him if I should wear mouth guards, after his explanation, and he simply said yes. Over the years, no dentist made this suggestion; despite very obvious wear and tear on my teeth. I also have 6 crowns. (Night guards work much better than mouth guards, if you have sensory issues) 2-tons of very painful earaches growing up; last one at the age of 25. 3-I would say near and far sightedness is a bit of a stretch to link to autism. Most neurotypical people wear contacts, unless they have allergies. Choosing to wear glasses due to sensory issues would be a better indicator (and I loose my glasses yearly because I’m always ripping them off my head when I get home. 4- would always get into trouble, for ripping off my shoes in the car; and currently wear sandals if it is above freezing; happy to report, no ingrown toenails due to my stubbornness. 5-Fortunately I like food. I don’t like bones in fish, nor brussel sprouts, but other than that, I’m good with food
I wish all autistic people with chronic or frequent health problems get sleep studies and evaluated for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). There are 13 sub-types of EDS and all have genetic markers apart from the most common type, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), which a rheumatologist can diagnose. I was misdiagnosed for 20 years with Fibromyalgia, “Hypochondria”, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, etc. As soon as I was diagnosed with ASD at age 39, ADHD, EDS, Endometriosis (STAGE FOUR!), Sleep Apnea, Bruxism and narcolepsy. All this made SO much sense in retrospect. Unfortunately it hasn’t led to any less medical gaslighting because of my medical records that will haunt me for life!
Thank you for this. I've recently started to suspect some kind of connective tissue disorder, though getting diagnosed with anything that isn't extremely obvious is so hard in the UK. I don't have hypermobility nor stretchy skin so I know I'd be shown the door by my GP. I'm sorry to hear of your health issues (and "hypochondria" - wtf??) - it must be whole lot to deal with. 🧡
@@CreativeAutisticI don’t have a lot of hypermobility, but I do have some hypermobile joints. But I have so many of the comorbid conditions and the symptoms/traits of EDS. My sister has hEDS. Neither of us have stretchy skin. But ours are translucent, velvety, and young-looking. We also both have deeper-set and hooded eyes. Both of us had endometriosis. As did our mother.
Well that's unexpected. 3 generation of my family have gall stuff. My canines got flattened at a young age from bruxism. I have 3 flavors of tinnitus. Eeee deep brrr and somtimes a pop like sensation and extra loud lower freq eeee. Most of my relatives with a uterus have both issues. I had trouble with swallowing too. Toenail trouble. Ear problems, like infections and hearing loss. Astigmatism with both eyes in opposition directions like / and \. Nearsighted too. Seems like my autistic family and i only skipped the ulcers. Thanks for the info
I used to grind my teeth in my sleep when I was younger. No teeth now! At the age of 25 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I managed to get to my ideal weight, no caffeine, no salt and quite physically active! Still high and very ill! Now on meds for it! Also, type 2 diabetic which runs on my dad’s side of the family.
Are you familiar with the term: pro-inflammatory foods? Certain types of foods cause cellular inflammation, they are processed foods, deep fried foods, carbonated drinks, wheat and corn (because they have been used so extensively in western diets, also split to make emulsifiers [wheat] and fabrics [corn] so no wonder too much if them cause intolerances!), dairy products, especially cream and soft cheeses (as they are concentrated) and too much red meat. People with eczema need to eat, indeed everyone needs too, eat more oily fish, such as sardines, tuna, mackerel and salmon; they contain 'good' fats - Omega 3 Oils. Almonds and other nuts also contain Omega Oils. Our brains and nerves are made from good fats. If person dies not eat good fat then their nerves and brain will suffer. Dairy contains two main types of proteins - whey and casein. Casein is implicated in many intolerances and allergies. Whey protein is kinder, water more of it! ♥️🙋♀️
Bruxism, Endo, (the gp has proven completely useless) gender dysphoria, anxiety, depression, choking sometimes on spit and fluids, eating disorders, acne, my balance is shot and I’m very uncoordinated, insomnia, frequent utis, (basically interception for me is not fantastic at all). In one of my eyes, the optic nerve is off, and one of my eyes is better than the other. One of my kidneys has two ureters. Humans are strange aren’t they. 😊
I'm shocked that you had that experience with your GP because the exact same thing happened to me! They would brush me off until finally, one evening I was doubled up in pain so bad I thought I was dying. So I made my way to casualty and was diagnosed with gallstones. Then when I went back to my Doctors they refused to believe me until the hospital sent them a copy of the ultrasound scan!
Visual snow. I have it. It’s a visual processing disorder that’s actually relatively common especially with ND folks. It doesn’t affect the vision in any particular negative way it’s just sort of there. Basically it’s like there’s sort of a very subtle static or ‘noise’ filter over your vision (it’s like you see it but you don’t, but you do). Most people that have this if they stare a direction long enough can see red and blue dot static (at least in my case). Also, with visual snow, people see the negative images of things easier (like when you stare at a color or image for a while and you look away and see the after image but in the opposite color/colors floating around). Honestly where I see this condition act up the most is when I turn on or off a light. It’s almost like how RTX ray tracing puts all those dots everywhere when you put down a light source in Minecraft. Not much is actually known about this phenomenon but researchers have stated it’s more to do with the brain’s vision center than any optic nerve shenanigans.
Ah, interesting. Thank you for sharing. I have a kind of similar thing going on with my eyes but it's too difficult to explain (but this is really helpful) 👍
I'd like to share that I had my gallbladder out in 2013 and in 2021 I started getting awful pain around my sternum and just underneath. I've been on gerd meds for over a decade but I had to stop it b/c it seemed to aggravate the pain. After searching for an answer for 3 years now, my new gastro thinks the problem may be something called Sphincter of Oddi Dsyfunction - the sphincter that opens to introduce bile and such from where my gallbladder used to be can spasm or not open - it can become very tight and apparently this is more common post gallbladder removal. I just want you to know this can happen before you have yours out, though having it out can be a HUGE relief (it was for me). Good luck!
she also found I have diverticulosis (the inner of my colon is like an accordion - food and seeds can get stuck there) - have they performed scans on the area to see what's there?
You need to eat citrus fruits and bromeliad. Oranges and and pineapples break up/prevent gall stones. And oxalate kidney stones. Due to have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Types 1 and 4, I have multiple aneurysms throughout my body. I have aneurysms to my kidneys and this is why I am prone to kidney stones. Citrus fruits and pineapple juices, made in my Nutribullet, so the whole fruit is used, keeps my genetically faultily made blood vessels healthy. I am not autistic, however my husband and son are high functioning autistic. ❤🙋♀️
@CreativeAutistic Sorry to hear that. I suppose you are into meditation and yoga to help with stress then. The best thing when one has allergic reactions is to remain calm so that your cortisol is not raised unnecessarily thereby promoting inflammation and all that goes with that. I gather simple carbohydrates would be a problem for you too then? And shellfish, tomatoes, wine (😫) gluten, some dairy products and low oxalate foods such as blueberries, bananas, brocolli and cabbage. I just came across this from the London Clinic of Nutrition in the UK: What is the root cause of MCAS?: Chronic exposure to environmental pathogens activates mast cells. This one is huge. In our clinical experience, mould exposure or sick building syndrome is at the root of 90% of MCAS cases. Interesting. ♥️🙋♀️
Please don't ignore the endometriosis. I was gaslighted (gaslit?) by medical professionals from soon after I started periods at 13 until I had an emergency hospital admission at 35 very ill and needed a hysterectomy. If I'd gone to tmy GP about the increased symptoms months earlier, that might have been avoided, but the repeated gaslighting had made me very reluctant to go to my GP at all.
I'm so sorry to hear this - what a frightening experience, and I suspect you were very much gaslit. I'm about to be put into menopause through HRT so I hope it'll be an end to all the pain (as it's all period related for me) but I will mention it to my GP at my next HRT review. 🧡
Congenital Heart Disease, in simple terms, defects of the structures or electrical system of the heart that a child is born with that require medical intervention to secure survival and quality of life, is also fairly common among autistics, and Autism is common in those with CHD, with as much as 40% of CHDers being on the ASD spectrum.
I had a large polyp stopping my gall bladder from emptying. I did not have stones, but my gall bladder was removed. The surgeon did not tell me this at the time, but it is important to take digestive enzymes that include bile salts if your gall bladder has been removed. Before I started using them, my digestion was much worse.
@ Better than without them. I wish I could have kept my gall bladder, but it was too painful. Good luck to you. I think you are in the UK so I don’t know what your options are. The ones I use either say they include ox bile or bile salts - both sound a bit gross, but they do help.
I struggle with bruxism too. I dont think I get it at night but when I'm anxious or stressed. Botox into the masseter muscle can bring relief there but it's relatively expensive.
A lot of these health issues are not just in autism, but I do think they are more prevalent for several reasons. Picky diets is one causing malnutrition, gut microbiome imbalances, likely from being on several antibiotics, and sleep issues which is very common in autism and without sleep, anxiety increases, immune system is more sluggish. Gallstones are very common as we age, especially in women going through perimenopause.
This is fascinating, I've never heard of any of these (aside from digestive issues) being associated with autism! I have at least 3 of these issues... Interesting.
I have not been diagnosed as autistic for the time being, only ADHD but my psychiatrist is convinced I am in the spectrum. I also happen to have endometriosis, really bad one. And my mum has struggled all of her life with endometriosis and kidney stones and recently gallbladder stones.
See Disjointed: Navigating the Diagnosis and Management of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders if you are hypermobile for a thorough discussion of the co-morbidities. The book is a bit expensive, but if you've been gaslit by doctors about your chronic pain issues for as long as I have it is worth it.
Got: 2, 3, 4 (mild), had 5 + pcos, 6, just starting 7 with food, 9 (always plagued) - yep I wear earmuffs on a windy day even if it's hot, 10 - severe, and more
Wow, this is almost a list of my medical problems. I haven't been diagnosed with gallstones, though I do get sharp pains in that area after eating certain foods, and I just avoid them now because the doctor hasn't been any help. I've also never broken a bone... but I've been diagnosed with osteoporosis, so it's surprising that I'm break free.
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve 10) innervates the gallbladder where stimulation causes emptying. It also runs down the area in your neck you feel is related to your gallbladder disease.
@CreativeAutistic it might be a thought to look at vagus nerve stimulation exercises. Definitely can't hurt. Butt-burger with ehlers-danlos here.... dysautonomia is a usual part of the presentation.
i'm not sure if this counts but ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder) is VERY common among ASD/ADHD peeps. nuerodivergents can depend too much on safe foods - it contributes heavily to low bone density and increased risk of fractures, along with deficiency in certain vitamins and nutrients.
i recently left residental treatment with an extra 30 pounds because i was literally malnourished. i was starving for most of my life without realizing, i thought i was just a picky eater. if anyone here has trouble eating i highly reccomend talking to your doctor or consulting an eating disorder specialist. it's very easy to miss until it's too late.
Thank you for sharing and, like you, I think this is a huge issue for many neurodivergent people. I'm so pleased to hear of the progress you're making 🧡
Not only in women and girls but in men too.
Often only a eating disorder diagnosis leads to later autism diagnosis.
Yes. This. I am pretty certain that my Mom has ARFID.
Epilepsy, migraines and chronic fatigue syndrome too.
Me on the couch for the day with a 3 day migraine.
@anyascelticcreations I really sympathise. I've thought of ending it all, seriously because I couldn't cope with the pain and amount of days at the same time. 💙
Migraines are the bane of my existence...
Perimenopause makes them worse, apparently.
The last few months I have had some of the most severe headaches of my life, I spent 48 hours vomiting every hour on the hour a few weeks ago, I thought I was dying, I almost caved and went to the ER, but I couldn't justify the enormous debt, headaches get written off at the ER, I know that well enough...
Since that happend, I have had at least a low grade headache CONSTANTLY, I am going to the chiropractor Thursday, and if that doesn't help... I don't know.
(I got kicked in the chest by a horse a year ago, and it broke a rib and messed my neck up, and the headaches started happening more frequently then, and have just continued increasing in severity, i am desperately hoping it's a pinched nerve or something with my neck, I have never had neck pain im my life until that accident, amd now it sounds like glass crunching when I move my head or neck...)
@pariahmouse7794 Shrooms have been shown by modern science to cure migraines. Mine stayed gone for a lot of years after using them. I'd use them again if I could.
@@pariahmouse7794 Yes, people who don't get migraines don't realise we can be throwing up cyclically or not be able to walk or communicate etc, not able to stand the slightest bit of light or noise To give people an idea, I nearly died of bacterial meningitis because I thought it was a migraine. A migraine is basically a type of meningitis (inflammation of the meninges). Let's hope yours are temporary. I've been suffering for 41 years and I know how very depressing it can be. 💙
PMDD is more common in autistic people, too!
This video was very interesting, I had no idea many of these were more common in autistic people, and a few of them were surprising. Astigmatism?!
Thanks for another great video ❤
I wonder if postpartum depression is more common in ASD people who have babies
@marleysoluna I definitely have that
Also very common in ADHD since we have abnormal dopamine activity, lower usually, and during luteal phase it decreases even more
PMDD! You're kidding! I diagnosed myself and then took evidence to my doctor in the noughties about that after catching a segment with Richard & Judy on This Morning about it! I'm gobsmacked! Bloody awful thing! I've been on hormone balancing antidepressants ever since. Did some of your symptoms decrease with perimenopause or just change? Sorry, you might not even be around that age!
I’ve got astigmatism
Gastric issues, food sensitivities, allergies, intolerance to heat and cold, Guillain Barre syndrome, eye issues, I am sure that I am missing a bunch and they all got way worse menopausal.
I have had stomach issues since I was 16. Realised I'm autistic two years ago, aged 40.
@@AutisticNotAlien I hear you on that one. I have had them my entire life. I remember as a kid my Mom having to give me Gas X or Tums and those issues got much worse in my early 20s. I realized that I was autistic a few years ago after much research and a son being diagnosed in my mid to late 40s.
@@faeriesmak I think my stomach issues are a manifestation of constant anxiety. It's not fun.
Anyone else get low blood sugar easily?
Yes, sometimes my blood sugar drops and I need orange juice and carbs to stop me crashing. During my teens, my aunt used to get me to carry mini Mars bars in my bag.
@@elliedelacy8193 yes, also had to carry sweet things though i now eat low (complex) carb, high protein/healthy fats and fibre and that helps.
It seems to be related to our sensitive nervous systems - I don’t think that’s officially documented anywhere. By my own observation, the only other people I’ve met with this condition have been autistic/adhd
Yes!
My sister does. (We’re both AuDHDers.)
And I have type 1 diabetes, so I have 38 years of low blood sugar episodes.
Yes and also low blood pressure.
This is so informative and unfortunately relatable, had my gallbladder removed a year ago, diagnosed w/Fibromyalgia (& I suspect EDS), but I had no idea about the ingrown toenails and ear issues... not to mention the choking... I'm quite blown away, thank you for sharing your research!❤
Glad you found it useful 🧡
Your voice is oddly comforting, I HAVE SUBBED!
Lizzie's voice is 100% autistic ASMR.👍 I suspect that many of us have adapted similar speech as an autistic hypersensitivity response in order to comfortably regulate the sound of ourselves.
Thank you and welcome! 🧡
Migraine, anxiety, disordered eating, myopia, depression, stomach problems
@@BrittleSun 💯
Ingrown toenails - yes! Myopia, astigmatism - yes! But also generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and related to this atopic dermatitis
Myopia and astigmatism are related to autism?
@faeriesmak I understood that from the video (because it has something to do with the connective tissue)
Also bruxism, stomach issues and sleep issues
Also hypermobility syndrome and hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
I wish all autistic people with chronic or frequent health problems get sleep studies and evaluated for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). There are 13 sub-types of EDS and all have genetic markers apart from the most common type, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), which a rheumatologist can diagnose.
Do you reckon you can have late diagnosis of that as an adult too? I've had it from birth apparently but only diagnosed in the noughties. It's affected my gait badly.
@6Jillybeans yes, diagnosed in my 50s.
Yes EDS is something that GPs never think of, and they can be very dismissive if you bring it up. I insisted on a genetic test and it turns out I was right. Several times I was left in tears from being gaslighted by my GP.
Health conditions are like Pokémon, gotta catch em all!
Sure seems like it! 😆
Ha! 😂yeah!
Excellent video! I can relate to a number of the things listed. Stomach ulcers, reflux, migraines... the list goes on. Thank you Lizzie for all your hard work researching & presenting this. It really does help to raise awareness!
That's lovely feedback, thank you - and I'm sorry to hear of your health issues 🧡
Lizzie, couldn’t believe when you said about choking and laryngeal spasm. I have experienced exactly the same thing, choking on my own saliva and even water. Awful experience. I’m not medically diagnosed as autistic but I’m diagnosed with ADHD. I’m suspecting that I may be autistic, too.I’m currently waiting to see specialist. I had had very sensitive stomach all my life and didn’t know why. All my emotions negative and positive always gave me anxiety and eventually stomachache since I was a child.
Now I have acid reflux problem without heartburn but restricted to my throat(LPR). You have mentioned gallstones I had kidney stones removed twice.
Thank you for sharing I will look into this subject further.
I wish you luck and all the best ❤
Oh crikey, I'm sorry to hear you have similar issues as laryngospasm is horrendous. In case you're not aware, it's worth your time to look up Larson's manoeuvre (there are TH-cam videos on this) as it can help to 'unlock' the spasm more quickly - though I'm often in such a panic I forget about it in the moment. 🧡
Oh wow, are you me?
Me too!! Been suffering for years and never knew why!!
And endometriosis, gastric issues, ear infections as a child, so manybthings. I got my ADHD diagnosis no problem but she said we could talk about autism if I really wanted to. I do!
@@candycanefaery I also had horrible ear aches as kid!
I had gastroenteritis as a child, does that count?
I have diabetes which I attribute to stress from a traumatic event. But having more recently also found out I'm autistic I've slowly realised that stress and not dealing with that event normally which was hard to describe, can be much more easily explained in terms of autism resulting in the causal links autism > stress > diabetes. Before I was diagnosed with diabetes (I lost half my body weight) I was treated like a hypercondriac by GPs which is another huge issue that feels common to autism, so it all folds into one big challenge when it comes to doctors/health issues and autism. It's also lead to visiting the doctor being stressful in itself and avoiding doing so. You'd think that an autism diagnosis would make doctors more attentive to the patient, looking past their communication skills, but I've found it makes many professionals disregard you even more.
I very much can relate to a few of the things you've mentioned here!
Myopia, astigmatism (anti-glare on glasses can really help with this, especially at night time), I do also have a weird problem where I can see... But the lights might be so bright at night that I can't see where I'm going properly. Not sure what that is though, dysphagia, bruxism mostly at night (dentist told me), tinnitus (and at the moment, also newly pulsatile tinnitus), hEDS.
Gut-brain axis, eating habits, posture, and stress/ trauma could play a part in stomach problems. But it seems that people who are ASD and ADHD (among others), can have a low vagus nerve tone as well. The vagus nerve controls regular functions, like digestion, weight etc. There's also a tendency to be emotionally heightened or hypervigilant, impacting the autonomic system (fight or flight. This might also link in with masking). The parasympathetic system is where we need to be spending more time (rest and digest).
Another common issue for ASDers is hypermobility (HSD).
My goodness you have just made me realise it’s so likely I’m autistic and I have IBS, double stigmatism, eustachian tube dysfunction and the dreaded choking caused by laryngospasm. I’m so glad I’m not alone! I have had both ear drums reconstructed and wear double hearing aids. Thank you for sharing!
Very important video, thank you for sharing in a very caring and compassionate manner. 🥰
If this were a game of Bingo, it would be a very easy win for many, maybe a full house. 😞
I've also noticed getting older it's not just jaw bruxism but whole body bruxism especially while I am asleep.
ASD's tend to sleep in the T'rex hand position or arms crossed (self defence protective mode). I also have a lot of tension too, which leads to stiffness the next day.
Add in some night terrors (especially as a child) and vivid dreams as well. It's exhausting never having refreshed sleep ( adds to to CFS).
Asking for professional help doesn't come easy, white coat syndrome aside, going for help and being repeatedly gaslit and shut down, told to go away by medics has been a real problem, many of us go undiagnosed or tested. From day one lactose intolerant but I still haven't had a Dx (that's a minor thing, I won't go into the rest) etc. The staff made my poor mum feel bad because I could not keep her milk down long enough for me to thrive. 😞
I empathise with any of you going through unresolved issues.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
Whoof, mission accomplished - I wasn't aware that any of several issues you mentioned and which I also experience were correlated with autism (although, obviously, as a late-diagnosed AuDHD, much of anything relating to autism still comes as a surprise.) Dysphagia is especially interesting, in that I have always had a pronounced fear of choking but which I realize now is very much due to what I can only describe as esophageal sensitivity - all of my eating habits are adaptations to account for this particular hypersensitivity.
To top it off, my night vision is also quite 💩.
I'm sure there are other studies out there with findings contrary to some of the example studies I've given, but I think there's certainly an overall theme going on that we seem to more likely to develop a whole load of illnesses.
And yep, can relate - I've also always had a fear of choking and an overall extreme sensitivity around my throat/neck area. 😬
Thank you 🙏 my son suffers from so much mentioned, thank you for helping me understand him and what he is going through. ❤️❤️❤️🕊🙏 God bless you Lovely 🥰
You are so welcome - glad it was helpful 🧡
Another very interesting video, lizzie! 👍
Thank you! 🧡
Thank you for your video, you come across as kind and authentic. Regarding the ingrown toenails, I have wide toe box footwear (the toe box is literally as it sounds, the space your toes fit into - it's really narrow on lots of shoes and trainers). They may help with balance and preventing foot conditions and may help if you have ingrown toenails and normal shoes are causing you pain. You can usually get a pair online for around £40. Mine just look like regular pumps.
Ah, that's interesting, thank you for letting me know (and thank you for your lovely feedback) 🧡
I am autistic and I had my gallbladder removed. Years ago. It has made me feel worse. It just added to my intestinal problems. I found out Gall stones come from not having enough fat in your diet which is good for you. And it causes your gallbladder to become sludgy and make gallstones. Check into the keto diets. Can make you healthier. Meet and high fit diets are good for people with autism.
Wow Lizzie! You mentioned so much here that I can relate to. I've had ongoing tinnitus for over 30 years. I went though a long period of time when I had multiple ear infections every year. I had to deal with stomach pain though much of my school years. My swallowing difficulty started when I was about 14 years old. I was so stressed out In the school lunchroom that it became impossible for me to swallow and I spent much of my school years standing in a hallway at school during lunch time. This is something I still have to deal with to this day and I'm 71. I don't drive at night as I have almost had to come to a complete stop on the highway because I was so blinded by oncoming headlights. You are right about ingrown toenails being painful. I've also had a salicylate sensitivity and related asthma for 40 years. Another thing that I have in common with some other autistic people is that I tend to have an extremely low cholesterol level compared to most people. Without a deliberate effort to raise my cholesterol my level is around 90 mg/dl and my LDL cholesterol has been as low as 28 mg/dl. Too low cholesterol can interfere with brain function, hormone production and immunity. There is much information on the internet about the relationship between low cholesterol and autism in some autistic people. In an effort to keep my cholesterol at about 160 mg /dl I eat 6 eggs every day and use about half a cup of cream a day. This helps me to function better and feel better. As far as surgeries go I had my appendix removed when I was 5 years old. I have had 2 separate sinus surgeries. I have had a kidney surgery and a prostate surgery. Thank you for your video; I do find this interesting.
Thank you for sharing - I'd hadn't heard about the low cholesterol thing. Interesting! 🧡
Hi Lizzie, this was an interesting topic that is not often discussed. The most pervasive physical issues I've had have been digestive/dietary issues. It seems the list of foods that don't inflame me or give me GI issues is shorter than those that do. I tried a "plant based" diet several years ago and unfortunately had to give it up after about a year because it gave me terrible inflammation and stomach problems, while oddly enough, it seems there are many people who feel better on plant based. But not me.
@@scottfw7169 I know what you mean, Scott. I'm glad plant based works for some people, but there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet. And there are so many "superfoods" such as spirulina, kombucha, apple cider vinegar, etc., that trigger intense inflammation in me (they work for some people, but just not everyone). And beans and nuts? For me, they give me major issues.
Can relate. My MCAS only allows me to eat around 30 foods atm and I absolutely cannot do a plant based diet. Although I would LOVE to be vegan (for animal welfare issues) I get so tired of seeing this diet being described as the best thing ever as it can cause so much inflammation for some of us. 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic The best success my family & I have had with nutrition, full house of neurodivergents (autism, ADHD & OCDs), is a low carb/no carb animal based - high animal fat & protein. It’s basically an elimination diet with so many healing effects for my/our Fibromyalgia, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, GERD/reflux, swallowing issues, IBS/IBD, migraines, severe facial spasms, mental health disorders etc etc - too many to list 😅
It is an absolute game changer!
Plus it’s cheaper at checkout! Just to note, I’m a huge animal lover and only buy products that are humanely sourced (live in Australia). I’ve tried plant based in the past and become too inflamed from the toxins plus plant nutrients aren’t as bioavailable to the human body ie cause many deficiencies.
I’d previously had my gallbladder removed, complete hysterectomy re severe endometriosis etc, R hip replacement etc, too many to list AND wish I knew to eat this way years ago!!!!!! Thank goodness my family & I now know what true nutrition is, and it’s definitely not inflammatory plants!!!
It breaks my heart that at age 53 I’ve already suffered so much with my health but am so very grateful to be now eating a ‘no inflammation’ diet and regaining a much healthier happier life 🙏🙌💗
Good doctors & influences to look up are:
Dr Ken Berry (US)
No Carb Life (Dave Mac) (Aussie living in Japan)
Kent Carnivore (UK)
Dr Anthony Chaffee (American living here in Australia)
…plus many others… too many to list…
Also, get your Vit D checked, most are deficient… plus many other deficiencies.
It’s been a journey but learning so much and can’t argue the benefits of optimum nutrition with our autism, ADHD & OCD, and physical health. Sorry for going on, getting carried away but just want to help because I know how hard it all is 🤗💗
@@CharmedMum I hear what you're saying and, believe me, I've done LOADS of research on nutrition and elimination diets myself. However, I can only eat what my body allows me to eat as MCAS causes me debilitating nerve pain that lasts for weeks and a host of allergic symptoms, swollen tongue, vision issues (I could go on!) Mast cell stabiliser meds help a little, but I still have to be super limited with foods (and careful with environments as I also react to smells, including, yep, food smells) 🧡
@@Imagination_lives plants are full of toxins that cause most people inflammation plus their nutrients aren’t as bioavailable to the human body ie cause many nutrient deficiencies. Best nutrient dense bioavailable foods for humans are animal products, especially eggs (if no histamine issues), ruminant meats ie beef, lamb etc, butter, clean bacon… and so much more. The human body needs quality useful animal protein and fats to properly function, especially the brain. The brain needs plenty of animal fat to utilise much wanted good cholesterol 😊
Other bodily stuff - hypermobility. I mean it can make for some nice party tricks (I just sit down naturally and people say "how can that be comfortable?") but there can also be pain. Weirdly for me it seems hip hypermobility contributed to ankle pain. Also - not anything that's a problem, but apparently certain eye colours are more common in autistic people. I have hazel eyes an apparently they're disproportionately common.
Also hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
Hazel eyed people are definitely the best! 😁 Edit - At everything!
I'll add this one, it seems many of us have odd reactions to medications and anesthesia. We are more likely to have health issues, more likely to be gaslit by doctors and often less able to advocate for ourselves. This no doubt is part of the reason many of us pass away at earlier ages than out neurotypical peers. I have so much medical trauma from doctors and dentists I will delay going for as long as I can. They won't believe me and they will (and have) harmed me, so I avoid at all costs, even for regular screenings. This is particularly bad here in the United States where doctors process people as objects on a assembly line to get through as fast as possible and not actual unique humans. The care is very cookie cutter and if you diverge from the norm you will fall through cracks.
This is a very interesting video. I can relate to a lot of it. I have hED and PCOS. But I also had my gallbladder removed in my 20s. I had no idea about that. But I also grind my teeth. I just always assumed it was a stress response, but yeah. I can see how that is connected. I also never realized that other people experienced the "choking on your own spit" phenomenon. I mean, I guess I thought it could happen to anybody, but it happens to me a lot.
Citrus and bromeliad juicing in a nutribullet, so that you have the whole fruit will help you. Citrus and bromeliad (pineapples) prevent and break up gall stones and kidney stones.❤🙋♀️
Great video, I can relate with many of what you're saying. I also have scoliosis (S-shaped spine) since I was 11 years old, which is getting worse aging, I'm 57. Also foot problems since childhood. And I have heard that these two conditions relate to each other.
I know I have a very nervous stomach. I believe I have undiagnosed endometriosis because I’ve had period cramps pain so bad that I’ve thrown up. I’ve had ear infections my entire life. I’m sure there’s more. I wasnt diagnosed until 62 so I also have imposter syndrome. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone 🦋💜
I'm sorry to hear this, though it's comforting to know others can relate 🧡
What a lovely personality you have, and you speak to camera so eloquently. Despite my suspected ADHD, you certainly held my attention! ... I'm 62, and I have social anxiety and OCD. I was bullied all through school. I suspect autism and ADHD, and I asked my GP for a diagnosis years ago, but to no avail. At this rate, it's going to be too late! 🤣
12:22 For over 30 years (yes, 30 years) I've suffered from recurrent ear infections. My doctor said it was bacterial and fungal. I've been to the ENT Clinic numerous times over the years. I have periods of deafness, and I've now lost hearing in my right ear altogether. I went to my GP recently, but nothing has been done. The tinnitus is deafening. I fear my hearing is being permanently damaged. Not being able to hear properly is getting me down.
I have astigmatism too! I'm myopic, but my corrected eyesight (with contacts) is incredibly good for my age, although I have Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) in both eyes, which is common in people my age (62).
I am VERY prone to acid reflux. Fortunately, not too bad at present.
Fibromyalgia is also more prevalent in the autistic community.
Sure enough I have 7/10 of these issues and high functioning autism. Interesting to learn there's a correlation and I'm not just broken in a bunch of random ways.
It makes me _feel_ broken
Gallstones; gall bladder disease (Yes, completly remove gall bladder)
Stomach ulcers (yes, a small one)
Bruxism (teeth grinding) (yes, especially on my left side. they've had to replace my filling 5 times in less han a year. I've controlled it now)
Ingrown nails (Yes, I've had to remove them myself)
I have hyper mobile ehlers danlo syndrome, hEDS, which also is associated with ADHD and autism.
Oh my, SO many thing I relate to here. My stim is bruxism-related: I click and lightly clench my teeth from side to side, so much so that I have worn my teeth down and now they are oddly shaped. TMJ issues too.
Ears (tinnitus, ear infections, and insanely itchy ear canals) ✅️
IBS ✅️
Gallstones, check (I no longer have a gallbladder). ✅️
Terrible, horrendous period agony (now I have a mirena - bliss) ✅️
Eyes... I have macular degeneration in one now ✅️
Bones... a couple of breaks, yes. I always had sprains, though. Gawd. ✅️
Look, I'll just say CHECK to this entire video. ✅️
Probable undiagnosed hEDS. ✅️
Thank you for sharing and yes, I can see how bruxism could be a stim for some of us too 🧡
I can definitly relate. I've learnt that my inability to breathe when I have just choked, then cough has a name - laryngispasm. Indefinitely have that eye coordination thing too. Closing one eye can help a lot, especially when I am tired.
I've recently been diagnosed with Functional Neuroogical Disorder and yes, its more common in Autistics I found a paper online or at least "Autism Spectrum Disorder May be Highly Prevalent in People with Functional Neurological Disorders". If you want to check it out, that's the title. You should find it if you search with those words.
Yes, I don't doubt that an FND diagnosis is more common in autistic people. I was diagnosed with FND myself, but it turned out to actually be MCAS.
@CreativeAutistic that's so interesting to hear. What turned the diagnosis around to MCAS? I have thought I might have MCAS myself.
@@pardalote for me, massive levels of food intolerance made MCAS very obvious (and my neurologist refused to discuss any of this, even though I knew food was the cause of horrendous nerve pain). In the end I was eating just 3 foods, extremely malnourished, and had to seek a private MCAS doctor.
Don't get me wrong, I believe FND to be a valid diagnosis/condition, but there are many misdiagnoses going on, and particularly for those with MCAS - my doc has seen many instances of this. If you think you may have MCAS, I'd have a look at the Mast Cell Action website for signs and symptoms. It's a UK charity but has lots of good info on their site.
Very interesting! I am short sighted and have a lot of troubles driving at night. I have also had the chattering teeth once or twice in my life when i was super anxious ir having some panic and it felt very similar to being freezing cold, yet it was on warm days and i was fine a moment before.
I have had otitis media, I have astigmatisms, I have had ingrown toenails. I recommend wide toe box footwear for ingrown toenails or people struggling with balance. You can usually find pumps online for quite cheap, so no need to go for one of the heinously expensive brands.
Wow. Just discovered your channel. We are the same age. And I am also starting menopause. Just watched a few of your videos and I can so relate to you. I was diagnosed age 41. I have 4 kids all diagnosed too.
Unrelated, but where did you get those Beatles miniatures? Those are fantastic!
Aww, thank you! I made them (I'm a sculptor) 🧡
@CreativeAutistic they're fantastic. Do you sell them as well? I'm sure there is a market for this! ❤️
I'm primarily Dyspraxic and clinicians I visit have mixed opinions as to whether or not I'm on the Autism spectrum. One thing I can say is that managing my health is tantamount to a full time job. I was born hypotonic with slight joint hyper mobility. And I have long found it necessary to exercise religiously and meticulously plan my diet and meals, preparing everything from scratch rather than eating any highly processed convenience foods. Anything short of that and I'm much more likely than the average person to suffer the adverse health consequences from it. I'm now 50 and have been borderline diabetic twice in my life, the first time being at only age 22, just from slacking off my health regimen for a few years. I'm also really prone to hypertension if I don't do adequate amounts of high intensity max VO2 training, or if I'm not careful with my caffeine consumption. I have to take most of my caffeine from either green or yerba mate tea vs coffee. I suspect that in general many neurodivergences likely have a good degree of comorbidity with various physical health conditions.
It seems if you really do the research that most of these conditions discussed do fall under the umbrella of a connective tissue disorder, such as Ehlers, Danlos, and mast cell activation syndrome, and pots, and they all just ride together. So is autism another symptom another presentation of coping mechanisms to deal with all of these underlying medical issues or is it truly a social disorder?
I can only really speak to auto-immune diseases. These have definite genetic components and so tend to run in families - as does ASD. I am convinced that the parent who gifted me the auto-immune stuff was also autistic. As a non-medical professional, it makes sense that genetics play a role.
Yes, I think underlying connective tissue disorders might help explain a lot of health issues.
Yep. Both run in our family. Being an avid researcher, I was digging for the connection years before I could find any studies happening on it. It was the fine and gross motor issues that first prompted me. It was something long dealt with in our family and seeing it crop up in both conditions just really made sense.From there, it has been a long series of connecting dots on so many things we have always thought were just "family quirks". Glad others are seeing it too.
@@CreativeAutistic autoimmune disorders highly comorbid
I have underdeveloped eustachian tubes.I had frequent ear infections as a child. I get occasional ringing or throbbing in my ears. I also have fluid buildup issues and ear blockage at times. As a result I have mid range hearing loss. I have difficulty seeing at night. I gag easily. I've had digestive issues since I was a kid and my mom's solution was prunes. I'm nearsighted but developed periferal vision loss due to my mom making me wear my glasses all day instead of when I actually needed them.
When you mentioned Strabismus, I thought that Jean-Paul Sartre might be autistic ('Quel surprise!' some more educated people than me may say.) I remember reading that Sartre was friends with Albert Camus, but then they didn't, er, see eye to eye...Anyway, thank you for another wonderful video. I love the knowledge, pace, compassion, background, camera angle, fonts...Truly, you're helping so many people.
Ha! Thanks for your lovely feedback, Neil. I often think I'm sat at a really awkward angle (as I'm trying to avoid glare on my glasses) so it's nice to know it's not too bothersome! 🤓👍
@@CreativeAutistic Ah yes, glare - it's annoying, isn't it? I'm still trying to fix issues like that in my own videos. I wince when I look back at the earlier ones I made.
OMG Lizzie I'm so very happy for you and your amazing channel's success, you deserve all the success in the world because you're such a lovely and genuine person ❤
I'm so proud of you and it makes me so very happy that more people see how amazing you are ❤
All my love Sally 🤓👍🏼❤️
Aww, this means so much to me, Sally. Thank you! 🤓 🧡 I'm just so sad I've not made any Clay Disarray content in a while but I'm reacting to clay at the moment, hence why I'm doing so much stuff on here. Maybe the universe is telling me something as this channel's doing waaaay better than CD ever did, so I guess it's more motivating.
Anyway, I think *you're* amazing - thank you for being here and for being my friend 🧡 🧡 🧡
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Okay, I see the autoimmune stuff at the end. I have sjögren's disease.
I've had enough of gp's, i reffered myself to a social prescriber and recieved a phone call from a social prescriber, they are linked to gp surgeries and work in the community. I told her iv'e been going to the doctors complaining of episodes of heavy fatigue for years and they havent reffered me to an expert? . She said you dont visit the gp very often, i said yes that is the point!! So When i do visit the gp it means it is serious and it is a last resort, and when i do go and see them its always about fatigue, but why am i going to keep going and getting more frustrated. I dont think she understood how frustrating it is, when they say we will do another blood test when they have already done too many to remember and have come back fine!! Other people have been reffered who have the same symptoms as me, i emailed a woman who runs a fibromyalgia support group and she said why havent you been reffered!?😬🦂
i understand this frustration with doctors and for similar reasons I rarely go to see one. Too often it's a case either of being given the impression you're wasting their time or they just don't seem to know the answer to a health problem. Doctors can do some tremendous work but at the same time we often overestimate their abilities or the quality of care they offer.
@@gmlpc7132you are so right👍
You are so right👍@@gmlpc7132
You are so right👍@@gmlpc7132
Yes very true👍 5:47
I have fibromyalgia, cptsd, bipolar 1, generalized anxiety, PMDD
I’ve had my gallbladder removed! Dr said it was very unhappy! 😮 I had PMDD and likely Endometriosis, I was in pain for three weeks out of every month! I was born with Congenital Hypothyroidism too. I’ve had strabismus as well, it to took three surgeries to correct.
Great info and presented with a very pleasant nice voice.
Lovely feedback - thank you 🧡
Very interesting to hear these 10 health conditions. It certainly makes you think!! I had early menopause at 39, which led to Osteopaenia. I have arthritis, polyps, anxiety, depression, CPTSD. I had problems with digestion and joint pain so am now on a gluten free diet which has helped. I get acid reflux. I know alot of my co-occuring issues are related to a lifetime of high anxiety, all the adrenalin and fight and flight state that I experience every day!!
I've had stomach discomfort for as long as I can remember - a little like a constant mild stomach ache plus heartburn. i'm very reluctant to go to a doctor because of previous bad experiences with doctors who give the impression i'm wasting their time. I also suspect they might say it's all down to my unbalanced diet which may be the case but may not be the explanation. On the other hand I fear in hypochondriac style that I'll be referred for tests and then find I have some dreadful illness and maybe end up cut to ribbons! I suppose this all ties in with health anxieties - including anxieties about even consulting a doctor - which I suspect are also more common among autists. Sometimes it seems easiest just to put up with things but I know that is the wrong approach and I don't recommend it.
I'm sorry to hear this and I totally get how you feel. I would recommend you try to see a doctor though 🧡
I choke on my own spit a lot and had no idea the 2 were linked! I also have astigmatism , bruxism and endo too. I keep on at the doctor till I got my endo diagnosis and the only treatment I could get was to stop my periods completely. I take back to back contraceptive pills now so no periods no pain, which is fantastic as the pain was debilitating and apparently there’s a link between asd and feeling more intense period pain. Something I wish I knew in my teens and 20’s as I suffered for years and was just told it can’t be that back it’s just a period.
Sorry to hear this - it's such a painful condition 🧡
What I would like to add is the aversion to being touched... So, in my case, I have some traumatic experiences with anyone in white coats. I only go if it is really dangerous/deadly. Strokes/TIA's are also commen with autistic people.
Anything that happens to my body is a trigger for anxiety and fear. Especially after my stroke.
We are raising our 17 y/o grandson in 2020 he was diagnosed with nystagmus (the eyes dart back and forth making reading impossible) and farsighted, and his glasses have fixed the nystagmus, the doctor said nystagmus is an Autistic trait, but he said that he will eventually become nearsighted. Unfortunately, when we are not able to care for him, he will have to go into a group home, mentally he is about 8-9 years old with a reading level of 1st grade. He also had an ingrown toenail, because he wouldn't let me cut his toenails. Another issue is he does not have regular BM's he goes every 3 days, which I read is also a trait. He just recently got evaluated and the doctor noticed his long fingers, in fact, his middle finger is way longer than the rest of his fingers. He also picks at his fingers constantly.
I have nystagmus. I didn't know the connection. Thank you!
I can relate to so many of those issues! It seems to me that many are stress related, which makes total sense.
Hi, I’ve recently been diagnosed with autism in my late 50s. I can relate to many of the issues you mention. I suffer with migraines, I have to take daily medication to prevent attacks. I’ve had chronic migraine syndrome too which meant I was getting 13 plus migraines a day and this lasted for 8 weeks. I’ve never suffered from any kind of fracture but I’ve always had problems with my right knee. I had a total knee replacement when I was 39 - that was my 9th surgery and now I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in that leg. Another issue I have is that I can’t tolerate a lot of medications, in particular, opioids and anticonvulsants which are used to treat neurological pain which is really frustrating. Thank you so much for sharing.
If you have gallbladder problems I highly recommend taking the first opportunity you can to have it removed. It runs very strong in my family. I've had 3 episodes of acute pancreatitis in the past few years. Scans were inconclusive with my gallbladder so they couldn't say if my gallbladder was causing the pancreatitis. It was removed out of an abundance of caution. It appeared normal when removed and I've had pancreatitis again since. But it's a relief for me to know that I never have to worry about gallbladder problems on top of my pancreas issues and Crohn's disease.
Thank you for sharing, Haley - it's nice to hear positive stories about gallbladder removal. I'm hoping that it may help my mast cell disorder as a diseased gallbladder causes a whole load of inflammation. 🧡
I developed tinnitus in my 50s and have had IBS, GERD, ulcer, gastritis on and off since my teens. I was diagnosed with endo though I treated it myself. I think our stress responses cause a lot of dysregulation resulting in a breakdown of the body. Also have astigmatism, hate driving at night. Everything looks elongated.
Well this was very interesting! I bet just like you that many autistic people are more creative and self-employed too! I truly believe my mum is on the spectrum but when I spoke about some things after a recent diagnosis that I had confirming after decades that I had Dyscalculia and some Dyspraxia, she just said "Oh no, I was just very opinionated for a girl in those days." What I've always found with her is that she gives her opinions on things regardless of whether they were asked for or not. She can be quite abrupt and critical. My assessment that the doctor read out to me said that I was borderline some other things too but she didn't elaborate which was SO annoying!
I think I am borderline autistic because of the way I was as a kid and teenager but luckily I found some great friends after I left school that I still have. The tinnitus description you gave is the type I've had a couple of times in the past when I had really bad sinus infections. I get sinusitis often. I thought it sounded like I had a tiny woodpecker drilling in my ear! I used to pick my nails and the actual bottom of my feet because I was born with a very high instep but hammer toes so I walk on my 'balls.' I often made them bleed because the skin would be so hard that I'd dig in and then pull the skin too far and it would start bleeding. This was usually after I'd had a bath. I stopped that in my teens. I do still pick my finger skin though. I wish I could stop but I don't even notice I'm doing it sometimes!
Oh and the choking thing! That freaked me out! That happens to me quite often and I live alone. I have visions of me dying by choking! I used to struggle to chew enough before swallowing so then that would hurt a bit and I nearly choked on a fish finger sandwich when I was at school one time!
Astigmatism in both eyes. Had a lot of headaches since my twenties. I had 20/20 vision until my late twenties though. Increased computer usage I believe has contributed. I do really struggle with car lights at night but I'm only a pedestrian! I have never learnt to drive for reasons. I find that even though I have brown eyes, I can't stand bright daylight either! I have to wear dark sunglasses and I've told friends that I can no longer cope with sitting in the sun for hours with them as it gives me headaches.
I apologise for my essay but that might be another symptom of mine! I will subscribe as you've really piqued my interest. Plus you're an artist.
There isn't a "borderline Autistic" condition. I would sincerely ask, or even pay for, a formal diagnosis. Your mum does not sound like she's Autistic, otherwise she would relate to you. Why not take a closer look at your dad, and/or his family. I also have ADD. I wasn't diagnosed untilbthe age of 67 years old (I'm now 75) it was the best thing I've ever done for myself.
Hi some of the conditions you mentioned are news to me although have heard of endometriosis and POTS.
I have HEDS only discovered it at the same time as an Autism diagnosis about 3 years ago in my 60s. Have had spasms and tension which I always thought was psychosomatic but am being told and looking stuff up can be mast cell activation. Also there are articles saying it can be common with Hypermobility alone. Also Jessica Eccles says Agoraphobia can be more common with Hypermobility. I have had travelling problems but have overcome them quite a bit but my assessor said it could be Autism because I have strong timing issues with it.
I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia in the 90s. A couple of years ago I came across it was common in Autism. Led me to look stuff up and lots of oh! Oh! Oh! Moments.
I was shocked to discover that eating disorders are common with Autism when I came across the Maudsley research. I have had a strange and severe eating disorder all of my life. Was in a clinic for a year. The main link in research is anorexia but also ARFID is common. Mine was not ARFID but might have had something like that as a child.
I have tinnitus, kind of got used to it.
You mention toes. Well I have in growing toenails. But more noticeable is I have sandal gap toes which strangely is said to be common with Autism and Downs Syndrome.
Also I was referred to a Geneticist. One or two physical traits of Fragile X syndrome such as Pectus Excavatum. Was informed I could not have Fragile X as I have three degrees etc. I did read though that not all Fragile X people having learning disabilities though.
What is strange though is the overlaps. What does it reveal about categorisation in general. Could I be a bit Fragile X and Downs. Well probably not. However there is such a thing as Mosaic Downs where those who have it don’t look obviously Downs etc and just a few altered genes etc.
So what it all about folks.
Anything else. Oh a bit of Thyroid stuff!
Have Functional Neurological Disorder. The Neurologist said common with Autism and Dyspraxia.
More food for thought! I had endless ear problems as a child. Wouldn't be surprised if I am osteoporotic - I last had milk aged 3 when I was waterboarded with it by some lovely nursery staff! Migraines since about 7 - I think that a link with ASD is confirmed. Raynaud's since about 5 or 6 - lots of people in the community seem to have this. Don't even get me started on IBS/digestive issues and 'women's troubles'. Pica - eating paper - mostly as a child, but I still get the urge. There is a confirmed link to ASD. Skin picking - since I started school. A carefully curated collection of auto-immune diseases, which took over a decade to get diagnosed. On the plus side, now that my Sjogren's Disease is very advanced, I no longer have any spit to choke on. 🤣 The big problem is that the knowledge is stored piecemeal in obscure academic papers, and collectively in the ASD community discourse. GPs have no inkling.
Lots to relate to here! I HATE milk too 😆 I’m sorry to hear about you Sjogren’s as I’ve researched a little on this so I know how tough it is. My MCAS doctor thinks I may have it but as she’s private I can’t afford testing, and my NHS GP’s are just shite with this kind of stuff. An advanced case must be VERY challenging, particularly when combined with other autoimmune diseases 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic Sjogren's diagnosis is a tough one. Very few GPs are aware it can play merry hell with every system in the body - they tend to dismiss it as 'just dry eyes'. Even rheumatologists vary a lot on diagnostic criteria. The treatment options are woeful - it's all about mitigation and managed decline. If you're looking for info the Sjogren's Advocate website is put together by a sufferer who is a qualified doctor. There's a US bias, but the basis is sound.
Ah, nice one. Will take a look over the weekend, thank you 🧡
Calcium pyrophosphate Deposition disease (CPDD) Tinnitus, Coeliac Disease, Lactose Intolerance, Astigmatism, ASD (Aspergers) Osteoarthritis, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia......all formally diagnosed. All mine....😮
I had HORRIFIC periods. I went on continuous birth control for years until that stopped working. Then I had a total hysterectomy at 28. No real issues in menopause, not on HRT. Doctors were always concerned about bone density, but I never had it tested.
Shocked to hear about the chōking and swallowing! I'm also getting worse with that. I get these half burp, half hiccup/ spasms that sound like I'm gasping for air. I've nearly chōked to 💀 twice, basically on my own spit, somehow getting stuck only being able to inhale. Nearly ruptured my lungs. Not sure if I have one of the conditions you mentioned.
Chewing on my cheeks as we speak. Had ear infections every other week as a kid. Pick at my skin and nails all the time. Someone else mentioned lots of eye floaters - me too. I do have weird issues with my eyes, but not poor sight based on traditional tests.
Interesting!
Put thicken up in all your drinks . It helps alot.
@anntunaley9974 I don't even know what that is... helps with what?
@@luna-pthickener helps you to swallow liquids safely. Speak with your doctor or a pharmacist
@annmartin5347 Oh okay
@@annmartin5347We used a version of that with my mother, who had choking issues from ALS.
Gallbladder out this year after years of pain. Astigmatism, ibs, far sighted, on spectrum for hypermobility, bruxism, choking issues recently. Wow, who knew.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
You are 100% spot on. Are you a clairvoyant as you know me so well!
🤪
1-Bruxism. At the age of 6, my front baby teeth were mere slivers. And while I went to the Dentist twice a year, none of them commented on this. At the age of 35, I had to stop the Dentist when he stated “Mandibular Tori present” to his assistant, to explain. I had to ask him if I should wear mouth guards, after his explanation, and he simply said yes. Over the years, no dentist made this suggestion; despite very obvious wear and tear on my teeth. I also have 6 crowns. (Night guards work much better than mouth guards, if you have sensory issues)
2-tons of very painful earaches growing up; last one at the age of 25.
3-I would say near and far sightedness is a bit of a stretch to link to autism. Most neurotypical people wear contacts, unless they have allergies. Choosing to wear glasses due to sensory issues would be a better indicator (and I loose my glasses yearly because I’m always ripping them off my head when I get home.
4- would always get into trouble, for ripping off my shoes in the car; and currently wear sandals if it is above freezing; happy to report, no ingrown toenails due to my stubbornness.
5-Fortunately I like food. I don’t like bones in fish, nor brussel sprouts, but other than that, I’m good with food
I wish all autistic people with chronic or frequent health problems get sleep studies and evaluated for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). There are 13 sub-types of EDS and all have genetic markers apart from the most common type, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), which a rheumatologist can diagnose. I was misdiagnosed for 20 years with Fibromyalgia, “Hypochondria”, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, etc. As soon as I was diagnosed with ASD at age 39, ADHD, EDS, Endometriosis (STAGE FOUR!), Sleep Apnea, Bruxism and narcolepsy. All this made SO much sense in retrospect. Unfortunately it hasn’t led to any less medical gaslighting because of my medical records that will haunt me for life!
Thank you for this. I've recently started to suspect some kind of connective tissue disorder, though getting diagnosed with anything that isn't extremely obvious is so hard in the UK. I don't have hypermobility nor stretchy skin so I know I'd be shown the door by my GP. I'm sorry to hear of your health issues (and "hypochondria" - wtf??) - it must be whole lot to deal with. 🧡
@@CreativeAutisticI don’t have a lot of hypermobility, but I do have some hypermobile joints. But I have so many of the comorbid conditions and the symptoms/traits of EDS.
My sister has hEDS.
Neither of us have stretchy skin. But ours are translucent, velvety, and young-looking.
We also both have deeper-set and hooded eyes.
Both of us had endometriosis. As did our mother.
Omg -all of these are present within myself and my family. Thankyou for the video and your excellent presentation of it
Many of these conditions are also common in people with MTHFR and related genetic variances.
Pmdd is legit and more common for neurodiverse people
Well that's unexpected. 3 generation of my family have gall stuff. My canines got flattened at a young age from bruxism. I have 3 flavors of tinnitus. Eeee deep brrr and somtimes a pop like sensation and extra loud lower freq eeee. Most of my relatives with a uterus have both issues. I had trouble with swallowing too. Toenail trouble. Ear problems, like infections and hearing loss. Astigmatism with both eyes in opposition directions like / and \. Nearsighted too.
Seems like my autistic family and i only skipped the ulcers.
Thanks for the info
I used to grind my teeth in my sleep when I was younger. No teeth now!
At the age of 25 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I managed to get to my ideal weight, no caffeine, no salt and quite physically active! Still high and very ill! Now on meds for it!
Also, type 2 diabetic which runs on my dad’s side of the family.
I have autism, adhd, depression, anxiety, ibs and hydrocephalus
No way! I'm autistic and also in the same position with gallstones! So nervous I'm having the op but on the waiting list feels like it's taking ages!
Can relate to many of the conditions discussed. Luckily I do not have the bone issues but have had several fracture due to being less coordinated.
Autistic but never had gall bladder issues or ulcers. I do have a lifelong eczema condition and ear infections.
Are you familiar with the term: pro-inflammatory foods? Certain types of foods cause cellular inflammation, they are processed foods, deep fried foods, carbonated drinks, wheat and corn (because they have been used so extensively in western diets, also split to make emulsifiers [wheat] and fabrics [corn] so no wonder too much if them cause intolerances!), dairy products, especially cream and soft cheeses (as they are concentrated) and too much red meat.
People with eczema need to eat, indeed everyone needs too, eat more oily fish, such as sardines, tuna, mackerel and salmon; they contain 'good' fats - Omega 3 Oils. Almonds and other nuts also contain Omega Oils.
Our brains and nerves are made from good fats. If person dies not eat good fat then their nerves and brain will suffer.
Dairy contains two main types of proteins - whey and casein. Casein is implicated in many intolerances and allergies. Whey protein is kinder, water more of it! ♥️🙋♀️
Bruxism, Endo, (the gp has proven completely useless) gender dysphoria, anxiety, depression, choking sometimes on spit and fluids, eating disorders, acne, my balance is shot and I’m very uncoordinated, insomnia, frequent utis, (basically interception for me is not fantastic at all). In one of my eyes, the optic nerve is off, and one of my eyes is better than the other. One of my kidneys has two ureters. Humans are strange aren’t they. 😊
I'm shocked that you had that experience with your GP because the exact same thing happened to me! They would brush me off until finally, one evening I was doubled up in pain so bad I thought I was dying. So I made my way to casualty and was diagnosed with gallstones. Then when I went back to my Doctors they refused to believe me until the hospital sent them a copy of the ultrasound scan!
I'm so sorry to hear this - I've no idea why GP's refuse to believe us when gallstones are really common!
Visual snow. I have it. It’s a visual processing disorder that’s actually relatively common especially with ND folks. It doesn’t affect the vision in any particular negative way it’s just sort of there. Basically it’s like there’s sort of a very subtle static or ‘noise’ filter over your vision (it’s like you see it but you don’t, but you do). Most people that have this if they stare a direction long enough can see red and blue dot static (at least in my case). Also, with visual snow, people see the negative images of things easier (like when you stare at a color or image for a while and you look away and see the after image but in the opposite color/colors floating around).
Honestly where I see this condition act up the most is when I turn on or off a light. It’s almost like how RTX ray tracing puts all those dots everywhere when you put down a light source in Minecraft.
Not much is actually known about this phenomenon but researchers have stated it’s more to do with the brain’s vision center than any optic nerve shenanigans.
Ah, interesting. Thank you for sharing. I have a kind of similar thing going on with my eyes but it's too difficult to explain (but this is really helpful) 👍
Bipolar, adhd, autistic, ocd, auditory processing disorder, discalcula, ankylosing spondylitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, pilonidal cyst, hiatul hernia, gerd, ibs/ibd
I'd like to share that I had my gallbladder out in 2013 and in 2021 I started getting awful pain around my sternum and just underneath. I've been on gerd meds for over a decade but I had to stop it b/c it seemed to aggravate the pain. After searching for an answer for 3 years now, my new gastro thinks the problem may be something called Sphincter of Oddi Dsyfunction - the sphincter that opens to introduce bile and such from where my gallbladder used to be can spasm or not open - it can become very tight and apparently this is more common post gallbladder removal. I just want you to know this can happen before you have yours out, though having it out can be a HUGE relief (it was for me). Good luck!
she also found I have diverticulosis (the inner of my colon is like an accordion - food and seeds can get stuck there) - have they performed scans on the area to see what's there?
You need to eat citrus fruits and bromeliad. Oranges and and pineapples break up/prevent gall stones. And oxalate kidney stones. Due to have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Types 1 and 4, I have multiple aneurysms throughout my body. I have aneurysms to my kidneys and this is why I am prone to kidney stones. Citrus fruits and pineapple juices, made in my Nutribullet, so the whole fruit is used, keeps my genetically faultily made blood vessels healthy. I am not autistic, however my husband and son are high functioning autistic. ❤🙋♀️
Frustratingly I can't eat any fruits (nor the vast majority of foods) because of my MCAS
@CreativeAutistic Sorry to hear that. I suppose you are into meditation and yoga to help with stress then. The best thing when one has allergic reactions is to remain calm so that your cortisol is not raised unnecessarily thereby promoting inflammation and all that goes with that. I gather simple carbohydrates would be a problem for you too then? And shellfish, tomatoes, wine (😫) gluten, some dairy products and low oxalate foods such as blueberries, bananas, brocolli and cabbage.
I just came across this from the London Clinic of Nutrition in the UK: What is the root cause of MCAS?: Chronic exposure to environmental pathogens activates mast cells. This one is huge. In our clinical experience, mould exposure or sick building syndrome is at the root of 90% of MCAS cases. Interesting. ♥️🙋♀️
Please don't ignore the endometriosis. I was gaslighted (gaslit?) by medical professionals from soon after I started periods at 13 until I had an emergency hospital admission at 35 very ill and needed a hysterectomy. If I'd gone to tmy GP about the increased symptoms months earlier, that might have been avoided, but the repeated gaslighting had made me very reluctant to go to my GP at all.
I'm so sorry to hear this - what a frightening experience, and I suspect you were very much gaslit.
I'm about to be put into menopause through HRT so I hope it'll be an end to all the pain (as it's all period related for me) but I will mention it to my GP at my next HRT review. 🧡
Congenital Heart Disease, in simple terms, defects of the structures or electrical system of the heart that a child is born with that require medical intervention to secure survival and quality of life, is also fairly common among autistics, and Autism is common in those with CHD, with as much as 40% of CHDers being on the ASD spectrum.
When you said you got eye-rolling from the doctor, it reminds me of my own experience. Sometimes you want to slap the eye-rolling physician.
I had a large polyp stopping my gall bladder from emptying. I did not have stones, but my gall bladder was removed. The surgeon did not tell me this at the time, but it is important to take digestive enzymes that include bile salts if your gall bladder has been removed. Before I started using them, my digestion was much worse.
Yes, I've read up on this. I'm glad they're working for you 🧡
@ Better than without them. I wish I could have kept my gall bladder, but it was too painful.
Good luck to you. I think you are in the UK so I don’t know what your options are. The ones I use either say they include ox bile or bile salts - both sound a bit gross, but they do help.
I struggle with bruxism too. I dont think I get it at night but when I'm anxious or stressed. Botox into the masseter muscle can bring relief there but it's relatively expensive.
9/10 I have never been diagnosed with endometriosis. I have had horrible painful cysts on my ovaries almost every month since I was 15.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
A lot of these health issues are not just in autism, but I do think they are more prevalent for several reasons. Picky diets is one causing malnutrition, gut microbiome imbalances, likely from being on several antibiotics, and sleep issues which is very common in autism and without sleep, anxiety increases, immune system is more sluggish. Gallstones are very common as we age, especially in women going through perimenopause.
This is fascinating, I've never heard of any of these (aside from digestive issues) being associated with autism! I have at least 3 of these issues... Interesting.
I have not been diagnosed as autistic for the time being, only ADHD but my psychiatrist is convinced I am in the spectrum. I also happen to have endometriosis, really bad one. And my mum has struggled all of her life with endometriosis and kidney stones and recently gallbladder stones.
I'm sorry to her about your endo - it can be just such a miserable condition 🧡
This makes me want to be neurotypical even more! (20F AuDHD female here)
See Disjointed: Navigating the Diagnosis and Management of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders if you are hypermobile for a thorough discussion of the co-morbidities. The book is a bit expensive, but if you've been gaslit by doctors about your chronic pain issues for as long as I have it is worth it.
Have known a few autistic people who were also plural, though it doesn't seem to be overtly trauma based the way it is for some of us.
Got: 2, 3, 4 (mild), had 5 + pcos, 6, just starting 7 with food, 9 (always plagued) - yep I wear earmuffs on a windy day even if it's hot, 10 - severe, and more
Wow, this is almost a list of my medical problems. I haven't been diagnosed with gallstones, though I do get sharp pains in that area after eating certain foods, and I just avoid them now because the doctor hasn't been any help. I've also never broken a bone... but I've been diagnosed with osteoporosis, so it's surprising that I'm break free.
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve 10) innervates the gallbladder where stimulation causes emptying. It also runs down the area in your neck you feel is related to your gallbladder disease.
Ah, interesting. I thought it may be related to a connecting nerve so this makes a lot of sense - thank you.
@CreativeAutistic it might be a thought to look at vagus nerve stimulation exercises. Definitely can't hurt. Butt-burger with ehlers-danlos here.... dysautonomia is a usual part of the presentation.
I’ve had all of these except frequent fractures.
Gut microbiome problems are common with us.
I have epilepsy (diagnosed in childhood at 7) and I am autistic (late diagnosed at 30).