Post-Anesthesia Regression in Autistic Kids, What Parents Should Expect | E63

Hey, What’s Up! It’s Tommy. Today I open up about a recent experience with my son, Wyatt, and what happened after his dental procedure that required anesthesia. I share how we saw short-term regression, what that looked like in real life, and the practical steps we’re using to help him feel better. If you’re a parent or caregiver walking a similar path, I hope this gives you clarity, comfort, and a few simple ideas you can try right away.

Key Takeaways

• Anesthesia can trigger short-term regression in some autistic kids. We saw changes in sleep, focus, transitions, and rising OCD behaviors soon after the procedure.
• Be mentally ready. Plan for extra patience, calm routines, and comfort items for at least a couple of weeks.
• Support the body’s “cleanup.” Hydrate early and often, get safe movement as soon as it’s cleared, and encourage sweating to help flush out what the body no longer needs.
• Simple tools we use. Light detox supports like camu camu and carefully timed activated charcoal, plus consistent magnesium at night for sleep quality. Always check with your healthcare pro.
• Movement helps mitochondria. Regular activity can support energy production and overall resilience. Trampoline time, yard play, and gentle cardio all help.
• Track patterns. Note the before and after of any procedure, then build a short plan for sleep, diet, movement, and calm spaces to smooth the weeks that follow.
• Hold space for hope. Regression after anesthesia can be scary. It’s also often temporary. With steady routines and support, things can settle again.
• You’re not alone. Many families face this. Community brings strength, ideas, and encouragement for the next step.

If this helped you, please subscribe and share it with a parent who needs some hope today. You can find all episodes and socials at spectrumincamouflage.com. I would love to hear your story and any questions you have.

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Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families. If you have questions or ideas or want to share your journey, email me at [e-mail].

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.