Chemar

hi my son had this it is one of those "blended" OCD/tics (tics become compulsions/obsessions and vice versa) those types of tics cleared for him when he started taking the 5htp to boost his serotonin

I put this info up on NT about a year ago and the more info that comes out about this vaccine the more concern I have about it here is the thread on NT about it Gardisil Vaccine Not Proven Safe

Hi Dr Duncan McKinley from Life's A Twitch has done some excellent lectures on how tic suppression (holding them in like your dd has been) can actually make things worse. So do encourage your daughter to let them out. I am very glad you are having testing done Has your daughter ever received a TS diagnosis?

I am so glad you posted this thread, kkver as this is important info for us to have on record re the sulphur sensitivity possibly being affected by the sulfate aspect of the epsom salts, and that this in turn could be a tic trigger. it also emphazies again why we all need to always be so very careful about recognizing that there are so very many variables in the way our kids react to things. for my son, Epsom baths are an instant tic calmer, yet here it was a tic trigger for yours. good that you were able to identify that so quickly, and hopefully that will supply some answers to anyone else who may have noticed a tic increase with epsom salts baths

Hi mom2three i already replied on the thread you started on Bach's rescue remedy that your daughter may have sensitivity to one of the ingredients and linked you there to Bach's website. Does your daughter have a tourette diagnosis? if so, this could be a waxing phase that could be related to internal matters like hormonal changes if she is that age, or an illness. As you say the tics began increasing BEFORE the Bach's, I would assume it wasnt the Bach's that caused the waxing, only exagerated it. we have learned over the years with my son, who does have genetic Tourette Syndrome, that sometimes waxing comes with no clear explanation of the trigger At times like that, he finds the epsom baths and acupuncture/reflexology/etc to be the most instantly calming Are you continuing with the supplements that were helping before? I do hope so as removing them could also be contributing to the waxing. The Bs and magnesium are so important at waxing times! I do agree that something like a strep or other infection could be contributing to the explosive tics and would sure rule that out if I were you hoping things wane soon and that you manage to locate a good doctor

hi mom2three you are the first I have heard of with a report on a tic increase with Bach's but, as with anything, some people may not react well to what others find helpful. it is very possibly a reaction to one (or all) of the flower ingredients in Bach's...maybe an allergy?? here are the ingredients and other info from Bach's http://www.bachflower.com/Rescue_Remedy.htm hope the tics have settled again now.

Hi Kim I am real rusty on this as it has been years since my son used 5HTP according to saved info on why tryptophan is better than 5HTP, it is said that "L-tryptophan is used in other metabolic pathways where 5-HTP is not be used". some suggest that to get the maximum benefits one may want to supplement with both Pure L-Tryptophan and 5-HTP, because a "tryptophan deficiency cannot be corrected by 5-HTP alone". I know mrsD and others have posted on other forums that they could not tolerate 5HTP but that tryptophan worked well for their depression and insomnia this is the metabolic diagram on Wiki that shows that 5HTP is indeed a metabolite of tryptophan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tryptophan_metabolism.png

thanks so much for the correction re 5HTP and tryptophan classification as amino acids as well as neurotransmitters, Kim not too sure why I had always believed them not to be true amino acids, and so I do appreciate the clarification there

Hi Sunshine so good to see you and a big thanks to you, and to you Kim, for shedding light on why some may not do well with epsom baths..........I had a feeling it may be the sulfate rather than the magnesium, and now you have confirmed that re sulfur intolerance another reason why we always stress that the treatment has to be tailored to the individual and to the *root cause of the tics*, because there are SO many variables and no "one size fits all in this".

Hi Kim yes, we used the pure D form of phenylalanine under doctor supervision when my son's tics and OCD merged to cause self injury. It was short term and very effective. It boosts endorphins. We ordered it online here I must stress again that phenylalanine can increase tics in people with TS and that the DL or L forms are not advisable for this reason. The D form is specifically used for pain relief and endorphin production and should only be used short term I cant recall ever saying I was more comfortable with tryptophan than 5HTP, as when my son was using 5HTP, tryptophan was still not available, which it now is. However, now that pure tryptophan is available, it would appear that it is a better choice than 5HTP only because one step in the process to increasing serotonin is therefore eliminated and so a faster result achieved

the term "natural flavors" sets up red flags for us and we dont go near 'em. MSG can be naturally produced as well and so can vanillin, carageenan etc but they are major tic triggers for my son. and yes, anything with "color added" that doesnt declare the source of the coloring is suspect IMHO

hi I would definitely ask *first* if they have any experience with TS and tics before making an appointment. Environmental doctors are very clued up as a rule. there are many brands of hepa filter and it really is what fits your budget. they do help very much. Best to place in bedroom and in rooms most used re allergies...yes, knowing what the allergies are will have a very beneficial effect on correctly eliminating the allergens and so de-stressing your child's immune system, and hopefully also reducing tics. all the best and let us know how things go

eye rolling was one of my son's earliest tics, 6 years before he was dx with TS. At the time it was attributed to the fact that he had developed vision problems (myopia and astigmatizm) but later, when his TS dx came at age 10, we realized that many things we had noticed since he was tiny were likely tics, including the eye rolling/blinking/side to side movements however, the need for corrective lenses was exagerating the eye tics and when he got his first glasses aged 4, it really did improve the eye tics significantly

Dear Airbucket your post caught my attention as my son had severe reactions when on meds with a sudden occurrence of depression, anxiety, phobia, fears, and he developed drug induced psychosis and debilitating OCD. He never had abilify so i have no personal knowledge there. I have heard good and bad reports on it. It took a while for the side effects to wear off and some may have had a deeper impact. I am truly surprised at your appt at Shands as that was not what we experienced. Perhaps there has been a major influx of patients and not enough of Dr Murphy to go around. She is very thorough and we certainly found her very willing to answer questions and advise on options etc. Once it was determined that my son was not a PANDAS patient, we moved to one of her associates, who was instrumental in helping us with so much understanding of my son's side effects and especially helped us with the complex overlap of the OCD and tics. He is also the one who helped us wean off the meds and supervised the withdrawal with great care by phone, as we live 2+ hrs away. anyway, I look forward to your report on your visit to dr Robbins. I have heard very good things about him from Carolyn

Hi Matt yes, photosensitivity can be a major tic trigger, but so is excitement or stress of any kind it is hard to advise on questions as there are so many and because sadly most conventional docs, including neuros, tend to scorn what is so clearly evident from all the anecdotal evidence here and on other self help forums...........that tics can be triggered by so many external and internal factors. I would be sure to compile a list of things that YOU have questions on, and based on what you have read on the board here about various triggers and ailments that can increase tics Most of us here have used either Integrative, environmental or DAN doctors, along with naturopaths and homeopaths I hope your appt goes well and that you have an enlightened neuro.

thanks for sharing your treatments, which are similar to that which has worked for many of our kids I do just want to point out to avoid confusion that 5HTP is NOT an amino acid, but is a precursor to tryptophan which in turn stimulates serotonin production.These are neurotransmitters and not amino acids edited to add: my info above on this is INCORRECT as both 5htp and tryptophan are classified as essential amino acids

hi kk taking epsom salts baths doesnt substitute for the vitamins and other supplements...it is complimentary I am wondering if your water may be high in chlorine? that can increase tics. I have honestly not heard of anyone increasing with epsom baths but all people are unique and your son may react to it?? maybe the sulfate? have you checked www.nativeremedies.com for anything that naturally helps with asthma?

How very good to see your post CP and so glad to hear how much better things are going

Hi kkver 2 cups of epsom salts in a tub of warm water. soak for 15-20 minutes. makes one very sleepy so best done before bed.

Hi Peggy welcome to Latitudes/ACN I am in the thick of a busy work load so can post much now, but I have a link in my signature on what has been helpful for my son, who also has genetic TS just take it a day at a time and step by step so as not to get overwhelmed with all the info.

Kelly, what I was told by the developmental pediatrician at the time of my son's TS dx was that, even tho the early childhood tics existed before, yet around age 10 is when hormonal changes, specifically testosterone, kicks in with boys and that in turn can cause the activation of the TS gene(s) My son was on zithromax in July last year related to the Crohn's fistula. Altho it helped with his gut/fistula for a short period and then no more, it did NOT reduce tics, OCD etc beyond what the supps already had done...ie I noticed no improvement in his overall TS symptoms when he was on the zithromax. re exposure when my older son had strep....I would have imagined that as my son was a patient at Shands for a year, initially under dr Murphy and then her associate dr Vincent, that if there was any indication of his case being PANDAS related, surely the vast array of tests they performed would have shown that? we were emphatically told he was not a PANDAS patient, based on the blood tests they ran. I am however beginning my own research now into the mycoplasma situation, as if that does in fact cause Crohn's, and if it is also considered a possible link in sudden onset of tics/OCD.......hmmmmmmmmmmmm right now, both his crohn's as well as hos TS symptoms are in wane mode...the crohn's has been so for almost 8 months now...and he is taking no antibiotics, and hasnt taken any monolaurin for quite some time either...ie taking nothing beside his supplements for TS and crohn's

just a reminder that we have had reports that some people react badly to Nystatin, which is a prescription drug. there are other alternative treatments for candida available, like candida clear by NOW, which contains capryllic acid, or Threelac

interesting about mycoplasma Kelly, as there was a recent article in our local paper about a theory that Crohn's is triggered by mycoplasma bacteria. My son has Crohn's as well as the Tourette dx, and, altho he did have eye and other tics from a very young age, he had an almost overnight onset of severe tics, OCD. Depression etc just after his 10th birthday. Altho we only got a definitive Crohn's dx about 2 yrs ago when he was 16, yet he has always had GIT issues, initially believed to be primarily candida

well then they have changed their tune is all I can say I initially took my son to Shand's BECAUSE he had a sudden and explosive onset of symptoms, but they ruled out PANDAS based purely on a series of blood tests we were told his sudden onset was likely the TS gene "switching on" we know that there is a family TS link

Tourette Syndrome is genetic and neurological, and so antibitoics for TS are not expected to reduce tics, unless there is an underlying bacterial infection. The dx of PANDAS is specific to strep ( Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus.) PITANDS can be linked to other microbes, altho it is possible I guess that some physicians are just lumping all into the PANDAS category?? I am rather puzzled that the assistant would say PANDAS could still be present even without strep antibody detection? so am assuming they were referring more to a PITANDS possibility My son was emphatically ruled out as a PANDAS patient because he had no elevated strep antibodies, altho he does show increased tics with illness. Because of the genetic connection for TS and OCD , he was given a genetic TS dx He continued to be a patient of one of dr Murphy's associates for almost a year (Dr Vincent is now in New Zealand, I believe) and was tested again, but always returned a negative for PANDAS They never once suggested he could be a PANDAS patient so I am truly puzzled as to why you were given such a mixed message bmom.......unless I am misunderstanding something. If I have understood your post correctly you are saying that the ONLY time your child tics is with illness? Then surely there must be a PITANDS (or whatever they call it now) connection? BUT if the illness is viral, fungal or some other parasitic origin, then yes, antibitics are not really going to have much benefit as they are bacteriacidal. again, that is where I personally feel a natural product like Monolaurin is so very beneficial as it appears to be an antiMICROBIAL, as opposed to just antibacterial like most antibiotics are(by Cardiovascular research in the Ecological range...available at The Vitamin Shoppe stores and online) Also, the amino acid L-Lysine has been found to inhibit reproduction of certain viruses like herpes etc The whole subject of microbial induced neurological problems is still so in its infancy in terms of research and concrete factual information as opposed to theory. But thankfully the research is being done and hopefully more clarity will finally be available, especially to mainstream docs I honestly think a lot of confusion arises here on the forum, because we have so many different issues being discussed which, altho they may manifest similarly, yet they have totally different roots