Chemar

Folks, we maintain peace on this board! If anyone wishes to have personal disagreements please take it to PM, but dont disturb the peace on the boards by having these kinds of disagreements. People here have quite enough to deal with already I appreciate the co-operation and I am going to be editing and deleting posts that are not in keeping with the terms of support and information laid out when one registers for this community thanks Cheri

mommaonamission what wonderful news!! It is always such an encouragement when parents come back and give feedback like yours......I clearly remember when you first posted here, and it really warmed my heart to read your positive and uplifting report. You are adding to a growing number of people who have found good results for various conditions from Native Remedies (www.nativeremedies.com) As you know from our own story, I know that by prayer and God's guidance, we were sustained through the darkest days of my son's severity of symptoms and that finding Latitudes and Bonnie Grimaldi's research were direct answers to my prayers for a natural alternative to the meds that he reacted so badly to I am rejoicing and giving thanks to God for you too I hope you will continue to pop in here from time to time and keep us updated blessings Cheri

Hi Stuart and a big welcome to Latitudes as there are so many different things that can cause childhood tics that I would truly encourage you not to worry. As Laurensmom has correctly pointed out, the majority of cases of "transient" tics resolve naturally, and, even if this is TS or another one of the tic disorders, there are many things that you can do to help your child both physically and socially Your doctor is spot on about encouraging you not to let your child see you paying attention to the tics as this does seem to cause an increase, especially in people with TS. At the same time, I also do beleive in an upfront approach when it comes to school and social/extramural activities, where it is IMHO best to simply tell peers and teachers etc that these movements are called tics, and that they happen without being able to be controlled, and that there is nothing serious about them. As you move further on in diagnosis, so you can elaborate. Most of all I would encourage you to help your child not feel that you view her any differently and so help her to also get the focus off the tics. Most people who tic are often not even aware they are doing it till someone draws there attention to it....so she will likely relax a lot more when she feels people arent observing her all the time I would encourage you to read around here as much as possible, and, if you want an excellent book on the subject, consider the one recently released by Sheila Rogers which you can access info on from the main page at http://www.latitudes.org Just keep asking questions here as you read. We are a group with many different experiences and so can relate on many different levels glad you found us...it is so important to have a support group for yourself too Cheri

Carolyn, I would agree that the cravings MAY be a way your body is trying to get things it needs... knowing you, I am sure you are being very careful with maintaining a balanced diet while you do the elimination rotations, so this may not be a factor I know that for both my husband and son with TS, they go thru food cravings regularly and they arent on any elimination (other than permnently off junk food and artificial additives ) but anyway....they will suddenly get "in to" a particular food and then eat it almost non stop and then not want it again....my son's most recent one was avocadoes...he wanted mashed avocado with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper with evrything he ate. Now, he doesnt want to even see an avocado! My husband's current one is tapioca pudding. Once they go "off" the food, it can be weeks, months, years or never that they will want it again So, i am wondering if your cravings are nutritional, or if they may in some way be some kind of taste bud tic LOL, or almost OCD like?? Just a thought that I often ponder myself on my guys and their cravings. My older son without TS, and myself, dont seem to have these intense and varying food cravings

Hi efgh my first recommendation is to discuss his height with your pediatrician...it may well be that he had a growth spurt when younger that has now slowed...especially if he falls within the nrmal height range for a child of his age I certainly wouldnt recommend doing anything to encourage the growth hormone and other hormones that regulate height and size etc....rather just ensure that his diet and supplement regimin has suffient calcium and other minerals needed for healthy bones. Unless there is an actual hormone deficiency, best to leave the endocrine system to regulate itself....and from all indications with his earlier growth spurt, his hormones are just fine also remember that some kids do grow in spurts......so he may well have another one as he moves into the teenage years so glad his tics are down

Hi CP my son is a straight A student despite the TS, ADD and CAPD He doesnt have an I.E.P but has a Plan 504 A 504 deals with far more than just learning disabilities, and has served him really well since we had it implemented back when he was in elementary It even prevents teachers from using those dreadful smelly plug in room "fresheners" or wearing perfume because of his extreme sensitivity to those, and additionally provided the accomodations he needs for things like writing assignments, where the combination of tics and OCD can sometimes result in illegible and untidy script...instead he is allowed to type all assignments, and in the lower grades used the AlphaSmart continuously to take notes etc The chemical sensitivity is documented on his 504 plan and so he gets the accomodations needed re chemistry labs

hard to predict CP.....the hormonal years are definitely documented as the years when TS tics are usually strongest, and voice change is indicative of increased androgens. Steroids are known to increase tics, and so with the increase in circulating steroids........from the reproductive and adrenal glands...........well, that is one of the reasons boys seem to manifest TS more than girls! the best you can do is to be diligent in diet and supplements, while keeping environmental and other triggers as minimized as possible, It is documented that most boys have a diminshed tic level once they pass the teenage years

Hi CP my son is very reactive to the smell of chemicals and has modified chemistry labs because of this we have a doctors note to enforce this accomodation because TS is classified "other health impaired", schools need to make the necessary accomodations for students diagnosed with TS Most people I have ever spoken with on this subject agree that kids with TS do react to chemistry class with increased ticcing

Hi Patty growing pains are common in all kids, not just those with tics, and the pains can be uniform or not both my kids experienced growing pains and one does not have TS remember that the prepubertal and pubertal years are usually the time when tics are up, and growing pains are associated with hormonal and other biochemical changes in the body

xanthum gum is fermented corn sugar baking soda is sodium bicarbonate baking powder is baking soda+cream of tartar+ cornflour (cream of tartar is potassium bitartare, a reacted mix of tartaric acid and potasium hydroxide) Some baking powders have aluminum in them and those should IMHO be avoided As far as I know artificial additives that are usually avoided in diets to help with TS/tics I would think the only reason to avoid any would be if there was a known corn allergy, or sensitivity to any of the ingredients those using more rigid diets, and also those following Feingold may have different opinions. I use baking soda and baking powder with no apparant detriment to my son, and non-aluminum baking powder is on the ok list in the Maker's Diet I dont use or buy stuff with xanthum gum in it, as our doc told me to stay away from it as well as the high fructose corn syrup

Nessie OCD is frequently also genetically inherited and it is not unusual to find it with or without tics in families with a history of TS here is a list of useful websites that I compiled over at NeuroTalk on OCD http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=1395

Hi Greg.....welcome! and thanks for adding those helpful websites to our list

Hi Samantha and welcome I would once again like to recommend the forums at PsychCentral for these deep issues, as there are not only more active members there who deal with OCD and a whole range of other situations, but there is also a qualified and helpful psychologist, Dr Grohol, who administers the site and can provide much more insight and help than we can here. They have a free online discussion via chat format with Dr Grohol and other psychologists each friday afternoon at 2,30pm EST and also the forums themselves are filled with supportive and helpful members who truly understand what you are going thru here is the link to that community http://forums.psychcentral.com/ all the best to you Chemar

hi Nessie I have never heard of lying being considered a symptom of TS.....however, compulsive lying as well as compulsive truthfulness do occur with OCD and OCD can be a co-morbid issue with TS or can exhibit in some family members while TS tics may manifest in others so, i would think this relative lies compusively more related to OCD than TS JMHO

Patty, not sure when Ronna will check back in but her son has PANDAS and, in addition to supplements (I think she uses Bonnie's, or at least I know she used to) he has been on prophylactic antibiotic treatment for some time (most recently very succesfully on azithromycin=zithromax) She also watches diet, environmental triggers etc..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michele...just wanted to welcome you and say that you have found a great place here for excellent info on PANDAS indiced tics, which is what it certainly sounds like your son has. all the best and just keep asking questions....people like Ronna and Alison have a lot of knowledge and experience re PANDAS Cheri

hi Dedee as we have never had to deal with PANDAS I cant give any insight into the actual values, but just wanted to mention that this does seem to be a clear indication of PANDAS induced tics. A number of people have reported good results with zithromax (azithromycin) as the antibiotic

hi we have never used Bonnie's supplements tho I know many here do with very good results however, it does involve swallowing many pills a day also, a word of caution altho some people do fine with EPA/DHA fishoil supplements, many do tic more on fishoil but not on flaxseed oil

IMHO there is no resemblance between the guy on the resume and the guy with the TS book

dear Mom i had not heard of this book before today, but must honestly say that I would be leery of it based on the "hype" I read on that link you provided. Dealing with Tourette tics is, as we can all attest to, a complex, trial by error and highly individualised issue, and it is certainly not a "one treatment fits all" situation where anyone can guarantee that if you follow "their" method...all will be well almost $40 for an eBook is also, IMHO, somewhat steep!!!! If you want a book on the subject, maybe consider the one that Sheila Rogers has written after careful research and interviews and input from professionals and parents etc etc It is written with integrity and not hype...and is also a lot less pricey! http://www.latitudes.org/book.html

Nice to see you Andy hoping 2007 will be a better year for you.

To all our members and those who read these forums, I would like to wish you a peaceful and prosperous 2007 May you find the health answers you are seeking. Most of all may you celebrate the joy of life and family and friends Happy New Year

hi mommy as I am not familiar with natural calm I cant comment on those questions about it but re Epsom salts baths 2 cups epsom salts in a tub of water with a 20-30 minute soak is recommended nightly is good but whatever works best for you is ok drinking good pure water while soaking in the tub is a an extra boost to the system

hi iHerb is one of the very best and most reputable sites not only for purchasing supplements but it is also cited freqently for its wealth of information in the Health Encyclopedia http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductsList.as...&cid=health In addition, they ship quickly with really low shipping rates....and when you are a freqent buyer you get all kinds of discounts too I purchase most of our supps from them. Only time I shop elsewhere is for some specialised supps that they dont carry yet, although their inventory keeps growing Provided you are getting the correcty intake of the EFA's from good, pure sources you dont react to, it doesnt matter which specific sources they are. It is getting the right amounts and ratios of Omega 3.6&9 that matters most

Daniel I agree with Kim that it is hard to recommend a multi because different people have different requirements and may also be getting individual supps that the Multi contains etc etc take a look at the variety of multi's on http://www.metagenics.com as well, although the one by Country Life that you posted looks ok also, the Vitamin Shoppe have a good selection of multi's including liquid ones that have calcium and magnesium in the lactate form http://www.vitaminshoppe.com iHerb also has a very broad selection of multi's that suit a variety of needs http://www.iherb.com

Hi Hudsonsmom where fishoil certainly is the very best source for Omega 3 EFAs, yet dont forget that our bodies DO synthesize DHA and EPA from ALA, which the flaxseed oil provides NOW makes a few combos that provide Omega 3,6&9 without fishoil http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDetails....p;pid=NOW-01837 http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDetails....p;pid=NOW-01838 also, here is a good EFA thread by mrsD on NeuroTalk...maybe also ask your question there and see what she recommends http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6092