Chemar

well as you all know my son has been in a very mild tic state for some years now, which we attribute to both the natural passage of the "hormone years" as well as the elimination of toxins/irritants etc from his system and the introduction of an optimized nutritional plan with complementary acupuncture/biofeedback soooooooooooooo it came as quite a surprise to us when he started on some major waxing, especially of the vocal tics, last month Initially we attributed it to maybe being related to the changes we have had to make to his supplements etc because of his recent dx of Crohn's however our acupuncture therapist as well as the chiro were spot on when they mentioned teeth! based on the meridiens that he seemd to be sensitive on sure enough although there is no pain or anything like that associated my son has swelling of his gums in the area of the wisdom teeth (he will be 17 in Dec) now for those of you who have had contact with me over the years, you know teeth issues have always been a major tic trigger for my son, and here again, even with just the gum swelling and no other issues, yet his tics are up (as are the crohn's symptoms) we are hoping that the wisdoms will come thru with no need for intervention (other than the enhanced acupuncture/biofeedback to help in this area) as dental surgery could bring a whole heap more probs with all my son's med sensitivities etc but it really has reminded me just how finely tuned our bodies are to our teeth! I found this chart online http://www.drwolfe.com/html/Teeth-chart.html

yes, deanna that makes total sense to me. hard for me to advise on dose tho (other than that the inositol is too high!!) but yes, generally a 12 yo over 120 lbs can take adult dose and younger than that should be 1/2 to 1/4 depending on weight

Deanna I agree that dose of Inositol is waaaay high?! we use 500mg per day and have done since my son was 11 (6 yrs ago) have u considered trying Bonnie's supps as then you have it all dosed correctly. many people find them really helpful, tho it should be mentioned that for some, they are not a good match, likely because those people dont need all that is in them. Also, it can be pricey compared with adding your own in some instances http://www.bonniegr.com

Gina the only chiros we see are those NUCCA trained http://www.nucca.org they dont crack anything but rather use gentle pressure and other similar techniques.

hi pet what you are describing is more often related to OCD than just TS tics the pain caused stimulates endorphins (naturally produced opiates) which produces a feel good sensation which in turn causes further action to get the reaction when we had this issue, our physician recommended excercise (naturally elevates endorphins) as well as D-phenylalanine (which also aids in elevating endorphins) The D-phenylalanine can only be used short term but we found it very effective. Phenyalanine in the L form is used more for depression but should generally be avoided for people with TS as it elevates dopamine which in turn would elevate tics sometimes serotonin stimulators can also help with self injurious behavior (the over the counter ones for this are Inositol, samE, st john's wort and 5HTP...and as has been mentioned before, vit B6 to be taken with these) I would highly recommend tho that you consult with your physician before adding any of these as each situation is unique and having a qualified person provide guidance, especially for a child, is important

hi we use 50mg 5HTP plus 100mg vit B6 each evening I always feel it is a good idea to start at the lowest dose and then move up if necessary that minimum dose has always been just right for my son ( adult weight) do remember, if the 5HTP seems to make you feel edgy or spaced out instead of relaxed and calm then it may not be right for you, and Inositol or samE (still with vit B6) may be a better "fit"

Hi Lisa some have found L-carnitine to be helpful with vocal tics if you do try it, please start on a low dose and move up as it doesnt always suit everyone, as is the case with most amino acids as an aside, when my son was going thru coprolalia (vocal tics involving inapropriate words) we actally applied some of the techniques he had been taught by his CBT therapist for OCD (cognitive behavioral therapy) and it worked for him. He found sounds that were similar to the tic ones, but not offensive and then masked the words with these sounds. It still gave him the outlet of vocalizing the word, but to the hearer it sounded like something different I will try to give a least offensive example....he would say "shi.........take`" (as in shitake` mushrooms) Coprolalia is one of the hardest tics to deal with, especially if, like us, you are a family that avoids bad language. The CBT really helped my son thru that potentially embarassing phase of tics.

Hi Spartan it is good to take EFAs in balance and so the one with 3,6&9 would be my choice UNLESS you have any inflammatory issues, in which case you should stick with just the Omega 3 Start with the recommended daily dose and only go up after a week or 2 if needed

Hi Gina flaxseed oil is the best substitute for fishoil to get Omega 3. MANY people react to fishoil with increased tics there was a thread a while ago when Giselle I think was heading to Disney with lots of good advice try doing a search with her user name. If you dont find it I will look later as I am working atpresent and cant take too long I live about 30 miles north of DisneyWorld

firmbeliever a simple way to begin the detox process is to give Epsom Salts baths (2 cups epsom salts in a tub of warm water) and also CHLORELLA, a plant supplement that is very good at mopping up heavy metals from the body. Another excellent detoxifier is the Peruvian herbal UNA DE GATO, which has the additional advantage of also boosting the immune system I agree with carolyn re the heavy detox with things like chelation etc as being something to consider after you have been thru all other phases of cleansing and healing the system Conventional doctors freqently are sceptical about the role of diet, nutrition, allergies, environment etc Best to try to find an Integrative or DAN docotr. or a D.O rather than an MD as they are far more holistically trained once you start seeing the benefits, you can report back to this pediatrician who will hopefully open their mind some!

hi HCL occurs naturally in our GIT as it is the acid that is produced by our tums to aid digestion. Here is a real simple primer on it http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/digestivep...ms/a/LowHCL.htm It has to be used with caution as too much is not good either

Giselle.........I hear ya re the vaccines and amalgams chlorella is a safe way to help with mercury mop up without crossing blood-brain barrier start at very low dose and gradually move up, otherwise it can cause nausea

Hi altho PITANDS & PANDAS may show clinical improvement after a "steroid burst" as per that article, giving steroids to someone with clinically dx Tourette Syndrome is like pouring gasoline on a fire! Steroids and TS are a big NoNo. Steroidal aspects are why so many people with TS tic more when stressed (cortisol) and also why males exhibit TS more than females (androgen) also, Kim's info re steroids exsacerbating candida/gut flora issues is a very important one. so I think the potential benefits of steroids always need to be very carefully weighed against the OVERALL diagnosis and prognosis, and potential side effects for example, my son has a recent dx of Crohn's Disease for which the std treatment is prednisone (a cortizone) btu we would not dare give it to him, and his GI specialist agrees, because of the potential for a major impact on his TS

A big welcome to you Lisa We are glad you found us too! Just ask away about anything that you may have questions or concerns on...we have a great support group here of really helpful people who willingly share their experiences and knowledge.

For those needing support and EXCELLENT info, recipes etc etc on Gluten intolerence and celiac there is a GLUTEN/CELIAC BOARD at BT2

Hi Carrie that book by Tamar Chansky is excellent (as are all the others!) It is hard to explain these things to very young children and I am wondering if some of the resources available from the TSA may help you http://www.tsa_usa.com They have a lot of booklets and videos etc to explain TS etc If your child's tics are very mild, you may want to just put the tests on the back burner for a short while until you are able to communicate all this in a way that wont be so upsetting to him Perhaps also when he comes to understand that he is but one of many bright, talented and great kids who happen to have TS, he may not feel so uncomfrotable with it. Finding a gentle and compassionate pediatric psychologist may also be helpful. Sometimes our kids will heed the advice of others readily even when they are resistant to that same advice from us

My son is almost 17 and still hates to have the blood draws, especially as he has rolling veins. Drinking water is essential for him! When he was younger, they used the numbing creams but he doesnt want those now (tuff guy )

Hi CFK and welcome yes, there is a BIG difference between steroids inhaled and steroids injested, which is what I initially thought kimwahl was referring to...ie that her chilld was taking steroids orally.

Hi Cindy and a big welcome I honestly do feel it is wisest to work with a physician on supplements and the only real guidance I can give is based on our own experience I dont know if you have read my thread that documents our treatment protocol here is the link http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=687 I have also updated this info on the Vitamins etc forum at Brain Talk 2 http://forums.braintalk2.org/showthread.php?t=1144 I can try to answer any specific questions you may have

dear fitforitdad A really nice Australian mom posts on the TS board at Brain Talk 2 ....Lara. Here is the link to that board....maybe give her a PM there http://forums.braintalk2.org/forumdisplay.php?f=25 Our own alison here ad_cll is also from Oz I think eye tics are among the most common early childhood tics...both in TS and other tic disorders I do hope you will do some reading on the various threads here about alternative therapies that many have found helpful I apologise for my short replies, but I am in the middle of a very busy work phase plus my own family committments I do want to encourage you again not to see this as only a negative thing. Personally, our family wears the TS label very openly and are better off for doing so. We avoid misunderstandings and actually find once people know more about TS, it becomes a non factor. I learned early on that the more we focus on the tics, the worse they become. yes, it is good to try to do what we can to minimise the tics from interfering with life...but not to become obsessive about it. these are the precious years with your son....dont lose all the other special stuff by letting his tics become your focus ...I am speaking from experience and wish I had known what I do now when we started out on this journey with my son

hi Carole! how good to see you here and thanks so much for the all those articles

Hi I have posted on other threads about how helpful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is It is by far the best first line of treatment for OCD Done by trained psychologists let me know if you need to talk by PM or here OCD can be hard to live with when it starts controlling you life, so it really is a good idea not to just live with it , but get help

Dear Fitforit Daddy welcome to Latitudes I do feel for you as you go through this with your son, but I hope that by reading here and on the main Latitudes website at http://www.latitudes.org you may find lots of hope and the realisation that there may be ways to help your son not have to go through things with the misunderstanding that you suffered I would also recommend the TSA website for some excellent info on how to ensure that your son is not treated at school in the way that you were! In case you didnt hear yet, TS is now legally classified "other health impaired" under the Disabilities Act and so schools are now bound by law to make accomodations and allowances for people with TS http://www.tsa-usa.org I am working at present and so cant post too long but I really want to encourage you My husband came to understand his own childhood tics and OCD etc, for which he was punished once our son was dx with TS We have been able to really advocate for and help our son because of my husband's determination that he would not suffer like his daddy did, and also because of the proactive way that we have sought to help him wherever we can. You have started that today by posting here. Your son is blessed to have you as his dad. look! can you see that ray of light at the end of the tunnel!! back later (((Fitforit Daddy)))

Carolyn, I do sympathise as sleep probs are very agravating I agree, before upping the zinc, consult with your doc At first glance the other things like the olive oil, mag/cal shouldnt impact sleep...if anything, magnesium tends to promote rest not sure about folinic acid and the glutathione altho I honestly cant see anything suggesting they could affect your sleep The Chinese herbal prep however may be what is doing this, if it has any energising components in it. I would suggest speaking to the practitioner who recommended it to find out just what its componants do I am not sure if youhave ever tried low dose melatonin for sleep. Again, I would suggest first talking to your doc, especially as the melatonin and serotonin systems are linked biochemically. But my son has found that just 300micrograms of melatonin promotes restful sleep, and I use 600micrograms. Anything higher than that for either of us has the opposite effect and leaves us groggy, irritable and spaced out the next day