Chemar

wow thanks Svetlana I must confess I never really look at the Google ads above the forum so I do appreciate you pointing that one out!

Hi Tessa our health store carries beet extract (for red colour) and blueberry for blue but I havent seen others (must confess I havent really looked!) I also saw something the other day that had grape skin extract for red colour

Hi Kimwal this is what needs to be tested...I dont know what the "official" name for the test is other than blood test for strep antibody titres there are many ways to boost the immune system via diet and supplements top immune boosters are Vitamin C and vit E, Carotenoids, Bioflavenoids, Zinc, Garlic, Selenium, Omega 3 fatty acids good supps include echinacea, golden seal, grapeseed extract =pycnogenol, olive leaf extract and bilberry HTH

kimwal i am astonished that your neuro gave STEROIDS?! steroids are amongst the biggest tic triggers around! (see this article, near bottom re steroids http://au.geocities.com/jones_kacm/chem.htm ) PLUS steroids DAMP DOWN the immune system,(ie they are immunosuppressive) and so they do not boost it!! also, why on earth would he not have treated the strep with the only thing that truly eradicates it, an antibiotic? I am not sure but I think only a doctor can authorize the strep blood test needed to diagnose PANDAS

Hi my son has genetic TS inherited from my husband tics were VERY severe at onset..........got worse on meds. has been on natural treatments discussed here for 5+ years his tics are barely noticeable now at age 16 I know of so many people (my husband included) whose tics become very mild to non-existant as they get older...........many kids decrease dramatically as the hormonal years end. see...there is lots of hope

Hi Helen what you are describing are many of the behaviours that are common to people with OCD If your OCD is disturbing your life, then it certainly would be worth trying some of the natural treatments available to help you unfortunately, most of the medications that are prescribled for OCD bring along side effects that are often more bothersome than the OCD itself However, there are over the counter supplements that can help, and there is also CBT Cognitive Behavioural therapy, done with a qualified psychologist, and that many people with OCD have found to be really beneficial. Inositol is a B vitamin that many find helpful for OCD Other supplements that can help are samE or methionine, as well as 5HTP. Do note though that 5HTP doesnt suit all people and if it makes you feel edgy instead of helping, then it isnt right for you. Most 5HTP supplements already have vit b6 added, but if not, it is really important to take it with Vit b6 VERY IMPORTANT: people on SSRIs(antidepressant) or any other medications or supplements that cause elevation of serotonin should NEVER also take 5HTP as then serotonin spiking can occur, which is VERY dangerous

Deanna i would think that a total avoidance of those foods is necessary for you to see the correct effects. as far as the artificial colors go....that should be a permanent one! they are bad bad bad for everyone! but especially so for neurological issues The FDA is pretty stringent in requiring that all additives be listed on the ingredients (albeit that these are sometimes cloaked in obscure names ) and so the yellow stuff should be shown if it is in the popcorn you use We dont use "instant" popcorn since the advisory came out about the carcinogens that can emanate from the bags when heated, but I believe that the Newman's Own brand has no "junk" added. a safe way to pop your own corn in a bag is to put some into a brown paper bag and seal it with tape...you can add your own butter and seasoning and just be sure you place it on some paper towel or a plate in the microwave

cochineal (or as my kids referred to it "red bug squish" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal

aspartame (nutrasweet) and sucralose (splenda) are both big tic and OCD triggers for my son there is also much information on dr Mercola's site about the dangers of both of these artificial sweeteners to general health

an excellent book explaining and helping with SID is "The Out of Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz http://www.out-of-sync-child.com/ Dr Weil has great tips and recipes for natural living http://www.drweil.com and dr Mercola's site is full of info on why artificial and refined foods should be avoided http://www.mercola.com

Hi pet if he isnt allergic to or sensitive to wheat and dairy he should be able to safely eat those. They are only triggers for people who react to them. My son can eat them with no problems there are some very good threads in the back pages of the forum on ideas for foods for allergic kids. I will try to bump them up when I return

Hi petb and welcome to the forum I agree fully re the tags, the 100% cotton and the dye free/perfume free detergent and well rinsed clothes, but I honestly cant see where the colour of the fabric would affect someone with Sensory Integration Dysfunction? Is it just that your child prefers the appearance of light coloured fabric? Very interesting then, as mine prefers the deeper shades, although he doesnt "react" to whites and lighter colours, and he also has SID! In addition to hating clothes that fit tightly, he also cant stand the feel of seams and freqently wears underwear and socks turned inside out

Hi worrywort glad you made it to the forum it is quiet here today because of the holiday weekend but I know other members will be interested in your post as I mentioned to you in my message, I would recommend that you look at info on Sensory Integration Dysfunction which may be something that is causing the shrugging type tic in your child i also think you are being very astute in considering possible allergy triggers for your and the children's tics. I dont know if you have read Giselle's thread re sweaty sleeping, but it seems an allergic reaction may have set off tics for her child recently others will be along to give you there input soon I am sure

that is so encouraging Julie thanks for sharing

Allison I have been following all this from the sidelines and am just soooo thankful to hear the good news that you are seeing an improvement. Now all we need is for you to get some R&R too I know just how this takes it out of one! ((BIG HUG)) to you from all of us!

(((Giselle))) and (((Hoyt))) I hope his body stabilises real quickly. Your docotr is wise to withdraw everything and then begin again Giselle, dont rule out the mice too quickly! Sensitivity to them, or something they may be carrying could develop, or EVEN THEIR BEDDING/NESTING material. Are they in his bedroom? If so maybe move them out and also dont let him handle them for a while. Tough I know, and hopefully this has nothing to do with them. But for it to have developed so dramatically and quickly, he definitely seems to be reacting to something. keeping you and him in my thoughts and prayers Cheri

my son reacts to NO FLUSH niacin and he tolerates folic acid well. He does take INOSITOL HEXONATE and tolerates it well. Inositol is known to boost serotonin levels too his histamine has consistently tested in normal range, and he has no allergies other than to penicillin and a mild dustmite sensitivity

Giselle I would absolutely agree that you should continue UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN rather than simply based on input given from other people's experience I stress again that different people react differently to different supplements and so IT IS NEVER A ONE SUPP SUITS ALL, not can one person's bad experience on a supplement mean that that supplement is therefore going to have a bad reaction in everyone else for example, my son reacts very badly to niacin beyond the RDA in his multi, and he cannot, under any circumstances, tolerate Vit B complex so just because Orthomolecular has a bad reaction to the 5HTP does not mean everyone else will! and yes, it is good to be remionded of the importance of vit B6. However, the neurotransmittor physiology is a complex one, and some people need to have their serotonin levels boosted, and may not be deficient in vitB6 Those of us who have years of experience with 5HTP supplementation under the care of qualified and very careful physicians know by now whether or not it is beneficial for us or our children. And we also know which other supplemtns we should or should not be giving with it Caution is always a good thing, but it should never become alarmistic, especially when we have physicians with excellent track records helping us!

Orthomolecular some people who have OCD and other issues DO need 5HTP as has been proven with my own son. (and he certainly gets enough protein and digests it properly) When he doesnt have his daily 50mg of 5HTP (and yes, he has Vit B6 with it) then his OCD waxes big time. His OCD has always been a far more bothersome aspect than his tics, and 5HTP has been a real help to him We have had many discussions here before about the fact that not all people tolerate 5HTP well (the FDA does not permit the sale of tryptophan OTC) and yes, this may well be related to VitB6 deficiencies and/or other metabolic issues. Most 5HTP supplements do have Vit B6 added as with all supplementation, I strongly recommend that anyone consult with a knowledgable healthcare practitioner because what works for some, doesnt always work for others, as I have stressed NUMEROUS times, people have very specific supplement needs related to their own unique metabolism and biochemistry Giselle has had extensive neurotransmittor testing and her son is under the care of a very knowledgable physician, and so she supplements under expert guidance.

glad your trip to London went well Giselle re the 5HTP/serotonin.....it is real important to note that just because our physician felt that anything more than 100mg 5HTP per day would be too much for my son, doesnt mean that applies to everyone! If Hoyt is severely deficient in serotonin, then you really should follow your docs instructions on what to give him As you well know, when the neurotrasmittors are out of sync, everything else goes that way too

Giselle I seem to recall that sweaty sleep is in some way related to the liver?? but there may also be other factors Do you have him on anything to boost serotonin? when my son went into a mega babble/ repeat everything/report on everything it was related to very low serotonin (we had just weaned him off the Luvox)and it improved as soon as we started the 5HTP So sorry that Hoyt is having a down time and hope it resolves quickly. How was London ? Were you able to find healthy food from those links I posted for you?

Kelly just to encourage you even more.......the fact that your son has had motor tics without any vocal for over a year lessens the likelihood that he has TS.....also, in the vast majority of cases, nonspecific childhood motor tics disappear as the child gets older. So your son may well fit into this category, especially as he doesnt seem to be showing the waxing and waning so characteristic of TS however, even if the tics do persist and even if TS does develop.............be assured that he can still enjoy a full and very happy life. Tics can be frustrating, and yes,sometimes painful (physically and emotionally/socially) but they do not need to be the be all and end all of life. Honestly, the best gift you could give your son is to try to "ignore" the tics, and not let him know that you even notice them. This will make things a lot easier for him, and will also enable him to feel just like a regular little guy. Rather just do your special care more in the background.......keep records and try to identify triggers and eliminate things that may be causing problems, but do it subtly and as unobtrusively as possible. It is SOOOOOOOOOOO important for a child never to feel that they are being deprived of something (therefore in their mind being punished) for ticcing. Also, as far as behaviour goes, dont let up on sound parenting and discipline. Yes, certain allowances have to be made when our kids have issues they cant help (this is especially true of TS kids and those with OCD and ADHD etc) but it is still your responsibility to prepare your child to be able to integrate into society, and so gentle but effective discipline and guidance re bad behaviour is essential Most of all Kelly, dont become obsessed by your son's tics. It isnt good for him, or you, or your daughter and husband. remember too to take time for some R&R for you! A burned out mom aint no good to anyone in the family (((hugs))) to you Kelly, and to momto3ts and samsmom......... and to all the moms (and dads) reading this who are feeling worn out and weary. Give yourselves a pat on the back because just by being here and trying to learn about all this, you are showing what very special parents you are.

Samsmom...welcome to Latitudes and thanks so much for sharing your very encouraging and insightful post mom23ts and Kelly I hope you have found good info in the threads I bumped up last night and do just keep asking questions we have a great group of members here who have accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge and who share it freely and caringly!

Hi Kelly have you tried using Sheila's link for "Finding Medical Help" that is pinned to the top of this forum here is the direct link http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=565 I seem to recall that we have heard recommendations for docs in your area before so hopefully someone will be able to give you a personal recommendation all the best Cheri

bumping up for momto3ts and Kelly