Chemar

Just wanted to add that I SO agree!! I think it is imperative to always ask why any substance (pharmaceutical or "natural") is being suggested, and to also ask what it does in the body and about any possible side effects and interactions. Homeopathy is an excellent treatment when correctly used, but sometimes a homeopath can recommend something that is not compatible with the persons physiology and that can be problematic. I have mentioned before that a well intentioned homeopath recommended a remedy for my son when he was 9, and it is now believed that this remedy could have been what triggered his tics a year later. The remedy in itself was not bad, but because he carries the TS gene and had the disposition for TS, this remedy may well have been what brought it out. Ayt the time we didnt know about the TS, nor did we realise that there was a family history of it on my husband's side. I am in NO WAY negating homeopathy...quite the contrary! I know that it is a very beneficial form of alternative medicine and also know from personal experience that it works.....I am just sounding a note of caution as when there are underlying very sensitive neurological issues, it is wise to proceed very carefully and have a team of physicians working with the homeopath so that optimum treatment is given

Hi magnesium taurate is a compound of magnesium and taurine, and is considered to be the best way to supplement with these two substances that are so important in reducing tic intensity/frequency Magnesium taurate can be purchases from The Vitamin Shoppe (in their stores or online at http://www.vitaminshoppe.com ) and the brand they carry is made by Cardiovascular Research Bonnie also has a magnesium taurate as part of her BonTech line http://www.BonnieGr.com You can also buy Taurine separately at most good health stores and then take it along with magnesium. It is a good idea to always also take calcium and zinc too. The recommended ratio of calcium to magnesium is 2:1 and so for example 1000mg calcium:500mg magnesium:25-50mg zinc with 500mg of taurine is a standard adult dose (over 12yo and 100+lbs weight) This is just a guideline and it is ALWAYS a good idea to check with a health practitioner on doseage and combinations.

hi ellimac and welcome So sorry to hear of the tough time you and your son have been going through. In my personal opinion, it is good that he is no longer on those meds. However, I do not recognise any of those substances that the doctor is injecting so I honestly cant commenton them, but, it just doesnt seem, from what you have described, that they are helping your son...if anything, the opposite! I would hope you can maybe get another doctor's opinion on this. I am not saying your doctor is wrong...but has he ever treated anyone with TS before? It would be good to find a doctor who practices natural medicine who also has experience with TS and who can guide you specifically on this. It is good that you are taking care to avoid things he is allergic too, but there is so much more than just allergies that affect tics. If you spend some time going thru the many pages on this forum you will find the things that others have done that have helped. I have bumped up my thread on this for you... http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=687 as well as the excellent composite thread that Claire started http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1211 hope that gives you some things to start with all the best

bumping up for newcomers seeking info

bumping up for new folks seeking info

Hi and welcome It is so hard to know how to advise here as the best treatment would truly depend on what is triggering this facial tic. My best recommendation is to keep reading thru the threads here. Starting with your diet is always the best beginning too...try to eat natural and avoid artificial is the key! You could also try eliminating first dairy for a week or two and see if there is improvement and then, if necessary, eliminate wheat. These are the two most common food allergens, although the artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners (nutrasweet/aspartame and splenda/sucralose), high fructose corn syrup, MSG, preservatives etc seem to be the most common food triggers to tics Also good to check whether you are being exposed to any environmental triggers like chemicals,etc There are the many other potential tic triggers discussed on this forum to look into just in case something like heavy metals, or candida, or pyroluria, or an infection, especially strep etc could be causing your tic. I have to go out but I hope this gives you a good start.

Hi Seamus how great that you are going to put together a support group in your area. You may also want to post this on the BrainTalk TS Forum, and, if you havent already done so, you could contact the Tourette Syndrome association and they can list you as a group on their website and newsletter The BrainTalk forum is at http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=253 and the TSA is http://www.tsa-usa.org

The weather here at the end of March is great Lisa. Usually warm or mild days and mild nights, and not yet the rainy season. Epcot is great, and the Magic Kingdom really is the favourite with young kids The whole area has really got so much to offer that it is sometimes hard to choose what to do in just a few days, so I would really recommend deciding what your priorities are and then planning ahead feel free to contact me if you want to ask any questions

Hi Lisa we live not far from Disney World and used to have annual passes when the kids were younger, and spent a great deal of time there. At that time we didnt know my son had TS and so werent on the look out for tics. I do know that going to Disney was a wonderful experience for all of us, although in retrospect I guess my son did react. The whole Disney experience is a very exciting and very sensory one so that one is continuously receiving all kinds of stimuli., the sights , the sounds, the smells, the crowds and the sheer magnitude of the parks!!This in itself can be a tic trigger. And yes, many of the rides have lights and sounds that may be tic triggers too. because of the crowds at the park and the vastness of everything, you also need to be prepared to be exhausted...another tic trigger I have heard from many other people that tics increase when visiting Disney, and so this is something to be aware of. I would not in any way want to discourage you from visiting tho as it truly is a very special place. We had some of the most memorable family times there and I wouldnt hesitate to return if my son wanted to (tho as a 16yo living here and having visited Disney so often, he no longer considers it "cool" ) But there is a very real possibility that your son will have a tic waxing (increase) from all the potential triggers that exist there. I dont know how long you plan to visit , but if you are able to pace yourselves, rather than trying to cram it all in, that can go a long way to relieving the hyper-stimuli reaction. And maybe try to add a visit say to Sea World in between ( a wonderful place!) and also Disney's Animal Kingdom...both tranquil experiences compared with the hustle and bustle at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and MGM at Disney, and also Universal Studios (which is MEGA-stimulatory and really all rides/screens/noise etc) If you need any more info on it all, please dont hesitate to contact me. I hope you decide to still go, but do want you to do so fully informed about the potential tic triggers.

well I am so glad this has been of help to you Lisa. After posting on the BrainTalk forum this morning I just had a "feeling" that i should put the info here......I am so thankful that I was prompted to help in your prayer being answered!

I have often posted about Leslie Packer's excellent Tourette Syndrome Plus website at http://www.tourettesyndrome.net She has added to her EDUCATION section and has some really helpful articles there, including obtaining the educational accomodations frequently needed at school. I am posting this here as I know that this is often one of the biggest challenges that people face, as they try to get the correct assistance and acceptance in the school environment. There is a discussion on this issue that has been running in a couple of threads on the BrainTalk TS Forum, where a really caring mom is struggling to get even the simplest accomodations for her son because of an ignorant and unco-operative school. I hope that this link will help anyone dealing with this issue here is the direct link to the Education section on the Tourette Syndrome Plus website http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/education.htm

Hi Kim the zinc/carnosine chelated blends that are so helpful for ulcers contain a very low dose of carnosine, much lower than is being recommended for tic reduction Very expensive too, but nonetheless effective in ulcer treatment, by healing and restoring the GIT lining. When the ulcer is as a result of the H pylori bacterium, MASTIC GUM is recommended as an addition as it actively eliminates the bacteria

Hi Confused Mom and welcome it is good that you are starting by optimising your son's diet etc. The more you read and learn here, the less confused you will be! Just do remember that, if his TS diagnosis is accurate, there is not necessarily always a definable trigger for the tics....yes, certain things DO trigger tics in people with TS and eliminating these triggers and optimizing the diet, environment etc is a very big help in minimizing tics, but for people with TS, there are often more subtle "internal" triggers, which may or may not be affected by diet, environment etc....the inherant nature of the waxing and waning of TS tics is something that is still somewhat of a mystery and sometimes one can be doing ALL the right things and still get a tic waxing phase! So dont become despondent. Just keep doing the good stuff and the overall result will be so beneficial compared with what would be if you werent. I do just want to mention the fish oils.....they are excellent supplements, but, for reasons that still remain a mystery, many people with TS tics tic MORE when given their omega 3 via fish oils ( even if these people have no allergies to fish/seafood) In this case, it is best to obtain the omega 3 via FLAXSEED OIL, and best yet to take a combination of flaxseed and borage for omega 3 and evening primrose for omega 6 My son also has a TS ADD diagnosis and we honestly found that it was a combination of supplements and other treatments that truly brought his TS.ADD/OCD under control from very severe to very mild here is a thread I started to detail this http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=687 you will also find many threads here that document what other people have done that has helped all the best to you

Hi Carolyn yes, my son has a major problem with metal in his mouth being a big tic trigger. There are non-metallic braces available now, but, just as our doc said, my son's teeth actually grew out perfectly, without the need for orthodontics. Our doc really feels that most people rush into orthodontics far too quickly! I should also point out that ANY dental work is problematic for my son...been that way since he was tiny. Something about it just sets his tics off big time, and he thankfully hasnt needed much of it, other than checkups. He doesnt even have pro cleaning done because of this. We take him to a pediatric dentist who is specialised in working on kids with TS or other specialised needs.

Hi Lisa I really feel for you as I have encountered those types of people too ( I guess we probably all do from time to time) This lady is a girl scout leader, and as such she has no qualifications to make medical or psychiatric or psychological evaluations on your daughter. It is all very well for her to sermonate at you....but frankly, she clearly doesnt have a clue! Yes, we do walk a fine line between making allowences for our children because of their specific diagnoses and symptoms, and making excuses for them. I agree that part of our duty as parents is to empower our kids, and to teach them responsibility etc etc etc........BUT.......when a behaviour or characteristic or limitation is as a direct result of the diagnosed disorder, then I become a real mommy lioness when a teacher or anyone tries to impose or enforce that which my son struggles with. I did girl guides under the British system so am not familiar with the set up here, but I believe it to be similar where this lady would be accountable to someone within the organization. I would try to politely educate her about the diagnosis and if tshe remains unyielding, I would get as much documentation as possible as back up and take it to her supervisor. Our kids have quite enough to deal with in life, without having insensitive adults making it harder for them! (((hugs))) to you and Sydnie

Hi Pryncez I would agree that this really is something a developmental pediatrician is best diagnosing. Tics come in many different forms and so it could be one, but it could also be something else, or even just a habit he may have picked up by mimicing a TV cartoon character or something simple as that. It is worth noting that some people have photosensitivity that causes them to tic, and so, if this is not an LCD screen computer monitor but a CRT one, the flicker could be trigeering the tics. Focus and concentration can also be a tic trigger for some, although for others it has the opposite effect. When my son is focussed on something he rarely tics. I do agree that it would be a good idea to detract the other students from drawing attention to it, as, especially if it is a tic, any focus on it could intensify it. HTH

bumping up for the person who contacted me

Hi wewillbeatthis glad you are getting some answers PLEASE NOTE that some people with TS/tics tic MORE when given fish oil as their source of omega-3 EFAs this may be happening with your son and so you may want to try substituting the fishoil with FLAXSEED OIL( actually best to get a combination of flaxseed/borage and evening primrose oils) My son tics increase on fish oil but not on flaxseed combos, even tho he can eat fish with no problems. This is documented for many other people too.

Just a quick comment re game season and tics..........if any of you notice that tics, OCD etc are UP during a game season (any game played on an outdoor field) in addtition to all the other possible reasons, also consider that the fields are usually HEAVILY PESTICIDED and pesticides are known to be tic triggers for many people!

certain people are just really very sensitive to fish oil and should rather get their omega 3 from flaxseed oil. my son can eat all kinds of fish with no problems but has a massive tic increase if he takes any fish oil

time to bump this up for our newbies

YES!!!! They have archived the broadcast and it can be found by clicking the archives link and then scroll down to it!

YAY SHEILA!!!!!!! I got back around 12.10 and quickly tuned in online and want to congratulate you! I was also so impressed with Dr Ali and his comprehensive approach to neurological disorders. I DO hope they will archive this as I know my son will want to hear it too and so will a number of other folks! We are real proud of you Sheila. Hope the book orders pour in after that

that is GREAT news Sheila! I do hope there will be a transcript as I shall be at the airport at that time seeing my oldest off to RI for the start of his college semester. But I sure will have you in my thoughts and prayers and hope that the interview goes very well and brings much good PR for your excellent book.

hello lacovcit the best way to make a post on this forum is to use the "add reply" button and N OT the "reply" or "quote" buttons I hope you will return to make your post again.