Chemar

They are documented tics, albeit complex ones.

Hi Claire all of the symptoms described by laurensmom are also recognised as being tics that can occur in TS they may seem bizarre behaviours, but they CAN just be tics. My son had some of these too when his tics were severe, and I know of some adults who have the same. I have absolutely no idea as to what "stimming" is

Hi Bonnie Grimaldi is credited with being the "expert" on vitamin & mineral supplements for help with TS she has done extensive research (which is ongoing) and her studies show that the single most important supplement needed is MAGNESIUM It is best taken in combination with taurine, and one can obtain it in that form as MAGNESIUM TAURATE, either direct from Bonnie ( http://www.BonnieGr.com ) or from the Vitamin Shoppe (local stores or online) It is generally recommended that the intake of magnesium be balanced with calcium, in a ratio of 2 calcium to 1 magnesium. It is also highly adviseable to add zinc to this mix (ideally no less than 800mg calcium:400mg magnesium: 50mg zinc is what I see most recommended.) I personally feel that it is the combination of a number of essential nutrients that produce the optimum effect of tic reduction, and that it is very important to simultaneously have a good diet with no artificial and other tic triggers, and also to have eliminated any possible background causes like PANDAs. pyroluria, Candida(yeast) and heavy metals, along with environmental things that may be specific triggers for the individual( eg allergens, chemicals, screen flicker etc) Even if you decide not to use Bonnie's vitamins, I highly recommend her website as you will find a wealth of information there. HTH

Denise this is excellent advice that Claire gave you. My son had VERY VERY VERY severe tics, that even caused hospitalization because he would be injured from them. The meds honestly made things much worse, because they caused psychosis. Please start out reading the article by dr Rogers on tic triggers, as often when tics are as severe as you describe at night there is usually a big trigger at work http://latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm Claire has also pointed you to some very valuable threads here and here is the one in which I have tried to explain what has helped my son http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=687 We are all here to help Denise. I know just how scared you are, but there truly is light at the end of the tunnel.

Hi laurensmom i dont have much time to post right now but just also wanted to welcome you to Latitudes. You will find a wealth of info here that will give you a lot of insight into helping your daughter, whether this is Ts or transient tics. Just take it a day at a time and absorb as much as you can...it can all be very overwhelming at first. We are all here for you so dont hesitate to keep asking....there is usually always someone who will have an answer or a similar experience to share. It is VERY wise to try to stay away from the meds that are currently prescribed for TS or tics. we look forward to getting to know you

My son and husband have found Ginko Biloba and the EFAs very helpful with memory. I do think it is linked to the ADD component in their TS

hi efgh yes, aluminum foil (and plastic wrap) is not recommended Claire one can still get ceramic coated cookware. Problem I found was that it was usually aluminum coated with ceramic and it tends to scratch and chip easily, so I was concerned about the aluminum getting thru I use glass for all my ovenware, and have also got a couple of those Vision glass saucepans. I actually do very little stovetop cooking as my family likes roasted veggies and most of what we eat is oven stuff, so most of our cooking is done in glassware. On those rare occasions when I fry, or for pasta etc, I use the stainless steel pots. I make sauces in the glass ones as they are very easy to clean.

no offense here I really value Dr Mercola as I have learned SO much from him...but I also sometimes have to make my own decisions on some of this stuff......eg he insists that only fish oil is THE EFA to use, but my son tics like crazy if he goes near it! So we use the flax, borage , evening primrose instead. I would think the info re the steel mixes that contain aluminum or nickel is certainly worth noting and so one should check to see what the stainless steel in the cookware contains, and then do the checks and balances. gotta cook in something eh!

Hi Layne and welcome GABA is very good for anxiety and "edginess" http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/subs...5,10027,00.html anxiety and edginess can be brought on by many different conditions, and although I certainly would also recommend finding out whether pyroluria is impacting your husband and son, yet my son had no sign of pyroluria but VERY high edginess and anxiety before he started on the supplements. I feel that his calcium/magnesium/zinc combo helps both his tics and his anxieties, but he is on a full regimin of supps so they most likely work together to bring about the overall effect. He doesnt take the GABA every day now, only if anxiety is up.

Hi Dara and welcome I join with Clare and Heather in welcoming you, and in sharing the anguish you feel. I so clearly remember when I was there. But to encourage you.....note I use the word "was"......my son suddenly started very intense vocal and motor tics along with debilitating OCD just after his 10th birthday. We were told by an arrogant neurologist that there was "no hope" of him living a normal life without strong medications. well, those meds nearly killed him during the year he was on them and then thankfully we turned to a natural approach. It was a steady progression, but now, five years later, our son's tics are very mild and the OCD is barely noticeable. We had to first detoxify his body from the meds and then run tests, not only for food and other environmental allergies, but also for PANDAs (strep induced neurological problems) Candida (internal yeast infection) and heavy metals(especially mercury from vaccinations) and also Pyroluria. Once all that was done, we began natural supplements and diet modifications, along with VERY VALUABLE accupuncture, reflexology and biofeedback therapy. I have tried to summarize our experience in the following thread which I have also bumped up for you. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=687 here is also a thread from Dr Rogers on finding good medical help http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565 You have sure come to the right place to get a wealth of knowledge from people who care and share their varied experiences. Take heart Dara......there is lots of reason to hope as many here have seen very positive results.

bumping up for Dara

We have been using our stainless steel copper bottomed cookware for many years. When we had the tests for metals none of us showed any elevations other than mercury that is reassurance enough for me that our cookware isnt leaching anything at us

I dont quite understand why aluminum would be a problem in cookware that doesnt contain aluminum??? Perhaps he is referring to aluminum cookware that is merely coated with stainless steel There is NO aluminum in the copper bottomed stainless steel cookware that I use.

Susanna at this point you should also maybe consider having a comprehensive blood test done for the full spectrum of strep types that can be implicated in PANDAs My son was not PANDAs, but we spent a number of months seeing a great doctor who is at the forefront of PANDAs research, and we learned there that the only truly reliable tests for full spectrum strep is the blood test. Hope your son is better soon

Hello Diane unless there is a sensitivity, or a specialised diet (eg for candida elimination or one of the other specific elimination diets) then natural fructose and glucose are usually not a problem, and are indeed healthy The worst offender is the very UNNATURAL High Fructose Corn Syrup, which has been found by many to be a major tic trigger.

We had blood tests for candida. the spit test is a good primary home diagnostic. excellent book on "The yeast Syndrome" by Morton Walker and John Trowbridge Capryllic Acid is a supplement that we used in conjunction with a special diet to eliminate the candida infection. A vast number of people have candida as the underlying cause of their poor health and dont even know it. many mainstream doctors dont even consider it!! getting candida under control is a remarkable boost to health and well being! If it is persistant, it can be very helpful to have colonics. gotta run!

hi Kimberley I find stainless steel cookware is best. i have the ones with copper bottoms for better heat distribution. you can also find glass cookware called "Visions" in some stores aluminum is a no-no for anyone's health!

The straw solution really does seem to help.....instead of swallowing whatever liquid he prefers to get the pills down straight from a glass......just get him to put the pill in his mouth and then start swallowing the liquid thru a straw. Dont know why it makes it easier but it does

hi efgh I would think that the label should show the ingredients. if it is just frozen peas, with no "butter flavour" etc added, and your son has not problems with legumes, that should be fine. it is usually those frozen meals that one has to be careful of as they often contain anything from MSG to artificial junk. I am a label fanatic...I buy NOTHING unless I read the label of ingredients, and that is for food, toiletries etc. I have been amazed to find just how much junk is in most things nowadays

I forgot to mention a VERY valuable treatment to help with OCD, PROVIDED that it is done under the supervision of a very sensitive, compassionate therapist. It is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and it really does work wonders under the right kind of supervision. sadly there are some therapists who are somewhat "control freaks" and try to change people into what they believe they should be, rather than just allowing the individual to emerge liberated, but inherently intact from the binders of OCD etc. However, if you feel comfortable with the therapist (usually a psychologist, tho my son was blessed to receive the therapy from a wonderful psychiatrist) I HIGHLY reccoment CBT

Hi Scott yes, OCD is very frequently comorbid with TS It is important to recognise that the OCD seen with TS is OFTEN not the same as "classic" OCD, and in folks with TS, the OCD and the tics are frequently interrelated where a tic can become an obsessive/compulsive action and vv. TS related OCD also involves a lot of thought problems, where small matters become very consuming. It is a really complex situation, which is not to suggest that classic OCD isn't, but the parameters in the OCD that occurs with TS are so very much broader. Seratonin levels are usually depressed in OCD and so elevating seratonin is very helpful in reducing OCD symptoms. As I have mentioned before, the most helpful supplement for my son was 5HTP Also Inositol and samE (methionine) and St John's Wort. I STRESS AGAIN THAT SERATONIN ELEVATING SUPPLEMENTS SHOULD NEVER BE COMBINED WITH MEDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY ANTIDEPRESSANTS(SSRIs) and should also not be used in combination with each other withour a physician's guidance

So glad you got to see it My son also writes and plays music and NEVER tics while doing so He finds the same when doing drama or art ...... There are numerous people in music and the arts who have TS, and most TSers seem to have these talents in one or more forms

bumping up for BN123 and others in the UK

Hi and welcome the yeast that makes tics worse is CANDIDA infection and it is very different from the yeast you find in bread and cakes etc I recently wrote about the difference here http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=832 Candida "yeast" infection is best treated by a special diet and we used an inexpensive supplement called CAPRYLATE(caprylic acid) Yeast thrives on sugars and so anything that increases sugars, including refined carbohydrates(starches) are best avoided when eliminating Candida. Most people usually have blood and/or stool tests to determine whether they have it....it is very widespread and many people dont even realise that is what is making them ill...our modern day diets are such that they help yeast thrive. a simple test to see if Candida yeast infection may be a problem is to spit into a glass of water. If the saliva is thready and floats, it is often an indicator of an intestinal yeast infection There are some very inexpensive books in paperback that are very helpful with diet to eliminate candida....my favorite is THE YEAST SYNDROME by John Trowbridge & Morton Walker

I just found this info on BrainTalk and thought to note it here aparantly next week there will be a show called "What Made Mozart Tic" It plays this Monday on Channel 4 at 20:00 according to the http://www.channel4.com website. it has long been believed that Mozart had Tourette Syndrome.