Chemar

Hi teach How good to see you here! Hope things are stabilising for you. My 14yo TS son read your post on BrainTalk re the store clerk, and was deeply moved by your experience and the replies you received from the other members there. Being an adult and an educator with TS, you have SO much to offer that we can all learn from here.

The May 10th issue of Time magazine has a fascinating article on teenage brains, which also discusses some rather revolutionary stuff re Tourettes etc. a discussion thread has started on this at BrainTalk http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showth...ead.php?t=15253

I am shocked to hear that those vitamins have excess lead I have never heard of them before but...how on earth did lead get into them? it is a good idea to try to find a knowledgable doctor or naturopath or nutritionist to discuss doses with. We were once told that 5-6yo could get 1/4 adult dose 6-12yo get 1/2 and over 12 can get adult dose PROVIDED the child has average weight for the age When a child is small for their age, then you do need very careful dose guidance. Dont worry....as you learn it will all seem less overwhelming, and once you get the positive results to encourage you....it will be worth it. I really feel for you re the TV/computer issue.......that is a hard one for some kids. Thankfully my son does not have intense photosensitivity...he does react to explosive type action tho...possibly the dramatic light changes.... anyway, when we discussed the issue (he is 14) he simply explained to me that he would rather tic than have NO TV/Computer ...he did agree to limit the explosive stuff tho and he has an LCD monitor. He has been very compliant in eliminating the junk food as he knows by now how badly that affects him, so that was an easy one for us. All the best to you as you seek the answers to help your son

Hi This is possibly the very hardest aspect of having a child who is "different".... For my 14yo son, when his TS manifested around age 10, the change was so very dramatic that he literally "changed" overnight.....and so friends who had known him since preschool were shocked to suddenly see him making odd movements and noises. The true friends stood by him, but many other kids did tease and mimic him...at my son's request, the teacher allowed him to address the class and explain about TS.......this is something he still does......it really does help. Yes, there are always going to be the insensitive kids who will ridicule and try to bully.....but overall, most show understanding, sympathy and even a kind of respect. When my son was younger, if I needed to intervene, with his approval I did. Thankfully the attempts to victimize him were few, and now he just has such a great sense of humor and attitude, that most kids see beyond the tics and he makes friends easily. I think the most important thing is to educate your own child about what is happening and so they will be better equipped to educate others. Also continuously reinforce and build your child's self esteem and confidence...

My son is 14 and around 140 lbs and takes 500mg per day, so I guess half a tablet ...but, I would ask your naturopath for guidelines.

My son is unable to tolerate melatonin at all as it increases his tics and also leaves him feeling "weird" My son has TS. I know Claire has had succes using it in very low dose for her son...but it should be noted that her son is NOT diagnosed TS so that may make a difference in how melatonin affects tics.

efgh it really does sound like either an allergy or an eye irritation of sorts. If it is a tic....L-Carnitine in found to be the most helpful supplement with eye related tics.

shawn St John's Wort is recommended for depression as is 5HTP. Both cause elevated seratonin, and 5HTP has faster effects, but some people seem to prefer St John's effect. You should NOT take them with an SSRI and also dont take them together unless a doctor oks it. start at minimum dose and then work up if necessary.....both are available at health stores and even at WalMart (we use Natrol brand 5HTP as it is very pure) Also, EXCERCISE is a great depression lifter as it releases endorphins which make you feel great ....even just a good walk is ok...it doesnt have to be a big workout

I SO agree with you Jeff....... I dont raise the subject uninvited, as i know that sometimes causes my son to focus on the tics and therefore increases them.... but he feels very comfortable to talk about them when he needs to..and often that relaxes him so that the tic diminishes. And when he chooses to, we also joke about some of the tics!

Jeff can you email it to Sheila and maybe she can then post it here? I am really looking forward to reading it!

This is an EXCELLENT book that everyone really should try to read! Claire the SmartWater that your son drinks....it doesnt have SUCRALOSE(aka Splenda) in it does it? My son had an electrolyte water at school the other day (I confess I forget the name) and he started ticcing, so when he read the label more carefully, he found it had sucralose in it....and as Dr Mercola and others have warned.......sucralose is a big NO-NO

My son just sent me this.....turn up the volume, let it play thru and ENJOY! http://www.americangreetings.com/display.p...rodnum=3003829&

To all of the MoMs here I just want to say : love and blessings from Cheri

hi efgh i honestly dont know whether it is a tic, but I do know that if someone is rubbing their eyes continuously, it is usually for a good reason. He may well be suffering an allergy or some irritation to his eyes, and then, it may also be a tic...I have not seen eye rubbing tics in my son, but that doesnt mean it hasnt been a tic for others. Whatever the cause, I personally wouldnt ask him to stop doing it, if he needs to rub his eyes, whether for allergy, irritation or tic....then he needs to rub them! Rather try to determine the cause. If it is an irritation or allergy....there are mild drops that can help....we also have found placing a wet chamomille teabag on irritated eyes (closed) is very soothing. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Hi Jennifer and welcome we are glad you found this site too as we can all attest as to how much we have learned here, and how great it is to have such caring people on the board! I hope you have visited the other Forum too here for ADD Also you can get a lot of info from the ADD and the BiPolar forums over at BrainTalk http://www.braintalk.org stay in touch! Cheri

efgh complex tics are NOT the same as severe TS....complex tics are just that there is more than one movement or sound in the tic. Severe TS is very debilitating and controls almost every waking moment Dont worry....from all you have written before....it really doesnt sound like your son has severe TS

Hi efgh Yes,not all cases of TS are genetic, although the vast majority are...I just thought that your son did NOT have a TS diagnosis, but rather a tic disorder? Sorry if I misunderstood. Having lived with severe TS, rest assured... echopraxia/lalia are not necessarily indications of severe TS If it is severe it is debilitating and often injurious, and controls almost every waking moment.

efgh echopraxia and echolalia are Tourette tics, and I must say I would be surprised if they exhibited in a transient tic disorder, which is what I understood is what your son has? Many younger kids copy what others say or do so he may well just be doing that, rather than exhibiting actual echopraxia? Yes, my son has had both and no, it has not been problematic as we tell people whom he has contact with that he has TS, so they understand and so far no-one has taken offence. perhaps if he mimiced a stranger they may not understand...but that has never happened......anyway, since his tics have been so mild these last years I must confess i have rarely seen the echopraxia and the echolalia is only occasional, if he hears an unusual word or sound that catches his attention.

Hi Susanna I am guessing that you are referring to this thread on BrainTalk? http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showth...ead.php?t=13034 I dont know if there is a correlation between sealant and tics per se, as opposed to the total trigger of dental work-period. Some people can handle it, but for others there is definitely a sensitivity to all things dental that sets off their tics.

Just a quick thought to add to this very interesting discussion.... the need to tic sensation for someone who has TS is possibly very different than the need to tic sensation for someone with a tic disorder that is not TS. My son has explained that it becomes HORRIBLE to surpress a TS tic for any length of time....not just a need to sensation but a HAVE TO urgency. And sometimes, nomatter how hard he may want to surpress a sound or movement say in a social environment...he simply CANNOT.

efgh my reference lists the following as the "Top Ten" antioxidants Berries Broccoli Tomatoes Red grapes Garlic Spinach Tea Carrots Soy Whole grains also mentioned are oranges peas cauliflower peppers

efgh foods that are (naturally)orange are generally high in beta-carotene which is one of the very best antioxidants... gotta get kids off to school so will post more for you later

Shawn The "smelly feet" is a classic symptom of Pyroluria, and it is very easy to cure with supplements (mainly VitB6 and zinc) and then the tics also go! I also encourage you, as Claire has, to read FJs thread on BrainTalk about it. She has both personal and research experience here and MANY people have been helped over a number of years by following her advice on this. here is the thread again http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showth...ead.php?t=10944 I am so glad that you can attest to the fact that with God all things are possible! and pray that He will lead and guide you into finding the answers that you need to restore your body to health. Please stay in touch with us here. We care Cheri ps yes, you should stop the DLPhenylalanine as, altho it helps with depression and moods, it can accentuate tics. Rather try the Taurine and L-Carnitine which are amino acids that have been found to diminish tics. Also, be sure your multivitamin doesnt have artificial coloring in it, and try to stay away from stuff that has aspartame (nutrasweet) and sucralose(splenda) in it. re: detox....capryllic acid eliminates yeast and chlorella helps mop up mercury. There are also good detox mixes at some health stores .......but, before using up your precious $$ on other stuff...do first check out FJs info on pyroluria....the smelly feet are a BIG CLUE! and that treatment overall is inexpensive, simple and effective!

CLAIRE I just found something FJ* posted on her Pyroluria thread at braintalk

Julie is their coloring in the Kangavites? Also, sometimes their are additives even in "healthy" food so it is a great idea to read labels...I have been quite shocked sometimes to discover artificial sweeteners, coloring and even high fructose corn syrup in things i would not have expected to find it......and even things like Campbells soup has MSG added As a rule, if tics increase with a foodstuff..and then decrease when you remove it....something in it is a tic trigger! Your pediatrician may be willing to run tests for you....especially the ones to detect Candida (yeast) ....preferably blood or urine test (not stool, as that doesnt always show the correct results) and also blood and hair tests for mercury, lead and other heavy metals. PANDAs tests for stealth viruses, especially strep etc Sadly,some conventional doctors dont take these tests seriously and then you can try on those lists Sheila posted HTH