Chemar

Dawn we did hair testing for my son, and then a follow up on blood work and I was amazed at how accurate the hair analysis seemed to be....but I don't believe it measured intolerances etc...instead it was more to check for levels of substances in the system, both good and bad, and seemed especially accurate on detecting toxins like mercury etc

Integrative medicine combines conventional and "alternative" aka complimentary or naturopathic. An Integrative Physician would therefore be a fully qualified M.D. who is also knowledgeable in the other areas. If the term is not used in the UK, then I am not sure what they would be known as there now, but I know for a fact they exist as I was in the care of one during the late 1970s when I was still resident in London. I believe at the time he was known as a holistic physician.

Dawn, did they also do a throat swab culture? (not just a rapid test) re the food and hair tests, it really is hard to say as things are different there than here. When I lived in England, I know most NHS doctors were not able to do anything "alternative" and so you would likely need to find an Integrative physician who understands environmental medicine protocols?

Hi and welcome sorry our automated spam blocker held your post for a while I am sure other members will soon reply

Hi Bonnie's BonTech supplements are mentioned often here! Perhaps a testament to how well they seem to have worked for many is that they no longer feel the need to be posting seeking help? We personally never used them but I based my son's successful protocol on Bonnie's original research, before her supplement line was ever available Her website is http://www.bonniegr.com

Hi and welcome so sorry it took so long for your post to show due to our anti-spam feature I am bumping this up for others to reply

Dawn I really do think you need to be investigating PANDAS especially with a history of scarlet fever! It may be that the doctors there that you saw are not very clued up on PANDAS (even here in the USA they are few and far between) but just a throat swab is insufficient to test for PANDAS as a child does not need an active strep infection to have the condition. Do post on our PANDAS forum, giving your child's history, and also that you are in the UK so that the parents there may be able to offer some guidance

Jules have you done the basic home candida test? http://www.adhdrelief.com/CandidaTest.html

Hi Dawn when the doctors did the strep test did they do a throat culture as well as blood tests to check for strep antibodies? Just from what you have written I do wonder if this may be a case of PANDAS (or PANS as many now refer to it?) I would suggest you take a look at http://www.pandasnetwork.org and see if that sheds any light. We also have a PANDAS forum here http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=17 You can get more than enough dietary calcium from a dairy free diet rich in the green and cruciferous veggies, as well as things like tofu, molasses, and more http://www.whfoods.com specifically http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=45 http://www.iherb.com ships inexpensively to the UK and has the least expensive and excellent range of supplements. Epsom Salts baths (magnesium sulfate, available there at places like Boots or the supermarket I would think) are an excellent additional source of magnesium, absorbed transdermally

Hi Jules I would take a look at what was in that bread as that may give clues as to why it was such a tic trigger....ie some things say "sugar free" and then have added sucralose eg Splenda which, for some kids with neuro and/or digestive problems, is a big no-no There may also have been other ingredients that are not good for him, so it would be helpful if you could list the ingredients. Candida can be a major tic trigger, so it is worth eradicating but remember that candida is not a true "yeast"...it is a fungus that occurs naturally in the gut but when conditions are favorable for it to overgrow, it does, and causes many health problems, including tic increases When you said your child had blood tests for strep....what exactly did they test? Has your son had strep infections ? Have you had evaluations done for possible Tourette Syndrome? I know it is hard to see a child going through this but I do want to urge you to try not to allow your son to see you this upset...that only makes things worse for him

I would agree the infection prior to the tics may be indicative of a trigger. What "virus" was it? Are they sure it was not strep?

a good place to start to learn about PANDAS is that link that blake's mom gave above http://www.pandasnetwork.org we also have a PANDAS forum here and again the "helpful" threads pinned at the top may be helpful http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3928 anytime tics start after an illness it is definitely worth looking into the possible PANDAS (or as it now seems referred to as PANS) Try to just not panic and take it one step at a time! otherwise you will get too overwhelmed. remember your son has tics...he is not facing a terminal illness. I know it is hard when anything is wrong with our kids, but others also had to help me get my perspective back when my son's tics first started. Deep breath and one day at a time...you can't help your son if you are in a mess yourself (((hugs)))

Hi and welcome sorry it took a while for your first post to show. There is a bit of a delay with initial posts due to our forum anti-spam feature. I would suggest you start reading our helpful threads http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2459 The methods for treating tics really is very dependent on what is causing them...so that is the best point to start at. Treating tics caused by Tourette Syndrome is different from those caused by allergies, or infections, or environmental triggers etc etc. Personally where I have respect for homeopathy, I would first suggest knowing why he is ticcing before just giving him homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is different from supplements, and so it is important that you ensure your son has a good diet, free of artificial ingredients and that he is getting the correct supplements. Most people have found magnesium seems to help with tics, but again, you need to first find out why these tics started. hope that helps a bit

Hi Helen glad your child is doing better with dietary modifications Did you mean for this to be on the TS forum or did you want it on PANDAS forum?

Remember that when you give a potent antibiotic like OLE, you can get herxing if there is an active infection (ie die off reaction) and that can cause the increase in symptoms in some people My son never ticced more with OLE, but then he does not have PANDAS and was taking it for Crohn's

welcome to the forum ko's mom I am bumping up your post so other members here will see it at the top and reply

Hi this may be helpful http://pandasnetwork.org/resources-new-research/for-the-school/ my son had a 504 because of Tourette Syndrome and then later Crohn's and it served him well throughout school

By "Yeast Free" I am assuming you mean for a Candida eradication diet? rather than a yeast allergy? A very helpful book is The Yeast Syndrome by Mortin Walker & John Trowbridge, as it has a food guide with recipes in the back http://www.amazon.com/Yeast-Syndrome-I-P-Trowbridge/dp/0553277510 Coconut Oil (1 teaspoon a day) as a natural antibiotic and kefir as a natural probiotic are excllent aids in working to eliminate Candida

Yes, Latitudes was initially a print magazine, and then Sheila started the website, and then the forums followed. The magazine is now available online via the website http://www.latitudes.../latitudes.html

welcome to the forum I am bumping your post up so others will see it and reply

welcome cinlou I found help the same way many years ago now .....I was at a friend's house, with my son in major crisis from the combination of intense tics and OCD, and she had a copy of Latitudes magazine on her table.

Welcome to the forum. I am bumping your post up so others here can respond

I am not aware of it being singled out as being specifically bad for tics? It is in most multivitamins Manganese is neurotoxic in very high doses, but not at the RDA levels that most people use it

Hi why are you giving him the antibiotics??? Is he ill? infection? PANDAS? Did a doctor prescribe them? My son does not tolerate prescription antibiotics well at all and we have always opted for the natural (botanically derived) ones RX Antibiotics are known to increase chance of candidiasis and one of the signs is a "furry" white layer on the tongue etc Kefir is an excellent natural probiotic that can help restore the good bacteria that rx antibiotics eradicate

Hi and welcome yes, this forum is specifically here for people who have tics and Tourette We focus mostly on natural, alternative and complementary treatments rather than just medications I would suggest you start my reading our Helpful Threads pinned to the top of the forum