Chemar

you say the acupuncturist is a doctor? is this a medical doctor? Honestly, hearing that someone said that your TS tics are caused by "stress" and could lead to a stroke leaves me with just one thought.....clueless!! My son benefits greatly from acupuncture, but our acupuncturist is not a medical doctor, even though he seems to know a lot more about TS than most of the MD and neurologists that we saw. He does very specific acupuncture needle placement, and understands that TS is neurological. I did not see anything in your post to suggest you were considering prescription medications for the tics....but if you are, I would personally suggest great caution as often they can bring unwanted side effects. Going to a neurologist will usually not get you much further than a confirmation of a TS diagnosis with likely a drug prescription. If that is the direction you feel is needed for you, then just be sure to read up on those medications, both the pros and the cons. Many of us here have found much benefit from dietary modifications and supplements, specifically magnesium (no need for it to have to be mag taurate) as well as other essential vitamins. It is not a "cure" (which medications are not either)...just a way to keep tics more manageable An Integrative doctor is often best if you want to have a more holistic treatment program

Hi this IS the PANDAS/PITAND forum so yes, of course you belong here. Sheila added the Lyme forum, and that really is where Lyme related discussions should take place. That does not mean that Lyme cannot be mentioned here, but not to the point of making anyone feel as you have expressed!! I have alerted her to some of the more contentious posts on that other thread. I do hope your will not feel intimidated. This is supposed to be a safe haven for parents to support each other and share info in constructive ways, building each other up, not tearing each other down.

Hi and welcome where I am not in any way suggesting that your son does not have PANDAS, I did note your comment about no recent strep infections, and also know that we have numerous people represented here who have had dramatic onset of OCD and behaviors and tics who are *not* PANDAS....my own son is one. So where I would absolutely recommend you looking further into PANDAS, especially as I assume the no *recent* strep means he may well have had strep in the past?..... I would also suggest you do look into the many other factors that can bring about these symptoms.... Here on the TS/tics board we talk a lot about the effect of genetics, diet, nutritional deficiencies, allergies (food and environmental), toxin exposure etc Whether or not your child has an infection induced illness like PANDAS, PITAND or Lyme, it is still very worthwhile investigating these other parameters, as these situations are not mutually exclusive and often determine the best route of treatment I would suggest you just start reading here and on the other boards, keep notes on what you learn and also a journal on your child, observing what seems to "trigger" his symptoms etc Most importantly, try to find an open minded doctor who can guide you through the maze. Do take a look at the Helpful Threads pinned to the top of the board as well as there is much to be gleaned from them here is the one from this forum http://www.latitudes...?showtopic=2459

Do be careful as many of the ADHD meds actually are known to trigger tics perhaps there are now some on the market for ADD that don't so this We found increasing Omega3 and adding gingko biloba really helped my son's ADD (he does not have ADHD ie no hyperactivity, only attention deficit

Hi TS tics don't originate in muscles..they originate in the brain..... so fatiguing the muscles is not going to remove the "urge" or the need to tic IMO In fact, I wonder if it would not have an adverse effect? especially because of the way TENS units work I have acupuncture listed as one of my son's most effective treatments for tics.

there seems to be a lot of anecdotal reports here of lactose or casein intolerance My son did not test lactose/casein intolerant, but finds he is better off without dairy products. The exception is whole milk kefir, which is very beneficial for him

Not sure why you would make a comment like that? Your question was specific to those with TS and asked if others with TS were struggling with foreign languages, and so I answered from our experience For some people, languages come easy yet they struggle with other things My son is not mathematical at all, but excelled in languages Struggling with math therefore does not make him dumb..... or you dumb for struggling with Latin

just an FYI that you can select to receive email notification whenever someone has sent you a PM just go to the Settings option in your user account and then in the left menu go to Notification Options, and then check off that you would like the email sent when a PM arrives

Hi I can only speak for my son but he was an A student in Latin and he has Genetic TS

here is one article re squalene Some vaccines also use aluminium salts http://www.newswithviews.com/Tenpenny/sherri6.htm

Guy it is not just the thimerosal that is potentially problematic as they add other ick adjuvants too plus and for us this is the biggest reason most of our kids already have compromised immune systems so anything that can trigger an adverse immune reaction is potentially problematic honestly, most people just deal with flu, unpleasant as it is why risk an even worse problem by doing the shot

Bonnie...has he had his eyes tested? My son's eye tics were most bothersome until he got his glasses. welcome to the forum Beating tourette I agree about tics in irritated areas! We use epsom salts cream or a washcloth soaked in the warm solution on muscle areas and whole body soak or footbath when it is general

we had a Vit D thread not long ago tho not sure where it is now my son takes extra Vit D (only the lanolin form) for Chron's and has not had any neg effect on tics but in that other thread, many said extra supplemental vitD increased tics we have never tried to compare it to being in the sun

dose really depends on the individual minimum is 500mg a day so maybe see how that goes and gradually increase if needed one can go up to 16 grams!! but that is a short term high dose for adult weight and to get severe OCD to come under control most kids seem to respond well to the 500-1000mg dose ps don't forget to be sure there is enough B6 in her diet...if supplementing, the P-5-P form is recommended

If you don't get azith without the red dye that is added to the Zithromax brand then it may also be the coloring that is causing the problems. Red 40 dye is kknown to be a problem for people with neurological issues. There are generic forms of azith that are white. Of course it may be a reaction to the antibiotic itself, or herxing...

I don't quite see why you would say that pandas16?? Are you suggesting I should NOT post a negative experience when we clearly had one? Others on this thread have also posted about their negative experiences. I posted in my first reply that I was very much helped by homeopathy and that I know of others that were too I have only suggested people not try to treat themselves, and also be sure to check into the remedy before just blindly taking it...same as I would suggest to anyone taking a supplement or a medication Just because some have a bad experience does not make the treatment bad. You, Stephanie and others are proof that it can and does work for many But that does not negate others for whom it did not work, nor does it mean we should be silent about our experiences. Someone posted that she could get your remedy on the internet, and that could be dangerous, as she has no idea how her child would react to it! As you yourself have mentioned, remedies are chosen by the homeopath to be not just specific to the symptoms but also to the constitution of the individual It would be wrong to let people only know the positives without also mentioning the negatives! Again, as I said in my very first post on this thread, I am delighted to hear of your success. But others do need to understand that homeopathy is a very intricate treatment that can have very profound effects, both good and bad.

It was over 10 years ago so I do not remember doseage. Even the homeopath admitted it was likely the "wrong remedy", and to stop it immediately! verified by another I consulted with. Both told me that there was not a way to reverse the effect. To me that sounds permanent and nothing we did stopped the severe symptoms. And yes, as I mentioned, my son has genetic TS and likely had early tics prior. But after the agaricus he manifest with SEVERE and very intense OCD and depression, anxiety, phobias...so bad that I rushed him to Shands to see Dr Murphy as it sounded like what I had read about dramatic PANDAS onset. He had always been very carefree and happy After the agaricus, his personality changed, and although he is doing well now, he still struggles with OCD and depression etc, though nothing like it was then Those were brought on by the wrong homeopathic remedy and have never gone away after all these years...so sorry, but that is permanent to me!

As pandas16 mentioned...PLEASE do NOT try to treat yourself or your children with homeopathic remedies.!!!! Homeopathic remedies are not like supplements or herbs or even meds where you may have a bad reaction and have it go away when you stop They are very specific to the individual and can cause permanent and severe reactions if the wrong remedy is used If you want to try homeopathy, find a reputable classical homeopath, and even then, research the remedy before taking it

Hi I am glad the urine/blood tests came back normal I have posted before of the severe reaction (cognitive and neurologic) my husband had to a steroid burst, and how steroids should be avoided, if possible, in people who have genetic Tourette Syndrome, because steroids are dopaminergic (dopamine increases tics in TS) May I ask if the doctor who prescribed the steroids has ever actually examined your son? or was this prescribed after a phone consult, with no prior contact between your child and the prescribing doctor?

I need to clarify again...my son does not have PANDAS, although he is likely PITAND We had an excellent homeopath, as mentioned her remedies for me were very effective! She also had been treating my son for over a year, helping greatly with the ADD and some other stuff, with other remedies then she put him on agaricus.............

I am glad homeopathy is working for you pandas16 I know it has helped many people with many different conditions over many years as I mentioned when you asked me about it a while ago, my response when healing from pesticide poisoning was very positive but as I also cautioned (and as PhillyPA posted) sometimes things can get much worse as sadly was the case for my son. I've written about our experience, where we have reason to believe that the Agaricus remedy he was given likely caused the onset of his Tourette Syndrome, and especially deep depression and very severe OCD, when he was 10 He did inherit the predisposition for TS...it runs in the family on his dad's side. So yes, it is likely something would have triggered the onset eventually. But it seemed to be the agaricus that did it .... and the effects were seemingly permanent, as he is almost 22yo now, and although doing great thanks to the "alternative" health plan he has been on for years, nevertheless, he still does "have" TS and OCD It took me the longest time not to be very angry about that "wrong remedy".... The reason I am posting this is not in any way to detract from the success you (and Stephanie and hopefully many others ) have had..... not at all but as with all things one treatment does not always work the same way for everyone and just as with medications and supplements and even some foods....one should always be careful and informed and take the individual into account. I always caution that while we should share what has worked for us, we should also be careful not to assume it will be "the" treatment for everyone else.

Hi Crissy strep throat is caused when you are infected with streptococcus bacteria. If you and your siblings get frequent sore throats and other strep symptoms, it is worth asking your parents to investigate P.A.N.D.A.S. (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus) as sometimes this can be the cause of tics It also seems that Lyme Disease, caused by tick bites, can cause neurological symptoms like tics We have forums for both here It is also possible that your family has genetic inheritance of Tourette Syndrome, which is why I asked if they also have tics. There are other things that can also cause tics. If your parents are interested in finding our more, perhaps they can also join here and start reading to find out more

Hi Inositol (and as Patty has mentioned...best taken with B6, preferably the P5P form) is the safest to start with If you feel something stronger is needed, then 5HTP or tryptophan, but these are much stronger in their action on increasing serotonin than inositol is so always start very low dose and gradually work up. The link in my signature details what my son has found helpful over the years.

Curcumin (along with Boswellia,) is a major component of my son's anti-inflammatory treatment. He does not have PANDAS but does have Chron's (also autoimmune/inflammation based) He does not use any medications, only diet, supplements etc and the curcumin/Boswellia is absolutely essential to prevent flares. He also feels it helps his OCD

I don't know about methylmate but just wanted to ask for clarification on your question "are B vitamins toxic?" wondering why you asked that? B vitamins are essential to life, and no they are not toxic at recommended doses and provided that , if they are in supplement form, they come from a reputable source. The Cyanocobalamin form of B12 is very poorly absorbed, and so methylcobalamin is the preferred form, except for people who are over methylated.