Chemar

one never can predict with transient tics...some are over quickly and others can last a while... so no, that length of time is not unusual but certainly worth looking into any potential triggers for.... have you kept a journal of times when it seems more frequent or intense? any correlation with food? environment? activity? illness? vaccines? have you had any recent woodwork, painting, carpeting in your home that correlates to the tic starting? it's best to test for allergies rather than just treating for them as you dont want to mess with antihistamine unless it is needed IMO have you tried the food elimination diet to see if any food allergies? and yes, many kids get over transient tics on their own without treatment, and other times parents find the triggers and the transient tics go once the triggers are removed

yes, I do think one needs to be careful about supplementing magnesium just because there are tics magnesium deficiency and tics have a link in Tourette Syndrome (see Bonnie Grimaldi's research http://www.bonnie.gr.com ) and magnesium is a relaxant so often people with other tic causes may benefit from it, but with all supplements, just as with medications, one really needs the guidance of a qualified health practitioner, especially in kids. there are tests to check vitamin, mineral etc deficiencies one of the threads up in the "helpful" sticky lists some tests http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=755 more helpful threads http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2459

Apologies that I may be slow to answer PMs and board questions as I have a very heavy workload with my business right now I will be checking in often, and will try to respond ASAP but please dont think I am ignoring you if it takes a day or so

Hi Santi kids with Tourette Syndrome usually show a quick response to magnesium supplements like Kids Calm, with reduced tics. This may not always occur of the tics have a different origin tho have you tried epsom salts baths as well? (magnesium citrate) The combination of transdermal magnesium plus the oral form as in the Kids Calm often works best

Kevin, this is the company that does the testing https://www.neurorelief.com/index.php?optio...9&Itemid=74 that test as well as many other helpful bits of info are all found on the sticky thread at the top of this forum http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2459

Hi Tourette tics wax and wane and vary, but "transient tics" can often just be one tic presenting the way you describe also, some parents who have found the tics caused by allergy have noted only single tics as well

A question...my son has Crohn's Disease, which is also an autoimmune class of illness, like PANDAS is we have been advised never to knowingly "boost" his immune system, and were also cautioned to stay away from drastic immuno supressive treatments...... and rather to aim for his immune system to be modulated or "balanced" have you been advised to boost the immune system for PANDAS?

Hi Sara I cant post much now as with family and just checking in on the forum will post more later or tomorrow for now, unless you know your child is allergic or sensitive to chlorine, I would say dont add stress & confusion to the situation for him (stress=more tics!) by not allowing him to swim on vacation try to get some epsom salts at a pharmacy or Target or any Publix supermarket and let him have a soak in that after you are done at the pool for the day. 2 cups in a tub of the warmest water, soak for 20 minutes. that will help with detox and the magnesium in the salts can really soothe tics. He may feel very relaxed after and just want to nap will be back to chat more dont worry! you will find ways to help him, so just keep looking toward that light at the end of the tunnel!

encouraging to read your update Kevin sorry for the tangent the thread took.....you will find threads tend to meander here have you considered having a full chiropractic evaluation? my son has had some tics resolve after chiro adjustment. we only use NUCCA certified chiros ( http://www.nucca.org )

Hi I am not seeing a potential for bad interaction with mag and amox on the drug interactions list, but it really is always a good idea to ask the pharmacist about possible interactions antibiotics kill off good bacteria in the gut so it is always a good idea to give a probiotic too...just be sure to give it three hours after the antibiotic or it will be rendered ineffective by the anti action some forms of magnesium can have a laxative effect remember to avoid magnesium oxide as it is very poorly absorbed and so most passes straight through

someone asked about this on the ADHD forum. here is great info about using all natural food coloring, which may be helpful for those doing colored eggs with their kids http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayhowto...stereggdyes.htm Happy Easter

Hi although what you have described does sound like some OCD tendencies, she would need to see a qualified professional to receive an accurate diagnosis if she is serious about breaking off the relationship, then there isnt much you can do....but if you do get back together you may want to suggest her seeing her doctor for an evaluation, altho I am not sure how she would react to the suggestion if she tends to be hypersensitive, as you have indicated. If it makes her feel more comfortable, maybe suggest the two of you go for couples counseling to work thru these issues and from there hopefully she will agree to see her doctor for referral there are medications and natural ways to treat OCD, including the very helpful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. here is some helpful information on OCD http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1963 I hope things work out for you

Hi my son does not have PANDAS but does likely have a PITAND component to his genetic Tourette Syndrome & OCD, and he also has autoimmune Crohn's Disease I have a link in my signature about the natural treatments he has been on that have helped him tremendously I am not suggesting that any child in PANDAS crisis should not be treated medically with antibiotics etc. Just responding to your question about natural antibiotics and antifungals the best we have personally found are Monolaurin (lauric acid) which is a remarkable all purpose antimicrobial, Olive Leaf extract, Oil of Oregano, Candida Clear by Now, and to prevent viral flares, the amino acid L-lysine. Garlic, honey, turmeric etc also have antimicrobial effects. Mastic Gum (mastica) is known to eradicate H.pylori and believed to also have other antibacterial properties. There are more, but those are the ones we have experience with I agree with Vickie that it is always a good idea to start one thing at a time and always at the lowest dose and then work up. we have always sought guidance from Integrative physicians (doctors who have a conventional MD or DO and have then gone on to specialize in naturopathic/alternative/complementary medicine there is a lot of info on natural remedies on the Tourette/tics forum here http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=1

yes, my son took the very low dose melatonin for a short while while he was still on 5HTP, and when he had a problem falling asleep. The doctor was the one who prescribed it so I felt safe combining. Best to check with the naturopath I think what was the augmentin for? does your son have a PANDAS dx now?

I found it! http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayhowto...stereggdyes.htm happy Easter

Hi Fixit sorry if I misunderstood...what you had said was so I thought you were considering giving melatonin and the other serotonin boosters like tryptophan?? when you said "or all" one just has to be careful on the serotonin system as a little too much can be enough to cause that spiking. Some people on SSRI medications sometimes take things like 5HTP or tryptophan or st johns wort, samE, phenylalanine etc without realizing that they all work together and can cause a dangerous excess of serotonin, called spiking a naturopath can advise on which would be best to take with melatonin, as that really is the best for sleep issues. The others like 5htp are usually suggested as well when OCD, depression etc is also a problem, but again with the many serotonin boosting natural options, a naturopath or integrative physician are best at recommending which combinations and dose. we found when my son was on 50 miligrams nightly 5HTP for the OCD he could only tolerate a tiny amount of melatonin (300-600 MICROgrams) whereas many people take 1-3 MILIgrams of melatonin (I cannot even handle 1 without having major grogginess next day )

Hi Ginger any artificial dyes can be a problem on food, skin etc I recall once hearing of natural dyes for easter eggs made with beetroot, carrot, etc but honestly dont remember where I saw it for sale.

no! dont give all! that could be dangerous and lead to serotonin spiking!! one cannot give serotonin in that form ...it isnt available that way (at least not that I am aware of) it depends what you are trying to achieve as to which one to give. tryptophan is converted into 5HTP which then becomes serotonin. Serotonin in turn converts to melatonin serotonin is best for OCD, depression etc, so taking 5HTP OR (NOT and) tryptophan can be helpful to boost serotonin melatonin promotes peaceful sleep these should all be okd first by a doctor tho, especially if the child is already taking any medications!!

to read more please go to http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/01/in...lity/12515.html

congrats on getting in

But the study showed vitamin D is immunosuppressive.......... that surely is a benefit when one has autoimmune disease this may be another reason why my son has found extra vit D to be really helpful both for mood as well as his autoimmune Crohn's

Candida albicans aka "yeast" is considered an fungal intestinal parasite and yes, antibiotics kill off the good gut bugs so candida tends to "invade" if one isnt also taking probiotics (at least 3 hr after the antibiotic or it kills that the pro stuff as well) I guess being a fungus it doesnt have eggs but rather spores? wonder if it sets off masses of spores at full moon I read a paper once on the body fluids beings impacted at full moon too, I wonder of possible involvement of the pineal/melatonin system too so serotonin may be reduced perhaps (same biological pathway as melatonin)

that is why we expanded this forum to be PANDAS & PITAND Faith, and over on the TS/tics board the concept of inflammatory triggers is pretty well accepted too IMHO...even those who tic because of allergies usually have an inflammatory response to the allergen

we tailored our diet to my son and husband's specific needs so it may vary from others in books and on the web One important thing we had to do was up omega 3 but reduce omega 6 because the former is anti-inflammatory whereas the latter promotes inflammation...a good thing in normal immune systems but not wanted when inflammation is already a problem Curcumin/boswellia are key supplements my son uses as well here are recent threads discussing anti- inflamm diet etc http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7072 http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7075 I like Dr Weil's simple explanation of anti inflamm diet, as well as the food recommendations he gives. see the anti-inflamm food pyramid in a link from the article http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

my grandma always said that inflammation was at the root of all illness. She was a retired nurse, and farmer's wife, and had amazing natural remedies for everything. I am in my 50s so she was from an era long ago! but so much of that "folk" wisdom on disease and treatments still rings true today! I learned about daily probiotics from her, tho she didnt call them that. She made the most amazing kefir my son has been on a very successful anti-inflammatory diet since his Crohn's dx and the whole family have adopted it too. I had arthritis in my right foot, caused I was told by a sprain years ago. Since going "anti-inflammatory, I dont need to use my Salonpas patches on my foot anymore as the pain and swelling are gone altho the anti-inflamm diet & supps to reduce inflammation hasnt altered the mild TS tics my son still has, it has made an enormous improvement to his Crohn's symptoms and his OCD, always his biggest problem, is negligible