I am new to both tics and this website. I am so grateful that I've found it, however, as I think it will save my family months or years of experimentation. My otherwise healthy four year old son started mild "tics" like hand licking and soft vocalizations a few months ago. We began to see occasional eye rolling/blinking but didn't know what to make of it. Last month, I let myself be talked into getting him a flu shot with mercury (never again). Within forty-eight hours his eye blinking and rolling increased dramatically, and it seems that his vocal "tic" increased as well. His preschool almost called 911, thinking he was having a seizure, the week after the shot. The physician assistant at my doctor's office prepared us for a Tourette's diagnosis based on history and observation. The neurologist also thinks we will eventually end up with a TS diagnosis. The CT scan was negative for problems, and we're still waiting for EEG results. Here's the thing, though...we have discovered that TV and fluorescent lights are a huge and immediate trigger. Without either, his tics are mild and occasional (one eye blink or head shake every ten minutes perhaps, or less frequently). With them, his tics are almost constant...very frightening. They start up immediately when he watches TV. We haven't even tried a full seven day trial, but the cause-effect relationship seems so clear because the effect is immediate. The tics linger for a while after the TV or flourescent lights are removed.
Based on what I've read in postings on this site, we are pursuing food sensitivity testing, and probably specta cell for nutrients, as well. Based on his recent receipt of a mercury-laden vaccination, we will probably also find a DAN doctor to look into the possibility of a heavy metals problem. However, we are amazed at the immediate and powerful impact of TV as well as fluorescent lights...controlling these will, I think, give us sanity while we look into deeper causes. Does anyone have any advice, particularly regarding heavy metals testing and chelation?
