Tess_mom

I have never joined a discussion group on the internet before. When I joined this one, not knowing much about how they work or how to even use one, I was hoping for insight. I really appreciated Laurensmom's comments and also Carolyn 's suggestion that a doctor is in order for helping to change the medication route that we are currently on. And whoever sent the post about what that mom does to take care of herself was also very nourishing. What I didn't expect were the negative comments, biting remarks, or "suggestions" for how to post opinions here. Is there a way to simply email someone if you disagree? When I went to my email account and saw that someone had posted a reply to my questions, I was relieved, excited and hopeful. When I found that quite a few of the replies had nothing to do with my daughter, but were about the disagreements among members here, my relief changed to chagrin, and I was disappointed. I think it speaks to the fact that since we are all here for a common reason, perhaps we are all under more stress than we often allow ourselves to let out. It's always easier to be negative with someone whom we believe we will never meet or have any other contact with. I see it everyday. I may not post here much anymore. I am currently using my energy up. (Sort of my own personal global warming). And I feel that I don't need to use any more energy by reading things that aren't helpful. I will be coming back to this site frequently, however, to find information, because it does seem to have a significant amount of people who are willing to take time out of their hectic days to post replies that are useful. Please keep that up! We can all use it.

My 7-year old daughter was diagnosed one year ago with Tourette's, OCD and ADHD. I'm hoping that this is a place where I can be completely and unashamedly honest because this is a difficult process to go through. Tess has vocal tics - most recently a cough. Her most troublesome symptoms, however, are the OCD - which I sometimes confuse with a tic, and her anger management. We are new to this and she is currently on three different medications. I am concerned about the meds she is on but am also concerned about how I am handling it all. I seem to have a total lack of consistency in disciplining, an amazing sense of doom, and the sometimes urgent need for a glass of wine. Tess is absolutely beautiful, bright, vibrant, loud sweet, and manipulative. There are times when I can't wait to see her after school, and other times........ Tess' first symptom was echolalia and palilalia - the repetition of her own and other people's words. When we first tried to explain Tourettes and tics to her she asked, "What is my tic? my tic? my tic?" Now she knows what a tic is but sometimes uses her condition to get what she wants, as in telling her brother, "I have to have the remote control and the couch to myself - it's my Tourettes!" We recently saw her psychiatrist - I use the term loosely with this particular doctor - and decided that he may not be the best person for the job. However, all of the doctors in our area who are familiar with Tourette's and OCD, are not currently taking any new patients. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do we really need to have her on Risperidone? Can you recommend a good Chardonnay?