Claire

Hi Anne Marie, You are a terrific mom to be so helpful! I am so happy for you that you found a way to help your child. (Our DAN doctor says magnesium is the most common deficiency by the way) I also love the way you negotiate with your son on this, it sounds like our family. Be sure and only get a 15" LCD monitor, to minimize any possible reaction. My son's reaction to computer developed and worsened over time. I think this is why so many people miss this connection. This sensitivity can occur and grow over time. The light sensitivity can be just to the flicker (my son) or to the glare also. The light sensitivity can definitely cause migraines. In fact, other than photosensitive epilepsy (1 in 4000), migraines seem to be the next best documented reaction to light flicker. As for the reaction to glare, this is something that is very common with Irlen Syndrome (photoscopic sensitivity). www.irlen.org My son doesn't have this, but in one of my posts I wrote of a recent conversation I had with Helen Irlen. She says that certain frequencies of light cause the glare reaction. So while sunglasses may help, it is possible that certain colors frequencies are actually the culprit rather than light in general. This site (Latitudes) has more information on the theories--that is how I heard of it. It is widely known enough that the special ed teacher at our school uses the sheets and our opthamologist was familiar with the studies also. Although Irlen syndrome is currently associated with glare issues, learning issues autism, and photosensitive epilepsy, no tic studies have occurred. Just as this whole light flicker issue hasn't been formally studied for tics. The easiest thing to do is to read about it (search this site and read through the checklists of reactions and symptoms) and then order the colored overlays to test your son on ($30). IF after doing this, you feel it may apply, then you might consider formal testing. We did a screening test, but it sounds like going to one of their clinics is far better. As I have posted elsewhere, mercury may be an issue for those with light sensitivity also. e.g. Mercury causes light sensitivity, but not all light sensitivity is caused by mercury of course. B2 deficiencies also cause light sensitivity. My son has mercury issues, not B2 deficiency. Best of luck and thanks for letting us know. This input on what works for your child really helps others in the same situation. Claire

Hi Jean, I used Biocenter for the test because no doctor's signature was required. 316-684-7784. It was $40 plus shipping of about $35. If you can get a doctor's signature, then I would go with Direct Healthcare access at 847-222-9546. This is the lab Sheila Rogers mentioned. They are associated with Dr. Walsh and Pfeiffer. The cost is the same I believe. Also, for the 10-20 borderline range, they will give treatment recommendations, while Biocenter doesn't. You do have to call the doctor on staff to get the treatment recommendations (or maybe you have to have your doctor do this?). Please remember to wrap foil around the vial immediately and put it in the freezer. Buy 2 extra freezer packs to go with the 2 they send, and wrap the loose freezer packs around the foil-wrapped vial while cold but not frozen for a more 'molded fit' . The foil and extra freezer wrap do make a difference, as I posted earlier. Since then, Direct Healthcare (Ellen) gave me more specific recommendations. I am waiting to get their kit. Claire

Jean Chan, Good for you for finding something where you are. Many of those vitamins are on my list. What I would check for is the site that Chemar has posted, to get comfortable with the levels of each. http://healthinfo.healthgate.com/GetConten...&chunkiid=33802 Perhaps you can post the amounts--I couldn't find it easily on that link... I went through your list and marked the ones my son takes, but his program was customized for his particular deficiencies. Vit A (as beta carotene) YES Vit C (as calcium, potassium, magnesium, & zinc ascorbates YES Vit D (as cholecalciferol) YES Vit E (as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) YES Thiamin (As Thiamin HCL) Riboflavin YES Niacin (as niacin and niacinamide) Vit B6 (as pyridoxine HCL) YES Folate (as Folic Acid) YES Vit B12 (as cyanocobalamin) Biotin Pantothenic Acid (as D-calcium pantothenate) YES Olivol (olive extract, olea europaeal, fruit) Bioflavonoid Complex (Rutin, Quercetin, Hesperidin (citrus spp. L fruit), Green Tea extract-decaffeinated (camellia sinensis hunt, leaves), Bilberry extract (vaccinium Myrtillus L, fruit) Inositol YES Choline Bitartrate Bromelain Alppha Lipoic Acid YES Coenzyme Q10 YES Glutathione YES Turmeric Extract (curcuma longaL Root) Lutein (Tagetes Erectal Flower) Lycopene Broccoli concentrate (brassica oleracea V Botrytis L Flower) Calcium (as calcium citrate) YES Magnesium (as magnesium citrate, amino acid chelate and oxide) YES Iodine (as potassium iodide) Zinc (as zinc citrate) Selenium (as L-selenomethionne and amino acid complex) YES Copper (as copper gluconate) BE CAREFUL with this one, should be low vs the zinc Manganese (as manganese gluconate) Chromium (as amino acid complex) Molybdenum (as molybdenum citrate) Silicon (as amino acid complex) Vanadium (as vanadium citrate) Ultra trace minerals --Claire

Carmon, Welcome. My son had 20 different food sensitivities and 10 of those he ate regularly (milk, wheat, eggs, banana, almond, corn/corn syrup, peanuts). Only one of them did I ever suspect--and that was wheat--due to his craving it a lot and his excema. Other than this we never noticed a direct reaction nor symptoms. Looking back, he often had gunk in his throat, which was probably from the peanuts. Yet when I removed the foods he tested positive for, he definitely was less fidgety. The IgG reactions are delayed and daily intake of those foods can mask symptoms, and these seem to be the ones more related to neurological issues than the IgE reactions which are immediate (hives, excema, etc...). Interestingly though, once you remove the foods for a couple of weeks and reintroduce them, you can see the effect. I don't know what the Dennis Development center specializes in, but I would recommend using all the months before November to do your research on alternative methods. If they use alternate methods, you will be prepared, if not, you may uncover non-pharmaceutical aids. Good luck, Claire

Hi Jean, Thanks for the update, I appreciate it. I know, it is hard to find the threads sometimes! I remember when I first got glasses at 16. I thought it was too clear and too strong. To this day, I still think they overprescribe glasses and always have them tone it down a notch or two and I still test out at 20/20. Otherwise, I think our eyes just adjust to the stronger prescription. Is your son nearsighted? My brother was legally blind (20/250 with correction) and did these eye exercises and can now drive a car (20/40 with correction). So I did them under my optometrists watch 15 years ago and improved by 30% which held. I am going to get the contacts that you wear at night and they are like 'braces' where you then don't need them during the day. You have to wear them for your whole life though. But I read that for teens, the change can be more permanent. Something for you to investigate as your son gets older. Also, I took my son to a local opthamologist and she wanted to give him eye exercises to avoid needing glasses for reading. He somehow improved on his own and no longer needs them anyway--no more blurriness. But I remember her discussing his difficulty in changing from close to far focus, and I wondered if that 'stress' contributed to his tics from computers/TV. Good luck with the LCD and I am glad you are closely monitoring it, since the effect can cumulate, and since he seems to already be having some reaction to the glasses. Finally, I personally use P5P for my B6 deficiency, based on our DAN doctor recommendation--since it is the most absorbable form of B6. FJ on Braintalk recommends it for Pyroluria also. Claire

Hi Jean, Sounds like you have been given great input already... Your son seems to have a very strong visual/light reaction. You have commented both on sunlight, piano, TV and now the glasses... I would also expect this may just be while he adjusts to the difference. Anyway, you might consider ordering the Irlen sheets for $30 and see if he has a strong preference for one of them. As I have mentioned, these help people by filtering out certain light frequencies that iritate them. Helen Irlen specifically talked about reactions to sunlight, which I remember your son used to have. www.irlen.com My son used to use a turquiose one, then he said he no longer needed it. I tried to retest him on all colors tonight, but couldn't get anything definitive. So not sure what that means actually. Last time he was very convinced it made a difference. Are you still working with your naturopath? Where are you in the treatment? Has she commented on any underlying health improvements? Claire

Hi BN123 I know for Pyroluria, with B6 and zinc supplementation, FJ says it takes a couple of weeks to notice improvement. I think Chemar said with 5HTP, it only took a few days. For my son, his doctor said that the vitamin/antioxidant supplement would take a couple of months, and Bonnie Grimwald wants parents to give it a couple of months. Not sure how long with EFA (essential fatty acids, e.g. the fish and flax seed oils). It is good to take GLA with fishoil (evening primrose or borage oil), and I have read more and more that males don't process the proper nutrients of flaxseed oil and do better with fish oil--assuming they have no issues with fish oil. Not sure if you are male or female by your name. It sounds like this is all you are taking? I have read studies where Omega3's help, and we supplement with fish oil and borage oil also--though we supplement with lots of vitamins also. Many of us here do supplement with EFAs, but we do a lot of other things also...it varies and takes trial and error. Good luck! Claire

Hi Jean, Glad your son is doing well. Did you notice any impact from the antelope horn powder yet? My work is starting to go into a busy phase again, oh dear. Other than that, I am enjoying my son having no school pressures. Claire

Another woman on Braintalk did no screens for over a week with her son. She told me she was going to--her son has TS: http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showth...5523#post235523 Laurie in NY New Community Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No tics even when upset!!! He is tic free when off the computer. The 1 time he saw a monitor he ticced like crazy and it took 3 days to calm down. We're at our summer home so he has also been tv free and no exposure to friend's game boys, video games and large screen tvs. Of course with Tourette's I always wonder if its coincidental, however I don't think so. We will try him on a laptop with lots of natural light in a week. The other unknown is what if any effect the homeopathic remedy has on him. I will see if I can borrow an alphasmart to try with him if he doesn't tolerate the laptop. Thank you for all the info. -------- I just posted to her to look at elevated mercury...and if she wants to differentiate between this and the homepathy, just reintroduce computer. Claire

Hi Chemar, No WONDER the name AlphaSmart rang a bell. I kept trying to figure out where I had heard of it--I remember your comments now. It was reassuring to hear her comments on it--she says the gray background makes a difference. Even so, her patients have more issues with color and contrast, and my son with flicker, so I will still need to check it out for sure. I wonder if you need approval for a non-504/IEP child to use it to take notes. Now that he is out of elementary school, he might like it. I had checked the site. For general work on word processing and upload/download to the computer and/or printing, do I need the aplets? I saw them and am not sure what they are needed for. Claire

Hi all, I just spoke with Helen Irlen again. She said one clinic studied people with Aspergers/ASD and about 70% had photoscopic sensitivity. They only studied the adults who could communicate well. I told her that my doctors sees tics on the ASD. To me this gives a lot of credibility to the correlation of light sensitivitiy and tics. She also said that yes mercury creates light sensitivity. They have monitored some people going through mercury detox and oddly enough, the frequence they are sensitive to shifts during detox. Finally, she strongly recommended ALPHASMART for school. It is under $300 and interacts with a PC (download, upload, printing), yet can function independently. It is a full size keyboard with a small display on it. It is also lighter than a laptop. Best of all, she said a large number of her patients responded well to this. She said that Irlen syndrome folks commonly have problems with CRT monitors, and that LCD monitors don't completely solve the problem. The Alphasmarts however have been great for them. www.AlphaSmart.com She thought that after my son finished detox I should go to So. Calif and have them test him thoroughly at their clinic. Claire

2 links I found on Pyroluria. These are not studies, but the authors seem informed. This kind of information is what reinforces to me the need for testing. The first link states that many people with ASDs supplement with B6. And that some of the B vitamins actually feed the yeast, so you should be careful unless you have pyroluria. Now I won't supplement my son with B6 until we take the new pyroluria test and get the results back. http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionpdd.htm The 2nd link says that Omega 6's are important for pyroluria (in addition to B6 and zinc), but that you should avoid the Omega 3's with this condition. http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/cont...ading=Pyroluria If all this is true, then the one size fits all of both B6 and Omega 3's, are actually counterproductive. e.g if you need the B6 then the Omega 3's can be bad. If you don't need the B6 then it can be bad for yeast. I started adding the B6 on June 17th. 2 weeks later he took the yeast test--who knows, maybe this is what elevated his yeast. Anyway, I will stop the b6 supplements now until he tests for the pyroluria test at the new lab, then let our DAN doctor (and the lab) help me figure out how to deal with the possible conflict. If the above is true, both mercury detox and pyroluria cures feed the yeast. Man those yeast little guys remind me of cockroaches--they will outlive us all (actually they will, since I read this is what decomposes us when we die). Sorry if my analogy is a bit gruesome!! Claire

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Jean, Thank you for such a precise update, it helps us all to see exactly what works or may work. I am sorry for your recent family trouble, but glad it resolved well! As for the unknown watching of Bay Blaze--the same thing happened to us 3 times, as recently as a year ago. My son started ticcing again, and we were quite confused until a few days later we uncovered that he was playing computer or watching TV at school or daycare. Thanks for letting us know that it took a full 2 weeks for his 'system' to settle (I wondered if it might take more than a week for full results). I have a question for you: You said previously that your son used to do computer one day a week at school. Now that it is summer and he has no computer at all (since you discovered the Bay Blaze watching anyway), do you notice if his tics are better than when he used the computer once a week at school. I always wondered if that was so infrequent that it might not have any impact at all. We are doing fine also, though we are having a setback in my son's yeast levels. Next week I hear the retest results on mercury and vitamin deficiencies, after 5 months of supplementation. Thanks again, I was also wondering where you were. I am really glad to hear that all is going so well with your son! Claire

I redid the Pyroluria test at Biocenter. I wanted to use the new lab but it required a doctor signature and our DAN doctor thought that my son's '12' was nothing to worry about. Biocenter says under 20 is fine, and Direct Healthcare Access says 10-20 requires some treatment. FJ on Braintalk thinks 10-20 is an issue. Anyway, this time I wrapped it in foil immediately (no foil last time). Both times I froze it, but this time I added an extra freezer pack. (no dry ice handy up here). This time his result was a 17. Now that is enough to wonder. FJ says more stress ups the number and this is low stress summer. Now I want to use Direct Healthcare Access, but I have to explain to our doctor why I want a 3rd test. Since biocenter thinks it isn't an issue, they offer no treatment plan, while the other lab does. Plus I get the impression the other lab's results may be higher. Claire

Hi BN The Omega3's in flax oil are helpful for many. But some do better with the Omega3's from fish oil (easier for their body to process). Yet some can't have fish oil. In other words, it is the Omega 3's and you might want to experiment with both. That is only part of the puzzle. You CAN improve--at least I believe most can. Here is the info I just posted... Claire Hi to all, We get so many questions like this and I think it would be great to have a reference link with ideas that we can paste in when they ask this question. Look at Sheila's medical help link--500 views in 3 months. PLEASE ADD TO THIS THREAD YOUR OWN VIEWS/LINKS! Welcome, and please know that we have all gone through, or are still going through the worries that you must feel for your child. We have learned from eachother here. The good news is that there IS a lot you can do to help your child! As you go through your journey, please share what works for your child so that others can benefit. 1. Most mainstream doctors don't know about alternate (non-pharmaceutical methods) of healing to minimize and potentially eliminate tics, as opposed to drugs to just try to treat the symptoms. If you don't already have a knowledgeable doctor, you will have better luck finding a doctor here: Finding medical help http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565 2. Initial testing and treatment can run from $1000 to $3000 if you go this route. If you have PPO insurance, 50-70% may be covered. If cost is an issue, in general naturopaths may be less expensive than MDs. But the tests themselves (at the labs) are fixed costs--though if you pay in advance and then bill insurance you can save a lot. This does not include costs of supplements or restocking your kitchen shelves with different food if needed. 3. Tics can often go along with other comorbid conditions such as OCD, ADHD, delayed sleep, which can be more disturbing to the child than the tics. Improvement can often be seen across the other conditions also as the tics improvement. Usually a TS diagnosis is made after a year of multiple motor tics and vocal tics. There are other tic syndromes such as transient and chronic tic syndromes, whose symptoms are less severe than TS symptoms. 4. If you don't choose to use a doctor, then this site (and the internet in general) is a gold mine of information for ideas re triggers to avoid and healing. Much of the process is trial and error to see what helps your child, but most of the regulars have found substantial improvement. The more you understand, the more you can help your child. 5. Some natural methods some people here use (can be different combinations of below--not every method works for every child of course). -Doing an elimination diet (per the Doris Rapp book "Is this your child") to remove common foods that kids can be sensitive to. Removal of Wheat/gluten, Milk/casien, corn, soy, eggs, peanuts....can all help, depending on the child. Different children will have different sensitivities, but many of our kids have some. -Avoiding artificial color/flavors/preservatives (aka the Fiengold diet at www.feingold.org -Avoiding sugar/corn syrup. (I personally think the sugar reaction can be due to yeast issues) -Avoiding 'screens', e.g. computer/TV/gameboy/big screen movies. Try it for your child for a week straight (camping is a great time to try it), as the effect can be lingering and cumulative. -Trying supplements, either via a customized program or from www.bonniegr.com -HEPA air filter for mold, which can affect moods. Also dustmites for some. 6. Other medical conditions ..that can result in tics--we have threads on all of theses Strep-PANDAS Pyroluria Gluten/Casein intolerance Yeast/fungal overgrowth Vitamin/Antioxidant deficiencies Parasites Mercury or other heavy metal toxicity MT protein issues 7. Most of us here on Latitude consider 'drugs' less preferrable to alternative methods, as it doesn't treat the underlying issues and can have side effects. Virtually all of us think that asking a child to control the tics not only doesn't work but creates poor long term esteem issues and increases stress and thus tics. Loving acceptance in the home is so important. 8. Everyone is welcome to come here for support and understanding! Try to read key threads and ask questions. 9. Finally, most of us pray for help in finding the right path for our children. We believe that God has helped us here. We certainly respect that not everyone else feels that way however.

Welcome Eileen. I saw your note and started this thread...if you will read it and other threads, I believe you can help your children through this time! http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...&st=0#entry4354 As for whether tics will pass, I believe it trying natural methods to help vs just waiting and hoping. Good luck! Claire

Hi to all, We get so many questions like this and I think it would be great to have a reference link with ideas that we can paste in when they ask this question. Look at Sheila's medical help link--500 views in 3 months. Welcome, and please know that we have all gone through, or are still going through the worries that you must feel for your child. We have learned from eachother here. The good news is that there IS a lot you can do to help your child! As you go through your journey, please share what works for your child so that others can benefit. 1. Most mainstream doctors don't know about alternate (non-pharmaceutical methods) of healing to minimize and potentially eliminate tics, as opposed to drugs to just try to treat the symptoms. If you don't already have a knowledgeable doctor, you will have better luck finding a doctor here: Finding medical help http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565 2. Initial testing and treatment can run from $1000 to $3000 if you go this route. If you have PPO insurance, 50-70% may be covered. If cost is an issue, in general naturopaths may be less expensive than MDs. But the tests themselves (at the labs) are fixed costs--though if you pay in advance and then bill insurance you can save a lot. This does not include costs of supplements or restocking your kitchen shelves with different food if needed. 3. Tics can often go along with other comorbid conditions such as OCD, ADHD, delayed sleep, which can be more disturbing to the child than the tics. Improvement can often be seen across the other conditions also as the tics improvement. Usually a TS diagnosis is made after a year of multiple motor tics and vocal tics. There are other tic syndromes such as transient and chronic tic syndromes, whose symptoms are less severe than TS symptoms. 4. If you don't choose to use a doctor, then this site (and the internet in general) is a gold mine of information for ideas re triggers to avoid and healing. Much of the process is trial and error to see what helps your child, but most of the regulars have found substantial improvement. The more you understand, the more you can help your child. 5. Some natural methods some people here use (can be different combinations of below--not every method works for every child of course). -Doing an elimination diet (per the Doris Rapp book "Is this your child") to remove common foods that kids can be sensitive to. Removal of Wheat/gluten, Milk/casien, corn, soy, eggs, peanuts....can all help, depending on the child. Different children will have different sensitivities, but many of our kids have some. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=794 General list of tic triggers from Latitutudes http://latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm -Avoiding artificial color/flavors/preservatives, and sometimes salicylates, aka the Fiengold diet at www.feingold.org. Some also do failsafe which is similar but adds amine elimination. (Lists exist on this site of the salicylates/amines). -Avoiding or limiting sugar/corn syrup. (I personally think the sugar reaction can be due to yeast issues) -Avoiding 'screens', e.g. computer/TV/gameboy/big screen movies. Try it for your child for a week straight (camping is a great time to try it), as the effect can be lingering and cumulative. Summary of poster's successes here...I think 15 or 17 now, though the summary hasn't been updated. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=852 -Trying supplements, either via a customized program or from www.bonniegr.com If you do supplements, in an ideal world you will do them one at a time to see if your child reacts to one of them. -Trying probiotics such as bifidus, acidophilus. Make sure they are 'live' --some prefer yogurt, some refrigerate capsules. -Tying EFAs (essential fatty acids) such as Omega3's (flax or fish oil) and GLA (evening primrose or borage oil). Some people feel that many children with tics/OCD can't get the Omega3's from the flax oil, so they try fish oil instead. Some have a reaction to fish oil. Again, watch as you add these. Also, if you get fish oil, be careful of mercury issues (from the mercury in fish). We get ours Molecularly distilled. -Trying enzymes for better absorption and/or digestion of proteins/fats/carbs/fenols -HEPA air filter for mold, which can affect moods. Also dustmites for some. 6. Other medical conditions ..that can result in tics--we have threads on all of theses Strep-PANDAS Pyroluria (lab test doesn't require a doctor signature) Gluten/Casein intolerance (urine, blood or stool test, varies) Yeast/fungal overgrowth (at home 'free' spit test to get started, also urine or stool test). Vitamin/Antioxidant deficiencies (lab test doesn't require a doctor signature) Parasites (usually a stool test) Mercury or other heavy metal toxicity (hair or blood test) MT protein issues (newer item here, people are still investigating) 7. Most of us here on Latitude consider 'drugs' less preferrable to alternative methods, as drugs don't treat the underlying issues and can have side effects. Virtually all of us think that asking a child to control the tics not only doesn't work but creates poor long term esteem issues and increases stress and thus tics. Loving acceptance in the home is so important. 8. Everyone is welcome to come here for support and understanding! Try to read key threads and ask questions. One compiled summary thread of specific things where you may see improvement in one week is (with lists of the success of others who have tried it). http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=798 9. Finally, most of us pray for help in finding the right path for our children. We believe that God has helped us here. We certainly respect that not everyone else feels that way however. Claire I hope our community here will add as you have time. Maybe something on what worked/works best for your child.

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Andy, Chemar said her son reacted to suntan lotion, so she uses hats etc instead. We buy ours at Whole Foods--after I starting reading Latitudes, I didn't want him absorbing chemicals. I am sorry for all your son is going through, and your other post made me sad, teary really--he sounds like a wonderful child who has a high awareness and a lot to think about at such an early age. It reminds me of how I told my son I wish I could just take on his health issues. When I tested positive for so many of the same things months later, he said "Mom when you wished to take them on, you forgot to add that mine should go away". But my son doesn't have the discomfort anymore, and that is the hardest to watch. I was so teased in middle school age for problem skin and I was just thinking how it is so critical for us to create a safe home environment for our children were they feel total acceptance. Honestly Andy, you are so dedicated that I am convinced that you will continue to find those things to help your son. My prayer for you is that you continue with your search and are not limited by the knowledge of any particular doctor. You do have the gift of time with your son--you do have time to understand this. I too suspect the vaccines were a major event for my son. I also think our family has immune issues that made him susceptible since my dad has diabetes and my sister has hypothyroid. Please do keep us posted, we really do want to hear of your journey. Plus keep in mind that what you learn and share will help others. Claire ps Please do read "Children with Starving Brains" when you have the time. It explains most of the current thinking of what the possible paths to investigate are, and which are most common and best to investigate first (actually, what you have discussed is her first recommended path). Jennifer mentioned it last fall, and it took me until July to finally read it.

Andy, What kind and insightful advice to give. Your comment on tracking things before the anger reminded me how Ronna's son used to go into a rage after eating corn, which it turns out he was sensitive too. Dr. Rapp definitely talks about emotional 'allergic' reactions to food. Susanne, if this continues, you might wish to push for the food sensitivity tests. If you can't get them done, then Dr. Rapp suggests an elimination diet for some length of time. You gradually add in the various foods and notice if there is a reaction. This may not be it of course. I do think Andy is right about releasing at home. I also think that unusual anger is associated with all of this--I hope that you can get more tests done. My son had no tics once we eliminated TV, but all this work has helped with emotional issues. Claire

They just had this discussion on braintalk, but I can't find the thread! http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumd...splay.php?f=253 Yes, it can definitely be associated--plus with the underlying immune issues. Glad your child is doing so well, that is awesome! Claire

Hi bean, I think the IgG allergy tests that we took require an MD to order them, since they are blood tests. Unfortunately, most doctors are not familiar with the IgG (delay reaction) allergy tests, but only the IgE immediate reaction ones. The foods which cause even a delayed reaction can inflame the intestines. This results in poor nutrient absorption and 'starving brains', which a number of doctors believe aggravate certain neurological issues. I became convinced to have my son tested based on the number of the kids here and on Braintalk with tic issues had food sensitivities, and their parent's observation as to the improvement when those foods were eliminated. We used two different labs, Immunolabs for my son and Elisa/ACT for me. I liked Elisa/ACT better because you could use the same test for not such foods, but specifically gluten and casein. I think it is about $300. Our old insurance covered 50% and our new insurance covers 70%. The number for Elisa Labs is 800-553-5472. If you can talk your normal doctor into ordering it, that would obviously be the easiest path--just be sure they don't just give your child the IgE test. Otherwise there are several doctor links at the top of this site, which were posted by the site editor. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565 I cross reference the DAN (Defeat Autism Now, but really they test for allergies and other immune issues underlying neurological disorders), and the Environmental Medicine doctors, who deal with allergies. The DAN list actually shows you which test the doctors in your area have expertise in, so you can see if they deal with allergies. No doctor is perfect, you of course need to do your own screening/interviewing. The biggest difference with these doctor lists is that most of these doctors are very aware of these testing protocols so they are very supportive. Good luck, and if you do have the food allergy tests done, please let us know the results, both from the test and from trying food elimination if he tests positive for anything. Claire

Good luck Daniel! One person here (Robin) had there child tic worse when getting the antigen shots, and stopped. I don't know if others do them. They helped my allergies, but I didn't have problems with tics, so I don't count there. If he has food allergies, that is usually treated by food elimination for a time, then rotating the foods back in every 4-7 days. However, I do think that some doctors have different treatments. I agree with you on the TV on all counts! My toughest (and really my only problem) is when my son is away from home. I used to tell the parents no TV/computer and they would do it anyway. And unfortunately, since the effect can linger for days, it can indeed mess up the 1 week no screens test. I finally explained to the parents about the neurological reaction and that helped, but not completely. Just this weekend we went to a friends that we see only annually, who are aware of my son's situation, and I could still sense reluctance to turn off the TV for just that afternoon! After a few minutes of adjustment, the kids had a blast. In any case, we mostly entertain at our own home for families that we know have a hard time turning off TV for their kids. The kids know the rules when they come to our house--so it is their choice to come. We cleared out our garage for rainy day rough play. My son was in a daycare where everyday they watched TV for 30-45 minutes. What I did for him was to buy him a ton of used comic books (he loved Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes at the time) and some music CD's and headphones so that he could have something to do during that time. (He was 9 when we started that). He had to go to a different area from the TV, because it was just too hard to be in viewing distance of the TV and not look. The other thing he loved were Harry Potter book tapes because it was kind of like listening to a show while others were watching one. You can get them at the library. For one week, he might be motivated to try it--then if you don't see improvement, he can go back to watching with the other kids. Of course, this is only worth doing if your gut says it might make a difference. I think my son is more fit than most kids in his grade because of the restriction! I think that certain doctor visits can be extremely stressful for the kids. How awful for your son, I am sorry to hear of his nightmares. You would think the doctor would have been more considerate of his feelings. Thanks for keeping us posted, we look forward to hearing more as you progress. Claire