Claire

efgh, I do think that essential fatty acids are the most widely accepted 'natural' way to help tics by the way! Claire

Thanks Heather! I just cut and paste it into my browser. I don't know how to do the fancy link posting either. Claire

efgh, Actually, my DAN/EM doctor says the only way to know for sure with mercury is to take a tissue sample!! Ugh, I think a rare person will do that. Yes fatty acid issues are a common cause, "and Mrs. Doubtfyre is an expert on it" [EDITED from before, per Chemar's correction below]. But I agree it is a big one, and it is close to a checklist item for kids with tics. (I still like testing first). If I were betting, I would bet on yeast and/or heavy metals or both being the biggest underlying cause. But we won't know for 10 years, will we? So we muddle along... My neighbor said that high mercury depletes B vitamins by the way. I don't have her research source. Claire

efgh, my appointment on the heavy metals test results isn't until Tuesday of next week (they were nice enough to tell me the initial results over the phone). So I won't have any answers til then. My doctor believes/hopes that solving the underlying issues will resolve my son's problem. I am taking some hope in what Heather and Phyl have said. I disagree with whoever wrote that fish oils are THE solution for everyone. Not if the child has underlying immune issues due to yeast, low antioxidants and/or heavy metals. I just don't believe in a one size fits all solutions. On the other hand, for some children, fish oil may indeed be THE best solution though. My son was on the low end of his Omega 3's, but still in range FYI. Claire

Thanks for the details Chemar, I will reraise it with my son. Maybe I can bribe him? Also thanks for the biofeedback vs neurofeedback. You know my own experience with nuerofeedback was not positive. Claire

Chemar/efgh My son's doctor raised the same concerns on the purity of various oils, including cod liver oil. That is why the brand he recommended (Nordic Naturals) which someone else here uses) is molecularly distilled, and pharmaceutical quality. Chemar, I hadn't realized that you raised the antioxidants first, as he is doing with my son. Finally Chemar, I bring up accupuncture with my son a couple of times after you mentioned this and he refused the concept 100%. On the positive side, he is swallowing pills easily, so the supplements are no longer a sad battle. Artificial colors is, and he HATES it when I mention this board and other's experience. I have to deal with this factor--he hates fussing. And he never tics without TV, so no focus on that issue, it is just he thinks all this stuff is bologna. Claire

GL&L As Chemar says, congrats on educating your doctor! It sounds like your son is low in the same antioxidants as mine. I think that must often go hand in hand with metal toxicity issues. Plus the wheat and peanut allergies like my son. (I haven't gotten the other allergy tests back--scared on that one.) I still can't believe just the proportion of our kids (just on this board) with similar issues!!! And so many food allergies too. Heather and Jennifer, thanks for the extra information. I will ask about MT protein It reminds me that I haven't gotten the reverse osmosis filter for our house. Jennifer, so this DMSA wasn't a surprise right? Just confirmation? Except for one question: I thought you had already been treating him for heavy metal toxicity for some time? Speaking of avoiding vaccines, my son's 6th grade one is coming up. Is thimerosal no longer in vaccines? So a hepatitis vaccine might be okay? Claire

Searching, Heavy metal toxicity (inc. Mercury) Yeast (Candidas) Food sensitivities (often caused by the above There is zero doubt in my mind--that these can exacerbate OCD. I will never claim that 100% of those with symptom will have these conditions. Just look at the board here. Many of our kids with tics have 'compulsions' too. A disproportionate number of our kids have some combination of these underlying issues. We didn't know this when we started. People like Jennifer, Chemar, Phyl, and Heather have paved the way (sorry if I forget people here). This is what the DAN/EM/Naturopaths do. They test for these issues, and rebuild your immune system. I read a study (can't find it) where they went to a mental health center and tested multiple types mental health categories (don't know the term), and OCD had more immune system issues than any other category. Yeast and heavy metals mess up the immune system. They can be fixed with the right care. But I would only be confident in the right care under the direction of a professional specializing in this area. I believe my son is only one year away from peace! Claire

Hi Carol, You only need to post your question on one thread, most of us read all of the threads. It sounds more like compulsions to me than tics (though they can overlap). I would read Chemar's posts on supplements that might provide some quick relief to you, such as 5HTP. This is her expertise. Claire ps it is worth reading some of the other threads. Both compulsions (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and Tic syndromes can be aggravated by similar underlying issues.

Heather, I don't meet with his doctor until next week. I absolutely plan to ask him about NDF. Do you have a link I could provide, just in case he isn't familiar with it. I do appreciate your strong recommendation. You haven't posted much lately, glad things are going well! Claire

Phyl that is GREAT news about TV. This is what I am hoping will happen to my son. That correcting the yeast (and mercury) problems will reduce the TV/computer issue. You are the first person to notice this, though Heather said it might have been true for her son, but she wasn't really watching for it. You just made my day. I have been looking for hope there (besides my undying optimism and my doctor's expectation), since even yesterday my son saw a little TV and had a reaction. By middle school my gut says it will be just too hard to monitor and restrict without him feeling different among new peers. Claire

Jean, That makes sense re the blood test. I know his doctor's intent was to test for more that just recent exposure though, so he must see more to this test than logic dictates, or perhaps it was a first step to more testing? Chemar, I just got the Yeast Syndrome book you recommended months ago in the mail, thanks. I know that the Body Ecology diet wasn't for me as a first step (I can't even get down yogurt, though my son can). It might be a last resort. Jennifer, I got the Starving Brain book too. When will I ever have time to read these, argh! Nancy, That clinic and MT information are fascinating. FYI, my neighbor tried homeopathic drops that apparently had arsenic and they made her worse, and I know that Chemar used Chlorella successfully, but my neighbor said it was 'ineffective and hard to digest'. But my neighbor is in her 60's, so maybe this is why she had such problems. Chemar's official heavy metal tests showed that her combo of treatments really did work for her son. I mention this because what seems frustrating is that this mercury elimination is still in the 'experimental stage' to some degree, and that what works may be different for everyone. I am willing to trust my doctor with methods he found most successful (they said they treat a lot of kids for mercury), but I definitely want answers first to how my son is supposed to eliminate the mercury once it is 'released' or whatever it is called. I will tell you what he says. Ronna, I found out that my friend my age knew not to have tuna when pregnant. Why was I never informed? Your point about the contribution of parents is okay, but I don't blame myself. I used to think this was because I stimulated him too much as a baby--he had an unending need for stimulation in viewing/exploring new things and I bent over backwards to satisfy him. In some ways, I feel the opposite as you in blame, I feel this was beyond my control now. I am convinced now that his constant motion and difficulty sleeping was due to immunizations. (he hated naps as a baby and always took 2 hours to go to sleep and woke up every 1.5 hours through 8 months, then 2x a night until 5 or 6. Claire

My son had an eye rolling tic tonight. I asked what happened today and sure enough, he had been watching a little TV in aftercare (the whole group watches it for 1/2 hour daily and he tries to stay away). Unfortunately, he said it was interfering with his ability to read his book, because he would roll his eyes up and lose his place. It just reminds me of how hard this will be next year. Something else, after talking to my neighbor with mercury and yeast issues like we now know my son has, it was quite revealing and sad to hear an adult who is quite analytical discuss how foggy she got, and the anger she would sometimes wake up with from these toxic things going on with her body. She didn't have the tics, but the mood swings and concentration issues. She had the same low antioxidants. I think it was Heather that gave supergreen to her son for antioxidants? My neighbor said supergreen seemed to help her also. She said to keep the body alkaline with greens. I still post status here, because now that we know that my son has so many of the same underlying issues as others in this 'spectrum', I think we have finally identified the underlying cause--and that is important to note on this thread.ie his TV/Computer/Movie reaction was a symptom. Even so, it put him on a different, more comfortable path while we figure the rest out. Claire

Jennifer, I reread your post on mercury only flowing in the blood for 3 months and then binding. Does this mean that this was NEW mercury he was exposed to? Some high source, or maybe the normal source (fish--I realize he was eating fish and chips, but no chips) but he doesn't detox as well. I.e. this has nothing to do with what is residing in his system? All, I had a long talk with my neighbor today, who has mercury and yeast issues. She is incredible and has spend 2 years deeply researching this (she is retired) down to the chemistry and all the theories. Anyway, 3 big things: 1. She says that the 2 big places mercury goes is the gut and the nervous system. 2. She said they did the DMSA with her to chelate the mercury (sorry if I misuse terms, I am new to mercury), and that put it right into her gut. She said that since her gut was messed up too, it couldn't 'pass through'. This method is 'approved'. Anyway she felt worse. and immediately got the white coated tongue associated with yeast. She said there is another method (oh dear, DMPA??) where they do it via IV and it goes out the urine instead. Unfortunately this method is 'allowed' but not approved, so they are less inclined to do it for kids. 3. After 14 months of trying, she is finally feeling better with Donna Gate's diet method for yeast. http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/ That name is so familiar that I think someone here posted on it. Donna Gate said that to heal a leaky gut (from yeast I guess--this is 3rd hand info) drink a liquid diet for 3 days to heal the gut (lots of fermented foods), and instead of supplements to kill the yeast, instead eat lots of cultured foods, like cultured coconut water. I tried her sample and could barely choke it down though.

I am going to ask my son's doctor's re getting myself tested both for yeast and heavy metals. After this talk that the mother can pass it down, I am concerned. And as I mentioned, I had yeast symptoms at different times in my life. As I have said, I always feel much better on low-carb no sugar diets. Does anyone else wonder about themselves, since we may have passed some of our mercury down? I realize that the vaccines may be the cause for our kids, but we all had them also? If mercury is harder to get out when you are older (note my neighbor) I would want to know ASAP. Claire

Jennifer/others. Interesting link Jennifer posted on where mercury can reside. What do you think is the culprit hiding place for kids with neurological issue...the cranial nerve? Also, this was on CNN.com today and shocked me... http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet.fitnes...y.ap/index.html CONSUMER LIST Fish most likely to contain mercury: Shark Swordfish King mackerel Tilefish Fish known to be LOW in mercury: Shrimp Canned light tuna !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Salmon Pollock Catfish Now, I read that canned tuna wasn't as bad as the large tuna, but this seems contradictory to what we heard on tuna. And they say albacore is worse. FYI, my son never ate tuna (hates it), but I probably ate more of it than any protein. Our neighbor with mercury issues did a ton of research and there is an expensive brands "daves" at most nice stores in my area (definitely Whole Foods), with 1/100th the mercury level of average tuna--per FDA. They will fax you the research info from the FDA. Dave's says the older bigger tuna are the worse, as they have built up more mercury over the years. So they hand fish smaller tuna in the regions they live. I eat this now once a week. The article says for pregnant, nursing women and small children (!) to avoid high mercury foods. Claire

Hi Jennifer, No, I didn't see your other note, thanks a million for posting this new info and pointing me to your other post. I try hard not to miss any posts for this very reason, plus this truly is a great support network but things have been crazy. I hope that you in turn saw my thank you to you for initially raising this with us a while back. I saved your post and will bring it to my doctor to see about the liver tests etc. (Plus Heather's and Chemar's comments on what they used).he It also made me feel better because my 65 year old neighbor has been trying for 2 years to get the mercury out of her system. My son didn't do the DMSA test, just a blood test. He couldn't have any supplements for 4 days prior and fasted that day. Given your post on urine, I am not sure how it works with the blood. Claire

Bumping for newcomers... Claire

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My son was 50% birthweight, completely normal. efgh, we are on a different track now. I think the mercury is the underlying cause. That could have been the thimerosal in the vaccines, or the fillings in my mouth or the tuna I ate when I was pregnant. Though my mom asked...why did he get toxic levels, and not others? I talked to a pregnant woman today. She told me they now tell pregnant women not to have tuna. Ah, scientific progress! Claire

Jennifer Thanks for the carbon info Jennifer--something else to ask my son's doctor next visit. Phil, My son used to have Ovaltine everyday of his life, though only a couple of teaspoons a day. That is quite encouraging about correcting his yeast then correcting other issues! efgh The fact that your son gets tics from passively watching both TV and computer really does seem like a flicker thing Has he ever stopped computer games for a whole week? My son never ticced during the computer games (except particular one race car game), but later that day or sometimes it took a couple of days, he woud start. It was creating a 'baseline' of tics of sort. Not trying to deprive your son of computer, but if you are ever out on vacation somewhere without a computer, it could be good to observe. Claire

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Jean/Jennifer My doctor said the blood test (is this what a DMSA challenge is?) is more accurate than the hair test, and the tissue test is the most accurate. Jean, while I am happy for you(!), I just wanted to point this out just in case. More on this on my EM doctor thread--I will post my son's results, they just came back. Claire

Hi Phil, You are right, now that I remember the wording on the urine test. Maybe our children's yeast levels are just lower--so maybe that is a good sign. How has your son been doing lately? Claire

Thanks Gina and Chemar. Big time bummer re nitrates and hot dogs. I tried Whole Food hotdogs (forgot the brank) YUCK. Is there a better brand? How is their bacon? Their pepperoni was okay. But hotdogs, that is a mainstay for my son. I will have to watch this--maybe, just maybe, he isn't sensitive??? Claire