Pilbara

We have all been in your place. I think the onset of tics has to be the most stressful time in our lives due to the fear. I'm 6 years in with my son and all is good. His tics started when he was about 5 with hard eye blinking, but it was at 7 that it errupted with multiple motor tics and vocal. Highly likely you just have a motor tic and I do see these regularly in lots of kids, so no need to stress just yet. If you haven't picked up Sheila's book yet, then I highly recommend it. For my son his triggers were chemicals and high levels of aluminium in his body. Since we have tried our best to detox his system and be as chemical free as possible, my son's tics are extremely mild. They come mostly in the evening when he is home and when he is stressed, but for the most part people don't even notice it. He is in high school now and his tics have been accepted by his peers and he is comfortable explaning his TS if anyone picks up on it. But the intensity of his tics at 7 to now at 13, are worlds apart. They are so minor and are not an issue for him. I know as he continues to develop, the long term outcome is extremely positive.

Make sure you read Sheilas book at the top of the page, it will really help guide you through the investigation process. Also you need to spend time working through older posts on this forum and the pinned posts at the top are very helpful. For every child the triggers are going to be different. For many it is diet related, for my son it is primarily chemical sensitivity that sets off the tics. He also had toxic levels of aluminium in his system that we had to detox out of him, Sheila has a quote about the kids "have something in their body that they do not need, or something they need that they do not have", this has certainly proven to be correct for us. Got the aluminium out, balanced his nutrients, removed chemicals from the house and I've very conscious of chemicals in the food supply as well. Now you wouldn't know he has TS. He still only has the occasional tics, but they don't tend to last long and are so minor that they go unnoticed by most. Good luck with your journey, have hope that many of us have achieved good results by investigating triggers and you can make a difference, but it does take commitment and work, but so so worth it.

I'm so feeling for you right now. Try not to think about worse case scenarios right now, and your in the right place to get the best knowledge. ACN was life changing for me and I strongly believe my son's improvement was because of what I've learnt in here and through reading Sheila's book. Your right, your Pediatrician is unlikely to be of any help, but its great that your seeing a naturopath and allergist, they are more than likely to be the game changers. PANS/PANDAs may definitely be possibility so learn all you can to rule it in or out. I didn't think we had a genetic link to TS because there is no history in our family. But I think it comes from my fathers side as I can find OCD and undiagnosed ADD. Not a bad thing because my father is a highly successful man who I think is absolutely amazing. But now I have a second son who has developed a vocal tic, so no doubt it's genetics for us. But that' ok because worse things can happen, so I feel very blessed that it's only tics. If it wasn't for the tics I would never have made lifestyle changes, I'm far better informed about toxicity in our environment and in our food supply. My oldest son's tics are very minimal no one picks up on them, except me of course. We now go longer periods with no tics at all, so the TS is having no impact on his life. But it has enhanced it as he has absolutely excelled in his sports. I also should mention that my son's tics were at their worse in the beginning and now I'd say there is a 95% improvement. Good luck, happy to answer any questions, but make sure you get Sheila's book, it will give you a lot of hope and lead you through investigating triggers.

The arrival of tics is the most difficult time and everything you read is likely to lead you to worse case scenario. I have a 9 year old who has had TS since he was 7, and just recently his 8 year old brother has developed a vocal tic. Make sure you grab a copy of Sheila Rogers book, I think everyone should start there. From my experience, my son's tics are caused from environmental factors. Heavy metal toxicity was definitely a factor and once the aluminium was completely removed from his system he has improved significantly. We made sure his nutrients were balanced and then started investigating further. For us chemical sensitivity is the key for him. We cleaned up his diet, removed all chemicals from the house (definitely research toxicity in your home), bought a high quality air filters for his room and one for the main living areas. My son still tics, but they are so minor no one even knows he has TS and we have longer periods of no tics at all. Now I'm starting again with my second son because every child is different and their triggers can be completely different. Learn as much as you can and read all that is available. ACN are amazing in what information they provide, so your in the right place and on the right path.

Your getting close to the 12 month mark, and it is possible that you son has just the motor tics, doesn't sound like any verbals such as clearing the throat or various other sounds have presented yet. Regardless if it is motor tics or TS, I think a good place to start is with full blood work to check for any deficiencies and heavy metal hair testing. Getting their bodies in balance then gives you a good starting point. If you haven't read Sheila's book yet, then I recommend you read it, as it will help you work through the many possibility that could be your son's triggers. It is based on parents experiences and successes, and in all honesty the people dealing with it are certainly more knowledgeable that the medical profession. For my son it was chemical sensitivity that predominately exacerbates his tics and we had to detox him from Aluminium. I've gone chemical free in the home, buy all organic where possible, have air filtration in place, filter all water before use and read the labels on everything. But for others food sensitivity seems to be their biggest trigger, so all children are very different and I think that is where Sheila's book helps you work your way through all the possibilities. For my son after his big eruption of tics when he was 7 and we started him on the path to a cleaner environment, he continues to get less and less tics. Two years later and he is in a really good place. Good luck with your journey.

Ted, You will have to spend time reading the pinned posts in this thread, it will start you on the path of exploration. Sheila Rogers book was my lifesaver, not only did it give me hope with people's stories, but also tells you all possible clue's to start looking for the triggers. All kids with TS will be different, some it's food, some it environmental factors, you have to be willing to explore everything. For my son, he was toxic in Aluminium (yes lots of kids with TS have heavy metal toxicity issues) and predominately chemical sensitivity. I think we were lucky as the changes I had to make were probably easier than those dealing with food reactivity. However with removing chemicals from my son's environment, it has also meant looking at his food source as well. So I always buy organic where possible and ensure I understand labels. Some foods are certainly a trigger, such as MSG and artificial flavouring. I just worked with a Naturopath, but others use integrated/environmental/bio-medical doctors. Bill Walsh's work on Biochemistry and epigenics is worth reading about as well. Good luck, my son's tics are now very minimal and hardly noticable by others, so have hope that you can help make things a little better.

Barbara That is such good news, I don't know where any of us would be if not for Latitude and Sheila, it was the best thing to ever happen for my son. When his tic erupted, it was such a difficult time for all of us and the medical profession and Tourettes Association here in Australia was of no use. I'm just thankful I found this site as it changed all our lives. Now I look back and I'm thankful for the TS, because now I have learned so much, have made many changes and we are certainly on a different path in life. Like you my son's tics are fairly non existent, still there from time to time but no longer having an impact on his life. I'm very thankful. Lyn

Sandra, Yes my son had toxic levels of aluminium that he could not cleans from his body. I have heard of various heavy metals in kids with TS, they must lack the ability to detox effectively and it builds up. However my son is now clear, we had him on Chelatox for about 18 months, slowly taking it out which is much safer to do otherwise it is free to roam in the body causing other harm. I also used Epsom Salt baths on a regular basis. Heavy metals also means you daughter is likely to be low on other nutrients in the body as the heavy metals will interfere with their absorption. My son's tics are now not much of an issue for him. They are still there but he particularly sensitive to chemicals in our environment and I can't control all of those, but we try our best in the home. However they are so mild now the only arise occassionally.

With the TV, you might like to try putting a Himalayan Salt Lamp in the room. Depends if it's the ions or flickering lights that are the trigger for your child, but the salt lamps turn the negative ions from electronic equipment and positively charge them. Here is a link to perhaps look at. Just worth a thought http://products.mercola.com/himalayan-salt/himalayan-salt-lamps.htm

Try and find a biomedical or integrative doctors, they really try and find the route cause and not just treat the symptoms. Naturopaths are also a good place to start. My DS started with the hard blinking as well. I hated the head jerking phase. Definitely read Shiela's book recommended above. Other things to look at is heavy metal toxicity (tested through a hair sample). Have hope that lots of us with kids with TS do get significant improvement through natural treatment. My DS gets triggered off by certain chemicals in his food and particularly in the environment, but for the most part his tics are now extremely minor. Good luck

Just on what you have put up, have you ever worked with a Naturopath or Environmental/Integrated Doctors. It's important to find help from other that can help to direct you. You mentioned fragrance free, but are they chemical free products. How about your diet, although gluten free, do you eat any other processed foods? Sounds like you are starting to explore triggers but have not found what works for you yet. Don't get discouraged, you probably still have a long way to go to finding what works for you. Please don't give up, keep looking, follow the advice on this forum and read Sheila's book if you have not done so already.

A good place to start is with a full blood test and hair analysis. This will identify any deficiencies in minerals and nutrients; plus the hair analysis will identify any heavy metal toxicity your daughter may have. I just used a Naturopath for this. Once you know her body is balanced, then you will need to look for possible triggers, be them in food or the environment. As Chemar has linked for you, Sheila Rogers book is brilliant in helping you identify triggers. I still continually review this book and it will certainly point you in the right direction. Other things is to start researching about is gut health, research is overwhelmingly supporting the brain/gut connection. I've put my journey with my son in my profile if you want to take a look. It includes what he takes and what environmental changes we have made. My son only tics at a minimum now and its only really noticeable in the afternoons, probably because he's relaxed at home and is comfortable to let them out. But overall he is so much better than when the tics first arrived, which was a very scary time for both of us. We are all very accepting of the tics and he is not bothered by them at all. I am 100% confident my son's tics are the result of chemical sensitivity and his body's inability to cleanse itself. Unfortunately we do live in a toxic world and although I try and control as much as I can at home, he is still exposed to chemicals on a daily basis. I just have to help him move the toxins out of his body as soon as I can. This is why he has some mild tics in the afternoon. You've come to a great place on this forum and with ACN research, there is a wealth of information in here that will certainly help your daughter.

That's excellent Vicki, it's wonderful to be getting some answers.

Vicki, I know it's heart breaking to see our kids go through this. I'm more comfortable with my son's (also 9) tics now than in the beginning. I believe my son's tics are triggered by environmental factors, so we aim for a toxic free environment as possible. This also includes food as well as chemical exposure. You may like to go over to the PANDA thread's and have a read there as well, because I feel it may have some relevance for you with the sudden onset. You need to explore all possible triggers and learn about all possible causes for tics. There is so much information in the threads on this forum and you will find that a lot of us have experienced improvements through using natural methods. Definitely read Sheila Rogers book before you medicate, because it will certainly give you hope on what can be done if your willing to spend the time looking. I've put my journey into my profile if you want to see what I do. My son still has tics, but they are very minimal now and have no impact on his life. I also try and focus on the positive's of what TS has brought to our lives. We certainly live a healthier and cleaner lifestyle. My son struggles academically, but excels in sports, then I read articles like this one http://abcnews.go.com/Health/tourette-syndrome-make-superior-athlete/story?id=24977715 and I think there is always an upside. Your in the right place to start your journey. There is a lot to learn and a lot to explore, but it is so worth it in the end. Improvement really is possible. Good luck

Welcome the forum. It is so hard in the beginning, so we know how you are feeling right now. This forum and it's members are so knowledgeable and most of us have experienced success in reducing the severity of our children's tics through natural alternatives. I cannot recommend Sheila's book enough, not only will it give you the tools to search out possible triggers, but the best part for me was also reading people's stories at the beginning. It gave me so much hope, where through searching the internet, it just drove me into more fear. I've written my experience under my profile, so feel free to have a read of the journey I have taken with my son. For us his tic's came on at the age of 7 and the first few months were the worse and most severe. Now although he still gets tics, they are not constant and most people don't even notice them. For my situation, I strongly believe my son's TS is caused through a reaction to chemicals in the environment and in his food. We can definitely trace an increase in tics to something he has been exposed to or eaten. Feel free to ask any questions you like, we are all here to help each other. Take care

When choosing air purifiers, you do need to take into consideration the size of the room. I definitely went overboard as far as mine went, but I'll put a link to it anyway, mainly so you can see the benefits I was looking for in a machine, which was primarily VOC removal. http://aircleanersaus.com.au/main/page_iqair_gc_multigas.html This brand of machine IQ Air is likely to be available in your country. You may also want to add in a humidifier if the air is too dry, also lovely to add some essential oils. I am in the market for a small air purifier myself for our caravan, so will let you know if I find any good ones.

It's funny reading your story, because something can be so similar. My TS son started with the hard blinking tic way before the more sever tics arrived, just as you described. He was also the reflux baby that almost drove me to breaking point because he would not sleep. The advice above is awesome and we know about the brain/gut connection. I'm sure based on what you've written, you are going to see some great results. Also think about chiropractic care. I definitely think it makes a difference to my son. So to give you some encouragement, I also followed the advice in Sheila's book and I'm happy to say my son's tics have reduced in severity and were at their worse when they seemed to first explode for him and when we started looking for answers. I strongly believe the changes we have put in place with his exposure to chemicals in his environment as well as food, has made a significant improvement for him. Best of luck and keep us updated. Lyn

We so understand how you are feeling, sounds like you might even be handling it better than me, I was an irrational mess in the early days. But with time it does get better as you come to learn more about tics and TS. All the information above is excellent and will start you off learning about possible triggers. I would also add that heavy metal analysis through a hair sample may also be beneficial. For my son, I've narrowed his triggers down to be reactive to chemicals, so I control as much as I can which has been fairly easy. Chemicals in food as mentioned about it also targeted as part of our lifestyle now. My son also tested toxic for Aluminium in his system, which lodges in the central nervous system and brain. Since I have attempted to remove sources of aluminium in our life, added supplements and gone chemical free in the home, his tics are now extremely minimal. Still there but most people won't notice them. I strongly believe my son's TS is more about environmental reactions than a genetic predisposition. I'm so thankful now for the tics because I would still be living in ignorance about how much of a toxic chemical driven environment we live in. We live so much healthier now and it has benefitted our whole family. So glad you've found the forum and I hope you achieve success with your son. Keep us all up to date.

7 seems to be that magic age for many kids, mine included. At first when my son's tics were mild, just hard eye blinking and like most parents were told not to be concerned, then one school holiday it exploded with both vocal and motor tics. It was such a shock and I think I was a blubbering mess for a couple of week. I became obsessed in researching and understanding what Tics and TS were all about, unfortunately you will come across such severe cases that it will scare the pants off you. My anxiety finally came under control when I found this forum. Thankfully my son tics were worse in the initial stages and since becoming involved in this forum, reading Sheila's book and learning from others, my son's tics are now very minimal. The thing that is interesting is that other kids can be so understanding, his friends just accept it without question and if anyone asks, he is very good at just saying it is something his body does and he cannot control it. But right now for the last 6 months, my son's tics are so minimal that most people don't know he has TS, they become a little more evident at the end of the day when he is tired. What triggers tics for each child will be so individual, some it's food, for us it seems more chemical based. I've recorded our journey in my profile, so I won't go over it again here. But have hope it can get better and it has for so many of us. Your on the right track, I know it's scary in the beginning, but just take it day by day and learn as much as you can, you will be the only one who can make a difference for your child and improvement is possible. Keep us informed of your progress.

Welcome to the forum, it's an amazing place with so much information, finding it was the best thing to ever happen to me and has sent me on a real journey into health. My son's tic were at their worse when we moved into a brand new home. You are doing the right thing with the air filter and opening the house up. Lots of interesting information out there on Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC)which are in everything in our houses from paint, cupboards, carpets, you name it. They do take a long time to clear unfortunately, just keep doing what you are and help your son detox the chemical build up in his body. The advice above is great, so grab onto it and start exploring. On a positive note, 12 months on and my son's tics have only reduced in severity. He still gets them, currently it's a teeth chomp, blowing on the back of his hands and various facial tics much like you have described and some vocal tics, but they are now only occasionally, normally towards the end of the day and no one even notices them. There are many different triggers for tics and every child is different. For us however, it is chemical sensitivity as the primary trigger. So I've gone chemical free in the home, buy organic veggies and meat where possible because our food is full of chemicals and air filtration. My son also had toxic levels of aluminium in his system, so his body struggles to clean itself of the toxicity of modern life. Best of luck with your journey, stay positive and learn as much as you can.

All of my son's supplements come in power form, Naturopaths normally carry powder lines. Most of his seem to have a citrus flavour, so I mix them with some pineapple juice. I use the Neways probiotic, it has 30 billion strains and it totally dissolves in water with no taste or grit. There will always be products in your country that will be easier to take.

The breathing tic is not an unusual one, we have also gone through it. It's only lasted a couple of weeks each time. There is no logic to the tics, some last longer than others, thankfully it was short for us as it did affect my sons speech.

If you follow the rule "what does her body have that she does not need and what does she need that she does not have". From your post you have done a lot of dietary and environmental changed, so you may need to look if she has any deficiencies. If you have not already done so, getting nutritional and mineral analysis done may be beneficial. It's a blood test and hair analysis. From our perspective once my son's body got better nutritional balance based on his tests, his tics have been extremely minor and not really noticeable to anyone else around him.

Welcome to the forum, it will be the best place to find lots of answers and things to investigate. My son's tics became very noticeable at aged 7, but on reflection he had they hard eye blink tic earlier. He developed vocal and motor tics. They were at their worse last year when I went searching for answers and landed here, which I am so thankful for. Following the advice here and reading Sheila's book "Natural Treatment for Tics and Tourette's" has been extremely helpful. We completed hair analysis and my son was toxic in Aluminium, which does lodge in the central nervous system and brain. He is slowly being detoxed from this and we of course avoid anything Aluminium as much as possible. Heavy Metals are very common amongst kids with tics, so I definitely recommend this as a starting point. Other issue to look at are gut issues, we use two different probiotics and have made some minor dietary changes based on his reactions to some foods which were identified as triggers that worsened his tics. Others have had to make more dramatic dietary changes, but each of our children are very different. If possible work with in Integrated Medical Practice and or a Naturopath to get your child's nutrients and minerals right. We have also gone chemical free in the home and have bought air purifiers. From where we started to where we are now, has been an amazing turnaround. Things have continually improved, his tics are still there, but are so minor, most people don't know he has them. He has flares occasionally which we can usually sort lived. Could not be happier. Good luck

Sounds a lot like my son, I'm the worst Mum in the world if he doesn't get his own way, he cries at the drop of a hat and has just started slamming doors. All very normal in my world. I've read Steve Biddulph book Raising Boys. He has a webside www.raisingboys.com.au there are some interesting articles you may want to go through. It's an Australian site, but no doubt useful to boys around the globe.