ilovedogs

I've been meaning to ask a more detailed question about sleep patterns. My ds has never been a LONG sleeper. He always seemed to require much less sleep than his friends, even when he was a toddler. I've never had behavioral issues with him nor has he ever acted sleepy through the day so I figured he inherited my father's ability to get by on less sleep than other people. Last night we got home late from spending time with friends and he went to bed at 10:30, he still got up at 7 AM. Of course, I was the last one to go to bed last night at well after 11 and I was already awake (just resting in bed) before ds even got up! So, on average he gets anywhere between 8 1/2 to 10 hours of sleep. He sleeps through the night and doesn't complain about sleep problems so I guess it's ok. I just worry about his development and I know the 'experts' recommend that kids get 11 hours. How much sleep do your kids get and do you see any sleep problems like night time waking, trouble falling asleep, etc? Thanks, Bonnie

Hey Brink, when you mention sleeping problems, what specifically is going on? My ds sleeps through the night but I don't think he gets enough sleep, probably around 9 hours and I think kids need more than that. I've considered the melatonin but I don't know if it allows them to sleep longer or just a more natural deep sleep(which I don't think is our issue here). Thanks, Bonnie

Wow, you are just like me!!!!! I write with my right hand, cut scissors right-handed, but I play tennis and bat left-handed. I also kick with my left foot, like in kickball. I play golf with my right hand, though, and I can eat with either hand! My ds has only shown right-handedness. Not sure if he has TS or Pandas, though. I do think he has dysgraphia and mild dyslexia just like his father. B

My ds decided last year that he didn't want to 'do' Halloween anymore. He thought it was stupid just walking around getting candy. Yes, he said this, and it wasn't prompted by either of his parents. I like meeting the neighbors and walking around, etc. So, we decided that we're going to drive up north that day and see the trees changing color and that we aren't even going to give out candy. Ds never ate much of his candy anyway; dh and I did most of the eating. So, I'm relieved that we're taking a break this year! I like your idea of the Simply Lemonade small serving sizes. I know that Subway has milk and juice boxes available but many restaurants haven't caught on yet.

Hmmm, GMO? Is that genetically modified? I really need to get ds drinking something else when we go to Subway or the pizza place but I don't want him to have iced tea b/c of the caffeine and I don't want him to have the lemonades b/c they usually have an artificial sweetener like aspartame. The juices all have dyes. What do you all give if you have to stop at a fast food place or if you go out to eat? My ds isn't a water drinker unless he's taking vitamins or exercising. Although, I'm trying to get him to increase his water intake slowly!

Oh Mary, my dh would do the same thing! Of course, we've been really lax in our diet stuff lately. I have been letting ds have HFCS in Sprite. The only thing I've been diligent about is the food colorings, dyes, and MSG. My ds has a VERY sensitive stomach and I wonder if I should get him off the HFCS and see if there's improvement. I'm sure your dh will now heed your words about the diet stuff, though!

Thank you, Lyn, for your candid responses here! How old were your boys when you started trying the meds? My ds seems so young and I just keep thinking that if I give him more time to mature, he'll be better able to handle things. Mostly his anxiety is separation anxiety stuff(worrying about something happening to me while I'm away from him and he worries that I won't pick him up from children's church). He also has health anxiety, big time! He has even worried about the checkbook in the past! But, mostly it's just the questions that I get are always topped with anxiousness and nervousness. He always has to know everything: what time are we doing something, then what are we doing, etc? He hates being late(he gets that from me!), and is scared to death of the dentist and doctors! Life is definitely challenging with this boy and I pray daily that we will make it through. That's why I am enjoying this thread. So many of us here are in the throes of not knowing what to do or how to handle it that we become burdened by our own anxiety. Thanks again. Bonnie

Wow, that's good to hear! I agree with Cheri, probably a combination of all of those things. You know you can try to support his liver with some supplements like Milk Thistle and NAC, too. I like hearing good news!

Lynsey, I have my ds in therapy for the anxiety but I don't see it helping very much. It just seems like he can't think logically about his fears yet. Now, I see that you tried it with your son at 15 and he still struggled with it! I'll try out the books you recommend. It just seems that the older my ds gets, the more emotional he gets with his anxiety and the more it affects his GI system. He throws up before football games now and he has a VERY sensitive stomach to begin with. He threw up last night b/c he ate too many Fritos(which my dh shouldn't have bought anyway) and I gave him a supplement chocolate drink that was the icing on the cake. Yet, many times he throws up and then says, "Ok, I'm good now!" He's also had more of a generalized anxiety where he just would throw up and wouldn't be able to tell me what was causing his upset stomach. Just a general feeling of unease and anxiousness would overcome him. We are also taking him to a naturopath who has put him on glycine and glutamine to help calm his system but, quite frankly, I don't see the benefits. Maybe it just takes time? Can I ask why you didn't try meds for the anxiety? I know a lot of people who give their kids prozac and celexa for anxiety or OCD. I also have a friend whose son has TS and she started him on Prozac and it has minimized his tics. I know that some kids can't tolerate meds and I certainly don't want to go that route unless I feel it's absolutely necessary. I was just curious since you chose meds for the tics. Sorry to keep this thread alive! Bonnie

Yes, Mary, my son seems to tic a lot when he is waning. But, he's never had a tic free day in a year. So, in other words, he tics daily but it's ALL THE TIME when he's waxing. When he's waning he tics but they are very small and minor tics yet I still see them at least every few minutes. He's been waning lately b/c we had a stomach virus last week and it really triggered his neck muscle ticcing. I'm hoping that clears up soon b/c he complains about that one the most! I'm not sure if I answered your question but I figured I'd let you know our experience anyway! Bonnie

I agree, Lynsey, about the husband thing! My dh will get upset over every little thing that goes wrong. He is very prone to being negative,etc. except when it comes to our son. Whenever I express concern and say that I'm worried, he comes back with, "Well, I'm not...he'll be fine!" He doesn't even notice the tics the way I do. I see every single one and I watch the frequency, etc. If I say that I saw a new one starting up, my dh is like,"Really, I hadn't noticed!" Too funny. But, like I said before: the tics don't bother ME as much as the anxiety issues. Those are the things that bug me the most. Many times I wonder if it's my fault, etc, since we homeschool and he's an only child. But, I remind myself that he has lots of friends, he goes to classes at a Co-op with other kids his age, he plays many sports with kids his age, and he is VERY friendly and will talk to anyone who wants to talk to him. And, if you have a football in your hand, you'll be his very best friend. Yesterday he was playing football with our neighbors and their family and no one was younger than 13, except my son! He had a blast! Age doesn't matter to him when it comes to sports. My dh and I are supposed to be going on vacation from the 21st-26th of Oct. and my mom is coming out to stay with my ds. I am always concerned about leaving ds b/c of his anxiety issues. Every year (we go away every year together) I go through this and I make myself sick with worrying that he won't do well without me and that he'll have meltdowns with my mom. Every year he does fine! And, of course, this year is no different. I'm dreading the trip already. My mom is also a great strength in my life b/c she is not a worrier at all. She is a great grandmother and her laid back attitude really helps my son relax and I think he knows that grandma is fun,etc. She's one of those grandmothers who likes to rollerblade, bike ride, hike, go for walks, etc. So, she doesn't just sit at home with him, she gets involved and they have fun. Anyway, I'm sure he'll be fine and he'll survive no matter what anyway(even if he cries for 5 days straight!). Oh, wow! I got off topic but I have to say that I am enjoying this thread b/c it makes me realize that I'm not the only mom who thinks the way I do!!! Bonnie

Lynsey, would you mind sharing what kind of tics your boys had? And how did the clonidine help those tics? I have a friend whose son is on Prozac and she says it helps his tics and another friend whose son is on clonidine. She said he still tics but just less frequency to it. Did you ever try Bonnie's vitamins or that regimen or did you ever give them magnesium or B6? My ds seems to have a lot of mouth and jaw tics and his orthodontist keeps pushing for braces but I keep holding off b/c of these tics. I can't imagine trying to put braces on a kid who keeps snapping his jaw back or stretching the jaw. I would think the jaw movement he does would negate any benefit from the braces anyway....but that's a whole 'nuther story! HEHE! Anyway, I went off track but again wanted to thank you for posting here for us! Bonnie

Thank you Lynsey for coming on here and posting your experience. Yes, I have stomach problems from some of the worry over my son. The biggest thing that bugs me is his anxiety and OCD stuff. The tics I try my best to take them as they come. Glad to hear that your children have grown up and made you proud! It's always great to read success stories, no matter the challenge itself, KWIM? Thanks, b

HAHA! I had to laugh b/c my ds had a headache yesterday and he said the exact thing you said: If I have a headache, does that mean I have a brain tumor??? On a more serious note: Cheri, did your son outgrow some of this stuff or is he still like this? Can he rationalize some of his fears better or have they just morphed as he's gotten older? I remember when my son was 4 and he was the most easy going, laid back kid where nothing bothered him. I remembered thinking how easy he was to parent and how nice it was to have a kid who took getting sick in stride. Things started changing when he was around 6 and was able to start using his cognitive skills more and he became more aware of the world around him. Now that he can read, I wonder how much trouble we'll be in as he gets older in regards to his 'insightfulness'.

Yeah, I can tell he's not doing well when he always walks into the room about to cry. I truly just don't feel sorry for him, though. He's always throwing up b/c of his anxiety and I am just getting tired of it! We have the intrusive thoughts under control for now but the rest of his anxiety issues are still there. Some days I fantasize about the day when he'll be big enough to let me live my life alone without him tagging along everywhere, etc. Or when I can go to the store without having him have a meltdown! Now, throw upset stomach on top of all of it!!! EEK! Bonnie

Ok, so I'm a little off topic here but I have to vent. My ds isn't feeling well today and I'm guessing the upset stomach I've had the past few days must be an actual virus now. So, he gets so dramatic b/c of his health anxiety and OCD type stuff. He starts to cry and thinks he's going to die. He was trying to eat some toast and was doing some deep breathing exercises the whole time and I had just about had it with the drama. I finally told him to go to another room and watch tv and get some rest b/c I couldn't take it anymore. So, instead of being patient, loving mom I become angry impatient evil mom b/c I can't handle the drama. I understand him asking me to check his forehead but asking me to do it every 5 minutes and then giving me a play by play of his symptoms gets really old to me, really fast! Now, to be fair, my dh can be a lot like this, but just without the anxiety part!!! Maybe it's a guy thing! I've been feeling crappy the past 2 days and I make a little comment about my stomach still feeling cruddy, etc. but I don't sit around gasping for air and moping about! Thanks for letting me vent! Bonnie

Hi there. I wanted to jump in and tell you that my son had horrific effects from 5-HTP. I noticed you said you didn't see any change which might be a good thing. The 5-HTP made my son go totally OCD on me: horrible intrusive thoughts that had him in tears daily. Once I took him off of it, I saw a change within a day. My son isn't PANDA's to my knowledge. He started tics back in NOv 07 out of the blue but he had always been an anxious child and needed constant reassurance since he was 3 or 4. I see the tics as a byproduct of his anxiety disorders. Well, I'm not ruling out TS or PANDA's either.......isn't this a wonderful roller coaster we are all on??? Bonnie

Phosphaditylserene comes to mind if you're thinking it's along the lines of gingko. We give it to ds and you'll find it in stores as PS 100 and it promotes brain function. Not sure about it's anti-inflammatory properties.

Well, my ds has a combination blinking/winking tic. His is a wink on the right side that actually comes from the muscle in his cheek and then he'll sometimes add in the blink afterwards. The winking tic is the one I see almost everyday with him. The others get added in from time to time and wax/wane. If he gets stressed or excited I see the winking more exaggerated and it seems more frequent.

Caryn, How much tryptophan are you giving? I know your son is in K so I'm assuming it's not a high dosage? I'm trying to come up with a list of supplements to ask my naturopath about. Thanks, Bonnie

Thanks for sharing! This time of year I love to make homemade applesauce, too! Yes, it makes the house smell wonderful. Gotta run....I have to rescue a frog that just jumped into the pool!! Bonnie

Caryn, How's it going with the GABA instead of the tryptophan? I'm looking for supplements to help with tics as I don't think magnesium helps us much. I think B6 works a little, though.

So, I have 3 more years to go???? Sigh, well we'll see! I know my dh says the same thing about me. It's hard not to coddle them a bit when you know they're already prone to be anxious. Sometimes I don't know when to push him a bit or when to back off, KWIM? Anyway, my mom is coming out in late October and dh and I are going on vacation together so I'm praying he'll be OK with it! B

Myrose, you are certainly NOT hated here! I know we are all very happy that you found relief for your dd and if it took meds to do that, then so be it. Sometimes meds are the things that are needed. I know I would resort to meds if we were in a worse case scenario, after I exhausted other options. Yet, I would never rule it out. Nor would I deny my child medication for diabetes or cancer or for severe pain if we were challenged in those ways. Thanks for sharing with us! Blessings, Bonnie

Hi Chemar, I think my ds is closer to a TS diagnosis than Panda's and I was not really thinking of going the steroid burst with him anyway. We have started with a new naturopath so we'll see what he has to say when we see him in a few weeks. CSP: thanks for the support! I know I need to be patient but I also know that OCD is lurking somewhere in my ds's mind and I wait and wonder how bad things are going to get. I guess I need to start thinking: how good can things get? I'm just frustrated lately b/c I feel like my almost 10 year old should be a bit more independent and I wonder if we'll ever be able to live a normal life without tics and anxiety? It can be disheartening sometimes.