ilovedogs

I've also seen the Applegate Farms nitrate free hot dogs at Costco!

thank you all for replying! I'm so happy that so many were willing to share! Bonnie

I've not had any problems with the flax seed oil( I just keep forgetting to give it to him ). I just started giving a cal/mag supplement yesterday so I'll let you know if I see an increase in tics with that. I bought the Calm with calcium so I'm not just doing the magnesium calm now. I'm still wondering how much magnesium to give him?

For those of you using this product....do you give 3 a day? I looked at the bottle and I was concerned about the dosage. My ds is 9 and I guess I would just start out with 1 and see how it goes? PS: What is the average amount of magnesium you're giving your kids who are about 60-70 lbs? I'm currently only giving about 200 mg a day. I wonder if I need to up that amount? B

Hey Carolyn and others, I found this product on iherb while looking for digestive enzymes for Grif. This product has 105 mg of potassium bicarbonate. I have been thinking of getting it for him as an enzyme supplement. Wonder if the bicarbonate would be a bonus or do I have to give the NAC with it for a tic reducing effect? http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c...d=6278&at=0 Anyone use this product ever? Bonnie

So, Cheri, are you saying that his depression happened after you treated for parasites, etc or did you just have the tests run and then 2 years later he had the depression and tics? And, then treated with the Antitox drops? I will be putting ds through NEAT next month and was hoping we'd find some things like this so that I could do further testing, etc. Interesting about the green pumpkin seeds, I didn't know that! Bonnie

Thank you, Betty. I think many of us are dealing with parasites even as adults. There are products on the market for parasite cleansing but I've heard they can really affect your energy levels and digestive issues, too. This may be something I look into down the road. Bonnie

Ok, so I put ds on some Neuroscience products starting last month(www.neurorelief.com) and we saw dramatic decrease in his anxiety/OCD on a supplement called Kavinace which has 10 mg of Vitamin B6 and has an amino acid complex which includes Taurine and 4-phenylbutyric-3-acid. It's amazing how much he can control his anxiety now! We did try another supplement that the naturo put him on which is called Travacor JR and has 5-HTP in it along with more Vitamin B6. His anxiety increased so badly that I had a hunch it was the supplement doing this to him. I took him off it after Monday night and his anxiety started going down by Wed AM. Again, I'm so glad I figured this out b/c the child was truly suffering. Not sure why Neuroscience recommended a product that would cause such side effects but I guess everyone's different. The naturo also wants ds on enzymes and probiotics. So, I started giving the enzymes this week. Now, I'm seeing a brand new tic(kind of like a grimace that involves the jaw) and I'm wondering what works best for these. I wanted to try Bonnie's vitamins but she thinks I might be giving too much B6 if I do the TS-Plus control. So, where do I go from here? Ds is complaining about his jaw hurting from this new tic. I don't know if it's from toxins being released from taking the enzymes or if it's environmental, etc. So, here I sit trying to figure it all out and I want to get him on a multi of some sort without overloading him with B6(or anything else for that matter). Any suggestions? The naturo wants him to take some antioxidants in the form of greens/veggies but again I'm concerned about overload. Also, I give ds the KidsCalm at night so he's getting about 170 mg of calcium citrate daily. I would like to find a better source of magnesium and balance it out properly with calcium. I went to the health food store and they gave me coral calcium for him which has 100 mg of magnesium in the form of magnesium oxide and also has 200 mg of calcium. But, it also has copper in it!!! Arrgghhh, I thought copper was bad for some folks with tics??? Someone please help me clear this up b/c I don't do want to do more harm than good! Thanks! Bonnie

Kallik, Every summer my ds would have allergies really bad starting in late May and going until our monsoon season in late July. This year he has had not had any allergy issues that are really noticeable. Just a bit stuffy right after he wakes up. I put a HEPA air filter in his room and I've really seen improvement in his allergies even though I believe they are environmental outdoor allergies that bug him at this time of year. I thought with all the spring rain that this would be a bad season for us but it's been the best so far. Last year I was giving him Zyrtec which is now OTC and Triaminic cough which is really just a decongestant which worked the best. I only gave it to him at night so he could sleep and we just dealt with the allergies during the day. I could never figure out if it was the pool that made him stuffy or just being outside with all the trees and flowers blooming that got him going? Anyway, the HEPA purifier I bought is from RabbitAir and I find it's very good compared to other cheaper air purifiers I've bought in the past. Bonnie

Just wanted to add that some people(my ds included) tic more when on fish oil supplements. Flaxseed oil doesn't seem to bother him that much! Also, I know that some people make a cream out of the epsom salts and mix them(I'm sure a search on this site will provide you with more info). I have a hard time getting my ds to stay in the tub for 20 mins so I thought about making the cream. I do the baths about every other day or as needed. Almost always after he's been swimming that day b/c I think chlorine triggers tics for him. Bonnie

I had to laugh about the nose picking thing! My dad still does this, and in public no less! It fascinates me that a grown man doesn't know what's appropriate behavior! You know, you said your child tics where he feels it. Ds said that he has a loose tooth and I wonder if he's doing this jaw pulling tic b/c of the tooth?

You can do a search on the web for a home test kit for mold(not sure what kind of success you'll have but it's worth a shot!). I've been wondering the same thing about my house. Although, my ds tics while we're on vacation I do think I should test for mold b/c I have developed some chemical sensitivities in the past few years since moving to this house. Let us know if you find anything! Bonnie

He was complaining about some heart 'feelings' recently. He really couldn't explain them to me. I just figured it was b/c he was anxious as that's usually when I see physical anxiety symptoms. Nausea, lump in throat feeling, and some chest heaviness have all been things he's complained about when he's really stressed. I think I need to get him to the DR for a workup just to see if there's something else there. But, he's always been anxious, on and off since he was 4 or so. This year is the first year he's ever had real physical symptoms besides the nausea.

I was just curious to see what kind of tics we all see. I know some of us here are still new so I thought this would be a good resource for parents who are new to this whole tic thing. And, if you'd like to share the duration of the tics, etc. I also included(just for fun) my own weird habits! I'll start: We've seen eye blinking, eye winking, hair tossing, and now he's got a jaw stretching(it's a real quick movement that tightens the jaw and snaps it back quickly) which is the strangest one so far! Ds has had the eye blinking/winking since the very beginning. He also likes to sniff his fingers and loves to smell everything. I'm assuming this might be a tic or more of a compulsive habit. He clears his throat a lot when allergies kick in but I never hear it outside the allergy season so I attribute this as more of a habit than a tic. The funny thing is: I've started to notice things about myself that I do, even though they aren't tics that are weird habits. Ever since I started nit-picking every little thing my kid did and every move he made. I clench my teeth really hard when I need to do something vigorous like scratching the dog really hard where she likes it or like when I am shoveling rock. It's like I don't realize that I'm doing it but I noticed I make a really weird face(thank goodness I don't do this one in public much). I pick at my body(fingernails, scabs, etc), twirl my hair, chew on pen caps and pencils.....I'm sure there are others. And, I'm always bouncing my leg or tapping my foot especially in church. I'm usually still while watching a movie or tv, though. Oh, I also smell my fingers after I've touched something, as well. I figure ds might have learned that one from me.....funny how I never noticed that I do it until ds came along! Bonnie

Hey Chemar, what amount of GABA works for you guys? Actually, this applies to everyone: I'm hoping to convince my naturo to let us take GABA along with the Neuroscience products he's on. Chamomile tea is a great idea. I also have a tea that has valerian and chamomile made by natural medicines(or something like that). They make all kinds of teas to help with specific medical issues like stress, colds and flus, tummy trouble, etc. Bonnie

Thanks guys! I appreciate the supportive words. Ds has been reading through a book on anxiety for children and it brings him to tears. I think it's b/c he realizes that he's not the only one and he's not alone and I think it brings up some things that he was once anxious about years ago. He seems better today and I've got him on a new spray that has L-theanine in it so I'm hoping this keeps his levels up during the day. I'm tempted to find a new naturo who really knows his neurotransmitters. Carolyn N has been taking her son to a guy that's right down the road from me and she said he's great. He's just really expensive! So, we'll see how things go for the rest of the summer. If things don't improve by August I might switch. Bonnie

Can I get some support here? My dh is getting very frustrated with ds's anxiety. The tics don't bother him nearly as much. He thinks we should put him in school b/c ds can't handle criticism, he can't handle much stress, cries at the drop of a hat when you raise your voice at all to him, etc. He's just really sensitive and my dh thinks he's just not going to be able to handle the world as an adult if we don't start putting pressure on him now. I keep reminding him that ds is 9, not 19. But that doesn't seem to sink in. He was raised in a very strict home and went to Catholic school and thinks discipline is the way to go. He even thinks we should discipline ds for his anxiety. My ds's anxiety is mostly religious based stuff and it's pretty intense. Today he had a repetitive worry that he himself created the world and he kept crying b/c he knows that's not true. It's quite heartbreaking for me but my dh thinks it's nonsense and that if we have consequences for the behavior then he'll learn how to snap out of it quicker than if I placate him and try to talk him through it. Today I ended up sending him to his room to 'cry it out' and I heard him playing basketball in his room the whole time. He came down 10 mins. later and says, "I'm ok now" and he's seemed fine since. Hmmm, then I wonder if dh has some validity to what he's saying. I know many of you have dealt with anxiety and OCD as they seem to go hand in hand with tics and Tourettes. We have him in counseling and he's seeing a naturopath who's working on getting him on the correct supplements to help with the anxiety( taurine, B6, theanine, 5-HTP, etc). What I'm looking for here are suggestions in dealing with the anxiety and some supportive words for the future. Folks who have BTDT and made it through(or are making it through). I'm just tired of my dh losing hope for our son's future. He thinks ds will be living with us when he's 35! Anyway, thanks for listening! Bonnie

Hi, How old is your son? I have trouble keeping track of everyone's kids and their ages! We have been told that ds(9) needs braces but I've been putting it off. He'll probably need some baby teeth pulled, as well. Right now we're again in the throes of OCD/anxiety so I keep putting of the braces until he seems more emotionally stable(if that ever happens!). Thanks for keeping us posted! Bonnie

We're thinking of listing our house for sale but I know that moving can be a stressful event for all of us and I'm sure worse for those with anxiety and tics. I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with moving and your child making it through(or not!), etc. Right now we're seeing minor anxiety that he seems to get under control pretty quickly and tics, as usual. I'm just afraid that moving may set in motion a whole new ball of wax, so to speak! I want to avoid this issue but at the same time I think we really need to move(it's a long story!). Just to update: we are on some neurotransmitter support products comprised mostly of taurine, Vitamin B6, 5-HTP, L-theanine, and the Kid's calm. I will be adding the omegas this week and also giving a calcium supplement. After weeks of taking these products I still don't see a change in the tics in ds. I see his anxiety getting better, though, so that's a HUGE bonus for us. We also have him in therapy for CBT, but he's been doing so well that the therapist is kinda wondering why we keep coming back. I keep him in it b/c I want him to be accountable, to write out his worries, etc. It's funny: this AM he had a bit of a worry and was crying as soon as he came down the stairs. I told him to write the worry down in his "thought journal" and then we could discuss it. Well, I left the room and came back 10 mins later and he had NOT written a darn thing! I said, "Well, I guess your worry wasn't big enough to write down so it must not be bothering you anymore". And, he agreed and went on his day, nary a word about it. Hmmm, I wish all his worries would go away this quickly. Kids sure do make life interesting! Bonnie

Just wanted to give you a virtual (((hug)))! YOu may or may not be dealing with Pandas. I know they can check for Strep Titers via a blood draw but others should come on here with more information for you on that. I am in Phoenix and have found a great naturopath from networking on this sight. So, hopefully others will come on. Many of us know what you're going through. My ds started with tics out of the blue back in November and I haven't seen it stop except for a day here or a day there. I don't think he's a PANDAs case, either. I do suggest finding a good enviro. doctor or naturpath or DAN doctor b/c most folks on here have found great success with those routes. Hang in there! Congrats on your first posting, too! Bonnie

https://www.neurorelief.com/index.php?optio...9&Itemid=74 and specifically https://www.neurorelief.com/index.php?optio...2&Itemid=46 Thanks Hope that helped! We've been on the supplements they recommeded for 2 days now and I'm not seeing any changes...but, I have a HUGE victory: ds learned to swallow pills. So, that means no crushing, no mixing, no grinding, etc. I know that seems small but it's a big deal to me!

Well, we got the neuroscience test results today and it turns out ds has low serotonin, GABA, epinephrine, and glycine. He's high in dopamine and glutamate. The doc. tried to explain the difference between the excitatory and inhibitory neuro systems to me as she went over what supplements we're going to try. She also ran another in-office urine test that showed ds had way too much calcium in his urine. She said that either he's not getting enough and the body is taking it from his bones or he's getting too much(which I'm pretty sure that's not the case). She also said that it appears he has some digestive issues b/c there was a certain protein in his urine that was way off the charts(I forget what it's called now) and she wants him to start on digestive enzymes. She also encouraged me to get him on more whole foods and to get him to drink more water. They gave my the similase JR as an enzyme and she even wants him to take one if he eats a protein snack! The supplements we're putting him on are from www.neurorelief.com and include a taurine mix, 5-HTP, and L-theanine. Also, there's B6 in both the supplements that I'm giving him. So, we'll see how this all helps for now. I had already been giving him the Kavinace supplement and I've seen great improvements in his tics and anxiety levels. Eventually she wants to put him on another supplement for adrenal support, but for now we're starting small...haha! Anyway, I'll keep you all posted! Bonnie

I thought the same thing! I like seeing Woo HOO! I hope you get the answers you need, Jenny! Blessings, Bonnie

Well, the reason I suspect it is that I had him on a strict diet for 3 days while he had a cold/stomach thing so his food consisted of noodle soup, electrolyte replenisher, turkey sandwiches, toast, etc. I had allowed him to have gluten ie the toast and cheese so casein those last 2 days. Then on Wednesday he was starving and he ate blueberries, tomatoes and tomato sauce on a pizza, and he had a Dole tangerine bar at night. His tics have come back(very minor, but back nonetheless) and I wonder.....he had been completely tic free for 2 days. Of course, it could all be a coincidenc, too!!! I just never know!

Ok, so I realized that he also had blueberries yesterday AM and also a fruit bar that was tangerine at night. Wonder if the amount of salicylates has something to do with the tics? I really need to be better with the food journal!