san70

I hear you! I feel the same way. My ds is 8 1/2 and has had tics since he was about 2 or 3 now that I look back. We have no history of tourette's. It seems as though nothing works. He, too, has an increase with anxiety and excitement. I am not really sure what else is a trigger. Summer was great, very few triggers. Our diet is clean. Now, since school has been in session, we are ticcing majorly. His big one is neck jerks and he is complaining that it hurts. The magnesium seems to do absolutely nothing for him. As I look into other supplements, I worry because of what will happen if he takes too much. I know supplements are natural but I am worried just as I worry with medications. I feel so helpless and I get very upset for him. It is hard to be hopeful. Sorry to be such a downer...having a bad day, I guess. San

Welcome. As I am sure that many people will echo, you may want to visit the PANDAS board. If you son has had strep this may be PANDAS. Was the strep test a rapid test? Many have had the 72 hour (I think) test. San

Trader Joe's has some natural gummy candies in Halloween shapes right now.

I know that I can order Kids calm online, but is it sold in stores? Does Whole Foods carry it? If not, where online have you found the best deal? Thanks!! San

France, Welcome. I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. You have found the right place to come for support and advice. I agree with Faith. I think that you should definitely get your baby examined but I don't think that your doctor would say that anything is unusual. If you notice that your baby is blinking when he is tired, that seems normal. However, I would keep a journal of anything you find unusual so that you can talk to your pediatrician about these behaviors, when they occur, the frequency, and so forth. Keep an eye on any usual reactions after vaccines. Just do your research, is my advice. Everyone here is all for a healthy diet, free of artificial colors and flavors. With your baby, just be careful with the vitamins and foods you choose. You would be amazed at what manufacturers put in baby and toddler food. My youngest is just about 2 so when he started eating, I couldn't believe the sheer volume of ingredients in their food. San

So, my ds's tooth finally came out this am with the help of my dh. Of course, I would have loved to have seen an immediate change in his vocals, I did not. However, today was unusual. Too many variables to take into account. Also, he has several other loose teeth, though none like this one. I will see what the next several days bring and hope for a decrease. His neck tics were pretty intense today. We went to an amusement park today and my ds does have anxiety about getting lost among other things and there are so many stimuli at amusement parks so I am hoping that over the next few days, I see a decrease. I am trying to stay positive...

love nfp, Thanks for the advice. My ds is only 8 1/2 so I guess the best is yet to come in terms of attitude! I can see what you are saying in terms of disconnecting because when I have tried to walk away, he says no, don't leave, I want to talk to you but then continues with his nastiness. He is trying to pull me in. I do feel like I am constantly on alert so as to not set him off. I just hate the example that he sets for my other 2 kids. The 5 year old often mimics things that he says. However,he also copies some of the wonderful things my oldest does, too. What is the Total Transformation CD that you mentioned? San

Well, while I believe that part of the waxing is due to school, I think there is a definite connection to his incoming teeth. This evening, while brushing his teeth, he decided to try to take one of his loose teeth out. Well, he made it bleed and it hurt him a bit. While I explained that this was a good thing since he made his tooth even looser, it is still hanging on in his mouth and boy did his mouth tic really present itself! It is practically nonstop! So, this loose tooth thing is definitely a trigger for him and so I think we may have a bumpy road ahead of us since he has many loose teeth! I am going look into the B6. Any advice from experienced moms out there for the disrespectful attitude of an 8 year old? He has quite a temper and a mouth. Is this normal?? Thanks to everyone. I don't know what I would do with out the board's help and support. San

My ds is having major teeth issues going on. His mouth looks like that of a shark's. He has about 5 loose teeth and 2 or 3 that have the adult teeth already grown in behind the baby teeth. I can't really pinpoint anything environmental within the house but who knows at school. Stress and anxiety are triggers for him. He has not had any sicknesses and I know strep may not present itself with symptoms. We do have waxing at the beginning of the year but this seems really severe. I know he is approaching the age of tics peaking, too. I am wondering if I should start with B6? My ds is very skinny. He is 8 1/2, is about 50 inches and weighs 50 lbs. Any recommendations on dosages? Are all B6 vitamins the same? When I searched on magnesium, I learned a whole lot about all the different types (taurate, citrate, etc.). Is it the same for B6? Any potential side effects?

After a great summer with very few tics, here we are back to school and my ds is in a major waxing period. His tics are many...neck, squeaking noise with his mouth, finger stretching, body stretching. Everything is really pretty intense. He does enjoy school. He's in third grade. He does take Mag taurate and our diet is pretty clean. It takes him over 2 hours at night to fall asleep so I know he is tired. His attitude is ridiculous. He is mouthy, disrespectful, and mean. He is physical with his 5 1/2 year old brother. They love to play together but he is often pushing or grabbing him. I don't know what to do. I am so upset and stressed. Any advice on how to deal with him? Punishments send him into tantrum mode but I can't allow him to act this way without consequence. He is very intense. Please help!

Ameecram, Welcome! Have you examined your son's diet? Have you eliminated artificial flavors and colors? Do you give your son a multivitamin? My son is 8 1/2 and weighs 50 lbs. He has had tics for over 3 years but definitely longer since I can look back at things he had done as a toddler and say that they, too, were tics. He is on a multivitamin and takes calcium. I give him magnesium taurate. San

My 14 year old niece has anxiety and depression. My sister took her to a psychiatrist who suggested, of course, an antidepressant along with therapy. (He explained that the beginning part of meds are difficult until you find the right amount. You can just bump her up a pill, he explains. Of course, the antidepressants all have side effects of inceases in suicidal thoughts...) My sister, thankfully, is not jumping on the medication bandwagon. We do not think that there is a chemical imbalance with my niece. Just a lot of stuff that is coming out now since she is an adolescent, dealing with teenage stuff, starting a new school soon, has always been extremely sensitive and impressionable, among other things. I told her that I would post in this forum since everyone here is so extremely knowledgeable about alternative therapies, treatments, and supplements. We don't know where to turn for help. Does anyone have any suggestions about websites, books, etc. Thanks so much for all of your help! San

Dear mylittleangel, Good luck with everything. How wonderful and committed Dr. Sims is to helping people. Keep us posted!

I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I wonder if I would expose my ds to some triggers like big tvs would his body get used to it? (Not that I want him watching so much tv!) When my ds plays a lot of Wii (at a friend's house), I notice an increase in his tics but they do subside in the next day or so. I think that the body does adjust and your stimulation and the dopamine decrease because it is not "new" and your body knows what to expect. Did your daughter seem bothered by the tics? Does she really love the amusement park? Think about how she felt there. Was she really happy while your family was at the park?

That is great news! Has anyone else had any experiences with chiropractic neurologist?

Mike, How long has your daughter had tics? I think that MSG is a trigger for my son. It is amazing how many foods contain it. Be careful, though, companies have a tricky way of listing food ingredients. Disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate are 2 ingredients that are really MSG just a different name. One time, my family went to a restaurant that had lots of big screen tvs all over the restaurant. My poor son was completely overstimulated and was ticcing like crazy. I have never seen his ticcing so bad as it was during that dinner that seemed to last an eternity. I was so upset about it and could not wait to get him out of that restaurant. Well, his ticcing did really calm down soon after we left. Needless to say, we wil never go back there again. It is tough, though, you can't really shelter your daughter. Luckily, there are many other restaurants for us to choose from for dinner! San

Nicholas, I am so sorry to hear about what your son has been experiencing. We've been dealing with my son's tics for over 2 years now...well, just like everyone else, knowing what I know now, it has been way longer than that. My son has been on magnesium taurate for over 3 months. He had been going through a tough tic phase of bending his back when he would walk. We had spent the day in Washington, visiting many monuments, and he was bending his back a lot. He complained about his back hurting. Now, my ds is a very active boy and this seemed to really affect his daily activities. So, we put him on the mag. I think that it has helped him. The advice from the naturopath sounds good. It's best to not add more than one thing at a time so that you can see the affects. Does your son complain of any symptoms related to allergies? Take care, San

Nicholas, Is your son on anything else besides the ritalin? Does he take any supplements? My 8 year old son will hit his knee or hand or wherever he has hurt himself or irritated somewhere. Are you planning on weaning your son completely from the ritalin since you noticed that he is not as hyper? I am also surprised as is Faith that your dr prescribed your son ritalin with a diagnosis of ts since tics can be a side effect. San

My own quest for helping my ds has been relatively short compared to so many of you from this forum. We have been dealing with this for over 2 years. I am so thankful for the support of this forum and for all of the information. I get so frustrated, too. Just when I think that maybe I have found a trigger something changes. Sometimes it seems that foods or other things may be a trigger and sometimes not. I keep trying to tell myself that we are healthier because of all this. It is very frustrating when we are in the minority for our healthy food choices and for having tics. I feel so bad for my ds. I wish that I could just let it go. I am constantly worried when he is with friends if he is going to eat a forbidden food or spend his playdates glued to the tv playing Wii (again, sometimes I think video games trigger, sometimes not.). I try not to be so crazy with the food because I want him to understand we are doing this for healthy reasons first and foremost. I don't know. I am the one in the family who is crazy with all of this! I read a post some time ago by Cheri that I often hear echoing inside of my head when he is having a particularly tough time...she said something along the lines that your child will tic...period. I need to stop thinking that it will go away as if it were a cold. So, I try to tell myself that it will continue to be a roller coaster of waxes and wanes but he will always tic since he always had. That doesn't stop me from hoping that one day, he'll stop. thanks!

How old is your baby? Since he is not sleeping for more than an hour at a clip, do you think he is in the midst of a growth spurt or has he always been like this? Is he gaining weight and growing at an acceptable rate? How long is he nursing? Is he nursing the entire time? Do you carry him around in one of the snuggly things? Some babies need that constant touch. I nursed all 3 of my babies. I constantly carried my third in the snuggly. For the first month, he slept on my chest. Also, he is only pooping once a day? I am wondering if he is nursing long enough. It sounds like, as you said, that he may just be getting the foremilk and not enough of the hindmilk. Are you still taking a multivitamin? San

Myrose, I am so sorry for all that you are going through. My heart goes out to your and your little girl. You are right, this thing is a monster and it is just not fair. Without this board and everyone here, I am not sure how I would have or continue to be able to handle what this monster throws my way for my son. I hope you find relief soon. I am so glad her best friend came over and your daughter was happy. That's really what it's all about...their happiness. You mentioned to confessing and reporting. Then, Chemar mentioned doing a strep culture? What is the relationship between these things? San

I remember when my son started his tics over 2 years ago that his neck jerks were so severe and hard that I worried that he would hurt himself. So, it seems, that he really may have. It all makes sense. Cheri suggested a nucca chiro. The closest one to me is about an hour away. How long should I expect his appts to last? How frequently does a chiro see him? Will the chiro be able to fix his neck if it is misaligned? Can the chiro tell if it is misaligned? This is obviously new territory for me so I am completely unfamiliar with it. Does insurance cover it? Thanks for all of your help!

Pat, When my son started with tics about 2 years ago, it all started as a neck tic. He didn't complain about his neck hurting initially. However, as time went on, he complained that his neck did hurt. Now, I don't really see the neck tic but he does complain about the pain. So, I am not really sure which came first. Any thoughts? I suppose I could start with the motrin to see if he does get any relief. He only complains in the evening when he is in bed. San

My 8 yo son takes Rainbow Light Gummy Power Sours. They are all natural with no colors and artificial stuff. It has extra vitamin C. He loves the sour gummies. They do make regular gummies. You can get them at Whole Foods, I think. We order them from drugstore.com, I think. I could check if you are interested.

Good luck to everyone who is visiting Dr. Sims. I am confused, upon removing the device, the tics return???? I am very close to Dr. Sims' office in Columbia, MD.