shydee75

Hello everyone, I'm really discouraged. It looks like it is a constant struggle with my 6 year old daughter. I've taken out all the food that she is allergic to and I'm giving her a whole host of supplements but her motor tics are still there. She has no vocal tics. She is now dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, salicylate-free (at least, to the best of my ability). Out of desperation, I tried something on Tues, Wed and Thurs. I decided to take off the Super Nuthera (Kirkman's) that my kid is taking because the Bs looked scary. Read something about B6 and tics and 250mg does look really high. B1 - 7.5mg B2 - 7.5mg B6 - 250mg B12 - 5mcg Wrong move - she started her hand jerk and leg bends on Wed and so, out of fear, I started SuperNuthera again today. Sigh. On top of Super Nuthera, I'm giving her the following. Not sure if this is ok. Doc suggested this but I really trust you more because you are not just recommending things in isolation. You recommend based on your experience and in my eyes, that counts for much :-) Morning - Therbiotic Factor 4 (Klaire Labs probiotic) - Enzym Complete DPP IV II (Kirkman enzyme) After lunch - SuperNuthera (Kirkman) - Magnesium Glycinate (Klaire Labs, 100mg) - Calcium Complex (Klaire Labs, 400mg) After tea - Taurine (500mg) - Glutamine (Klaire labs, 1000mg) - Magnesium Glycinate (Klaire Labs, 200mg) Dinner - Enzym Complete DPP IV II (Kirkman enzyme) - Therbiotic Complete (Klaire Labs probiotic) Hope someone can tell me if I'm overdosing my little girl who weighs in at a paltry 17.8kg. Or perhaps, there is something else that I should be giving her? I'm really wondering what else I can do in terms of food and supplements. I may also start on Craniosacral and Visceral Manipulation - got to check on my finances first. This is really taking over my life. I just can't concentrate on anything else - wondering why life is so unfair to my little one. On a separate note, I know I've become an 'uglier' person. I snap more, I grumble a little more and I'm definitely less patient than before. Shy

Thanks for the tip, myrose. Just a question though - Intrakids is not supposed to have salicylates, right. But it is raspberry-flavoured. How is that possible? Btw, is the amount of B vitamins sufficient? If not, what else do you give just so that your daughter has enough of the Bs? Cheers, Shy

Hello, I'm really confused. Our doc recommended Kirkman's Super Nu thera as my kiddo's multi-vitamin. She's been taking it for 2 months now. I'v added other supplements like Glutamine, Taurine, Calcium etc. However, she's still tic-cing even though I've cleaned up her diet. So, now, i'm checking to see if I need to tweak the supplements somewhat. Super Nu thera's level for B6 is exceedingly high. The worst part is that I've read somewhere that an excessive amount of B6 is not the best thing in the world for kids with tics. So, my question is , what Multivitamin should I give to my kid who is off gluten, dairy, soy , eggs? Any idea if Yummi Bears Multivitamin is ok? It claims to be gluten-free, yeast-free, soy-free, dairy-free, salicylate-free etc. Has anybody ever tried it? Or, if you have a Multivit that has helped your child, please let me know - I'll be eternally grateful. And since we're at it, any idea if there is Shy

Hi Cheri, Thanks for your reply. Your answer gives me some hope ... in what way was it beneficial and how many sessions did you have to go for before you saw any positive results? I've been reading reviews over the Net and some people way that cranio-sacral, visceral manipulation, NAET make bogus claims. So, I really don't know what to make of it. My daughter has been blinking/stretching her mouth non-stop for over a month now. I'm giving her a host of supplements and I have modified her diet extensively. I really wonder what else I can do to help her. Cheers, Shy

Hello, Has anyone ever done craniosacral and visceral manipulation for tics? It seems it helps kids who have issues with the gut. Any thoughts on this? Shy

Hi My kid's blinking is in overdrive. She closes her eyes shut for a few seconds and then she's at it again. It must be painful. Could this be due to the flu bug that she's got? She has a fever of 40degrees celsius and she has a cough and a cold as well. She is taking Paracetamol and Ibubrufen for her fever and Bromhexine HCL and Chlorpheniramine for her flu symptoms. Could the bug and the medication be aggravating her tics? Shy Shy

Dear Q's Mom, Your post has given me some ideas - thanks :-) I think I'll start flax seeds. Is Bob's Red Mills golden Flax seeds ok? You also said that you add flax seeds to meatlof and even muffins. Do you have a meatloaf/muffin recipe that you could share with me? My muffins taste like hay and my cookies have to sit in the mouth for a while before they can be chewed. My beef comes out chewy and I'm not kidding. I am basically a disaster in the kitchen. I mentioned that I've been giving dd prune juice on alternate days and I'm wondering if this has triggered her eye tics somewhat. I have cut back on it this week and surprisingly, she went to the loo yesterday. No need for prune juice to work its wonders. Maybe, something good is happening to her system ... Cheers, Shy

Hi, Thanks for all your comments and advice. Yes, Michael, I did play detective with the stools but I couldn't quite find traces of lunch/dinner. So, can I take that as a good sign? The things we will do for our kids And Faith, I'd love to cut out the fruit but that's really tough because dd just won't give in. Her eye tics are still there and I'm going crazy. Caryn, I'm really motivated by your post because you mentioned that your son had 17 allergies and he's now down to 3 - that's really wonderful. But, my question is how did you get there and how long did it take? Did you do NAET or did you do it the painstaking way (dietary changes)? Any advice will help. Currently, dd is taking the following supplements: - Magnesium (300mg) - Calcium (400mg) - Super Nuthera Multi-vit (Kirkman's) - really high in the Bs - Glutamine (1000mg) - Taurine (1000mg) - Enzyme Complete DPP IV II - twice a day (with meals) - Therbiotic Factor (morning) - Therbiotic Complete (night) She is also off gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, chicken and high-salicylate vegetables and fruits. Currently, this is what she eats: Grains - aside from rice, she is now taking quinoa, amaranth, millet Vegetables - celery, potatoes, beans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, some types of green leafy vegetables. Hardly any carrots and strictly no spinach and broccoli Fruits - pear, papaya, mangoes and sometimes, bananas Meat - beef, lamb and fish Butter - Nuttelex which is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free (at least, that is what the label says) Snacks - Ewehorn's brown rice cereal, millet puffs, home-made potato chips and sweet potato chips (read - yucky because I make them) Not sure if this dietary restiction is making her lose weight. I've tried the rotation diet but I don't have enough to go round. In the end, it looks like I'm giving her beef/lamb/fish every other day. My understanding of the rotation diet is as follows: If we give something on Monday, then the next time, it can be introduced will be Thursday. Please correct me if I am wrong. Our IgG Allergy test was also sent to the States (EnteroLabs) and doc has suggested doing a urine test to check if her food is being absorbed properly. He wants to do the OAT Test plus a few other tests (Enterolabs) as well. It's going to cost us S$590. Sigh! Caryn, I showed my husband your post and he agrees with you - He believes that Time will heal our daughter but I'd like to see a progressive improvement. In her case, she gets ok and then, when my spirit is lifted, something else comes along. It's really painful and I sometimes doubt whether I'm doing it right. By the way, I read about Houston enzymes and how allergies get eliminated after a while. Does anyone have any experience with this? I know that this post is hardly coherent but what to do, I have too many things on my mind. Hope you don't get too tired reading this Shy

Hi Jules41, I know exactly how you feel. My dd also changed overnight and I went through a whole lot of crying, desperation and agitation as well. I'm still crying and I'm still desperate. My kid is six and she has lost tremendous weight as a result of the dietary changes, supplements, anxiety etc. Sometimes, I look at her and I wonder how she is coping but you know what, she has her own strategy and coping mechanism. I have no solutions for you because I am groping along as well. But, just hang in there and if things don't get to where they used to be, don't despair. Latitudes has helped me through a difficult time and trust me, you will get stronger. After all, what choice do we really have - we love our children to bits and we have to do everything in our capacity to help them attain a good life. Shy

Hello, My 6-year old daughter is on a gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free diet. She is also on a lot of supplements - magnesium, calcium, glutamine, taurine, super-nu-thera multivits, enzymes and probiotics. The poor dear! The thing that bothers me is that she is losing weight pretty fast (in three months, she has lost 3kg and is now only about 16kg). The funny thing is that she is hungry all the time and her appetite is much better now than it ever was before. I can't understand this at all. More food is being consumed, yet she is losing weight - how is this possible? We have only done the IgG allergy test so far. Do we need to check for anything else? Her tics have become more manageable but last Thursday, I gave her some prawns, and on Sunday I gave her some grapes (high in salicylates , I know) and above all, I have been giving her prune juice on alternate days for the past week. the prune juice has helped with the constipation issues somewhat. I've been tinkering with her diet somewhat because she is bored with her usual beef, lamb and fish combination. That's why I added the prawns. She wanted some grapes as well and so, I gave in to her. Well, no surprises - she started blinking excessively. Sigh. Looks like she can't take foods that are high in salicylates as well. I thought the enzymes would help but it looks like there is no effect? Any ideas on what I can do to lessen my dd's blinking? Or should I just wait it out. Besides, any thoughts on why she is losing weight when in reality, she is eating more? You are all so experienced and calm and I wish I could control my emotions a little more. I think I've aged a lot in the past five months. My 'slightly less-polite friends' have said that. Shy

Hi Q's Mom, She is on a special diet - no soy, no gluten, no dairy, no eggs. I give her prune juice on alternate days - just a wee bit though as prunes contain high salicylates and it looks like it is working. The unfortunate thing is that she has started tic-cing a little more. Not sure if it is related to the prune juice, prawns or the grapes that I gave her on Sunday. You said that you have tried introducing fibre - in what form, please? Shy

Thanks for all the suggestions. Over here in Singapore, we don't get that many brands. However, I did get hold of Lakewood's Plum juice. I gave it to her and guess what, whatever had to come out, came out I'm planning to give it to her on alternate days. I've also seen a Fiber Gummie. I might also try kiwis. Not sure if she'll like it though. Any idea if kiwis are high in salicylates? Cheers, Shy

Thanks for the replies, Chemar and Maryann. Just a clarification - Is Plumsmart high in salicylates? Cheers, Shy

Hello, My kid usually has problems going to the loo. She gets constipated quite often and yesterday, the poor dear had a really tough time clearing her system. I had to bring her to the clinic. I'm wondering how I can get her to have easy bowels? I'm currently giving her probiotics, enzymes, calcium, taurine, glutamine, magnesium and a multivit that has very high B vitamins. Has the constipation issue been exacerbated because of the sheer amount of supplements? She also takes pears and papayas regularly. She's got the flu and a fever. With all the medication, her tics are slightly more pronounced. Sigh! Shy

hi dcmom, Not sure if you received my email - let me know ok. Thanks.

Baking soda - is there yeast in it? Based on the questions I'm asking, I think you'll be able to tell that I have absolutely no idea what to do in the kitchen, Caryn. Shy

hI Caryn, The cake looks marvellous. Just a question though - can i make it without the following ingredients? - applesauce - evaporated cane juice - baking soda Thanks for sharing the recipe ... Shy

HI Carolyn, Thanks for sharing this with me I've seen Namaste in the shops but in Singapore, they carry such a limited range. I'll have to check if Namaste does International shipping. My secret wish is that I'd like to be in the US right now. I've seen people in the forum talk about how they accidentally located a treasure trove at WholeFoods. The variety that they state -whoa, it's really unbelievable to me. I can't even find dairy-free, soy-free butter for my kid. Just wondering, would you know if cream of tartar is safe for a kid who is not doing gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, chicken, citrus. I'm trying to eliminate yeast as well. Shy

Hello, I hate that feeling too - the feeling of not knowing where to begin. The good thing is Latitudes does show us the way and the posts are always encouraging I'm afraid that I have no answers for you because I'm just like you, mylittleangel. I am searching too and I just want to do everything I can to help my little one. In my case, my kid eats quite a bit but she just doesn't seem to be putting on any weight. In fact, she is losing weight. We have limited her food - she does not do gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, chicken, citrus ... The IgG Allergy Test shows that she is allergic to these. Just a question - if we don't do the OAT test, is there any way to tell if our kids have a leaky gut or yeast overgrowth? Are there any obvious signs? Shy

Hello, How does anyone bake or cook without gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, chicken and citrus? I tried baking a cake (a pre-mix) yesterday and I tell you, it was terrible. Kiddo ate it and said that it was ok but I know that she didn't really like it. We went for a birthday party yesterday and she ate the cake that I had baked. But, I knew that she wanted the 'real' birthday cake that everybody else was eating. The image of her looking at other kids enjoying their food - now that really haunts me and I can't sleep. It's 5am in Singapore and I'm surfing the net, looking feverishly for cookie/cake recipes for my little kid. Does anybody have a recipe for cake/cookies/bread that works? Something that tastes like the real thing will be really nice. I tried baking cookies with sorghum flour, tapioca flour, sugar, egg-replacer, xanthan gum, baking powder, canola oil and water and the cookies tasted like wet cardboard. Maybe the ratio was not right ... Anyway, I'm trying to avoid rice flour as well. Hope somebody can share some 'work-able' recipes with me. I can't cook to save my life Cheers, Shy

Dear CP & Caryn, Sorry - couldn't reply earlier as I have been out of the country. Thank you for your replies. They have made me think really hard about what is going into my daughter's mouth. Just an update - kiddo is better now. I still haven't confirmed the trigger but I think it could be Lundberg's chips (Sea Salt) / anchovies / carrot. Caryn, I have taken your advice and I have up-ped the magnesium balance. I'm currently giving her an additional pill and it seems to be helping somewhat. Is there any other way to get magnesium into her aside from the Epsom Salts soak and the nuts? CP, you're right about the rice as well. I was getting way too much of the stuff into her because I had practically eliminated everything from her diet and the only replacement that came to my mind was rice. Plain silly of me! So now, I've added amaranth/rice pasta, buckwheat pasta and quinoa flour into the regimen and I think it is better now. Btw, any idea about how much magnesium and calcium is needed for a 6 year old who weighs in at 17kg? She is losing weight and this worries me. Since dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, chicken and citrus are out, I'm really not sure how I can get anything of nutritional value into her. I'm also wondering whether I can reintroduce chicken into her diet. According to the IgG allergy test, she is moderately allergic to it (Level 3, I think). Chicken is like our staple and chicken nuggets is really what she loves. Sigh! I believe that there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Now, if only I can see it a little faster .... Shy

Hello, I have been up to here with work and my daughter's condition. Half the time, I go to bed exhausted and discouraged. So, I haven't really had the time to post. Anyway, my kid was fine for some time but her tics have started to increase. She has started her hand jerks and leg jerks again. I've tried so many things and I thought I was on to something but now, I am really discouraged. Btw, I've started her on a new mag/calcium product from Kirkman's (currently, 400mg calcium and 252mg magnesium). Previously, she was on GNC's Child'sLife Calcium and Magnesium (252mg calcium and 240mg magnesium). Not sure if this has upset her balance somewhat - any thoughts on this? Doc says that she has to up her calcium levels as it is way too low for a 6 year old. After all, my kiddo is off all dairy, eggs, soy and gluten. She has also lost tremendous weight and it is really painful seeing her like this. I am currently giving her Probiotics as well. I even gave her Kirkman's Enzymes Complete for one meal but the tics seemed to increase, so I didn't have the courage to continue. With regard to diet, I've basically been giving her rice-based products and my doc says that she could now be allergic to this. I mean, am I supposed to deprive her of rice as well? The question I have is 'How exactly am I going to know if she is allergic to rice?' I can't keep doing IgG tests, right? I'm hoping that there is a way to check allergy without busting a hole in my pocket. Btw, we don't really take quinoa, amaranth, sorghum or even millet in Singapore. Do any of these grains taste anything like rice. I know my 6-year old is going to flip if I take rice away from her diet. She's been so incredibly patient and I know that she is going to think that I'm nuts when I modify her diet some more. Sigh! What's a mum gonna do? As usual, whenever my throbbing mind explodes, I think of two sources of relief - GOD and Latitudes ... Shy

Thanks for your reply Dee. I called the doctor yesterday and he said that my kid shouldn't be eating pork. She shouldn't be eating salmon either. I'm at my wits end. She can't take chicken, soy-based products, eggs ... Now, the only meat she can take is lamb and some types of fish and even then, he says fish should only be taken twice a week. What exactly can I feed her? She is reallllly hungry. And her tics seem tp have worsened as well. not sure what's causing this new spate of tics. Any suggestions/ideas to help a lost and troubled mum? Thanks for giving me some sanity amidst all this - i really turn to this website whenever I am troubled. Shy

Hi , An update since the last time I posted: I went for an allergy test (IgG) for my little kid and she is practically allergic to everything that she has been eating for the last six years. She can't take soy, dairy, gluten, and chicken. She loves fried chicken, cake, ice cream, toufu - sigh! Life is really unfair! Anyway, the doctor has started her on a host of probiotics and supplements. He is trying to correct her leaky gut. We've been taking them for two days now and I notice that her tics are getting worse. I'm wondering if this is a common reaction. Her supplements are as follows: - Therbiotic Complete (probiotics from Klaire Labs) - Super Nu-Thera powder (multi-vitamins from Kirkman) - L Taurine (Kirkman) - L glutamine (Kirkman) - Magnesium and Calcium (Child's Life from GNC) Please advise - thanking anyone who can shed light on this in advance. Shy

Hello, Thanks for your concern and helpful suggestions. I will try them out. Just yesterday, my daughter started having hiccups. It's just something that happened out of the blue. She had two bouts of hiccups today as well. I've read that this could be vocal tics. Don't know if I'm hyper-ventilating. Sigh! Her head nods, jumps, hand jerks, facial gramaces are still pronounced. This is really scary and I can't take it. I really wonder how I can help my innocent kid. It really pains me to see her this way. I haven't spoken to her about it but I know that she feels that something is different. When I read to her at night and try to take her little hand into mine, she pushes me away. I think she doesn't want me to feel the spasms in her muscles. I ask her if she has any pain and she says 'No, mum. I'm fine'. And when she prays at night, she never asks anything for herself. It's always innocent things like 'Dear God, please make the world a better place. Teach people not to litter. Teach them to care for others and God, please look after everybody.' When I ask her what she prays for and when she tells me these little things, it pains my heart that she has tics which she can't control. I cry as I write this .... SHD