Wombat140

I'm so glad it helped. Pass it on if need be, won't you? It seems to be a rather little-known phenomenon. I was very surprised a few weeks ago to see someone on a mainstream OCD forum mentioning it - apart from here, I'd never seen anyone mention it before except me! It's easy to find the article again if you lose it, anyway - the combination of the words "Mansueto" and "Tourettic" is pretty distinctive for a Web search! Isn't it funny how many apparently unrelated things go with "Tourettic OCD"? The sensitivity to clothes, and so on. I suppose that's good circumstantial evidence that it really is a distinct type.

I'll bear it in mind. Trouble is, my OCD/TS doesn't really involve emotional problems, as far as I can tell. It's not like the usual kind of OCD, where anxiety plays a big part. Can Bach remedies be used for anything besides emotional issues?

(Know this is addressed to Chemar but anyway.) Still trying to find out myself what would help! Couldn't really say whether it sounds like Tourettic OCD or not without more information. Does she have any reason for doing it (afraid something will happen if she doesn't)? If so it seems like fairly classical OCD. Otherwise, well, it might be. Here's a link to Charles Mansueto's original article on Tourettic OCD, see what you think. All the best, Wombat140

Thanks for explaining about keynote prescribing, Patty, thought it might be something like that.

Thank you very much Patty and Chemar. I've read a certain amount about homoeopathy, but I'm always keen to read more if I can find anything. I'll look a bit harder now! I've heard before about it being best to use one remedy at a time, but I'd forgotten. Thanks for the tip about "classical" homoeopathy. I know what that means in theory, but it'd help if you could give a few examples of other kinds of homoeopathy. Then I'd know what to avoid. What do you mean by "keynote" prescribing? Never heard this term before. Any other advice from anyone would be very welcome!

On the original subject: I had a lot of tics when I was 7 or 8, then they went. Then I developed OCD (apparently of the "Tourettic" type) very suddenly when I was 13. Anyone else had anything like that - OCD appearing AFTER tics instead of alongside?

I have OCD of the kind that's sometimes described as "Tourettic OCD". That is, my compulsions occur in response to particular situations, like normal OCD compulsions; but like tics, there isn't any reason for them or any anxiety if I don't do them, only a strong urge which usually gets the better of me in the end. I've tried various things, and I'm thinking of trying homoeopathy next. Several people on various OCD forums I use recommend it highly. Can anyone give me any advice? In particular, do any of you happen to know how I might go about finding a homoeopath in the UK who has experience of treating OCD, Tourette's or other neurological problems? We've tried phoning one of the professional bodies in the UK (can't remember which), but they weren't very helpful. Said that as homoeopathy treats the whole person, there's no such thing as a homoeopath who has special expertise in one condition. Surely if you're treating someone with particular symptoms, it's an advantage to have come across those symptoms before! I've tried the usual CBT methods (I did once visit a professional CBT therapist, but she didn't know what to do with me). They do work to some extent, but I'm no longer getting anywhere, and I really need some more help. Thanks, Wombat140

I'd love to help, but I'm in the same boat at present! I have OCD myself, of a kind that's a bit like Tourette's syndrome and refuses to respond to the usual treatments. I've tried a lot of things on spec. without consulting any professionals. Supplements mainly, and a gluten and casein-free diet, and HEG neurofeedback. (None of them helped very much, except possibly SAMe supplements which I now can't get). Now thinking of trying homoeopathy. If you're interested in that, try one of the professional organisations like the Society of Homeopaths. I don't imagine you'd be likely to get most of these treatments on the NHS, not that I've tried. There are definitely some exceptions, though. I know of one lady who managed to convince her GP that a gluten and casein-free diet was really helping her children's autism, and the GP agreed to give them prescriptions for free gluten-free bread. I think a lot depends on your GP. I wouldn't know where to find an environmental doctor even privately! All the best, Wombat140

Of course it's hard to get to the bottom of why a 4 year old does something, but if it's literally true that he's avoiding foods because he's afraid of throwing up, that sounds very much like OCD. I've actually met a few people on OCD forums who were afraid of that very thing, and did various things to avoid it, including restricting what they ate. It's quite likely that he has some sensory issues as well, they're often found together with OCD. I have both myself. I'm not really sure about what professional you should try. I live in England, and I think some areas come under different job titles in the USA. Over here, I think the usual route would be to visit your GP (ordinary MD) and get them to refer you to a child psychologist. If the psychologist wasn't trained in CBT themselves, they could then refer you on to someone who was (while staying in touch themselves). As for CBT, the best brief description I know of is available here. The same site has a list of books about OCD and CBT. I can recommend "Touch and Go Joe", written by a boy who had severe OCD. Very informative, and very funny in places. I'd recommend getting professional CBT treatment for your son, though, especially as he's so young and the situation is complicated by the sensory stuff. If possible, find or ask for a CBT therapist who has some specific knowledge both of OCD and of treating young children - they don't all. Finally, do persevere. CBT often has impressive results, and there are other "alternative" treatments to try as well. There is hope, lots of it. All the best, Wombat140

If I remember rightly, anorexia and bulimia are currently classified as separate conditions from OCD but related to it. People who have or had OCD are much more likely to get them. I'm not sure whether body dysmorphic disorder (an obsessive fear that something is wrong with your body, e.g. that you're fat when you aren't) is considered a type of OCD at the moment, but if not, it's closely related. Of course, as Chemar hinted, OCD may in itself prevent someone from eating properly. For instance, they might have no problem with eating as such, but still eat as little as possible because they're afraid of getting food poisoning. Either way, she'd do well to try Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. As well as being the favourite treatment for OCD, it's also been found quite effective for anorexia and other EDs. This is a fairly complicated case of course, so as Chemar says, she should find someone who's had some experience with both OCD and EDs. Wish you luck! Wombat140

I don't recollect the survey saying anything about autism when I did it. I think I probably have Asperger's syndrome. I never got around to getting a formal diagnosis, but a CBT therapist once agreed that it looked very much that way to her. If that's not on my completed survey, put it on by all means - you know which mine is, don't you? Good luck with the Book!

Nice to see someone else from the UK here. It's true that inositol has never been put through the full clinical testing process, but it's been researched a fair bit in various ways. Some studies of its effects on OCD and other mental conditions have used doses as high as 18 grams a day. No serious side-effects have ever been reported. (There's an article reviewing some of the studies at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_255/ai_n6211958/, if you're interested.) I'd have said that if you wanted to risk it, that was up to you. Presumably you just have an unusually fussy doctor. The same goes for Bonnie Grimaldi's vitamins. In fact, most of the ingredients in those have been formally approved by the Food Standards Authority as safe at that level. I'd have thought most ordinary doctors would be prepared to try either of them, never mind "integrative doctors". Still, that might be a good place to start looking. Best of luck! Wombat140

I did try Trimethylglycine, which is similar to Dimethylglycine. I have unusual OCD which behaves rather like Tourette's syndrome (so-called Tourettic OCD). I didn't take the TMG for long, just a week or two, but I rather think it made matters worse. (I discussed that in more detail in another post.) Oddly enough, I'd previously taken SAMe, which is supposed to be very like TMG, and I'm sure it helped - certainly things didn't get worse at all while I was taking it. Best of luck, Wombat140

I think just a day or two. When you begin the diet from scratch it can take several weeks to get all the casein out (several months for gluten), but if it's just once after not eating it for a while, then it doesn't take long at all. Hope things are OK now, and that he's still going on all right. Glad to hear that the diet has been such a help. I've never heard of beef being excluded from the gf/cf diet. I don't think it has casein.

That's true. I'd forgotten about PANDAS. Worth checking. I forgot to say - if it does turn out to be OCD, don't settle for just medication. The first thing anyone should try for OCD is cognitive behaviour therapy. It's the most effective treatment for OCD by a long way, better than any medication (although sometimes it's necessary to have both). The effects are usually quite striking. Also, if you have just medication, you have to go on taking it indefinitely, and the symptoms recur if you stop. But if you get rid of a symptom by CBT, it's gone, so you can often get to the point where the OCD isn't a problem and you don't need any further treatment. I think there's an article about CBT on the Latitudes website somewhere. Doing CBT with a 5 year old is a bit specialised, but it can be done. The best thing would be to look up whatever's the professional body for CBT in America, and see if they can give you details of somebody who's properly qualified and knows about both OCD and treating little kids. Good luck!

It sounds like OCD to me, although of course I'm not a doctor. The sensitivity to clothes can be a feature of various different autistic spectrum conditions - I don't think it's a known symptom of OCD. But the other things - the touching, the anxiety if this isn't done, the constant asking for confirmation - are very characteristic of OCD. I don't know much about SID, but I didn't think it was associated with those symptoms, though I'm not sure. Has the OT explained why she thinks your daughter doesn't have OCD? It may be that she's thinking that "she has SID, not OCD" - some people can't get their heads round the idea that it's possible to have both. In fact, somebody with an autism-related condition such as SID has a slightly increased risk of OCD, compared to the general population. Ideally it should really be for a child psychologist to say whether she has OCD, not an OT, though an OT would know a certain amount about it. I'd get a second opinion if I were you. Best wishes, Wombat140

Really don't know where to start! If I were you I would get a good book about OCD. There are some good ones listed at http://www.ocdshop.com/index.php?cPath=1 - I haven't read most of them, but they're all ones that somebody or other at OCD-UK particularly likes. There's one on the second page called "Loving Someone with OCD: Help for You and Your Family", which might be useful to both of you. Be warned that "Brain Lock", although well meant and quite good in some ways, makes some very insulting remarks about people who co-operate with family members' compulsions. Which is unfair, because there are times when there simply is no alternative, or the alternative is much worse. I know I've frequently put my own family in that position... Is she getting Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for her OCD? It really is the best treatment by a long way, the results are usually quite striking. Good luck to you both. Wombat140

Not sure what Patty's orthodontist was getting at, really, as fluoride isn't supposed to clean teeth. It's put in because it's supposed to strengthen the enamel.

Well, you did say "This drug is an anxiety medication that does not have any side effects." Which isn't so, not by a long chalk. I daresay you didn't have any, some people don't, but that's not quite what you said. Glad to hear it helped you, anyway. All the best, Wombat140

Thanks Chemar. I'm still taking the stuff. Things have quietened down a bit but the OCD is still immovable, if anything I can get away with slightly less than usual. I'll probably give it up as soon as I've decided what to try next. I may have to try and get some more SAMe. The trouble wasn't really iherb's fault so much as the courier's (DHL), although iherb gave precisely no help in sorting out the problem. Their e-mail enquiries line seems to be staffed by a computer program - whatever you ask, it says it can't understand and asks you to ring them, long distance. Anyone else tried TMG?

Yesterday I started taking Tri-methylglycine (TMG). (I have something like "Tourettic OCD".) I'm taking 500mg first thing in the morning. Yesterday and today have been difficult. Twitchy tics/compulsions are worse than ever. I've been feeling sort of strung-out and on edge, and I can't cope with crises at all. Things being what they are, my days consist largely of crises, and usually I can more or less brush it off. Yesterday and today, the least thing has left me tearful, incoherent and wanting to spend the rest of the day hiding in a cupboard. I've taken TMG once before, but stopped after three days because things had been bad and I wasn't sure whether that was contributing. I know that some treatments (both alternative and standard) can make things worse to start with, but if you persevere they start to help. Has anyone noticed this with TMG? I don't often find a supplement that has any effect on me at all. The odd thing is, I did take SAMe (which is supposed to be interchangeable with TMG) for a few weeks, and that did seem to help slightly and with none of the nasty side-effects. (I didn't get any more of that because we'd had such trouble getting iherb to send the first lot over. You can't buy SAMe over here without a prescription). Many thanks Wombat140

Hm. If it really is OCD, "telling him it's not appropriate" is not going to get you very far. Most people with OCD would rather not do their compulsions, but they can't help it. But it may not be OCD. Does he have other autistic spectrum issues? Some kids on the autistic spectrum do things like that just because they like to. I read about one autistic kid who used to lick visitors' feet... The best thing might be just to ask him why he does it (do this when you've got time in hand, in case it takes a lot of sorting out). Don't suggest anything, e.g. don't ask him "do you do that because you like to, or do you do it because you're worried?" Just ask him why he does it and let him answer - be prepared for a long wait while he works out how to explain. If he turns out to be doing it of his own accord, that's the time to tell him you'd rather he didn't. Not that I've ever done this myself. I'm just speaking as someone who's been on the other end of it. It took several months, and I'm afraid quite a few meltdowns, before my parents managed to work out what it was all about. I think the above might possibly have made things easier, is all.

Trouble is, they're all the ones who the reporter thought were dodgy! I suppose DAN has a website, come to think of it, so I might try that some time. Wonderful example of fair and balanced reporting from the ever-reasonable Daily Mail. I particularly liked the bits where Jacqui Jackson warns other unwary parents against alternative treatments for autism, explaining that there isn't any evidence for them and she's wasted her money on several herself to no effect. I don't know if you're familiar with Jacqui Jackson, but over here she's one of the biggest advocates of the gluten/casein-free diet for autism... Thanks, Wombat140

Bit of a coincidence there - he was discussing his experiment on UK national radio today. Here's a link to another article I found, in New Scientist's website. Bit more technical detail. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1897...ref=online-news Unfortunately I can't get hold of the full paper. It's one of those you can't get unless you subscribe to the journal. The reference is "Hematopoietic Origin of Pathological Grooming in Hoxb8 Mutant Mice", Cell, Volume 141, Issue 5, 775-785, 28 May 2010.

Thanks, Chemar and Fixit. At the moment I'm taking 2220mg flaxseed oil, 200mg vegan DHA, multivitamin and mineral, 5mg zinc and 200mg chromium. I've taken magnesium on and off - you know how it is, as soon as you find somewhere that sells anything but magnesium oxide, they stop selling it. I'm going to try that again if I can get any, and maybe 5HTP. I did go for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, several years ago, but she said she couldn't do anything for me. You see my tics/compulsions mostly come into two groups. One kind I can not do, but I can't make myself go on until I've done them. The lamp-post thing I mentioned before is an example of this - so is the chair thing. It's not a question of anxiety - I just cannot make myself do it, any more than if there was a steel bar in the way. So it's hard to see how I could do exposure therapy with that. With the other kind, if I don't do them at once, either I eventually have to do them much worse or another, nastier one kicks in. For example, there are some things I have to avoid touching. If I do touch them, I end up thrashing my hands against the wall. The only way I can keep from doing that is by freezing solid and not moving at all - this has been known to go on for over an hour until I finally give in. Neither of these seem like a very satisfactory result. So the therapist said she didn't know how I could safely do any of the usual exposure therapy - and I don't actually have any obsessive thoughts, so we couldn't do the Cognitive part either. As for "checking out" allergies and B12 levels, well, I live in Britain. I don't think anyone over here has heard of most of the tests that are mentioned on this board. Also my GP doesn't actually know about my problems, and I'm not entirely keen to have it on my medical record. People are so funny about that kind of thing. Are there DAN doctors over here? All the best, Wombat