CARMON

Well, I finally called and got the Strep and Thyroid test results from the Neuro (I gave up on them calling me) and everything came back "normal". So her diagnosis remains TS. I am still a little confused about this b/c before this, he hadn't ticced for 16 months, but who cares what they call it...I just want to help him in every way I can. At the present moment he has almost no tics at all, I think I heard him do his vocal tic twice yesterday...go figure. Kim, I think you're right about improving my son's overall health and I didn't take offense when you suggested it!! After I read your post I thought alot about how many times he has been to the DR for sinus and allergies. I am going to the Dr this afternoon for a recheck (to make sure his sinus infection is cleared up) and will talk to him about have my son tested for allergies...I'm a little afraid he is going to think I am a crazed Mom who is desperatley looking for a solution (maybe I am!!!). I also echo your thoughts and feelings about the Neuro, I still can't believe she didn't even watch the video that I brought showing the tics he had. If I hadn't been well informed from this website and others, I would have been in an extreme state of panic when I walked out of the hospital with..."I'm leaning toward a TS diagnosis but we will wait and see what these tests say. I cannot predict your son's future, but if the tics start causing him trouble in school or everyday life just call and we can try medication; you don't have to have another appointment. " Then she handed me a brochure about TS that painted a grim future for anyone with TS. I am sure there are great Neuros out there, I just hope I don't have to go looking for one again. Thanks so much for your suggestions! Andy, so glad your son is doing well. Your success gives me great hope!! Chemar, thanks to you as well. I do need to relax and deal with all of this calmly. There are children in this world who have fatal illnesses, I should be (and am) thankful that my child only tics!!

My son had his first Neuro. appointment yesterday. After explaining all of his symptoms, she said she is leaning toward a TS diagnosis, but is waiting for results from tests (Strep levels and thyroid tests). I had a video to show her because the tics are very minimal now but she said she did not need to watch it based on what I had told her. I have a few questions for all of you EXPERTS: 1. My son has been on antibiotics the majority of the past 2 months, first for strep infection then for a sinus infection. Will the antibiotics affect his strep levels? 2. He had minor eye blinking 6/03 for 3 months, many vocal and motor tics 6/04 for 3 months, then these 2 vocal tics now which started 2/06. Is this typical of TS? I thought symptoms must be present continuously for 12 months before a TS diagnosis. I am very anxious for test results and just needed some input from all of you!! Thanks so much! Carmon

WELL UNFORTUNATLEY I'M BACK. BRIEF HISTORY: MY SON HAD BLINKING TIC FOR 3 MONTHS THE SUMMER OF 2003, HE WAS 3. THE BLINKING TIC RETURNED SUMMER OF 2004 SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY A VOCAL TIC AND SHOULDER SHRUG, NECK STRETCH. THIS WENT AWAY AFTER APPROX. 3 MONTHS, RIGHT AFTER MY YOUNGER SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES. I SWORE IT WAS DIVINE INTERVENTION. HE HAD STREP THROAT AND WE FINISHED ANTIBIOTICS (OMNICEF) ON SAT 1/21 AND LITERALLY ON 1/22 MY SON WOKE UP A DIFFERENT KID. HE HAS A VOCAL TIC (DOG-LIKE WHIMPER), BLOWS PUFFS OF AIR OUT HIS NOSE AND IS VERY ANTSY. HE IS NORMALLY VERY CALM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HIS TEACHERS AT SCHOOL AND THEY SAY HE IS STILL PERFORMING WELL IN SCHOOL BUT SEVERAL HAVE NOTICED THE "NOISES". I ASKED THEM NOT TO CALL ATTENTION TO HIM AND TO LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CHANGES OR IF THE "NOISES" START TO DISRUPT CLASS. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PED NEUROLOGIST ON 3/1...I CAN'T WAIT!! FOR SOME REASON, THE DR GAVE HIM ONE REFILL ON HIS ANTIBIOTIC; SO I GOT IT REFILLED AND HAVE GIVEN IT TO HIM WITH LITTLE RESULTS. IT ISN'T CONSTANT BUT STILL QUITE SEVERE. HE SAYS HE FEELS AS IF HE HAS TO DO IT, SO I TOLD HIM TO GO AHEAD. I ALSO TOLD HIM TO TELL ME IF IT BOTHERS HIM AT ALL, BUT THANKFULLY HE SAYS IT DOESN'T. I HAVE ALSO NOTICE A PERSONALITY CHANGE IN HIM...HE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REASON WITH. IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD DO FOR HIM UNTIL WE SEE THE NEURO? I DO FEEL LIKE IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STREP THROAT INFECTION, BUT HE WASN'T SICK BEFORE THE FIRST 2 EPISODES (OTHER THAN YOUR REGULAR SEASONAL ALLERGIES). WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

WE ACTUALLY DID IT!! I DID NOT SEE ANY REAL IMPROVEMENT IN MY SON'S TICS, BUT COULD THIS BE BECAUSE I WAS SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH HIM THAT I SAW EVERY LITTLE TIC HE HAD? IT DID HELP ME TO SEE WHEN HIS TICS GOT ALOT WORSE; MAINLY AFTER MEALS, SWIMMING, AND GETTING TOO HOT. EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT GET THE RESULT WE WANTED, I AM STILL VERY HAPPY THAT WE TRIED IT. I ENJOYED SPENDING THE TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE ALOT LESS TV WATCHING IN MY HOME. AND WE WILL DO ANOTHER "NO SCREENS" WEEK IN THE FUTURE JUST TO BE SURE THERE IS NO CONNECTION. I AM GOING TO TRY THE FEINGOLD DIET ONCE WE GET BACK FROM VACATION BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED THAT ARTIFICIAL COLORS AND FLAVORS ARE HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON HIM (MY MOM GAVE HIM A RED AND PURPLE POPSICLE AND HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS CONSTANLY FOR HOURS). WE WILL NOT BE MAKING THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. WE ARE TRYING TO DO ONE THING AT A TIME TO SEE WHAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT, BUT I WANT TO TRY IT ALL NOW. CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF IT HURTS MY SON OR IF HE GETS TIRED FROM DOING HIS TICS SO OFTEN? THE VOCAL TICS DO NOT UPSET ME AS MUCH AS SEEING HIM TENSE UP AND SHRUG HIS SHOULDERS AND CLENCH HIS HANDS. HIS LITTLE BODY MUST BE TIRED. THANKS, CARMON

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE. IN REFERENCE TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT VACCINATIONS OR STREP? AS FAR AS I KNOW HE HASN'T HAD ANY STREP INFECTIONS AND HIS LAST VACCINATION WAS 7/03. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY HEALTHY WITH A FEW COLDS AND EAR INFECTIONS SINCE BIRTH. HE DID RECEIVE AN X-BOX ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO AND WATCHES LOTS OF TV. I READ THE ADVICE THAT CLAIRE POSTED FOR NEW MEMBERS AND WE STARTED THE "SCREEN FREE" WEEK YESTERDAY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I AM ALSO GOING TO MONITOR HIS DIET AND WE ARE ON THE MULTIVITAMINS (ARTIFICIAL COLOR & FLAVOR FREE). I WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN, IT IS SOMEHOW CALMING AND INSPIRING TO READ WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN; ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING WORKS!!! CARMON

MY 4 YR OLD SON HAS SUDDENLY DEVELOPED APPROX. 10 DIFFERENT TICS. HE DID BLINK HIS EYES FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS LAST SUMMER BUT IT WENT AWAY AFTER TREATING WITH EYE DROPS. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DENNIS DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER IN LITTLE ROCK, AR, BUT IT ISN'T UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST. I AM GOING CRAZY TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS. I FEEL CERTAIN IT IS TOURETTES JUST BY HIS SYMPTOMS. MY MAIN QUESTION IS FOR PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN TESTED POSITIVE FOR A NUMBER OF ALLERGIES...DID THEY EVER SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS OF HAVING ALLERGIES? CAN YOU BE ALLERGIC TO SOMETHING YOU ARE EXPOSED TO ON A DAILY BASIS AND HAVE NO SYMPTOMS? HE DRINKS MILK (2 8 OZ GLASSES A DAY AT LEAST), EATS CHEESE, AND IS DEFINITLEY EXPOSED TO DUST MITES. I HAVE NEVER OBSERVED ANY ADVERSE REACTIONS TO THE FOODS HE EATS OR ANYTHING ELSE. THIS ALL CAME OUT OF THE BLUE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.