KellyL39

I see there is another topic about this, but I've been upset since watching the special on Tourettes? My husband didn’t want me to watch it, but I did anyway and I haven’t been able to sleep since. In my opinion, there was nothing inspirational or helpful about this program. All it left me with was a feeling of helpless/hopelessness. I have been able to deal with all of this based on our neurologist telling us that most TS is mild and manageable. I did not think that was the message of this show. To sum it up (and I'm paraphrasing), they basically said it’s neurological and treatments are ineffective, other then the one child that had deep brain stimulation (so scary to me). They also said it typically starts with eye blinking, and then transient tics and then full blown TS that progressively gets worse. They also said rage is a common part of the disorder. Is this the progression experience of the people on this board? Don’t get me wrong, I truly felt sympathy for these families and know this is the reality of what they deal with. I just wish there was some positive outcomes included or more about alternative therapies. Why is it so hard for the media to include encouragement in their documentaries?

Thank you all so much for your replies, I really appreciate it!

Thanks Chemar, so if I'm understanding you correctly, the waning you saw was with each specific tic and not necessarily a decrease or improvement with the tics overall? I know this isn't a science, I just want to believe that the supplements & diet changes are working and I'm not just seeing the calm before the storm. I don't mean this question with any disrespect, but how did you know it was the alternative treatment and not just waning or that your son was maybe just "growing out of the tics"? I'm trying to figure out how to decipher all of this Also, I have seen your posts before and commend you for all you do on this board. Lastly, if you don't mind me asking - how is your son coping with his TS 10 years into it? Thanks again, Kelly

Hello! I’ve been reading the board for a while and was able to gather a lot of great information in helping my son. However, I have a few questions and am hoping someone might be able to help me. A little background… At the beginning of this year my 5 year old son started with an eye blinking tic. A few months later more tics started to appear, we have seen facial grimacing, grunting, chin to chest tics and he was making some strange hand movements for a while. His doctor kept telling us that childhood tics are common and not to worry too much about them. That was easier said then done. Then he sent us to a neurologist that confirmed he has tics, but didn’t give us an official diagnosis. She said if they weren’t bothering him that we should ignore them and come back if we ever need to medicate him. Not very helpful! To be honest this has been the hardest year of my life. I have read some very scary things about TS and many of the stories I read online haunt me when I try to sleep at night. I am so worried this disorder is going to steal my little boy from me. This past May I decided I could not sit around and do nothing, so I started him on the Bontech supplements and we started a new diet routine – organic, no artificial anything and we have reduced dairy, sugar and gluten. Anyway, at onset his tics were almost constant and over the past few months we have seen a major reduction in them. In fact, his vocal has almost gone away completely. My question is, at what point can you say it’s the supplements and diet and not just the waning of tics? Do most people see patterns in the waxing/waning or is it completely random? Also, I’m wondering will his body adjust to the supplements & at some point they won’t be affective anymore? I’ve heard this happens with traditional medicines. ’m still trying to figure all of this out and am hoping for a little direction. Thank you so much.