nola

Thank you for your responses. I had a few good cries this morning and I'm ready to tackle this again. Cj60, to answer your question, I was giving my son Animal Parade but I read that this may have artificial ingredients. Would you or anyone have another recommendation? I also stopped giving the HMF probiotic because I heard that it could cause tics. Could a multi cause increased tics, as well? I'll try increasing the Natural Calm. Apparently, a side-effect is uncontrollable diarrhea. Is that correct? Would you happen to have a recommendation for the L-carnitine. I believe Chemar mentioned to give him up to 500mg. I've been giving him 250 in the morning and 250 at night. Should I do it in one dose? Mommyfor4, I think I will try the flax oil. Is there a particular brand you or anyone else would recommend? What's the dose? My son is a whopping (not really) 45 pound 8 year old. He is ultra-skinny. Thanks for all the help. Trying to get through another day. I am off to his school this afternoon to celebrate his bday. I'm worried about what I'll find. Nola

Elizabeth, was this all through your LLMD? As of now, I have no one but our wonderful pediatrician. Unfortunately, she is not an expert of tic disorders and is highly suspicious of other natural or homeopathic remedies.

Thanks, Elizabeth! I look forward to hearing from the other mom. I really don't know much about lyme disease. I've never noticed a rash on my son. He does have odd fevers here and there. In fact, he had a fever of 103 on Saturday. By Sunday, his fever was gone but his tics skyrocketed! Is there another way to get lyme disease without a tick bite? Do you mind telling me what kinds of treatments you did for your child? Is it treated with antibiotics? I've heard so many things about antibiotics. I've been told (from our homeopath) that antibiotics mask the disease (like strep) and makes it hide deeper in the tissue making it worse later on. I don't know what to believe. How long before you saw improvements? Thanks so much!

Hello everyone, I'm somewhat new to this forum. I've been doing most of my posts in the Tourettes/Tics forums. This evening, I decided to explore this topic. My son started his tics at 3. It began with excessive blinking and shoulder shrugs. It was never that bad. In August 2010, his tics exploded. He has had neck rolls, eye blinking, and throat clearing. Currently, he is doing a very loud and intense breathing in and out and humming sound. He does it so much that he says he has trouble breathing. I am so scared for him. Out of despair, I began reading through this forum. Could this be caused by lyme? We live in Oakland, Ca. We don't hike much or live near woods. I'm willing to get him tested. Poor guy is going through so much. Can anyone tell me where I can go to have him tested? I would appreciate any help. I'm feeling so helpless and I don't know where to start. Thank you, Nola

Hello, I think it's really time for me to find someone who specializes in TS. I live in Oakland, CA. I'd really like someone who could give me alternatives to medications. I'd like someone who can help me order the right kinds of tests. My poor little guy is getting poked and prodded but I don't know if we're doing the right tests. Please help. Thank you! Nola

Hi Everyone, My son's (age 8) tics are bad yet again. They've been good since Christmas and then... His vocal tics are so bad that he says he is having a hard time breathing. He does a very loud and intense breathing in and out with a humming sound. On Saturday, he had a very high fever (103.2) with vomiting. Amazingly, his fever was gone by Sunday but his tics were out of control. Sadly, Sunday was also his eighth birthday. I just finished laying in bed with him for 30 minutes until he fell asleep. I was hoping that the supplements we were giving him were working. We started L-carnitine two times a day at 250 mg each. We are doing Natural Calm two times a day at 1/4 tspn each. Should we increase the doses? We are also doing Epsom baths. I want to try fish oil but I'm scared. Is there another alternative? Well, I suppose I should address my topic. My son's teeth, gums, mouth in general are bothering him. A couple of his top teeth are coming in (very slowly). Could this be triggering his tics? Could the fever have triggered it? Is there anything I can do? It feels good knowing that there are others out there. It's so hard watching this vibrant, fun, and loving boy go through this.

Thank you for your responses. It's so difficult trying to figure out what I can give, what is safe, and how much to give. Who do I consult? My son's neurologist and pediatrician don't have alternative suggestions besides medication. What kind of specialist do we see? Is there any way to get insurance coverage?

Megan, I have a multi-vit but haven't been consistent. I decided to take him off the probiotic. It's been a few days but tics are still bad. Tonight was bad. Do you think I should try flax or krill first? If he reacted badly to the fish oil, would it get better once taken off of it? I feel like this is a science experiment. I've heard people mention NAET but I am not familiar with it. Does anyone know a NAET specialist in the Bay Area (Oakland, Berkeley, CA)?

Hello, I joined this forum a few months ago. My son has recently been diagnosed with TS. We just can't seem to get a handle on it and I'm so worried about him. I'm thinking about trying craniopathy. I was just wondering if anyone has tried it with or without success. Another route we have considered is also cognitive behavioral therapy or self-hypnosis. Anyone tried that approach? All of this is so expensive and insurance doesn't cover anything. We want to make sure that we choose correctly. I would appreciate any thoughts. Thank you.

Thank you all for your suggestions. My son is still ticcing but it isn't as intense as late December. It seems to come and go with intensity. We decided to try the Natural Calm (1/4 tsp. in morning, 1/4 tsp. at night). We are also trying L-carnitine (250 mg./daily) and Epsom baths at night. I'm not sure if it's working but his tics decreased a few days after taking Natural Calm. Big Al mentioned that many people try fish oil but for some tics may worsen. I'm wondering if I should give it a try. If it doesn't work for my son, what should I expect to see and how quickly will it affect him? If it is working, how long before we see benefits? If it triggers tics, will stopping the fish oil quickly relieve them? What would be an alternative to fish oil if it doesn't work? What's the dosage? Sorry for all of the questions. I'm doing this all myself. I don't have a doctor who specializes in alternative medicine so I'm taking this slowly. I don't know where to turn to for medical advice. Patty, you mentioned that fish oil and probiotics triggered tics in your son. Is probiotics something I should worry about? I really appreciate this site. Thank you! Nola

Hello everyone, I just need to vent because I don't know what else to do. I started writing about my son (7 years old) in October. He's getting worse. His vocal tic is so bad that it's affecting his speech. He can barely get a sentence out without ticcing. It's like a really bad stutter. I don't know what else to do. His humming (more like breathing in and out) and throat clearing are so intense and loud. There's so much force behind it and I'm worried that he's going to hyperventilate. Does TS really get this bad? What do I do? Will it be bad forever? Can someone share a success story? I need to hear something good. Thank you, Nola

Hi everyone, Thanks for the replies. October was a bad month. November was better. It's gotten worse again this past week. My son is back to doing his tics constantly (head moving, humming, and throat clearing). I'm so worried that he's going to hyperventilate. I think I'm hyperventilating. We are on our 4th month of homeopathy. We are working with a really lovely person named Lyndel from the Houston Center of Homeopathy. Is anyone familiar with that center? I heard about it from a friend who has a son with autism. Lyndel seems wonderful and I really want to believe in her and her protocol. I'd love to hear what people think about homeopathy. I'd like to start Kid's Calm and I think someone mentioned a magnesium supplement. Is this okay to give with the homeopathic remedies? I've also been told that Niacin might help calm down his tics. Has anyone used Niacin? We are also considering seeing a cognitive behavioral therapist named Dr. Lazarus. I think he's in San Ramon, CA. Anyone heard of him?? Thank you to "Eljomom and keeptrying" for your personal messages. Every morning I wake up anxious wondering what the day will bring. After school, I hold my breath waiting to see if the tics have gotten worse or if he's had a bad day. I don't want to give up on him but I don't know if what I'm doing is having any affect. I'm just so worried that these tics are hurting him. They aren't, are they? Thanks again to everyone's responses.

Hello Everyone, I joined the forum about a month ago and posted a few messages regarding my 7 year old's tics. Last month, I was very desperate and felt helpless. I just wanted to thank everyone who wrote back and responded to my posts. I had to take a break from the "internet" because I was driving myself crazy with worry. I just wanted to give an update on my son's progress and get advice from the wise members of this group. We saw the neurologist on Tuesday and he was officially diagnosed with tourettes. It's been such a sad few months. He continues to do neck turns, throat clearing, blinking, and some grimacing. It's not as bad as it was last month. Last month, he was doing non-stop tics (no breaks, no rests). It was very sad and scary to watch. So far, we continue to do homeopathy but have decreased some remedies. If you can believe it, he also got pneumonia last month and was put on antibiotics. I wonder if the antibiotics will or have made things worse. We are on our second month of a gluten and wheat free diet. Not seeing any changes, though. We're considering a cognitive behavioral therapist but the neurologist says it might not work if my son isn't motivated enough. I would love some advice on any other remedies out there. I've seen posts talking about Bonnie's supps (supplements?), Kid's Calm, and NAET. Can someone explain those remedies to me? I'm very new to this. Every day is scary to me. I am worried the minute I wake up wondering what I'll see or hear next. I am worried when I pick him up after school because he's often worse at the end of a school day. I'm trying so hard not to let him see my concern but it's wearing on me. Please help. Thank you! P.S. Chemar, thank you for you email response. So sorry I haven't replied. I've been quite overwhelmed.

Hi again, I feel like this is my only outlet and have been writing lots of messages. I mentioned in some other posts that I am new to homeopathy. I hope you all wouldn't mind perusing the remedies I give my son to let me know if they are potent enough to provoke a strong reaction. I am so worried about my son. He has been doing the worst tics that I've ever seen in the last two weeks. Today, he was terrified because his tics (clearing, humming, sniffing, etc) were so bad that he couldn't breath. Well, here are the remedies... Droppers: Max Alkalize (alkaline support), OCD extra lite (strep elmination), Gamma Globulin (immune support), Peyer's Patch (lymphoid tissue support), TL/Acon/Ign/CC (emotional support), Max thymus and immune support, Caust/Agar/Carc/Med (for tics) Pellets: B2 Bacterial (antibacterial), Secretin/CCK Hom, V07 Pellets (immune support), U 3x (immune stimmulation), R 3x (immune stimulation) He also gets packets to clear past antibiotics. Chemar, you mentioned that Agaricus brought out your son's tics? Is that the same as "Agar"? Did the tics lessen when you stopped? I give that dropped 3 times a day. Will this new tic pass? It's been two weeks since the "bad" tics. Thank you so much!

Thanks so much for your replies. I've been having such a hard time. This evening his tics were so bad. He was clearing his throat, sniffing, and humming so much that he started coughing and said he couldn't breath. He looked terrified. I had to hold him and we sang together until he calmed down. I was so scared. Is it supposed to be this bad. It's never been this bad before. As mentioned, I am trying out homeopathy. This is our 3rd month. I would appreciate any other suggestions. This is so new to me and I have so many questions. What is NAET? Bonnie's Sup? Kid's Calm? Can I give those things with homeopathy? The homeopath said to try 1000 units of no-flush niacin. Has anyone tried that? Chemar mentioned that a tongue swab isn't sufficient to test for a yeast infection. What should he have done? Are these tics hurting him? They hurt me. Sorry for all the questions. It helps to get this all out. It's hard to talk to other people including my husband because it seems to real when I do. To answer Chemar's questions...I don't think anyone in our family has had tics. There is a history of depression and one family member committed suicide. We noticed his tics around 2 1/2 years of age. Not sure if there's a correlation with vaccinations but he always had side effects, fevers, rashes when he got them. What's the opinion of vaccinations on this forum? One last question...Does anyone have any recommendations for knowledgeable doctors in the Bay Area/Oakland/Berkeley? Thank you for your help.

Thanks so much for your replies. I've been having such a hard time. This evening his tics were so bad. He was clearing his throat, sniffing, and humming so much that he started coughing and said he couldn't breath. He looked terrified. I had to hold him and we sang together until he calmed down. I was so scared. Is it supposed to be this bad. It's never been this bad before. As mentioned, I am trying out homeopathy. This is our 3rd month. I would appreciate any other suggestions. This is so new to me and I have so many questions. What is NAET? Bonnie's Sup? Kid's Calm? Can I give those things with homeopathy? The homeopath said to try 1000 units of no-flush niacin. Has anyone tried that? Chemar mentioned that a tongue swab isn't sufficient to test for a yeast infection. What should he have done? Are these tics hurting him? They hurt me. Sorry for all the questions. It helps to get this all out. It's hard to talk to other people including my husband because it seems to real when I do. To answer Chemar's questions...I don't think anyone in our family has had tics. There is a history of depression and one family member committed suicide. We noticed his tics around 2 1/2 years of age. Not sure if there's a correlation with vaccinations but he always had side effects, fevers, rashes when he got them. What's the opinion of vaccinations on this forum? One last question...Does anyone have any recommendations for knowledgeable doctors in the Bay Area/Oakland/Berkeley? Thank you for your help.

Hello Lenny, I cried when I saw your message. We are going through a very difficult period right now. My son (7yo) has the worst tics that I've seen since they began 5 years ago. He is constantly (24/7) sniffing, taking short breaths, and clearing his throat. He is also doing some body movements and facial tics. Last week, the doctor finally stated that he thinks it's definitely tourettes. I've been a wreck and crying nonstop for the last two weeks. I don't know what to do to help him. Is it really supposed to be this bad for him? Could it be something else? This evening, he scared us because his tics were so intense that he said he was having a hard time breathing. He looked terrified and I sang him a song to calm him down. I'm afraid for him. We just started a gluten-free/wheat free diet. I think it's going to be tough at school, though. He wants to eat the school snacks. We are also doing homeopathy. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm very new to this. We just started the homeopathy 2 1/2 months ago. What is NAET? Please help. All my waking moments are filled with concern and heartbreak for my son. I feel helpless.

Hi, Thanks so much for the response. Today was a hard day. I took my son to the doctor to check out his white tongue and to observe his tics. The doctor thinks he has Tourettes. I'm a mess. I don't know what to do next. The doc swabbed his tongue to check for a yeast infection. He doesn't think it's the case, though. He also mentioned that he doesn't feel that there is a correlation between a yeast infection and tics. I also persuaded him to give my son the Strep Titer test. Doc also doesn't believe in PANDAS. Is this really Tourettes? His past tics weren't so intense. Of course, he had really excessive blinking and throat clearing but compared to what he's doing now, it was nothing. My son is now constantly (every second) making breathing noises. It almost sounds like he's having an asthma attack. How do I help him at school so he doesn't feel self conscious or embarrassed? Is that even possible? I feel lost and would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Hi, Thanks so much for the response. Today was a hard day. I took my son to the doctor to check out his white tongue and to observe his tics. The doctor thinks he has Tourettes. I'm a mess. I don't know what to do next. The doc swabbed his tongue to check for a yeast infection. He doesn't think it's the case, though. He also mentioned that he doesn't feel that there is a correlation between a yeast infection and tics. I also persuaded him to give my son the Strep Titer test. Doc also doesn't believe in PANDAS. Is this really Tourettes? His past tics weren't so intense. Of course, he had really excessive blinking and throat clearing but compared to what he's doing now, it was nothing. My son is now constantly (every second) making breathing noises. It almost sounds like he's having an asthma attack. How do I help him at school so he doesn't feel self conscious or embarrassed? Is that even possible? I feel lost and would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

**I copied this reply from another forum so excuse the repetition** Hello everyone, I am new to this forum but have visited several times. Today I had a breakdown and I feel the need to write to someone. My son is 7 years old. He's had a tic since he was about 3 years of age. They began with shrugs and excessive eye blinking. Currently, he is experiencing some very intense humming and quick breathing tics. I can take the throat clearing, eye blinking, and neck rolls, but this one really worries me. He has yet to be diagnosed with anything. We are in the "wait and see" mode. We have, however, tried a few things. Currently, we are trying homeopathy. It's only been 2 months but his tics seem to be worsening and I feel rather helpless. I think I might try to change his diet. I've read that Gluten and Wheat products could worsen his tics. Should I get him tested? Also, I've noticed that he has a very white tongue. When we saw the dentist, we were told that it was excessive plaque. Could it be a yeast infection? I may be reaching but I think that they occur at the same time his tics show up. I'm afraid that this might be Tourettes. Is he too young for this diagnoses? The pediatrician is hoping that it is an adolescent tic and will decrease as he gets older. I don't know what to do and I feel overwhelmed with my research. Should I start with the yeast infection? Is there a link between yeast infections and vocal/motor tics? I would appreciate any help. Thank you.

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum but have visited several times. Today I had a breakdown and I feel the need to write to someone. My son is 7 years old. He's had a tic since he was about 3 years of age. They began with shrugs and excessive eye blinking. Currently, he is experiencing some very intense humming and quick breathing tics. I can take the throat clearing, eye blinking, and neck rolls, but this one really worries me. He has yet to be diagnosed with anything. We are in the "wait and see" mode. We have, however, tried a few things. Currently, we are trying homeopathy. It's only been 2 months but his tics seem to be worsening and I feel rather helpless. I think I might try to change his diet. I've read that Gluten and Wheat products could worsen his tics. Should I get him tested? Also, I've noticed that he has a very white tongue. When we saw the dentist, we were told that it was excessive plaque. Could it be a yeast infection? I may be reaching but I think that they occur at the same time his tics show up. I'm afraid that this might be Tourettes. Is he too young for this diagnoses? The pediatrician is hoping that it is an adolescent tic and will decrease as he gets older. I don't know what to do and I feel overwhelmed with my research. Should I start with the yeast infection? Is there a link between yeast infections and vocal/motor tics? I would appreciate any help. Thank you.