kim

Samsmom, I'm bumping this thread up for you. This is the lab that Claire ordered the test from. I have one sitting here for both of the boys too. You might want to read on this page, it gives a little more info. Go about 1/3 way down and you will see DETERMINING MERCURY TOXICITY (fractionated urine porphyrins test) http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/ANDY_INDEX.html

Wow, Giselle, you put me through a whole range of emotions in a very short time frame here. Yes, it is wonderful that Hoyt volunteered to share his talent, and now you know too! Yes, the teacher's honesty, had benefits, BUT...The whole idea of someone not appearing "perfect" enough to be showcased in a Christmas program, is just such a irony. I don't think the one that is truly being honored at Christmas, would agree with this rational. If Hoyt was having a hard time, at that particular time, what would be wrong with letting him go on stage just before his solo? It just seems like there would be some pretty easy ways to remedy her concerns. A little flexability sure seems in order here, and not to make her or the audience comfortable, just Hoyt. I will SO be hoping this works out the way it should. It's nice to see you here again too, you've been missed! Kim

Cell mediated Immunity=TH1 Humoral immunity=TH2 http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstra...pe2=tf_ipsecsha We conclude that there is a relative skewing of CSFL profiles toward type 1 cytokines in patients with OCD, whereas in schizophrenia the relative preponderance is toward type 2 mediators. Patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder exhibited profiles intermediate between OCD and schizophrenia. We infer that cell-mediated immunity may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of OCD, whereas a relative lack of cell-mediated immunity and involvement of humoral immunity may be present in schizophrenia. These data provide a rationale for immune- based strategies of study and therapeutics in childhood neuropsychiatric disease. http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/24/7/1780 A broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders is described in association with human GABHS infection, including SC, OCD, TS, and ADHD. Several lines of evidence suggest a role for humoral immunity in these disorders, including the presence of antineuronal antibodies (Husby et al., 1977; Kiessling et al., 1994; http://www.roystonclinic.com/autoimmune.htm TH1 dominant conditions include : Crohn’s disease Diabetes type I Hashimoto’s disease & Grave's Disease (thyroiditis) Psoriasis Rheumatoid arthritis Sarcoidosis (may be Th2 also) TH2 dominant conditions include: Allergies Asthma Chronic Sinusitis Many Cancers Hepatitis C Ulcerative colitis Viral infections This article contains a table of up and down regulators of the TH1 and THs systems also

Samsmom, Tyramine and Tyrosine are both discussed a bit on Bonnie's site (developer of the Bontech vits) http://www.bonniegr.com/Interview%20with%20Bonnie.htm Then you might want to start reading here. http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?encque...er&ie=UTF-8 It would be great, if you could come back with anything that you learn. Maybe you can point out, where in some cases supplementing may be beneficial, or confirm that you don't think this is something that you want to see your son take. Kim

I have posted a couple of links to articles that were written by someone who posts on the mothering.com forum, previously. These articles were really amazing at pointing out some of the reasons why vaccines may be linked to immune system disorders that are on the rise in children. Even if you have no interest in immunization, these are good reading, in regards to immune function. One thing that's discusssed is the two (with the possibility of a 3rd) arms of the immune system. I think she says that the TH2 arm has only been really investigated or known about since sometime in the 1980's? Basically, the TH1 system is the "search and destroy" arm, and the TH2 is kind of like the clean up crew, that comes in, and tells "search and destroy" to go home, and "remembers" the the invader, for the next attack. The relationship btwn TH2 and inflammation, seems could be very important. I have this saved on a notepad, I think it's from one of the two articles; Vitamins can have a huge impact on the Th1-Th2 response of the immune system. While the research on this is in its infancy, and I have no doubt there will be inconsistent findings as there always is to begin with, some interesting findings are already emerging showing that vitamins have a direct effect on development of the Th1 or Th2 immune system. (Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Vol 18, No 3, March 1999 pages 283-290) It is known, for instance that Vitamin C seems to suppress the Th2 system, and promote the Th1 system (pg 286, ref above), which is why asthmatics on Vitamin C have fewer and less severe attacks than those who don’t take Vitamin C. (Trop Geogr Med 1980;32:132-7). It has also been shown that the mean vitamin C levels in patients with asthma is significantly lower than in healthy control subjects (Afr J Med Sci. 1985;14:115-120) and that Vitamin C can have a protective effect and block Exercise-Induced Asthma (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Vol 151, April 1997, pg 367). You can read one paper here http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:MkNJmE...11&ie=UTF-8 I think the other, was the one I was having problems getting to come up, after posting the link. I can try again, if anyone is interested. This is just a google search of Th1 and TH2 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=...G=Google+Search.

Sunshine, I was FINALLY able to find zinc picolinate at a local vit shoppe. It's supposed to be a easily absorbable form. Don't know that it's the "best," but recommended often. What I really liked about it, is that it's only 22 mgs. It's a small coated pill. Since my guys take Bontech vits too, I didn't want any high amts. of zinc in a separate supplement. Most that I found were 50 mgs. and I would have to cut them. I have always tried to give it alone, right before bed, because I had read that it was best given alone too, although I didn't remember why. Like Claire pointed out though, I don't worry about it too much, if it doesn't work out that way.

Patty, I just bought my limited eater, Stoneyfield organic yogurt tonight. I also have been buying Dannon Active L. Casei Immunitus (whatever that means) and Dannon Activia (has bifdo, which I see recommended often)for his take to school lunch. I stopped giving him yogurt for a while because of the sugar content, but he needs more protein, and calories. He's starting to look thin again. Also, it's so hard to keep all sweets away. From what I have read, the yogart feeds the yeast because of the sugar, and I have to wonder how able the good bacteria is able to survive the stomach acid, and reach the area that they need to repopulate. If there is too much yeast present, it may do no good anyway, as there would not be "room" to repopulate. I think the enteric coated probiotics are probably a better way to go. Also, you have to watch for casein sensitivitiy. I do try to give Peptizyde with any milk products. This digestive enzyme has seemed to really help my son. There is an article, under the "Articles" thread, that gives a pretty good overview of probiotics, and what certain ones are helpful for. You may also find a clue there, as to why a certain one seemed to irritate your child's tics? I think that thread has 9 pages. It's probably back, at least 2 or 3 pages. Kim

Claire, After reading your exchange with Chemar on another thread, I thought I would share this here. I googled Citracal, which is the calciom supplement that I have been giving the boys, mostly because it is citrate, and all I could find at the health food stores and even online, was a combination of different calcium, and I wanted no carbonate. I also wanted vitamin D, which Bontech vits, didn't contain at the time. Citracal with D, was the best one I found. I could also buy the petites, and they're coated. We had some that weren't coated, and they were hard for my youngest son to swallow them. They were hard for me too. This is what I found, which made me feel better. It also talks about carbonate as being absorbable???? A couple of the other articles that I read, did too. Confusing. I just hope the information on the lead content is correct. This article states that the maximum FDA rec, intake for lead shouldn't exceed 6.o mcg/day from all sources. I'm assuming that that is a level which could keep you chronically ill, if that's their recommendation whoops, i can't believe I typed that out loud. http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/guides/calcium.htm Some people taking calcium supplements are concerned about lead content. The FDA maximum for lead intake is 6.0 mcg/day. Lead-free calcium supplements include Tums, Walgreen's, Equate, Nature Made, Sundown (all calcium carbonate) as well as Citracal (calcium citrate). Two well known calcium supplements that contain lead are, Caltrate (3.43 mcg/day) and OsCal (1.74 mcg/day). These amounts assume an intake of 1500 mg of calcium per day. Should I be taking calcium carbonate or calcium citrate? In general, calcium carbonate costs less, and is just as effective. Calcium carbonate is best absorbed when taken with meals. Calcium citrate can be taken at any time. If constipation is an issue, calcium citrate (Citracal) may be a better choice for some people. Most experts suggest that patients taking drugs that block stomach acid (this includes medications such as Zantac, Pepcid, Prilosec, or Protonix, but these are not all of the drugs) take calcium citrate rather than calcium carbonate. July 2005 Information maintained by the UMHS Clinical Care Guidelines Committee This is the page that the search pulled up http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=...G=Google+Search

Carolyn, Your recent posts, bring to mind something that I have read about, in relationship to meds used to treat TS. I'm sure that you know how some of these medications can affect appetite. However, I have no idea "why" they cause the intense desire to eat everything in sight. Is there any possibility that a neurotransmitter is causing all of these cravings? Have you increased or decreased any supplements? Are you doing anything different as far as chelation? This may be a real stretch, it's just something I have wondered about, when reading your posts. It sounds so similiar to what a friend experiences, when something gets messed up with one of his medications, although I don't remember it being a specific food. Just anything eatible.

Melissa, I have sent a couple of people, with younger children, a Private message about something in regards to this subject, and have received YES! answers. Since you have a 5 yr. old, I'm wondering if you ever noticed this symptom, which is described in Doris Rapp's book, "Is This Your Child?" I distinctly remember my youngest son, who is now 10, having a red ring around his anus, when he was a baby. I always thought it was odd, because I was almost fanatical about keeping the diaper area clean and frequent changing. This symptom is described in the book that I mentioned above, as being a sign of Candida overgrowth. I'm just curious about how many other people may remember this from their childs infancy? Also, could I ask you what the thrush in your daughters mouth looked like? Was it a white tongue, or white spots on tonsils, or the fleshy part of back of the throat? The bacteria business, is something I've been told too. The product you mentioned for treating yeast, is nothing I've ever heard of on any bds (and I get around a bit, lol). I think your right to really investigate, especially if you have read that it shouldn't be taken orally. There are so many products that are fairly well known, that may be better choices. Interesting about your kids both ticcing around 5. I think many of our kids have symptoms at a much earlier age than what the medical literature states, which I believe is commonly around 7. I didn't know that my oldest son's humming in kindergarden was a tic. I'm so interested in the relationship of onset of symptoms with the timing of vaccines, illness, or any chemical exposures. Thanks for posting and sharing your experience. Kim

article on EFA's, thought I would post as my bookmark file is getting too full and I need to delete some things. http://puterakembara.org/rm/EFA.htm Cheri, if you're reading, there is some info about O3 and crohns about 1/2 way down the page. I'm sure you have read all about the omega's in relation to chrons, just thought I'd mention it anyway.

Debbie, Have been hoping you would have a chance to drop in and let us know how your son's appt. went. It was good to hear that you have seen a reduction in tics. It would be wonderful to hear that you have an open minded neurologist, but if you had the same experience that most of us have had, sadly, that's probably not the case. More than likely you were told that yeast, metal, allergies etc. have no relation to what your son is experiencing. Just keep reading, asking questions and along with considering your Neurologist opinion, go with your Mommy instincts! To borrow a phrase from another poster, your conventional neurologist is one voice, not necessairly the whole choir. Kim

Boy Claire, you've probably given us all something to think about with our calcium supplements. It feels like you have to be looking 360 degrees, all the time doesn't it? I guess the reaction you got with the phospholipid EDTA does indicated a difference, from the less absorable form, that you chose to keep your son on. I will pray that his levels fall using this form. I'm sure slow and study would be fine with you! I'm glad I was "led" to the lead info...you're SO welcome.

Removing link that doesn't work

Well if they implement this game plan, keeping the damaged kids small, might not be an issue http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2437921,00.html Doctors: let us kill disabled babies Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Correspondent ONE of Britain’s royal medical colleges is calling on the health profession to consider permitting the euthanasia of seriously disabled newborn babies. Looking for the reason's why these things are happening to our kids, whether it vaccines, toxins in our environment, drugs that are used, viral/bacterial interactions etc.....will never be looked at seriously anymore since independent study is so underfunded, and Pharma has taken over, right down to what's being published in the medical journals. We need to keep stock values up (companies first obligation is to share holder, ya know) keep the lobbiest happy, keep the CDC and all similiar agencies looking good. Who's going to waste time looking for a "cause" of anything, that might cut into profits. They need to bury, buy off and discredit, that stuff. They may let enough out, to keep from bankrupting society, or maybe the above way of thinking will win out. Maybe damaged older children, should be disposed of too? UNREAL

Cheri, This was interesting, but it referrs to Mom passing down the gunk. http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/toxins060605.cfm What Washington State University researchers discovered -- and report this week in the journal Science -- is that such changes can be passed from generation to generation. This, suffice it to say, flies in the face of some fairly central assumptions in biology. The reference to vit D is kind of interesting here. When good cells go bad The origins of autoimmune disease: a role for vitamin D? http://www.naturalfoodsmerchandiser.com/AS...amp;Screen=HOME

Seems I read something recently about the seams in cans leaching aluminum or lead? High acid, like tomato juice etc. was mentioned as being the worst. There was something bad about the vinyl lining in some cans too. I was thinking I might just start having the family graze in the back yard, but that wouldn't work because of all the pollutants in the air, and I'd be too worried about possible ecoli

Patty, Some time ago, Claire went to great lenghts with me, to point out that stool and blood tests were not reliable (or at least not the most reliable) way to indicate a problem with yeast. It can be missed in stool, and the blood test will indicate more of an allergic reaction, than the level of yeast in the intestinal tract. It seems the most reliable test for candida overgrowth is a urine test. Many use the Great Plains Lab, OAT test. So your son may be experiencing die off, or you could just be changing the ratio of bacteria in the GIT. MY understanding is, that you can have an inbalance of flora, that extends beyond problems with Candida. Something that has caught my attention lately, is the strep bacteria, that can be out of whack (too high) from my understanding. If your probiotic formula is based on the results of a stool test, where there are "known" levels of good bacteria that are low, this is one case where I would take an increase in tics, as a possible good sign. The bacteria that your son is low in, may be crowding out something other than yeast, that was too high. I wish I had a link handy to support this! If I can find one, that explains what I'm trying to say here, I'll post it! You may want to search "gut flora" or something similiar, to see what you can find.

I wonder if they figure that maybe they have hit a "break point" with our infants, and had better start focusing on the older population? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6103101302.html CDC Shifts Vaccine-Data Focus Decision to Survey Teens Instead of Young Children Criticized By David Brown Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, November 1, 2006; Page A10 Federal health officials have decided to forgo gathering detailed data on whether children in 22 big cities are receiving recommended immunizations and instead will survey teenagers, who are the target of several new vaccines. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0126-26.htm Published on Thursday, January 26, 2006 by CommonDreams.org Dr. Frist Immunizes Big Pharma by Dan Hamburg Hidden in the folds of the thickly pork-laden Department of Defense Appropriations bill that slid through Congress just before Christmas and was signed into law a day before New Year’s was a big slab of holiday cheer for the pharmaceutical industry. There were no press releases from congressional offices and no mention in the news – maybe no one wanted to take credit for this latest assault on the 14th amendment. http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/im...suppression.htm From an article on page 9 of the "Articles" thread Vaccines and Immune Suppression According to Van de Water and Ashwood, these studies illustrate that under similar circumstances, the cytokine responses elicited by the T-cells, B-cells, and macrophage cell populations following their activation differs markedly in children with autism compared to age-matched children in the general population. Cytokines are known to affect mood and behavior,

Chemar, I totally agree. I wish I would have started taking my soon to turn 14 yr. old, when the head shaking started around the age of 7/8.

Amy, Is your daughter taking any medications for tics or related conditions? I would CAREFULLY check with pharmacist, and your own reseach to see if there is any contradiction, if she is. Many times, a Dr. won't know. A friend of mine was just prescribed a 4th medication for TS, OCD, ADHD, Bipolar, and Depression. Nobody has bothered to see if there is a connection to his staph (repeated appearance of boils that need to be lanced and drained) yeast infections (yeast ie. rashes that they TELL him are yeasty rashes and give him topical ointments and horrible thrush with antibiotics), allergies etc. But they sure lay on the diagnosis that they can continue to write prescriptions for. When the pharmacist went to fill it, and level 1 warning popped up. He said this was the most dangerous level for drug interaction. The Dr. obviously didn't know. If they don't know about their drugs, don't ever count on them to know about supplement interactions. My son was prescribed an antibiotic for a staph infection, that was made ineffective by a supplement he was taking. The dermatologist was fully aware of my son's supplements, he just didn't know, and didn't bother to check. If meds are involved, ANY supplements should be carefully researched, even if it's an antibiotic.

Debbie, Please read this article. It gives so much information on the immune system, especially as it pertains to younger children. Even if you think that vaccines had nothing to do with your son's condition, there is so much information on the immune system and gut flora etc. that can be learned from reading vaccine research. I think this also has information on why vaccines should NEVER be given close to the time an antibiotic was taken. Since your son is so young, you will need to become as informed as possible regarding vaccines anyway, as you have more decisions ahead. http://www.whale.to/m/butler14.html#DIFFER...N_OR_COW’S_MILK hmmm. Just checked that link, it works fine, but not when I try to click on it from this site. This is another paper that is similiar http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:MkNJmE...11&ie=UTF-8 You might want to go back to your Pediatrician, and ask to have your son's lead levels checked, and just mention that you would like his zinc and copper levels checked too. If they say that they can't check copper, tell them just to do zinc then. I doubt they will give you any problem with at least those two (zinc and lead). Request a copy of any labs that are done on your son, and keep them. If you use the search box at the bottom left of the first page (just type in Zinc or zinc/copper), you should bring up threads on why this might be important. It appears that many of our kids are low in zinc. If you are interested in the PITANDS/PANDAS connection, it's important to get some basic knowledge of the immune system. Again, with your son's age, I'm so glad that you are doing your own reseach now. It appears the younger you get started, the better, in many cases. Please keep us updated on how he's doing.

Claire/Daniel, This is from an article posted on page 9 of the "Articles" thread: MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lead content, assayed using electrothermal atomic absorption, expressed as micrograms of lead per 800 mg/d of elemental calcium, per 1500 mg/d of calcium, and for a range of dosages for patients with renal failure. Six microg/d of lead was considered the absolute dietary limit, with no more than 1 microg/d being the goal for supplements. RESULTS: Four of 7 natural products had measurable lead content, amounting to approximately 1 microg/d for 800 mg/d of calcium, between 1 and 2 microg/d for 1500 mg/d of calcium, and up to 10 microg/d for renal dosages. Four of the 14 refined products had similar lead content, including up to 3 microg/d of lead in osteoporosis calcium dosages and up to 20 microg/d in high renal dosages. No lead was detected in the calcium acetate or polymer products. Lead was present even in some brand name products from major pharmaceutical companies not of natural oyster shell derivation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasingly stringent limits of lead exposure, many calcium supplement formulations contain lead and thereby may pose an easily avoidable public health concern. JAMA. 2000;284:1425-1429.

Chemical exposures: silent pandemic of ND disorders http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547468 November 8, 2006 — An online review article published November 8 in the Lancet says environmental exposure to toxic chemicals in utero and in the early stages of life may be creating a "silent pandemic" of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Patty, My youngest son (10) has been doing little things like that, on and off, for yrs. If there is any good news, it's that it hasn't gotten any worse. For a while, he wouldn't take a shower if he could see a speck of anything on the floor. I think part of his refusal to eat normally may have an OCD component. What your son is doing with his cup, sounds pretty classic, although, I think many NT (neurotypical..like that word, since it helps you avoid using "normal" ) kids go through phases of things like that too.