What if they don't care if they tic?

[Guest Lulu]

Hi All,

 

Just looking for some advice. We are watching his diet and giving supplements which do help the tics. However, my 11 year old son asks every day, "Do I HAVE to take my vitamins??" - hence provoking a little unpleasantry every single morning. The bottom line is that they are helping both his immune system and his tics. There are also other triggers but he just doesn't care if he tics. He said it's just part of who he is (hooray for the acceptance!) so he doesn't see why he should have to take the vitamins or stay away from some things he likes just to keep them at bay since they don't bother him (only me!)

 

That's a tough one to debate! On the one hand he has a healthy self-image, apparently, but on the other hand he is getting more into the "jr high" age where he will become more and more self-conscious and the kids will start getting meaner. I'm certain it will bother him at some point but don't want to wait until that late date to address things. Any advice which tactic to take?

 

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Lulu

[Claire]

I go through this sort of debate on supplements all the time and battle it with myself.

 

First, I think it is a very personal family decision and may shift with time.

 

In your case, I believe your child had/has issues with ADD? So many of the same immune issues contribute to both that I believe it will ultimately make his school days easier for the supplements you give him.

 

In other words, the tics are just a symptom that makes what you are doing more measurable.

 

I know that Chemar's child had good luck with education in middle school, but I have heard too many stories on Braintalk of children being teased. I had problem skin and it took me years and years to recover a feeling of confidence from all the teasing I took in 7th grade from a group of very mean boys. Even if they aren't visible enough to be a focal point, as Alison said, her son just appeared more confident when he isn't ticcing--that relaxation of face and manner that we noticed also.

 

My son is dealing with middle school now, and believe me, the homework and the changes are big. But socially, he is so happy and I believe the new friendships he easily makes are his anchor.

 

Occasionally we will skip a day of supplements. Somedays they really make him gag. I know, because I take the same amount daily! One rough time period I told him that he could choose the day every 10 days that he would skip. I also went out of my way and found chewable C, mag/cal, B12 and iron (iron is occasional). Those cal/mags were horse pills. I still do one mag taurate capsule a day. For some, I do every other day. I also looked into compounding, but never did it, because I shift dosages too often.

 

The only thing I would focus on is that it is for health and not for the tics. I tell my son it is only temporary.

 

Of course over the summer, you may wish to do more experimentation with amounts. I do this occasionally to find the minimum he needs.

 

Good luck, it doesn't get easier with middle school!

 

Claire

[Andy]

I don't know what to say but being a parent is not easy and being a parent with a child who has a condition, any condition is just harder.

[Chemar]

Hi Lulu

 

I fully understand your dilemma

 

I honestly believe it is most important to help your child by not putting too much pressure on him

 

i had to learn that with my son...and thankfully we learned together, so that where he was stressed about supps etc at times, he also realised when he didnt take them, it wasnt just that he ticced more, his concentration, moods, sleep and general health were just "off"

 

now that he doesnt need the supps anymore, he has realised the same with the healthy foods.....if he lets it slip and goes for junk, he feels yuck

 

nnow as everyone knows, when it came to screens...the stress it caused him to have restrictions was far greater than any tic or ocd combined and so he self regulates there.

 

it is actually very encouraging to see just how much they do take responsibility when they get a little older.

 

so I guess what i am saying is......do your best to get him to sticj with the program, but if it gets that he needs a break...let him and he may well realise that he feels better on them

 

it is great that he is not bothered by his tics or what others think

 

that was a very liberating time for my son as he did experience (and still does) the kids who are cruel (and even the adults who stare or make remarks!!!!) but he has learned to deal with it and many kids who used to tease him are now his friends...because he simply told them why he ticced and after a quick course in neurological disorders they often feel a bit shamed and actually start to look at him in a different light and then realise that he is a regular kid who tics and hey presto...new friends

[The7roses]

Chemar,

 

What tics does your son have that kids tease him about? Is he just facial or are limbs involved?

 

Even though Devyn is only in 4th, I have already started to prepare myself to homeschool him once he gets to middle school as I couldn't bear the teasing he might have to endure. Of course, he also has the anxiety disorder so it becomes a double whammy for him.

 

How much have the supplemtns helped your sons tics?

 

Marcia

[Chemar]

Hi Marcia

 

It is mainly facial grimaces and especially vocal tics that seem to be the ones that other kids pick up on

 

My son is a very sociable person, and makes friends easily, and he absolutely hated the 6 months of homeschooling that he had to have after he had the severe reaction to zyprexa and then the med withdrawal. he just was too ill to be in school so we homeschooled for the rest of that year and he desperately missed the school environment, teasers and all.

 

I honestly think that for him, learning to deal with insensitive and unpleasant people has been a very important preparation for life. Instead of hiding from it, he faced it full on, and as I mentioned before, turned some of the teasers into friends by educating them, somewhat shaming them for their intolerance and then proving to them that not only are people with TS just regular people who tic, but also that TS people are very bright and talented, and in my son's case, a very witty and endearing sense of humour.

 

sometimes we try to shelter our children from pain, but eventually they are going to have to be able to deal with the world, and the resilience that my son has learned thru these formative years has become a strength.

yes, there were times when my heart would break for him when he shared some of what he went thru with his peers, but overall I am glad I allowed him to find his own way of dealing with it, knowing he would always have our shoulders to lean on when it became hard to bear.

 

I must say that overall, the kids we have encountered have been very supportive and understanding, both in the private school setting and now in public school. in fact, my son actually finds the public school kids a lot more tolerant and accepting!

 

 

In answer to your question re the supplements

a resounding YES!

I feel the combination of the supps and the other natural treatments, with MUCH PRAYER, have gotten him to where he is now....

 

I am not sure if you have read my updates, but he is now actually only taking a multi with added EFAs and careful to avoid especially dietary tic triggers.

His tics are very mild, OCD negligible, ADD so improved that he is in advanced classes for all his 8th grade subjects except does regular math, getting As and on the honour roll.

PERSEVERANCE PAYS!