To Chemar

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Chemar

 

As Claire rightly mentioned you have amazed every member of this forum (consistently) with your knowledge on supplements and more than that with your kindness and willingness to help! Keep up your good work.

 

I have a question for you in this regard.. You mentioned that your 15 year old son is no longer on his usual course of elaborate supplements like before.

 

1) Why did you withdraw his supplements ? Was he tic free or did you think that the supplements were no longer required?

2) Did you notice any noticeable increase in his tics after he is out of his supplements?

3) Did you wane the supplements gradually or did you come out of them immediately?

4) Did you get any naturopath's guidance before doing the same?

5) Does he still tic? If so, do they wax and wane still or is it at a constant level? What are his tics now and how frequent are they?

6) How is his OCD after the supplement withdrawal?

7) For how long did you give him the complete course of the supplements?

 

sorry for so many questions but I am sure this reply would help a LOT of parents who are contemplating on reducing the supplements for their kids.

 

Thanks in advance for your prompt (as usual) and helpful reply.

[Chemar]

Hi efgh

 

ok...I will answer in sequence

 

1) we withdrew the supps because my son asked us to. His tics were very mild, the OCD negligible and his ADD so greatly improved that he is making excellent grades and has been on the honor roll thru 7th and now 8th grade. He felt that he (and those around him) dont really notice the tics etc anymore, and that the routine of taking the supps twice daily was causing him to refocus on tics and so start ticcing as soon as he took them

 

2) no, his tics have remained stable with the supp withdrawal. Do remember tho that he IS still taking a high potency multivitamin/mineral and a flax/borage/evening primrose combo every day. He also gets an antioxidant combo once a week now. Also, I have worked to make sure that his diet is rich in the important vitamins and minerals and other nutrients that the supps were providing, so he is actually still getting them......just not swallowing so many pills a day. He takes his multi etc when we all do at dinner time, and so he doesnt feel "singled out" in taking them.....it is just part of dinner for all of us.

 

3) we removed the supps gradually, not by decreasing the doseage but by withdrawing individual ones in what we felt was the order of lesser importance. With the 5HTP we withdrew it by going evry other day, every 4th day and then once a week and then stopped completely.

 

4) We are no longer regularly consulting with physicians as my son has been so healthy for so long now. We only see them now for annual physicals. His "team" know he is off the supp program and are delighted with his overall good health and stabilised tics/OCD

 

5)Yes, my son still tics and his tics follow the regular waxing and waning that is characteristic of TS. However, the tics are so very mild that they are barely noticeable....an occasional throat clearing or sniff, a slight shoulder shrug or facial twitch. They dont bother him nor us nor anyone else. He and his teachers say they dont notice them in class at all.

 

he had a cold a few weeks back as a nasty thing was going round the school. however, where others were very ill, for him it was a slight sore throat, cough and sniffles...I believe his overall health and built up immune system helps this.

Anyway, while ill his tics were slightly up, but not enough to do any more than give the antioxidant combo daily.

 

6) His OCD remains negligible. Yes, he still has OCD, but it doesnt seem to be a controlling force in his life and it isnt focussed on disturbing or debilitating things. he still likes things "just right" but doesnt get bent out of shape if they arent.

I really think his seratonin levels have stabilised enormously, as his overall moods are so balanced, and we dont see anxiety or frustration etc like before. I still have the 5HTP and the Inositol available if he should need it, but so far it hasnt been necessary.

 

7) He was on the supps for just short of four years, and has been off them now since last summer

 

Hope that answers it for you.

 

 

I stress again that we still strictly adhere to a nutritional plan, with a very balanced and healthy diet containing foods that provide him with the vitamins and minerals that he needs. And we absolutely avoid junk food and processed foods and all the artificial stuff that we know are major triggers for both his tics and OCD.

[ad_ccl]

Chemar,

 

I just wanted to thank you for all the support you have given me and your willingness to share the vast amount of knowledge that you have gained. This site has truly been a gift to my family. I am so happy for your son and your whole family. What an incredible success story you are able to share. It gives us all hope for our children. What a lucky kid to have a mom like you.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Chemar,

 

A wealth of information INDEED!. Thanks again for sharing. So happy for you and your son. As Alison rightly mentioned, he has a great mom!

 

What is the antioxidant combo? What are the ingredients it contains? what is the make that you are giving and what about the dosage?

 

An important thing - Does your son watch a lot of TV these days? How are his tics when he watches the TV?

 

The above detailed post of yours would help a lot of folks in this forum.

 

thanks.

[Chemar]

You are more than welcome Alison

 

when I prayed for God to guide me to be able to help my son, I knew in my heart that much of what we had experienced was going to be used to help others too.

My son and I prayed together once, that God would use his experience.... the heartache and the joys, the failures and the successes....... to benefit others.

 

I am blessed to see that prayer answered

[Chemar]

ah, i was posting at the same time as you efgh

 

 

we use the METAGENICS brand of antioxidants called OXYGENICS ( http://www.metagenics.com ) He takes adult dose. I am very pleased with Metagenics products and use their Multigenics for all of us.

 

My son watches a bit of TV....about the same as always. Still always in a lighted room with full spectrum daylight bulbs. darkened rooms and TV make him tic more, and he still avoids the cinema for that reason....goes on rare occasions but still increased tics afterwards

 

He is far more intersted in his computer (LCD screen) and plays his games on it rather than thru the TV console systems.

 

His love for and talent in music also means he spends a lot more time playing his guitar and piano these days than being in front of a screen. he writes a lot of his own music and I am really pleased with his focus on that.