Overwhelmed

[Tess_mom]

 

My 7-year old daughter was diagnosed one year ago with Tourette's, OCD and ADHD. I'm hoping that this is a place where I can be completely and unashamedly honest because this is a difficult process to go through. Tess has vocal tics - most recently a cough. Her most troublesome symptoms, however, are the OCD - which I sometimes confuse with a tic, and her anger management. We are new to this and she is currently on three different medications. I am concerned about the meds she is on but am also concerned about how I am handling it all. I seem to have a total lack of consistency in disciplining, an amazing sense of doom, and the sometimes urgent need for a glass of wine. Tess is absolutely beautiful, bright, vibrant, loud sweet, and manipulative. There are times when I can't wait to see her after school, and other times........

Tess' first symptom was echolalia and palilalia - the repetition of her own and other people's words. When we first tried to explain Tourettes and tics to her she asked, "What is my tic? my tic? my tic?" Now she knows what a tic is but sometimes uses her condition to get what she wants, as in telling her brother, "I have to have the remote control and the couch to myself - it's my Tourettes!"

 

We recently saw her psychiatrist - I use the term loosely with this particular doctor - and decided that he may not be the best person for the job. However, all of the doctors in our area who are familiar with Tourette's and OCD, are not currently taking any new patients. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do we really need to have her on Risperidone? Can you recommend a good Chardonnay?

[Laurensmom]

 

We recently saw her psychiatrist - I use the term loosely with this particular doctor - and decided that he may not be the best person for the job. However, all of the doctors in our area who are familiar with Tourette's and OCD, are not currently taking any new patients. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do we really need to have her on Risperidone? Can you recommend a good Chardonnay?

 

As to the first order of business. Chardonnay! Alice White has a very inexpensive Chardonnay and it's rated as a best value by Wine Spectator. They also make a killer Shiraz. The Merlot is highly regarded as well, though I prefer the Shiraz and the Cabernet, personally.

 

Regarding the kiddo you are here discussing. Your child sounds much like mine. My 8 year old dd has TS/OCD and qualifies for an ADHD dx, but I haven't pursued one. She has also had difficulty with anger management, frustration management and other "issues." But, we are seeing improvement.

 

As to the question on medications. I'd answer no, you don't need her on Risperidone. But, I'm partial to magnesium and Inositol so that's a biased opinion. I will never say never when it comes to meds, but I try to avoid them and use vitamins for now.

 

As for behavior management. I have felt like you many days. I have felt like a complete failure on some days. But, if I look at my child and compare her to where she was two years ago, she's made TREMENDOUS progress.

 

I'm going to recommend a few things that have helped us with behavior.

 

1. TOKENS! We use poker chips and keep them in an old coffee can, but they work for "rewards" and "consequences." I would spell out the issues we're working on and let her know how she can earn a token, or lose one. She then saves the tokens for a trip to Target or??? for a small toy. I figure if you earn a paycheck as an adult, you can earn a token as a child.

 

2. I have used time outs, don't think they work in our case. But, what has worked is explaining expectations and consequences ahead of time for things that you feel need work. Again, it's not a magical solution, but it's helpful.

 

3. Library books on various subjects like "self control" etc. I home-school, and have a different topic each month. But, even if you don't home-school, you can find great books to help kids work on their "issues."

 

I have two parenting books to recommend right off the bat as well.

 

1. Ross Green "The Explosive Child"

2. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka "Raising Your Spirited Child"

 

The main issue with the meds is if the school meddles I suppose? Perhaps she's more easilly managed at school with the medication? But, the decision is yours regardless.

 

Best wishes, and let me know what you think of that wine!

 

Just my .02 - you'll get a wealth of information and opinions to mull over here.

 

PS - I don't share the belief that TV, the flicker of lights, allergies, dairy, wheat etc.. are a large part of the "problem" when it comes to TS, but I do feel that good nutrition and vitamins can be helpful.

[Guest]

Welcome Tess'mom ,

 

I would suggest looking for a doctor that deals with natural ways of treating TS. There is a very good topic called, "Finding Medical Help" posted by Sheila for finding these type of doctors. Here's the direct link, but it's also at the top of the forum: http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=565

 

No, medications aren't required for dealing with TS in my opinion. Both mild and severe cases often respond to natural treatments. However, removing medications should always be done with a qualified doctor & slowly removed. Natural treatments should also be guided with a qualified doctor.

 

Carolyn

[quan_daniel]

Welcome Tess'mom,

 

I hope you read the uplifting and hopeful post from mommaonamission.

 

The thing about tics is finding the trigger.

 

That is trully a great challenge.

 

A lot of us have success in elimination of certain allergens from our diet such as artificial food coloring.

 

I believe Jeff was the poster who has great success in keeping him and both of his daughters with bare minimum tics when artificial food coloring was eliminated.

 

Claire has great success with light sensitivies via TV elimination.

 

We have whole house filter and a single house filter unit in my child's bedroom and removed carpet.

 

We used enzyme in eating glutenous bread again, before you can see my child tic immediately after wheat bread.

 

It is all about finding the trigger(s) and elminating it or them and a proper supplement via vitamin.

 

Some people detox for heavy metal.

 

Again when someone tells you don't believe on this or believe on this only , oftentime with tics it can be both

wrong and correct.

 

No one person is alike. Some is caused by Strep as in PANDA. Where a course of antibiotics keeps the tics at bay.

 

Again keep a journal on his waxing and waning and sooner or later you will see a pattern.

 

Good luck.

 

You will get to the end game.

 

Too much football over the weekend.

[Laurensmom]

"The thing about tics is finding the trigger."

 

I've had great success as well. However, If my child has any "triggers" I feel that they are due to excitement and stimulation. Though I haven't formally pursued the notion of "triggers" personally. We do try to follow common sense when it comes to nutrition - which may be beneficial?

 

I think that magnesium has been helpful in our case, but again given the (waxing and waning of tics) I can't say for sure? I take my childs word for it, however as she says it is.

[kim]

Tess'mom,

 

concerned about how I am handling it all. I seem to have a total lack of consistency in disciplining, an amazing sense of doom, and the sometimes urgent need for a glass of wine. Tess is absolutely beautiful, bright, vibrant, loud sweet, and manipulative. There are times when I can't wait to see her after school, and other times........

 

 

Just wanted to tell you, that the sense of doom you describe, lifted shortly after I joined this forum. Almost everything else, in the above statement still applies somedays, x's two around here.

 

I have two sons, ages 10 and 14 and they are both "absolutely beautiful, bright, vibrant, loud, sweet, and manipulative," (at times).

 

"I have to have the remote control and the couch to myself - it's my Tourettes!"

 

That cracked me up!

I bet there are very few parents, who have not suspected that they are being played every now and then.

 

I vote the Merlot

 

Welcome aboard,

 

Kim

[Cum Passus]

Tess'mom,

 

"Doom!" That is a great way to discribe how I'm sure most parents feel, or at least this one (me) did.

 

Glad your hear, you will feel much better knowing your new cyber friends are talking to you personally and having your own questions answered. Since my husband had TS as a child he really didn't understand that feeling of hopelessness, but he was so conserned with how I was feeling he did alot to help me through the really bad days. I too thought I needed a drink, and I don't drink, never have. Because our so has vocal tics and I mean........ VOCAL!!! My husband baught me worktunes from Home depot. They are headphones with a radio. I pluged in a christian station and used music therapy to get me through. It really helps me. I look silly though. Like an airport runway guy protecting my ears from engine noise, but hey, it keeps my vanity in check.

 

Welcome,

C.P.

[Guest]

Edited.

[Laurensmom]

Carolyn said:

 

All children and adults with tics and tourette syndrome are different. You don't say whether or not you you've taken foods out of your daughter's diet or not to see if it makes a difference. Even if you have consisentely removed certain foods from her diet, everyone's different. For most here supplements isn't the only thing that's helped their child or them. Thing that have helped include tv, video games, metals, avoiding trigger/allergy foods, along with many other tic triggers. Anyways when your trying to find tic triggers, you have to be open to anything, not just supplements, excitement, and stimulation.

 

Carolyn, I started out in this manner, but my approach has been to increase certain foods, not eliminate any. We focus on eating healthy in general. But, I can't really eliminate foods to reduce tics, if my child isn't having tics. Further, I started out down this road, but realized that it wasn't our solution. My child has always been prone to over-stimulation, so her tics have been one of several means to express that. I did have an allergy test, and was sufficiently convinced that was not our issue.

 

Thing that have helped include tv, video games, metals, avoiding trigger/allergy foods, along with many other tic triggers. ... you have to be open to anything, not just supplements, excitement, and stimulation.

 

Actually, I do get to decide what I'm open to based upon research I've read. However, I did say I remain open minded in general. I am somewhat open to allergies upon reflection, but, I'm not open to someone telling me the rain causes their child to tic. Where do we draw the line, KWIM? People are exposed to more than 500 chemicals and toxic substances every day. I have stopped pursuing a needle in a haystack. But, if my child had severe tics, I might reconsider.

 

Interesting article here:

 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=9681

 

Here is a study which indicates that emotional stimuli can increase tics in some children:

 

Résumé / Abstract

 

To assess objectively the effects of emotional stimuli on the severity of tics and to determine if such effects were mediated by the autonomic nervous system, we carried out videotape ratings of tics and electrophysiological monitoring of heart beat and respiration on 4 children with Tourette's syndrome while they were watching a movie known to elicit emotional responses relevant to normal childhood events. Measured tic severity was highest during periods associated with anticipation, resolution of emotional changes, and lower concentration, lowest during periods of anger and happiness, and intermediate during periods of sadness and fear. Tic severity did not correlate with heart or respiratory rate. Thus, tics seem influenced differentially by various emotional states, but this effect does not seem to be autonomically mediated.

 

I think if there is a connection to TV/video games, this is the connection. That doesn't mean some can't disagree with me. But, the bottom line is, if my child had tics from the tele, I'd leave it up to her if she wanted to trade Sponge Bob for a tic or two.

 

Peace

 

PS > as I said, I'm open to research. But, I am not open to dogmatism. Parents know their child best, I respect that but I also reserve the right to "think" for myself.

 

If you want to start a new discussion on the matter, that might be best. I wish not to debate in a thread where a mom came to seek info/help.

[patty]

Tess'mom,

 

Welcome and you are in the right place. I was where you were 3 months ago before i join this forum. This forum has helped me cope and find the light at the end of the tunnel. People here are compassionate and informative.

 

May i suggest to you, the first step to healing your child is start taking care of yourself. Because i was such a emotional basket case that i couldn't think or see straight, my anxiety was affecting my family, which i am sure did not help with my son's tics.

 

I recently start taking a magnesuim supplement, Natural Calm and it helps ease my anxiety, insonmia, back pain, and muscle twitching.

 

When i have an acute case of anxiety attack, i take homepathic remedies to take the edge off.

 

Also, i take a walk 3/4x a week to regroup & refocus.

 

And most importantly, start posting here and educationing yourself. It has empowered me so much that i don't feel hopeless like i used to, since all the conventional specialists all told me there is NOTHING you can do but use medications.

 

As for your child, you mentioned your child is dx with TS, OCD & ADHD. You may want to eliminate or cut way back on the sugar, especially corn syrup in her diet. In addition, remove food colorings, perservatives, MSG and aspartate (artificial sweetner), as these are excitotoxin & nerurtoxin that can cause neurological inflammation and hyperactivities. Give it a couple of weeks and see if you see any changes in her behavior. Also, i would eliminate TV viewing because it can affect a child's behavior. This is true for my son, when he watches too much TV, his behavior changes to very uncooperative, some aggressiveness, sensitivities....

 

In the meantime, i would suggest to you to look into the food & environmental allergy route.

 

Good luck and breathe!

 

Patty

[Chemar]

Folks, we maintain peace on this board!

 

If anyone wishes to have personal disagreements please take it to PM, but dont disturb the peace on the boards by having these kinds of disagreements.

 

People here have quite enough to deal with already

 

I appreciate the co-operation and I am going to be editing and deleting posts that are not in keeping with the terms of support and information laid out when one registers for this community

 

thanks

Cheri

[moonshadow1]

I just wanted you to know that my son also was diagnosed at 7yrs old and his coughing tics always occur in the Fall/and spring.We do not medicate him as he can seem to tolerate his symptoms pretty well.However the coughing can be very troubling and bothersome for everyone else but he doesnt seem to notice how much he is doing it.As for the OCD symptoms he also has those some of which he does without our knowledge.Because these don't seem to disrupt his daily life we have chosen to see how he does.He is now 11 yrs old and doing fine in school A and B student.Our strategy for now is to monitor the allergies which seem to trigger the tics and go from there

 

My 7-year old daughter was diagnosed one year ago with Tourette's, OCD and ADHD. I'm hoping that this is a place where I can be completely and unashamedly honest because this is a difficult process to go through. Tess has vocal tics - most recently a cough. Her most troublesome symptoms, however, are the OCD - which I sometimes confuse with a tic, and her anger management. We are new to this and she is currently on three different medications. I am concerned about the meds she is on but am also concerned about how I am handling it all. I seem to have a total lack of consistency in disciplining, an amazing sense of doom, and the sometimes urgent need for a glass of wine. Tess is absolutely beautiful, bright, vibrant, loud sweet, and manipulative. There are times when I can't wait to see her after school, and other times........

Tess' first symptom was echolalia and palilalia - the repetition of her own and other people's words. When we first tried to explain Tourettes and tics to her she asked, "What is my tic? my tic? my tic?" Now she knows what a tic is but sometimes uses her condition to get what she wants, as in telling her brother, "I have to have the remote control and the couch to myself - it's my Tourettes!"

 

We recently saw her psychiatrist - I use the term loosely with this particular doctor - and decided that he may not be the best person for the job. However, all of the doctors in our area who are familiar with Tourette's and OCD, are not currently taking any new patients. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do we really need to have her on Risperidone? Can you recommend a good Chardonnay?

[vicki linn]

tess' mom~

 

i am new here today. i am part of the bedrock group but my daughter does not have autism so to speak i believe she has tourettes. i is so strange the feeling i get when i read your post. you are describing my life my feelings my daughter but with my daughters best friends name ~Tess.

 

Every feeling you describe having is me to a T all the way down to wanting a glass of wine so bad. I am trying to clean up yeast and fungus and do the BED diet and wine is not on that. so much for the emotional health for mommy huh?

 

my daughter has not been diagnosed but tourettes is what she has. i know it. we do not discuss it with her but she has asked me once when she had a serious emotional meltdown why she is different from everyone else........why she "twitches" all the time. i feel so alone as all my friends don't get it they just don't understand

 

you feeling of DOOM summed it up just perfectly. for at least a year i would go to bed, wake up at night and first thing in the morning think we were trapped in some sort of ######. like something terrible was waiting for us. like there was no hope. i am getting better about that now. i know i have to. when i feel like that if has such a terrible effect on my daughter it is like she is tied to my emotions or something.

 

there is light at the end of the tunnel...... there has to be!

 

make it a great day!

 

vicki~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 7-year old daughter was diagnosed one year ago with Tourette's, OCD and ADHD. I'm hoping that this is a place where I can be completely and unashamedly honest because this is a difficult process to go through. Tess has vocal tics - most recently a cough. Her most troublesome symptoms, however, are the OCD - which I sometimes confuse with a tic, and her anger management. We are new to this and she is currently on three different medications. I am concerned about the meds she is on but am also concerned about how I am handling it all. I seem to have a total lack of consistency in disciplining, an amazing sense of doom, and the sometimes urgent need for a glass of wine. Tess is absolutely beautiful, bright, vibrant, loud sweet, and manipulative. There are times when I can't wait to see her after school, and other times........

Tess' first symptom was echolalia and palilalia - the repetition of her own and other people's words. When we first tried to explain Tourettes and tics to her she asked, "What is my tic? my tic? my tic?" Now she knows what a tic is but sometimes uses her condition to get what she wants, as in telling her brother, "I have to have the remote control and the couch to myself - it's my Tourettes!"

 

We recently saw her psychiatrist - I use the term loosely with this particular doctor - and decided that he may not be the best person for the job. However, all of the doctors in our area who are familiar with Tourette's and OCD, are not currently taking any new patients. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do we really need to have her on Risperidone? Can you recommend a good Chardonnay?