I am new here. 5 1/2 year old with motor tics since last week

[hkginger]

My name is Barbara. I am so glad to find this forum and I just devoured the e-book of "Natural treatment for tics and tourette."

 

My 51/2 year old started to have some strange eyes blinking and winking around 7 months ago. I didn't pay much attention, thinking he might be tired or getting short-sighted. But since last week, I start to see his neck turning left and right, chin up, little grimacing and shoulder shrug. Then I realized he has tics disorder/Tourette. He seems not aware or not understand his muscles movement. He is still calm and happy and pay attention well despite these movements for now.

 

When he was a baby , he had "silent" acid reflux because of frequent night-waking and night-crying as well as burping and hiccuping at daytime and sometimes before falling asleep . We thought cow milk gave him problem, Dr let him only on Alimentum. Gastrologist gave him "Axid" between 11 month and 1 1/2 years, he started gaining weight again and sleeping more at night and I believed he then grew out of it. Still, since infancy till now, he burps sometimes during the day and burps for 15-20 seconds before he fall asleep. The past one week, after we came home from Boston, I see he burps when eating a meal, sometimes during the day and right before he sleeps again. He doesn't feel hurt at all nor upset by it. He said he can make himself burp too. He "does" eat broccoli few days ago, a lot of it as it is his favorite vegetable. So I don't really know if it is tic or digestion issues. He does said he has tummy ache after meals often the past 7 months, but still he is still playing and smiling, so PED doesn't think it is an issue.

 

After reading the e-book, I decided to bring him to see a allergist/environmental physician. I hope to find a cause for his tics disorder. I believe he needs to have testing for vitamin deficiency (as he is really just take Costco vitamin gummy on and off) , heavy mental (He eats fish and shrimp every week), allergy or intolerance to food. I start to get rid of diary since yesterday, and cut down lots of sugar. Could anyone recommend me a good environmental physician in New Jersey and/ New York. I hope to get him tested soon. I really want to have guidance to change his diet too. We need to travel to Hong Kong for 1 month in 3 weeks, I am worried how he will react with jet lag and long flight.

 

Someone recommended me to to buy Nature Sunshine's multi-vitamin with minerals, Calcium and Omega 3 in case he has vitamin insufficiency. I think it is worth a try as I don't know when the appt will be. Any advice on this.

 

I am still shock about my son's new tics... but I know I need to be calm and help him.. Any encouragement and advice will be very much appreciated.

 

Barbara G.

[Cj60]

Hello Barbara,

 

There definitely can be a link between gastrointestinal problems and tics. While you're waiting for your dr. visit, you can try to keep your son's diet as healthy as possible: no artificials, preservatives or other chemical additives; eat organic and avoid GMO foods to the greatest extent possible. Removing dairy, which is a common food problem for children with sensitive digestive tracks, is probably a good idea. Also, is there a food that he eats far more commonly than other foods? If so, his body may have developed an intolerance to it, so curbing his intake or removing that food altogether might be a good idea while you are waiting to see what dietary sensitivities he migh have.

 

A healthy, potent multi vitamin is also a good idea, but make sure it's free of additives that are unhealthy. We use one called Kirkman Spectrum Complete II, but others have had success with other multis, too (you could search the forum to see what information you can find in previous discussions).

 

Magnesium is also beneficial for removing toxins that can build up and result in ticcing. A Mg supplement that is commonly cited here is called Natural Calm. Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths are also beneficial for kids with tics (both the magnesium and the sulfate help rid the body of toxins).

 

If you are able do these things until your dr. visit, you'll be taking some good early steps.

 

Good luck!

 

Chris

[hkginger]

Thank you very much, Chris.

 

Barb

[Pilbara]

^{It's funny reading your story, because something can be so similar. My TS son started with the hard blinking tic way before the more sever tics arrived, just as you described. He was also the reflux baby that almost drove me to breaking point because he would not sleep. The advice above is awesome and we know about the brain/gut connection. I'm sure based on what you've written, you are going to see some great results. Also think about chiropractic care. I definitely think it makes a difference to my son. So to give you some encouragement, I also followed the advice in Sheila's book and I'm happy to say my son's tics have reduced in severity and were at their worse when they seemed to first explode for him and when we started looking for answers. I strongly believe the changes we have put in place with his exposure to chemicals in his environment as well as food, has made a significant improvement for him. Best of luck and keep us updated.}

^Lyn

[hkginger]

Thank you Lyn. Just I will be traveling for a month with my son... before seeing any specialist.