New member and tics have gone crazy the past week

[Jamie89]

Hi everyone my name is Jamie and im 25 years old and have had tics my whole life. i have a dozen different tics which are 99% motor tics and randomly will have this vocal tic where i make a sound like im suffocating. This past week or so my tics have literally erupted from very minimal to unbearable. I am at the point where i am not willing to leave the house and i am scared to see my boyfriend because I dont want him to see me like this, i am embarrassed to bring this up to him and scared that he may not accept me when he knows what i have.

Some things I want to note on what ive done recently that may have caused the tics. I got prescribed clomifene (fertility med not tic med) by my doctor around the time these tics blew out of control. Before the tics got out of hand I have having breathing issues like anxiety.

 

Also, I attempted 4 sessions of accupuncture around the end of october in hopes to reduce my regular tics. I doubt this would have caused the increase.

 

Also, I have got a job and also attend law school (finals coming up in 2 weeks)

 

Also, I caught a cold about 5 days ago.

 

I have never had tics this bad but it is really hurting me emotionally right now.

 

I have tried suppements such as magnesium, l-carnitine, multivitamins, etc and nothing helps AT all.

 

Any advice would be great. I really dont know what to do all i want to do is stay home and hide.

[Chemar]

welcome Jamie

jmho but I think the clomifene may be your tic trigger, as it is changing your hormonal balances and this may be causing a change in your dopamine system

 

When dopamine levels rise there is frequently an increase in tics for people with TS.

So perhaps this is what is happening to increase yours?

 

Stress, anxiety and illness are all potential tic triggers too, so it looks like your system is on overload!

 

Perhaps you could ask your doctor to taper you off the clomifene and see if the tics stabilize? That would at least give you an indication of its role, and then leave you able to make the choice of whether you want to go back on it.

Obviously this is a major decision that only your doctor can advise you on.

[Jamie89]

Thanks for the response Chemar. Is there anything I can do to control my dophamine in the meantime? I really can't take these tics.

[Chemar]

that is something you need to discuss with your doctor Jamie, as once the hormonal & neurotransmitter balances are impacted, things need to be stabilized with care.

 

As you seem not to have relief by taking extra magnesium, which often helps, not sure what else to suggest other than to go see your doctor asap