New Here. 6 Year old ds with tics

[Tattoomom]

Hello! I've been lurking on this board for a few weeks. I've decided it's time to post!

 

Here's my son's story:

 

It all started the week of Christmas '06. He had come down with a stomach virus and was throwing up/fever. Ironically through it all, he was constantly clearing his throat. I mentioned it to his Pediatrician and she blamed it on the illness. Fine. He continued to clear his throat off & on until...

 

The new tic appeared. The week of his birthday (3/2) he woke up blinking. His eye blinks are very sharp, very heavy. He blinks all.day.long. He's not clearing his throat anymore but the blinking is severe. So we went back to the doctor and she blamed it on allergies. His eyes were red and itchy and he had inflammed follicles on his lower lid. She gave us a prescription for Patanol drops and sent us on our way.

 

At that time, I made him an appointment with his Pediatric Opthalmologist because he wears glasses and for months had been complaining about wearing them. She agreed that his eyes looked inflammed. He also passed the eye tests so we are weaning him off the glasses right now. She did not think the blinking was connected to the inflammation, she thought it looked like a habit/tic.

 

Anyhoo- the blinking continues and it is bad. Some days are worse than others, somedays I think it's gone and the very next day it's terrible.

 

After researching tics, I've realized he has had a few habits in the past that I just thought were quirky and they were so short lived, I never bothered with them. He has went through a time where he picked at his skin on his thumbs with his fingernails. He's also chewed on his shirt collars at times. And now he makes noises while eating like "mmmmmmmm".

:shrug

 

We have no family history of TS. My great-aunt had a eye blinking (tic?) that was passed off as nerves. But that's all we know.

 

We've seen a Ped. Allergist and our son has NO allergies. We saw a Ped. neurologist and he basically said, "Yes, these are tics. Hurry up and wait."

 

I should mention that our Pediatrician is alternative/holistic and although she is a regular MD, she focuses on the alternative treatments.

 

She recommended NO TV, NO Computer, NO video games because I mentioned to her that his eye tics seem worse while he's in front of a screen.

 

I totally took away everything for a week and his eye tic seemed a bit better but he was so devastated! I hated to see him so bummed so I gave back TV & computer time. The computer is a LCD screen but the TV is old CRT. He's begging for the Play station, and I haven't given it back yet...

 

Here are the things we have done so far---

 

-PANDAS blood work- NEGATIVE- he's never had strep throat. ever.

-IgG blood work (although old, from 2004) revealed high IgG's to wheat,gluten & casein. We are currently changing his diet to eliminate those foods but we need to re-test.

-Urine Neurotransmitter test- revealed slightly low serotonin and extremely low epinephrine. She prescribed 2 different amino acid blends but they made his eye blinking much worse so I stopped.

 

Things I do on my own---

 

-Juice Plus+

-Floradix Cal/Mag supplement

-Probiotic

-CoroMega fish oil

- and just ordered Houston's Peptizyde, gave him 1/2 capsule last night before dinner and by bedtime, his eye blinking was much worse!

 

WHY did the amino acids and now possibly, the Peptizyde, make the eye blinking tic worse?!!!

 

He goes this afternoon for his 6 year well check at the Pediatrician and I am going in with a list full of questions!

 

Any advice for me?

Tricia

[lmcgill]

Your story is very very close to ours. You can see it on other posts. Our son started off with the eye blinking, but after a few weeks of that, he stopped, then had a shoulder tic, leg tic and abdominal tics. I am not sugesting your son is going down the same path, but even if he does progress to other tics, there is hope. We are going on close to 5 months with very minor tics. His eyes are blinking a little now, but I do think the allergies are bothering him. He has the classic dark circles under his eyes and minor sniffles. Currenlty we are waiting on tests from his Igc blood work to see if that shows up anything. The standard prick test revealed nothing. I believe the best thing we did was to cut way back on TV and video games. Even though he just turned 8, he seems to know they are a problem and maybe plays 1/2 hour a week in short intervals and watches about 2 hours of TV on a large (50in) DLP TV. We also put him on Natural Calm magnesium and B-12 complex. We also try very hard to eliminate artificial flavours and colors and just trying to eat healthy. This forum is very helpful and has been the source of most of my findings.

Lenny

[faith]

Hello Tricia

welcome to you and I'm glad you were able to take so many suggestions and guidance from others on this site. It is good that you have a good start with some tests. (do you live in a big city?)

 

Some questions for you. You don't mention you son's age? Is it 6? Did you always have a holistic pediatrician? (I should change my name to curious george!) May I ask why, since that seems to be uncommon. Also, what was in the amino acid blend (what amino acids?) Did he take that at same time as the fish oil? If you read here, some believe fish oil to aggravate tics. As far as the peptizide, I don't think one dose is enough to gauge, maybe you could try a lower amount and see. I'd give at least a week. And try not to do too many supplements at same time, then you may not know what is good or bad.

 

I totally agree about keeping him off the screens for a while, you have to see what's what. Maybe tell him the doctor said that may be why his eyes are irritated. I didn't see you use any magnesium yet? If you do, please let us know if it seems to have any beneficial effect on the eyes -- don't know, but sometimes I have a hunch that helps for that particular tic. Totally my own feeling, and would like to see if others are seeing that too.

 

(Lenny--did you notice your son's blinking seem to get better AFTER giving the magnesium/natural calm?)

 

thanks for sharing your story and strategies.

 

Faith

[LisaM]

I want to thank everyone for their replies and input. It is good to hear from others who are going/have gone through similar situations.

 

Faith, and anyone else who can help... about the magnesium... would you suggest just trying that (the kids calm) or to try the Bontech pills that have more in them. I don't know where to start with vitamins etc. Just a reminder, my daughter is 4 with eye blinking, shoulder shrugging and lip puckering. I think a vocal now too - is at end of cold with a cough but the cough is staying. I don't think the kids calm has calcium but she does drink milk. The Bontech stuff sounds interesting but the site is a bit dated it seems.

 

where should I start with vitamins etc.?

thanks

 

Lisa

[Cum Passus]

Welcome Tricia,

 

Is the Juice Plus your multi? I only remember it for antioxidant support. I think you may need some B vitamins also. We have seen a lot of help with the B6. His Impaired Trypotophan indcates he is not converting Tryptophan to sarotonin. The B6 was to help with that.

 

I think I remember Chemar and Carolyn telling me to watch out for the amino acids.

 

How about the epsom salts? Have you tried that yet?

 

Good luck it sounds like you are on the right track for a good start.

 

C.P.

[LisaM]

sorry I posted my magnesium/vitamin question on the wrong strand. Hello to tattoomom. I can't help with any of your questions as this is all very new to me but it seems that if you keep reading and asking someone here will have some input. It seems like you have a very good start to finding some answers already with all you've done so far.

Lisa

[Tattoomom]

Hi Lenny

 

Faith- I do live in a big city. Yes, my son is 6 and we have used a Holistic pediatrician since he was 3. My main reasons for switching from a conventional medicine doctor to holistic was the benefits of homeopathy drugs, knowledge in alternative treatments and tests, etc.... They are both certified in Holistic medicine as well as being a conventional Pediatrician M.D. so it's the best of both worlds The urine neurotransmitter test looked for:

 

Epinephrine (LOW), Norephinephrine(OK), Dopamine(OK),Serotonin(LOW),Glycine(OK),Taurine(OK),GABA(OK),Glutamine(HIGH),Glutamate(OK),PEA(OK),Histamine(OK)

 

and the amino acids prescribed were-

Adrecor- https://www.neurorelief.com/index.php?optio...6&Itemid=47

Travacor- https://www.neurorelief.com/index.php?optio...3&Itemid=47

 

I do use magnesium and it does seem to help! We give Floradix cal/mag liquid.

 

C.P.-We do use Juice Plus as a multi... any suggestions on a good multi-vitamin? Wonder why the amino acids cause the tics to increase if they were prescribed to treat the tics?!

 

We do use epsom baths on occasion as well as use Kids Calm and or GABA Calm.

[faith]

I want to thank everyone for their replies and input. It is good to hear from others who are going/have gone through similar situations.

 

Faith, and anyone else who can help... about the magnesium... would you suggest just trying that (the kids calm) or to try the Bontech pills that have more in them. I don't know where to start with vitamins etc. Just a reminder, my daughter is 4 with eye blinking, shoulder shrugging and lip puckering. I think a vocal now too - is at end of cold with a cough but the cough is staying. I don't think the kids calm has calcium but she does drink milk. The Bontech stuff sounds interesting but the site is a bit dated it seems.

 

where should I start with vitamins etc.?

thanks

 

Lisa

 

Lisa,

I don't know from experience about Bontech, but we do use the magnesium (a product similar to kids calm called Super Mag) Personally, I would do the kids or natural calm first, for I've read some here that tried them noticed an aggravation of tics. It has many different vits together, which may not be good for some. Those vits require child to swallow alot of pills, can your daughter swallow pills yet? If you want to try other supplements, look at the thread by Chemar that describes what supplements have helped her child. She modeled it after what was in the Bontech vits, but likes to give all the supplements separately, which is a good idea. But some are using it, maybe they will check in and comment. Also, if you want to give calcium too, there is a Natural Calm "plus calcium" too.

 

Faith

[faith]

Tricia,

Okay, the only thing that I see that might be a problem is the AdreCor product--it seems it contains tyrosine. I don't know for sure, but it seems tyrosine is not good for people with tics, since I think it raises dopamine levels, which is not good for tics. Maybe someone else here could comment? Maybe you could ask the doctor about that? But that is good, you see, you were a good detective-if you noticed an adverse effect, maybe thats the culprit. What is Gaba calm? Did doctor tell you about that or you learned on own?

 

Faith

[Chemar]

welcome to Latitudes Tricia

 

yes, Faith is correct...tyrosine is one of the amino acids that are known to be tic triggers

 

that could have been what was causing the increase for your child

[Tattoomom]

Tricia,

Okay, the only thing that I see that might be a problem is the AdreCor product--it seems it contains tyrosine. I don't know for sure, but it seems tyrosine is not good for people with tics, since I think it raises dopamine levels, which is not good for tics. Maybe someone else here could comment? Maybe you could ask the doctor about that? But that is good, you see, you were a good detective-if you noticed an adverse effect, maybe thats the culprit. What is Gaba calm? Did doctor tell you about that or you learned on own?

 

Faith

 

 

Our Pediatrician told me about GABA Calm. I haven't determined yet if it helps or not.

 

http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-GA...ored-Sublingual

 

She also recommends Calms Forte-

 

http://www.vitacost.com/HylandsCalmsForte-100Tablets

[Tattoomom]

Welcome Tricia,

 

Is the Juice Plus your multi? I only remember it for antioxidant support. I think you may need some B vitamins also. We have seen a lot of help with the B6. His Impaired Trypotophan indcates he is not converting Tryptophan to sarotonin. The B6 was to help with that.

 

I think I remember Chemar and Carolyn telling me to watch out for the amino acids.

 

How about the epsom salts? Have you tried that yet?

 

Good luck it sounds like you are on the right track for a good start.

 

C.P.

 

Any suggestions on a good multi or B vitamin complex?

[Marianne]

Your story is very very close to ours. You can see it on other posts. Our son started off with the eye blinking, but after a few weeks of that, he stopped, then had a shoulder tic, leg tic and abdominal tics. I am not sugesting your son is going down the same path, but even if he does progress to other tics, there is hope. We are going on close to 5 months with very minor tics. His eyes are blinking a little now, but I do think the allergies are bothering him. He has the classic dark circles under his eyes and minor sniffles. Currenlty we are waiting on tests from his Igc blood work to see if that shows up anything. The standard prick test revealed nothing. I believe the best thing we did was to cut way back on TV and video games. Even though he just turned 8, he seems to know they are a problem and maybe plays 1/2 hour a week in short intervals and watches about 2 hours of TV on a large (50in) DLP TV. We also put him on Natural Calm magnesium and B-12 complex. We also try very hard to eliminate artificial flavours and colors and just trying to eat healthy. This forum is very helpful and has been the source of most of my findings.

Lenny

 

Hi Lenny,

 

My name is Marianne, i am new to this board, i came across it when i was doing research for my 7 year old son with the same problems as your son!. I am so glad that i found this forum. There is so much information!.

Anyway, to cut a long story short. My 7 year old son started rolling his eyes when his younger brother was born. Not thinking it was anything, i just assumed that it was a habit and that it will go away. After ignoring it, he just stopped doing it. He was clear of the problem for about 1 year. Then just recently he started to do it again, but this time he shruggs his shoulders and does this thing with his jaw, and at the same time he could be rolling his eyes. Far out, i am so worried that i took him to see our GP. Fortunately he only referred me to see our Pediatrician. That is still a week and a half away.

I have read alot about how TV and computer games can play a major part with Childhood Tics. I have cut back with his TV, taken him off most of the junk food and have put him on Multivitamins, Fish Oil, Magnesium and B vitmains. So far his Tics have reduced, but they are still here.

Do you have any other advice for this kind of condition, i have been worried sick about my son in the last week, i actually kinda feel all depressed about it. I just feel so helpless as a mother!

 

Kind Regards

Marianne