Need more help as tics return

[mblack]

I just do not understand. We have followed a very strict diet, kept our son away from video games, and basically done everything we know to do and still we have tic issues. One tic will disappear while something else starts. He is now starting the funny eye blinking episodes again and now a sort of head shrugging while he pull his fist up to his chest, and puckering his mouth or lips out. Does nerves, stress, and anxiety play a hugh role in tics. I noticed a real bad episode of tics when I carried my son to the hospital for pre-admitting to get his tonsels taken out. The surgery is not until this Thursday but he is really worried about it. It also has been lightning real bad the last couple of evening and he does not like that as well. What can a parent do to sooth a childs nerves and reassure them that everything is going to be okay? I can't help it but I cry most everyday and wonder why God is punishing my child. Any help is very much appreciated.

[patty]

mblack,

 

I understand your frustration. In reading some of your old posts. I am wondering if you have determine the underlying cause of your son's tics? Because the approach that you would take would be different. For us mothers, we want so much for our kids to be healthy & happy that we are willing to do everything possible to help with the situation, and sometimes the effort is overwhelming for us as well as for the child. So i am thinking, if you can figure out the cause of your son's tic, that would better direct you as to what to do and avoid some of the unnecessary restrictions.

 

And if your son's tics are allergy related, as i suspect mine. I would be happy to share with you what we are doing that is helpful to my son. The thing about treating neurological issues is that there is no one protocal for everyone.

 

BTW, how is your son responding to allergy shots? My son has asthma since 5 mos. old. Since we started alternative treatments like NAET, chiropractic, acupuncture, his asthma is gone. I don't know exactly which alternative treatment helped with asthma because i did everything at about the same time, but i do believe that everything worked together in harmony.

 

As many of the parents here on this board can agree, it takes time to figure out what works & doesn't. There is much hope to believe that your son will get better too.

 

Take care!

 

Pat

[Chemar]

mblack

 

stress is known to be possibly the number one tic trigger

so it is very possible that the combination of anxiety about the surgery plus weather etc is the trigger

 

forgive me for not remembering, but does your child have Tourette Syndrome?

 

If so, please dont forget that, nomatter how many good things you add to diet or bad things you take away from his life....a person with TS will tic. Period.

The measures we take helps to reduce the intensity and frequency of TS tics, but IMHO anyone who tells you that they have a magic cure all for TS tics is using hyperbole.

 

I have said it before and will continue to say over and over that the very best thing I ever did for my son and myself and our own family was to understand and accept that people with TS tic, and not to obsess over "curing" the tics, but rather to focus on getting my son as healthy as I possibly could, and to be thankful for the fact that the good diet and supplements and attempts to remove as many tic triggers as possible DID have VERY positive results.

 

The fact that my son still tics is not indicative of failure of any of the treatments, quite the opposite....we have seen how stopping any of them causes the tics to explode!

He tics because he has Tourette Syndrome, and yes, I firmly believe that as we learn more and research gives more details in understanding TS, there may well be a complete cure on the horizon.

But it does not exist today. Only ways to make things much better, and well worth pursuing

 

 

sorry if I have given a speech about TS, when in fact your child may not even have it. It's hard for me to remember exactly as we have so many members here.

 

 

In the specific case of your son, and not knowing his dx, I would strongly suspect that the anxiety about the surgery is what is triggering the increased tics

 

Please please please dont ever see your son's tics as God punishing him personally.

 

My son won a Local Hero award in 2004 for his striving to educate people about TS and about what it is like for a young kid to grow up being "different" ......... one of the things he spoke of was how, despite the challenges and the hurts of being a kid with TS, yet he knew that even in this God had blessed him, because it had brought him a depth of compassion and a depth of character that may never have been without having to walk the harder uphill road.

 

God loves your son even more than you do mblack, and He can and will work all things together for good in his life.

 

I pray that you will be able to help your child relax before the surgery and that all will go well, and that the removal of the tonsils will have a very positive effect on his overall health.

 

May God's peace be with you too.

Dont worry, you are doing everything you can to help your child.

Just keep going a day at a time and dont lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Cheri

[faith]

hi mblack,

I know this is hard, and understand the feelings you have, but the best words of comfort I can think of right now is that you are still on the road to "healing". Healing for your son, and for your heart too. I don't know exactly how long you have been on this process, but it does take time for that healing process to really take hold. You may have some setbacks, but as your son gets healthier, I think things will begin to settle a little more. May I ask what you are doing in the way of nutritional supplements? Also, since you say your son showed alot of allergies and sensitivities, it may take some time to get this all under control, and he may show more tics since there ARE so many things he is sensitive too.

 

Now, my son is doing much better, but I try to look at the tics as symptoms, and some days I may see some tics poking through, and that is my signal to tighten up the ship. I am seeing some thingies going on this morning and yes, I'm worried too, but I feel I have enough knowledge to know what I have to improve upon, (like I know he has had way too many munchkin donuts last couple days) and I just have to have faith that this will pass quickly before it gets worse. If I don't pay attention to his diet, etc. I can be sure that would happen. I don't ever feel like this is all going to just go away and we can abandon all of our health strategies. I think we will have to be dilligent about his health issues for a long time. When you say you are doing all you know, try to think of all this as a process in healing him of the issues that are causing these symptoms. I look at it like a way to manage his symptoms and if you are seeing a diminishment in the intensity and frequency of his usual tics, then have faith that you are heading in the right direction. (BTW, I don't think pounding (is it more like a tap, tap?) his fist on the table is so bad, at least that is not too noticeable to others as a tic, that sounds more like a compulsion. Does he do this all day, or just when he is at a table? Have the other tics he started with seem to be under control? I see you mentioned he seemed better after some of his allergy treatments. Are you keeping up with that?

 

Don't know if what I am trying to say is of help, but just know that many of us have been this route, and there is no short cut, but I think if you just stay on the road, and ask for help when you need it, from us and from God,....you will find your way.

 

Blessings and regards,

Faith

[janey]

I just do not understand. We have followed a very strict diet, kept our son away from video games, and basically done everything we know to do and still we have tic issues. One tic will disappear while something else starts. He is now starting the funny eye blinking episodes again and now a sort of head shrugging while he pull his fist up to his chest, and puckering his mouth or lips out. Does nerves, stress, and anxiety play a hugh role in tics. I noticed a real bad episode of tics when I carried my son to the hospital for pre-admitting to get his tonsels taken out. The surgery is not until this Thursday but he is really worried about it. It also has been lightning real bad the last couple of evening and he does not like that as well. What can a parent do to sooth a childs nerves and reassure them that everything is going to be okay? I can't help it but I cry most everyday and wonder why God is punishing my child. Any help is very much appreciated.

 

 

Hi,

 

I just wanted you to know that my son's tics returned this summer after going on vacation on an airplane. This is something he was very scared and nervous about. For my son, I think stress and being nervous brings on the tic, and then electronics makes it worse. I know how you feel. I also can't understand why this had to happen to us. It took me 7 years to get pregnant with my son and he is the center of my universe. I just can't understand why this had to happen to us. I try to be a good person and do good in the world and often feel punished.

 

Take care,

Jane

[Pamela Kay]

I truly was where you are a couple years ago. "Why is god punishing my child" I too would cry all the time. Through all this I have learned so much. Since I discovered my son is allergic to corn it really was the key to opening up a lot more about him. His school work has become much better, his attitude too. He would cry all the time before. Something is backsliding now for us too. I don't know exactly what this new trigger is but I have a couple ideas.

 

I know it is hard but try to stay calm. Wait and see if after the surgery he improves. It really could be this stress that is causing his new tics. You are heading in the right direction just by reading this board!

[bmom]

I was just wondering, Chemar, is there a way to determine if a person has TS or tics? My son was ticcing from Feb-April nonstop. Hasn't really ticced since only, hard blinks for a couple of days when I was giving him Benedryl-stopped and blinking stopped. Is there a way for a parent or Dr. to determine? Is TS continual ticcing so my son does not have it or what is the determination? Thanks for your input.

[mblack]

Thank you all so much for your input and words of encouragement, I really appreciate it. The thing about his allergies is that he is allergic to almost everything and we don't know whether it is food, outside, or other things causing the problems. We have only been giving the shots for a short time and in all fairness need to stay the couse on this for a while longer. Along with the foods that he showed absolute allergies too he also had many others that were questionable and some of those may be an issue. It is just so hard, we can not keep him away from everything or we will staarve him to death.

 

No we are not taking suppliments at this time. We have been taking one thing at a time with his environmental doctor. We have done the allergy test, and now we are doing the heavy metal testing, and will be doing hair analysis next. His doctor likes to work with one thing at a time.

 

Yes and no Chemar, a joke of a pediatric nuerologist said he had mild TS, this was just by looking at him for 2 seconds and he wanted to start him on drugs for it. Now, the environmental doctor says no he does not have TS, just has little tics like alot of kids do when they are growing up. I still am not sure whether TS is an issue or not. Ryan does not show any signs of ADD, ADHD, or OCD but he is very nervous and can not handle pressure well at all. He gets very uptight over weather and things of that nature and worries about most everything. He is a very smart child and does not seem to be having any trouble so far in the 5th grade classroom. I am soory about looking at God as punishing my child but I just get so overwhelmed at times and look for someone or something to blame. Here we had this perfect little boy that I had always dreamed of that went around as a small toddler imitating Elvis Presley and the way he used to do his top lip. We used to get such a big kick out of the way Ryan would do this, he was so cute and could do it well.

 

Im sorry if I do not get all the questions answered but I wish I could be the one incouraging and helping and not the one always looking for help and encouragement. Thanks again to all who offer their help and are so concerned.

[Pamela Kay]

You will be doing the encouraging one day. I have found that this tic/allergy thing has made me stronger. I think you will too.

 

Pam

[Rosbud]

Hi,

 

It is so wonderful to have found such a caring and sharing group of individuals as everone seems to be on this site. Mblack I do sympathise with you but you are in the right place for the assistance and support you need.

 

I can completely sympathise about the anxiety and tears associated with our children and these horrible tics. My daughter started with extreme eye blinking when she was between 5 and 6 years old and it was the most horrible experience. (She is now 14 years old). This went on, off and on, for several years but mostly from April through the summer months. Luckily I consulted with a Osteopathic doctor who specialises in environmental medicine and he was able to test and identify deficiencies and gave me great advice on what to avoid. The eye blinking, thankfully, went away. Once in a while I may notice a slight twitch but it is short lived. Thank God!

 

The problem, however, is that one tic is replaced by another. She has had a silly little neck movement going on for quite some time where she would kind of hold her head to one side and slightly shrug and in addition she has also been flexing the muscles in her stomach excessively. The latter happens mostly when she is sitting and watching television.

 

Over the past two weeks she has started a new thing, a kind of "jerky nodding motion" and since she is about to go back to school I am worried sick as I don't want her to be teased and distracted. She claims that this is just a habit she has developed, as is the stomach muscle flexing, but I am not sure that is the case. Today I decided to stop speaking to her about the "nodding" and just try to ignore it as I believe it is another tic rather than the habit she claims it is. I am just so worried, and yes I do cry as well. It is a natural emotional outlet for us Moms I suppose and I usually do feel better after a cry. My daughter is going into the 10th grade beginning this week and the next two years are crucial for her educationally- she does not need any distractions or upsetment due to the silly tics! Please keep her in your prayers everyone that this will go away, QUICKLY.

 

My daughter has not been diagnosed with TS. I have been told that her tics are mostly allergy related and some deficiencies can contribute. She has never had any vocals etc, thank God, just these ever changing tics. The Osteopath identified that she has a strong sensitivity to sugar and to corn and I do my best to keep her away from it, however, she sneaks candy because the craving is so strong. It is all very difficult and frustrating. I have resumed her supplement therapy mostly vitamin B and Zinc which helped her in the past. Hopefully it will again. Perhaps it is time for me to have her retested for deficiencies.

 

Has anyone had good results with the Bontec (sp ?) supplements? I understand that those have been helpful to some kids like this but prior to ordering I would be interested to know if anyone on here has had any positive results.

 

Mblack please hang in there and know that we are all in this together. Anything that I can share to help you I will do as will everyone else I am sure.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Rosebud

[itsme]

Hi rosbud,

 

our son and myself have had very good success with bontech vits for the past 8 months.

[Pamela Kay]

Are you guys getting bontech from the website or do they sell it at a natural food stores?

 

Also has anyone tried Greens Today Children's Formula. I found it at our local health food store but am really scared to try new things.

 

http://www.greenstoday.com/products/children.asp

 

I really want to get this tic more under control before school starts.

[faith]

Are you guys getting bontech from the website or do they sell it at a natural food stores?

 

Also has anyone tried Greens Today Children's Formula. I found it at our local health food store but am really scared to try new things.

 

http://www.greenstoday.com/products/children.asp

 

I really want to get this tic more under control before school starts.

 

 

Hi Pamela,

I forget, were you previously giving any supplements? I havn't tried this product but it seems to have lots of good stuff it. The only thing I would make sure there is nothing in it that is one of your son's sensitivities, for instance I couldn't give that to my son because I see it has flax meal in it and that was his high intolerance on the test. Also look at the vegetable powders in case that was one of them too, i.e. carrot powder, tomato powder, etc.

 

I was also wondering where you got the info regarding doing allergy testing and supplementation info two years back, since you are a newish member to the forum? If it has been several years since you tested, have you thought of re-testing in case new allergies or sensitivities have popped up? I have mentioned before that my son too had seemed to have a great reduction in tics after eliminating corn (along with yeast and flaxoil) as those were his high intolerances. If things started to turn around after doing well for couple of years, I often thought to myself that I would do that test again in case new sensitivities have developed. All I'd have to lose is money .

 

Thanks

Faith

[lmcgill]

I just do not understand. We have followed a very strict diet, kept our son away from video games, and basically done everything we know to do and still we have tic issues. One tic will disappear while something else starts. He is now starting the funny eye blinking episodes again and now a sort of head shrugging while he pull his fist up to his chest, and puckering his mouth or lips out. Does nerves, stress, and anxiety play a hugh role in tics. I noticed a real bad episode of tics when I carried my son to the hospital for pre-admitting to get his tonsels taken out. The surgery is not until this Thursday but he is really worried about it. It also has been lightning real bad the last couple of evening and he does not like that as well. What can a parent do to sooth a childs nerves and reassure them that everything is going to be okay? I can't help it but I cry most everyday and wonder why God is punishing my child. Any help is very much appreciated.

 

I have many of the same thoughts as you, mblack. We have followed a fairly strict diet, give him the supps, and now with school starting he has kind of exploded with tics. He has a neck jerk, a nose twitch, and a slight gasping sound.

I have asked myself too if all the supps and the diet has been useless. He has not really had any tics since November last year. He has had a few eyeblinking episodes but nothing more. The only two things that have happened is he was on Pennicilen for a staph infection and was done those on August 26, allmost immediately he had a slight humming tic and when we were coming back from the long weekend (Sept 3rd) he started shoulder and stomach jerking along with some other tics we had never seen. The fact that he was going to a new school for gr 3, has caused him great stress. I am just not sure what to do to help him now? Perhaps Chemar has some good advice, he has not been dx with Tourettes at this time. I am just not sure if the stress induced the tics to that extent, or what? He has no other problems (ADD OCD) except some food allergies we are aware of.

[patty]

mblack & imcqill,

 

I too wonder about the effectiveness of the diet restriction and alternative treatments, due to the wax & wane cycle. My son has been ticcing for the last year and a half. The tics were sudden onset and frequent. Now, it is minimal to bearly noticeable. And then out of the blue, he will have more symptoms. The good news is that the waxing cycle is shorter & shorter and with less tics.

With that said, i do believe the body is benefiting from the diet & alternative treatments and supplements. I think as parents, when your child is waxing, you feel frustrated and start to wonder if all the effort is a lost cause.

 

I remember Chemar replied to one of my posts explaining that a person with TS tics. My son is not formally dx with TS, but i come to accept the fact that he is highly likely to have it. It is a hard thing to accept but with acceptance comes understanding. I am just tired of trying to figure out what is causing the waxing and what i can further do to make it better. I am slowly learning to let go and just do the best i can and start to find a balance in our lives.

 

On a more positive note, there is a fairly high percentage of people outgrow TS and experience much decrease as you entered into adulthood.

 

Also, when one is treating TS using alternative treatments, the protocol for tics and TS is the same because the cause is the same but the expression is different. According to our ND, tics & TS are treatable. Everyday i pray that my son's tics are mild, infrequent and it doesn't interfere with his quality of life, then i am happy. Frankly, i don't think i can ask for more.

 

Pat