question about "biomedical" approach

[airbucket]

hello everyone,

 

As i am learning more about alternative or biomed approaches to neuro disorders i find myself with more questions. I am seeking some clarification, some explanation of what it means that the body affects the brain/neurological systems - perhaps there is a good general book out there? It was only since i joined this forum that some one said it is not having too much or too little dopamine that is the problem in TS, but rather how the body is REACTING to its own dopamine. I want to understand this better, everything from enzymes to nervous system to immune system, the gut-brain relationship, allergies. I used to think that the issue was people who believed in brain chemicals like dopamine and those who did not believe those chemicals exist. As i read over this forum and wonder if my son is one of those who would be positively affected by alternative interventions and treatment, i wonder if what he "has" will respond to these approaches. He has some other physical red flags such an an ulcer and all kinds of gastro problems, tested possible but not definite for gluten intolerance, has dark circles under his eyes, and so on - however he does not have others, such as jaundice and strep or other illnesses (he is actually never sick).

 

also his moods and emotional problems and anxiety problems lead me to believe maybe he does not even have TS, but just happens to have some tics? its as though the psychiatrist refuses to see any other disorder other than TS, even though these anxiety problems are much worse than tic problems. i've been printing out posts from here on all different treatments in order to start to compile a comprehensive list of them - this forum has so much wonderful info! As i posted elsewhere, we got our pediatrician to write an order for the LabCorp UPPA urine test, i will post how it goes etc. Thank you!

[ad_ccl]

Your post that your son is "never sick" is interesting as you are looking for answers I will share our experience. I too thought my son was "never sick" He was from 6 months to 2 years with constant ear infections, throat infections etc. Then had the ENT surgery, tonsils, adenoids and tubes then was "never sick" What did start to happen was that he had transient tics from 3 to 6. Nothing major and nothing others would notice. Then at 6 had the sudden and extreme explosion of tics like nothing I had ever seen or could have imagined. What I believe now - is that when he would have the transient tics he was actually fighting something. His illness was just presenting as transient tics. I have three kids, he was my first. I realize now how UNUSUAL it is for a kid to "never get sick". It can be helpful to keep a journal of his symptoms, but also keep a journal of what else is going on in the house and environment. When my son was very sick with PANDAS in the first year we would see an increase in tics when is rained. Currently I have a house full of sick kids - my middle one was just testing for strep (get results today) he has had a high fever for 4 days and headache, my little one had croup and a bad cough - my PANDAS kid has had an increase in tics - no cough/cold/or feeling tired. His body shows illness differently. Also - when my PANDAS so had his initial onset - he did not present as sick other than in passing the week before say his throat was dry - he had a drink of water and we did not hear about it again. The immune system is so complicated. I agree with Kim's post on the other thread - TS is just an easy way to classify vocal and motor tics - but I think there can be so many underlying causes - it is just searching for them and correcting them. You are at the right place. I also agree with Kim about the impetigo - there is a clear connection to your child's tics and another child's illness. Don't forget PITANDS - illness triggered.

[Chemar]

Airbucket

 

honestly, nomatter what your son "has"...he can ONLY benefit by having a clean diet (free of artificials) and supplemenhts optimized to suit his specific needs

 

The interaction between all the systems of our bodies is well known, medically researched and documented.

sadly conventional medicine seems nowadays to operate on prescribing pills to take away symptoms rather than holistically treating the ailment(s)

[faith]

very interesting...about the "never getting sick" part. I have mentioned too that I am under impression my son is hardly sick, except for a virus w/vomiting once or twice a year (this does not usually cause increase in symptoms in him), never had ear infection from infancy til now. And currently I had also noted and mentioned here of an increase in his eye twitching/winking (this coming on the heels of him sayine only one night that his throat hurt a little, then nothing else. He did have a stuffy nose but no clear illness, or run down feeling like when most of us have a cold. (note we are not PANDAS), so ad ccl, I am finding this very interesting and something to ponder over... But what about the others who have mentioned their kids seemed to always get sick?

 

Faith

[airbucket]

Wow, very interesting! Isnt it odd Faith to never be ill? My son had RSV at about 2-3 months old, and a few ear infections, then we found out he was allergic to amoxicillan, but since infancy he has not been sick. When my husband and i are barely able to get out of bed with the flu, he is bouncing around and never gets it too. With his stomach problems he does sometimes have vomiting and looks pale now and then. this convo has me thinking though because a few days ago he started complaining he is dizzy, i dont even know if he knows what that means, and that he is tired, and he is NEVER tired. But no cold/flu symptoms, now i am wondering if he is sick and doesnt show it? This child has not missed one day of school due to illness!

[airbucket]

and on another note, i bought today a vitamin supplement and magnesium as I read those are 2 good things to start with (my son is on meds and we have not tried any alternative treatments yet). The vitamin is "Kids and Us Food based minis" by Essentials Mega Food. It looks good, whole food based. The magnesium is Blue Bonnet Chelated with Calcium in250mg. I dont know how much of the magnesium to give him.....? Does anyone know? the bottle says 2 pills a day but he is not an adult. Thank you for any input.

[ad_ccl]

Faith,

 

There seems to be a tendency for PANDAS kids (from reading the forums the last few years) to have had a history of "always being sick" as babies/infants - just as my son was . He was constantly on antibiotics from 6 months to 2 years - so already had a weakened immune system. Literally - we would stop the 10 day course of antibiotics, then the next day he would spike a fever. He had the "touching tonsils" they were so huge all the time, and non stop double ear infections and he snored like crazy. He had the ENT surgery and from that day on he was not sick once (so I thought) Not one day of school missed - through nursery school, JK, and SK. So I think that when PANDAS moms have talked about their kids always being sick it has often been when they were younger. It would be interesting to take a poll. I just know in our experience, my thought is that it is NOT normal to never be sick - and it is clear that currently my son gets tics when others around him are sick - so I often wish if I could go back in time, that I would have paid attention to what else was going on in our household when my son had the transient tics from 3-6 - he was also a challenging kid at times, kind of ADHD ish. What I do know is the main tic he had was a throat clearing tic - which did not go away when he had the antibiotics for PANDAS - although I no longer cared about it as it was nothing compared to the sudden and severe onset of the multiple and complex tics he had - he continued with the throat clearing until we removed milk from his diet - 6 months after the diagnosis of PANDAS. The throat clearing has never come back. Milk is also supposed to be the culprit for ear infections for some - I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have removed milk a long time ago.

I think these forums are so helpful as we all have our own experiences but there can be some similarities.