Advice needed!

[Calicat]

Hi Ann,

I'm Calicat--I live in Canada, too (in Ottawa). Where are you?

 

I noticed in your above post that you said you wouldn't have to pay for allergy testing because you live in Canada. Unfortunately, that's not quite the case. If you are talking about the traditional scratch test (which IS covered by health care), that may not give you the answers you desire. That test lets you know if there are any allergies of the immediate kind; in other words, the body starts responding to the allergen immediately. The kind most people on this forum get done is the IgG which, although I haven't done it yet myself, I believe is a single blood draw which is then tested (this is usually not covered by health care to the best of my knowledge).

 

When my daughter had her first bout of throat clearing at age 4, I had no idea it was tics. I thought it was allergies, so I had the scratch test done on her. She was a little trooper--not even a tear came to her eyes! The test indicated she had no allergies at all. But I still have my suspicions about delayed allergies.

 

I am currently on a year-long waiting list for a specialized doctor called an environmental doctor, who understands things like delayed allergies/sensitivities, nutritional therapies, etc. I am looking forward to it because she will help me get the types of tests I'm looking for, wheras regular doctors almost always will have no idea what you are talking about. I highly recommend finding an environmental doctor or a DAN doctor, who understands the same types of things and can really lead you in your explorations of what might be effective in your son's case.

 

However, be aware that there are extra costs associated with these specialty doctors. For mine, there is an upfront cost of a couple hundred dollars, plus of course any tests that won't be covered by health care (some are and some aren't). Also, any specialty treatments that aren't covered, such as B12 injections or that type of thing.

 

Have you looked through the thread labelled "essential threads", which is no more than halfway down the main page? If you click on all the links there, you will get a lot of good information. Don't expect to soak it all in at once. Personally, I really enjoy reading and researching, and I found it took me awhile to understand all of the different things people talk about here. I made a binder especially for this topic which I keep by the computer. Whenever I come across important information that I think helps me put the puzzle together, I make notes in my binder. I have pages and pages of information saying things like "B5 can be very helpful with teeth grinding" and "Hormel has a line of natural luncheon meats". Each time I go back and read it, more things fall into place in my mind. It comforts me, too, because whenever tics seem to be increasing again, I have information at my fingertips about what supplement or treatment might by a key missing ingredient.

 

Don't go too fast. Add only one supplement at a time so you can really see the effect, otherwise you won't know if one is causing a poor reaction (like might happen with some kids and fish oil -- omega 3).

 

If you have any specific questions, like about certain brands that are available in Canada, please don't hesitate to ask. To start, if you haven't already, I HIGHLY recommend "Kids Calm" powdered magnesium (Peter Gillham brand).

 

Take care. I know it's hard, but I feel so much better already than I did five months ago. There's a big learning curve, and a big accepting curve, too. Good luck.

 

Calicat

[Anna1970]

Ann,

 

I am so very sorry for what you and your son are going through. I know it seems so unfair. I remember when my son was five and suddenly started having horrible OCD symptoms, I would cry every night wondering what I did wrong to put this on my son. I didn't have this board then and didn't even know about PANDAS. It was a very dark time. I can feel the great love you have for your son in your writing. Right now you need to just draw on that and stay strong. You have gotten great advice already and you will get so much knowledge here. With that knowledge you will get more strength. Your son will get better. As he gets older and is able to swallow tablets, you will be able to get him to take supplements such a calcium / magnesium which is very helpful for tics, and slowly add others that will be helpful. With his young age, I think it is appropriate to look at dietary changes, allergies, and cleaning up the enviornment. You can always try epsom salt baths, those are very simple and give some temporary relief of tics. Most children his age will take a kids multivitamin. Make sure he is getting one that is dye free. It sounds like you are doing everything you can. Make sure you take care of yourself also and give him lots of love and hugs.

 

Peace and Grace - Dedee

 

Thank you it is so much easier knowing tehre are other people out there going through something similar

I will go buy the multi Vitiamin without dye today i never knew anyof this till i came on this forum

thanks again

Ann

 

Hi Ann,

I'm Calicat--I live in Canada, too (in Ottawa). Where are you?

 

I noticed in your above post that you said you wouldn't have to pay for allergy testing because you live in Canada. Unfortunately, that's not quite the case. If you are talking about the traditional scratch test (which IS covered by health care), that may not give you the answers you desire. That test lets you know if there are any allergies of the immediate kind; in other words, the body starts responding to the allergen immediately. The kind most people on this forum get done is the IgG which, although I haven't done it yet myself, I believe is a single blood draw which is then tested (this is usually not covered by health care to the best of my knowledge).

 

When my daughter had her first bout of throat clearing at age 4, I had no idea it was tics. I thought it was allergies, so I had the scratch test done on her. She was a little trooper--not even a tear came to her eyes! The test indicated she had no allergies at all. But I still have my suspicions about delayed allergies.

 

I am currently on a year-long waiting list for a specialized doctor called an environmental doctor, who understands things like delayed allergies/sensitivities, nutritional therapies, etc. I am looking forward to it because she will help me get the types of tests I'm looking for, wheras regular doctors almost always will have no idea what you are talking about. I highly recommend finding an environmental doctor or a DAN doctor, who understands the same types of things and can really lead you in your explorations of what might be effective in your son's case.

 

However, be aware that there are extra costs associated with these specialty doctors. For mine, there is an upfront cost of a couple hundred dollars, plus of course any tests that won't be covered by health care (some are and some aren't). Also, any specialty treatments that aren't covered, such as B12 injections or that type of thing.

 

Have you looked through the thread labelled "essential threads", which is no more than halfway down the main page? If you click on all the links there, you will get a lot of good information. Don't expect to soak it all in at once. Personally, I really enjoy reading and researching, and I found it took me awhile to understand all of the different things people talk about here. I made a binder especially for this topic which I keep by the computer. Whenever I come across important information that I think helps me put the puzzle together, I make notes in my binder. I have pages and pages of information saying things like "B5 can be very helpful with teeth grinding" and "Hormel has a line of natural luncheon meats". Each time I go back and read it, more things fall into place in my mind. It comforts me, too, because whenever tics seem to be increasing again, I have information at my fingertips about what supplement or treatment might by a key missing ingredient.

 

Don't go too fast. Add only one supplement at a time so you can really see the effect, otherwise you won't know if one is causing a poor reaction (like might happen with some kids and fish oil -- omega 3).

 

If you have any specific questions, like about certain brands that are available in Canada, please don't hesitate to ask. To start, if you haven't already, I HIGHLY recommend "Kids Calm" powdered magnesium (Peter Gillham brand).

 

Take care. I know it's hard, but I feel so much better already than I did five months ago. There's a big learning curve, and a big accepting curve, too. Good luck.

 

Calicat

 

Hi Calicat

I live in Windsor Ontario

i already have my binder for writing stuff down i had papers all over my desk till the other night and decided to get a book for this!

and i will look into the thread labeled "essential threads"

thanks you so much i have to run nowi will be looking at the essential threasds later

Thanks

Ann