Head twitching tic

[mariewilliams]

Hello,

 

I am new to the forum but have found it very helpful. It does feel comforting in knowing we're not alone. My daughter Hanna just turned 8 a few weeks ago. Right around that time I noticed she started twitching her neck and head. It has increased quite a bit over the last few weeks. Just the other day she started burping with her mouth shut. I kind of got onto her thinking it was intentenial but she got very upset and said she couldn't help it and asked me why she has things wrong with her. It broke my heart when she said that. I have been obsessed with researching tics the past couple of weeks. I've made an appt. with her doctor and have ordered Sheila's book which should be here anyday. Any help and feedback is greatly appreciated with where I should start....

 

Thank you,

 

Marie

[lynnie1264]

Welcome!!! And you're right, you are certainly not alone.

 

8 seems to be a very common age when these things come to light for some reason. My little boy started with the head twitches a couple of weeks after he turned 8. However, looking back I know there were a few other little things over the past year or so that you tend not to worry about til something more obvious comes along.

 

Others here will have much more valuable info than I can offer, but I think what I'm doing has helped.

 

I've cut down on sugar {not totally got rid of it} and cut down on artificial stuff, he has magnesium supps. My boy only has mild TS and at this point he has tics that aren't all that obvious.

 

From what others have said here Sheila's book is great, I haven't got it yet. But there's a wealth of info even just on this site.

 

All the best,

Lyn.

[mariewilliams]

Welcome!!! And you're right, you are certainly not alone.

 

8 seems to be a very common age when these things come to light for some reason. My little boy started with the head twitches a couple of weeks after he turned 8. However, looking back I know there were a few other little things over the past year or so that you tend not to worry about til something more obvious comes along.

 

Others here will have much more valuable info than I can offer, but I think what I'm doing has helped.

 

I've cut down on sugar {not totally got rid of it} and cut down on artificial stuff, he has magnesium supps. My boy only has mild TS and at this point he has tics that aren't all that obvious.

 

From what others have said here Sheila's book is great, I haven't got it yet. But there's a wealth of info even just on this site.

 

All the best,

Lyn.

[mariewilliams]

Welcome!!! And you're right, you are certainly not alone.

 

8 seems to be a very common age when these things come to light for some reason. My little boy started with the head twitches a couple of weeks after he turned 8. However, looking back I know there were a few other little things over the past year or so that you tend not to worry about til something more obvious comes along.

 

Others here will have much more valuable info than I can offer, but I think what I'm doing has helped.

 

I've cut down on sugar {not totally got rid of it} and cut down on artificial stuff, he has magnesium supps. My boy only has mild TS and at this point he has tics that aren't all that obvious.

 

From what others have said here Sheila's book is great, I haven't got it yet. But there's a wealth of info even just on this site.

 

All the best,

Lyn.

 

 

Thanks for the advice Lyn. I definately want to change up her eating habits. I do not give her any caffiene but she does get her fair share of sweets and the artificial stuff. Have you had your son "diagnosed" by his doctor? Did he refer your son over to another kind of doctor or run tests on him?

 

Thanks,

 

Marie

[lynnie1264]

Yes he was diagnosed in May based on his current symptoms , and the little things he'd been doing that we hadn't been worried about.

 

I did have him tested for allergies, which came p neg but that doesn't allow for "sensitivities" , and also the environmental stuff, and how the sugar and artificial stuff affects them. All kids react differently to things so it's worth looking into. But overall, cutting down on the yukky stuff can't hurt.

 

If your child does have particular allergies though, it could be a bit easier for you to work out. My son's tics have never been as bad as they were when he was diagnosed, which I find strange, because I was so worried, then suddenly once we all became aware of it it all eased.

 

Alot of people say that most kids with tics/TS are deficient in magnesium, and my son has these supps. I figure it can't hurt, and I have noticed an improvement to be honest.

 

I've been honest with my son and explained to him what TS is just so he's not scared of the unknown. At first he thought it was something he was going to die of, so I'm glad I explained it. He knows that he is still a normal child and that so many other people have it. At this time he's really good about it. When he doesn't tic much he will say to me "Mum, I haven't been touretting much lately have I?" Ahh, you gotta love 'em, hey? lol

 

Lyn.

[Chemar]

Hi Marie and welcome

 

glad you have ordered Sheila's book as that really does provide so much info that can help you sort through the many things that can cause childhood tics.

 

my son has genetic Tourette Syndrome (see my signature link for what we have done to help him) and we definitely found that cleaning those food additives out of his diet was a primary foundation for everything else to work better. here is that link to our original treatment plan from 7 years ago http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=687

 

many members here have found that epsom salts baths along with magnesium supplements are a helpful first step in tic reduction. A lot use the Kids Calm version of Natural Calm (cheapest at iherb.com and vitaminshoppe.com) which is ionic magnesium citrate.

 

I know you will find a lot of info here. Here are some helpful threads

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2459

 

things to also consider are possible "yeast" ie Candida gut infection, heavy metals especially mercury, pyroluria, and also the possibility of any vaccine and microbial impact on the onset of the tics.

 

do also take a look at Sheila's article on tic triggers

http://www.latitudes.org/articles/finding_triggers.htm

 

hope that helps a bit