Chlorine/Tics/Alternatives

[tryinmybest]

Hello,

 

I have not introduced myself yet but have started reading this forum. My 10 year old son has not yet been formerly diagnosed with Tourettes but I think he will. He has been having vocal tics (throat clearing, shallow coughs) for several years. I always thought they were due to reactive airway/reflux/allergy issues although several docs told us they thought they were tics. This past fall he started doing some jerking motions with his head. The neurologist diagnosed him with transient tic disorder based on the fact that he is doing well in school. He has recently started doing the throat clearing and also puffing air out of his nose making a loud noise. He has been doing this for about 5 weeks at some points it has been almost constant. It doesn't seem to bother him though. Anyway, the one thing I have noticed is that he tends to start vocal tics after he has been swimming in chlorine pools. We have an inground pool. I am wondering if anyone has had any success with a non chlorine treatment system? He loves to swim but it is not worth it if it is going to trigger his tics. I am hoping to find some alternative. I have read about some online but can't find any info about whether they actually work. Thanks for your help.

[ilovedogs]

Hello,

 

I have not introduced myself yet but have started reading this forum. My 10 year old son has not yet been formerly diagnosed with Tourettes but I think he will. He has been having vocal tics (throat clearing, shallow coughs) for several years. I always thought they were due to reactive airway/reflux/allergy issues although several docs told us they thought they were tics. This past fall he started doing some jerking motions with his head. The neurologist diagnosed him with transient tic disorder based on the fact that he is doing well in school. He has recently started doing the throat clearing and also puffing air out of his nose making a loud noise. He has been doing this for about 5 weeks at some points it has been almost constant. It doesn't seem to bother him though. Anyway, the one thing I have noticed is that he tends to start vocal tics after he has been swimming in chlorine pools. We have an inground pool. I am wondering if anyone has had any success with a non chlorine treatment system? He loves to swim but it is not worth it if it is going to trigger his tics. I am hoping to find some alternative. I have read about some online but can't find any info about whether they actually work. Thanks for your help.

This is always a hot topic around here and you can search the forum for other threads about it. I noticed that my son ticced more last year when he went in the pool in May but that it waned just like all his tics do. Then I started thinking maybe it was a photosensitivity thing where the light shimmering and bouncing off the water was causing him trouble instead of blaming the chlorine. I know that Chemar's son reacts terribly to chlorine and has not been in a pool in years. They also use a filter for their showerheads to remove chlorine.

On the pool thing, I know there are alternatives out there but I don't know how effective they are. I keep my chlorine levels low, like at 1.0 PPM and I don't allow anyone in the pool for 24 hours after I shock it, which is hard to do in the summer in AZ!

My son is also 10 but has all facial tics, no vocals. He has not been diagnosed except with an anxiety disorder and possible OCD. Because of the tics and the OCD type anxiety I wouldn't be surprised if I got a Tourettes diagnosis, as well. My son also isn't bothered by his tics very much.

PS: I've heard that giving an epsom salts bath after they go in the pool helps to detox the body from the chlorine so that might be an option to try. Unfortunately for me, my son isn't too keen on taking a bath after going in the pool!

Take care,

Bonnie

[Panda]

Hello,

 

 

PS: I've heard that giving an epsom salts bath after they go in the pool helps to detox the body from the chlorine so that might be an option to try. Unfortunately for me, my son isn't too keen on taking a bath after going in the pool!

Take care,

Bonnie

 

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How much epsom salt would you suggest putting in a bath following a swim in a chlorinated pool?

[Chemar]

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How much epsom salt would you suggest putting in a bath following a swim in a chlorinated pool?

 

2 cups epsom salts in tub of warm water, soak approx 15-20 min, is what we have always used

 

my son's chlorine sensitivity is so strong tho that he totally avoids chlorinated pools, and we have shower filters in our home too

[myrose]

They also make the cream that you can apply after the pool. We used it last year.

I purchased mine but you can easily make it in the microwave....

[mom2a]

Hi there tryinmybest!!!

 

I just posted on this topic not to long ago because I was very excited with our results on our salt water filtration system for our pool.

 

Last year we did the chlorine chemicals and my son also had a flare up of tics after swimming. This year we are going salt water and so far no tics and he is swimming atleast 4 days a week!!! Totally worth looking into!!!

[mara]

hi - my son's doctor also recommended spraying him down after he swims at camp with a mixture of epsom salt and water. i sent a spray bottle and the counselor will spray him all over right when he gets out. he's six and will likely have fun spraying himself! it will be interesting to see if this mitigates the effect of the chlorine.

 

julie