Please help/educate me...

[MommaMako]

Hi, I'm new to the site and need some help...

 

I came across this site in my desperate urge to understand tics. My step son has tics and will blink and shrug his shoulders sometimes strong enough to strain a muscle. My husband and I have now noticed our 11 month old blinking a little longer than normal when he's getting tired. Is this an early sign of tics? Is he too young for this? If it starts this early will it get worse? I also noticed when he was a few months younger he did an odd swaying side to side which looked like dancing and after a couple months went away... was this a sign? I was worried about it then and it was brushed aside from others thinking I was reading too much into it and the chances were smaller since my step son had it.

 

I've done so much researching online I'm going a little nuts seeing the same pages and same descriptions... I will be bringing him in to be seen but as a parent I'm desperate that this is an outcome that I can handle and knowledgable about. I'm praying I'm just too paranoid or reading too into it but any info would help me immensley!

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 

France

[faith]

Hello France,

Sorry you are so worried, we all know how that feels. I do think, however, that 11 months is kind of young to display signs of tics or tourettes, but I suppose its possible. Most will start with mild symptoms more like 3or 4. When you say blinking longer than usual, do you mean repetitive blinking many times in a row, or long blinks where he keeps his eyes closed longer than a regular blink?

 

I also don't think that age is a factor on how much worse one gets, as we all have kids who started at various stages, and some are just transient and mild, and some do get more symptoms along the way. I really don't think there is any predictor of what course it will take. One thing I can say is that IF there are some other things you may observe when he is a little older, than you are ahead of the game on how to proceed with treatment. You will know how to keep him healthy right from the beginning by avoiding high trigger junk ingredients and by educating yourself on vaccine schedules. By the way, did he recently have a vaccination administered right before you noticed the blinking?

 

Could I ask how your step son is doing presently and what his symptoms have been in the past, and what age he started exhibiting tics? Does your husband also have any history?

 

I don't think any doctor will tell you that something is up right now, it is all wait and see, but I do think it good to have him examined and evaluated for anythng else that could be going on just in case.

 

Faith

[san70]

France,

 

Welcome. I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. You have found the right place to come for support and advice. I agree with Faith. I think that you should definitely get your baby examined but I don't think that your doctor would say that anything is unusual. If you notice that your baby is blinking when he is tired, that seems normal. However, I would keep a journal of anything you find unusual so that you can talk to your pediatrician about these behaviors, when they occur, the frequency, and so forth. Keep an eye on any usual reactions after vaccines. Just do your research, is my advice. Everyone here is all for a healthy diet, free of artificial colors and flavors. With your baby, just be careful with the vitamins and foods you choose. You would be amazed at what manufacturers put in baby and toddler food. My youngest is just about 2 so when he started eating, I couldn't believe the sheer volume of ingredients in their food.

 

San

[kim]

France,

 

I'm wondering if you're familiar with the term PANDAS? The thing that struck me about your post was the word "dancing." This is often used in terms of a condition called

Sydenham Chorea, which is also associated with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcus (PANDAS). Sometimes when "tics" present as more fluid motions instead of jerky, it's referred to as chorea. Many times a Dr. will say a child as young as your son doesn't get strep (younger than average onset is reported by some parents on the PANDAS forum tho) , but right now it doesn't appear clear which types of strep or even if it's only strep that can cause these types of illness. Is there any unusual reactions to strep or other autoimmune conditions on either side? Any family history of rheumatic fever?

 

I hope you will visit the PANDAS forum here too and educate yourself as to what to be on the lookout for, just in case. This is the link to that site.

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=17

 

I'm also glad you found this forum. There are many people who are willing to help answer what ever questions you have and lend support when needed!

[MommaMako]

When you say blinking longer than usual, do you mean repetitive blinking many times in a row, or long blinks where he keeps his eyes closed longer than a regular blink?

By the way, did he recently have a vaccination administered right before you noticed the blinking?

Could I ask how your step son is doing presently and what his symptoms have been in the past, and what age he started exhibiting tics?

Does your husband also have any history?

 

 

From Kim:

Sometimes when "tics" present as more fluid motions instead of jerky, it's referred to as chorea.

 

Many times a Dr. will say a child as young as your son doesn't get strep (younger than average onset is reported by some parents on the PANDAS forum tho) , but right now it doesn't appear clear which types of strep or even if it's only strep that can cause these types of illness. Is there any unusual reactions to strep or other autoimmune conditions on either side? Any family history of rheumatic fever?

 

Hi everyone and thanks for the warm welcome.

 

My little guy is blinking for a longer than normal time... instead of a fraction of a second... it's like a second long... he keeps his eyes closed longer than a regular blink.

 

He's due for his nect shots in Nov and the last ones were when he was 6 months... so not close to the onset of blinking but he was "dancing" around that time.

 

My step son was getting "better" but then it started getting worse to a point where he injured himself with the shoulder-shrug type tic. He is a blinker and like others does not seem to notice and isnt bothered too much by it.. yet. I'm not sure exactly what age he bagan showing signs, but I think dad said he was around 6.

 

Dad has no history of tics nor does anyone in the family to his knowledge, but if my little guy is indeed showing signs, we know where to look for genetic issues. Though I'm not trying to point any fingers anywhere I'm more just trying to determine if this is what I fear it is or if I'm being too mommy-ish and paranoid. If it is then I want to be fully informed and know what to do if it gets worse.

 

He doesnt really do the dance anymore and we assumed it was actually dancing... to his own music. He did it for a little while and now does it when music plays. Now he's learned to shake his head left to right and I'm not sure if it's just for fun or a tic.

 

Does strep have anything to do with symptoms of tics? I did have strep b when pregnant with him, but it isn't the typical strep throat infection. I read through what the PANDAS is about and yes he has a lot of ups and downs with fussiness as well... more so than my other son who is now 6 yrs old. Thanks for that avenue of searching I dont think I would have found that on my own...