Tics and Allergy connection

[sahm]

I originally posted this way back in 2010! Gosh, we're still at it. He went through NAET for 3 months a few times week last spring - not any noticeable change. Did see another integrative dr. and was on amino acids powder and tons of supplements for months which seemed to help some ... but then was on a specific antibiotic to treat a "bad" bacteria and saw GREAT improvement for 2 weeks. Went off and symptoms creeped back in. Tried to go back on it later and got hives and major reaction so couldn't take it.

 

Have been seeing an acupuncturist (for herbs only) since Feb. Helping on and off. Off gluten now, helping some but it's hard to be 100%.

 

Next is craniosacral therapy. And I have been thinking about the GAPS diet to heal the gut for months now but it is very daunting.

 

I am ready to be done with the "journey" and just have a normal life. The tics are one thing but the extreme behavior is draining.

 

Anyway, just thought I'd update.

[Chemar]

Hi

Noting the improvement with the antibiotic and that the "bad behavior" is more bothersome than the tics....did you ever have testing done for infections? eg maybe the dx is PANDAS/PANS (PITANDS)

[hopeful2]

Hi all,

 

Yes, from what I am reading, there is a profound link between allergies and tics. In fact it seems

that motor tics, allergies (food and environmental, such as pollen) and digestive disorders go hand-in-hand.

A lot of new research also links immune disorders to digestive disorders.

 

Would highly recommend these two books immediately (hope you don't mind--I'm copying this from a previous post I did).

The book by Dr. Semon has an important chapter on allergies as well. The treatment, in a nutshell, is elimination of the worst

diet offenders: all gluten, casein (milk products), and yeast promoters (malted products, vinegars, alcohol, etc.) The book outlines

in detail how food choices work. Always keep in mind, food planning is easy--poor health is hard!

 

Regards, Hopeful 2

 

Wheat Belly, by William Davis, M.D. A practicing cardiologist, his book pulls together all the recent research on the

dangers of gluten in our diets and how this is causing so many problems. As a practicing physician, he outlines case

after case of folks he has helped with horrific digestive disorders (and other ailments) through gluten avoidance, etc.

I found a case study he cited as almost miraculous, from Duke University researchers: they were treating a lady who

had such bad schizophrenia (for over 53 years) that she had given up hope and was suicidal.

Using no drugs, she experienced complete remission of the psychosis and suicidal thoughts within 8 days of eliminating all gluten from her diet. Wow! Again Dr. Davis points out the profound effect of our food choices on our health. After 40 years of intense

breeding of our current wheat, we have created a grain with proteins that our bodies simply can't handle. This was perhaps

the scariest book I have ever read and I immediately eliminated gluten from my food choices--as I've long know the link between

gluten and arthritis. Since I have knee arthritis but am otherwise pretty healthy, I knew it had to go. So I'm adjusting--and have

just kicked the habit. Yes, it's interesting to note that gluten byproducts attach to our opioid brain receptors, just as heroin and

cocaine do--that's why we're constantly snacking, hoping for the next "hit." In fact, mindless eating of wheat products are so

rampant (and contributing to obesity) that he has part of his book, called "Wheat is My Crack!"

 

An Extraordinary Power to Heal by Bruce Semon, M.D. with a Ph.D in Nutrition. He pulls together research in Candida yeast

(which can be a problem, especially after using antibiotics) and the dangers of this yeast in our system. He has thoroughly

cited research and also outlines case after case of people who come to him as a last resort from all kinds of intestinal

problems--headed for major surgery with conventional medicine. He advocates diet changes in 4 steps--with the Stage 4

step eliminating all gluten, casein (milk protein), along with foods that promote yeast (Candida)--the two worst offenders are vinegars

and all malted products (usually the byproducts of barley malt and everywhere in our food!). Alcohol is also out, as well as other

yeast-promoting foods. There is a chapter on Candida's role in allergies.

[Chemar]

I just want to add here that although yes, many people may have allergy related tics, it is not the case for *everyone*.

 

There are also many whose tics are related to TS genetics, with no allergies to anything, as well as the many other tic triggers discussed on this forum.

 

So while I absolutely agree that one should always check for allergies as a possible tic trigger, it is not the "cure" for all who tic.