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Stink is still off sugar but eating everything else. (Basically a healthy diet - no major dyes or chemicals that I know of unless it's hidden in some food. Not that into this yet.)

His tics have been very very good - until today. (I'd give them a 4 out of 10. Manageable for sure on a TS scale, but frustrating since they had been flying under the radar. We got some shoulder shrugs, stomach tensing, some throat clearing while talking.)

What's changed in the past few days? A few things:

1. Sugar! He had some at two family events on Saturday/Sunday

2. He spent 3 days in a row at homes that had cats and dogs.

Perhaps we are just experiencing a wax in tics? I won't know for certain until a few months down the road when I can look over my food log and see if there's any similarities to his waxing and waning periods.

As always, I'm attempting (despite what this whole blog might look like as a complete rebuttal to my next statement) to not let the tics rule my life. He has TS.

But I'm attempting to see some reasonable links to diet/environment! You can do this also!

In closing, my gut reaction is to not go back on a strict diet like we had been on for 3 years. My mama instincts are telling me that a Feingold based healthy diet (no preservatives in food or environment) is the best alternative. Here's another great post on Feingold.

Until next time!

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Perhaps you have heard of NAET, perhaps you haven't. But if you are interested in eliminating some triggers that cause tics, this might be a path for you.

I have spoken to many moms who swear by this. I have yet to try it, but plan on doing so this year. Personally, I'd like to try it myself as, according to a good friend, "It's quite possible you are allergic to Stink!" (That made me laugh. Moving on.)

To Quote this British website:

"What is NAET? NAET is an allergy elimination technique NAET allergy treatment is a combination of techniques that uses most of what is already known from allopathic (western) medical knowledge, chiropractic, kinesiology, acupuncture (oriental medical knowledge) and nutrition.

NAET, a natural solution NAET allergy treatment is a non-invasive, drug-free, natural solution to eliminate allergies of all types and intensities and allergy related disorders like learning disabilities to autism and ADHD, clinical depression, joint pains, high blood pressure, stroke etc., all arising from allergies to food, environmental toxins, chemical toxins and emotional stressors.

NAET, practiced worldwide The NAET allergy treatment method was discovered by Dr. Devi Nambudripad 25 years ago. Over six thousand licensed medical practitioners have been trained and are practicing all over the world."

While I'm quite certain that the idea of vials, energy redistribution and toxic cleansing will send my husband (and any science based person) screaming like a little girl in a room full of spiders, my gut (and all my research) tells me this is a great option.

Anyone out there try this yet? I hear it's a lot like acupuncture - it sounded nuts at first, but it's going to be the next mainstream thing in Eastern Medicine.

Perhaps in addition to getting rid or my negative reactions to my son's tics, I could also get an immunity boost against chocolate, red wine and scrubbing toilets.
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So last month we had Stink on the All-You-Can-Eat diet.

He seemed more hyper to me, but my husband didn't see much change.

Part of me is frustrated. What would Rex know? He's not with him all day long like I am!

On the other hand, I think I want, very very badly, to find some magical reason for his tics and his ADHD Lite behavior. "It's the food! It's this! It's that!" (No, my son is not diagnosed with ADHD.)

All that said, this month we are eliminating sugar and going to see if it makes a difference.

Does it kill me to keep serving this kid regular pasta and milk with cereal? Yes. Why? Becaues for 3 years we haven't done this. Keeping his diet "clean" made me feel like somehow I was helping manage the tics.

But for 3 years, despite a great diet, he has also continued to tic occasionally.

If I don't finally, for the first time, approach his diet "scientifically" - with logging what he eats every day and taking one thing/month away, I will never be able to say, "Yes, food does or does not make a difference" 

Other plans this month: We're getting his blood tested again for food intolerances. See this post on the IGG.

Bottom line: Yeah, he's ticking (some throat clears, some wacky stomach moves) but nothing outrageous. In fact, I could totally live with what he's doing now.

So, sugar it is this month! No more! Let's see how he does.

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