Hi Nico -

First off, good luck getting pregnant. My kids, TS or not, are the best thing that has ever happened to me. If I can give you any advice, this is it:

1. Discuss the tics with your boyfriend. It's one of many uncomfortable but necessary conversations that you'll need to have in the road of raising kids. Especially if, down the road, your children should have tics.

2. TS is genetic. I had never noticed my husband's tics before. All I saw was this beautiful man who I loved with all my heart. After Nick started ticking, though, I looked back at both our families. My family does not tic, but Rex, on the other hand, constantly clears his throat. When he drives, his right shoulder involuntary shrugs up. Always.

HIs grandmother also says that she was fired once from clearing her throat at work. She does it when she is nervous or excited to this day. That is a tic.

Since TS is the combo of any vocal and physical tic, one could say my husband indeed has TS. But really, his two "quirks" are so minor, no one in a million years would suspect it as TS. It has never been diagosed nor will be most likely as it has never affected him. He is a very successful man.

My point is that it looks as if Stink inherited his TS through Rex's side, and while Stink's TS is more noticeable, Rex's families tics were less so.

This is an interesting thing to consider, because so many of us have quirks that, under a microscope, might be labeled as something, but in reality, don't affect us at all.

On that note, I would never not have a child based on my mate's tics. For me, my reasons are that life is not perfect. I could have a non-ticking child who is retarded, or cuts himself later in life, or gets hit by a bus. Life cannot be controlled.

Would I consider not having a child if there were a 70% chance he would die of a birth defect? Sure. But TS? So much of it is controllable. And the twitches that are not, well, every kid has something. TS has taught me to pull my head out of my ass and not be so surface level. My son is not only beautiful on the outside but a complete old soul on the inside and the funniest person I know. Thank God for Stink and to hell with the small inconvenience of TS.

Hope this helped?

Just a thought Andrea... I think the reason many people may be reading but not commenting is because of fear. I know when there's first a diagnosis of TS it can be so overhelming. The best thing to do is look around different sites on the internet... and don't believe all of the doom and gloom that appears on some.

I want to tell anyone who is reading this that it's not the end of the world, doesn't even some close.

If you're feeling totally lost, just know that it's a feeling we've all been through. I think it's natural to feel that way. It means we love our kids.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you will come to accept it. Things WILL get better.

Our kids love and trust us, and in the end all they want is our love.

Lyn

Jamie - My son has not been diagnosed with ADHD or OCD. I often wonder if he has not declared his true nature since I've had him on this steady diet for two years. The only time he really was out of control was in October right after Halloween. His teacher took me aside and said the equivalent of, "Dude, the kid is hyper as hell and not listening... what is going on?" Um... Mama had given him as much Halloween candy as he wanted as I felt bad. Never again. Diet really impacts his behavior. Stay in touch, Jamie!

Hi Anonymous - I think that ultimately, like anything that bothers another person, it's up to the person to deal with his insecurities. You didn't create the TS. You don't have it. He has it. It's up to him to choose to live beyond it. If it weren't TS, he could have a drinking problem, or be in a wheelchair, or blind. Or have a learning disability. It's up to HIM to decide to get therapy if that's what he needs to deal with the feelings TS has brought up. Because it sounds to me like he has a lot going for him with you and hopefully a good life outside of you also. At some point we all need to stop blaming our disabilities, or our parents, or whatever circumstances we don't like, and grow up, move on.

I don't think it means we can't encourage our partners or children. But honestly, the only thing that gets me thru the day when I worry about Stink's TS is that I know I'm teaching him to deal with what he has and not feel sorry for himself. A kid with TS who is totally together emotionally is far better off than a kid without TS that is messed up.

I hope this helps? What do you think? Am I being too harsh? I just think enabling is not the way to go. Understanding, yes, but ultimately, it's your boyfriend's choice to accept stuff positively or negatively and you can't fix it. So better to know that now before entering into a lifetime with someone thinking you can change them. (Not that you shouldn't marry him - just do it with open eyes - we can only fix ourselves in my opinion.)

I think I'm just venting... But would appreciate any help or words of wisdom. My guy sporadically curses, has violent neck/shoulder spasms, makes clicking noises, jerks his abdomen, and barks... (Severe adult TS) This is difficult. I love him, but it is extremely awkward going places or trying to explain this to anyone... We avoid going out. Possible employers look at this and shy away...What is the likelihood that our child will inherit severe TS also? Also, TS is not a handicapp, but what if TS hampers ones ability to obtain employment? How does one even prove something like that?

Hi,

I'm doing a report on TS for Parenting Class in school. I was just wondering if you could tell me how TS has effected you as a mother? How have you had to cope with it? And how does it effect your sons everyday life? Does he have any problems that he has to face from time to time?

If you could answer these questions it would be great. You talk so well about TS, and I just wanted some answers from someone who was truly passionate about the topic.

Andrea,

Thank you for the website. As far as I can see, he takes extra vitamins... It is a very difficult topic for him, and he doenst like to talk about it with me, so I feel like I am tip-toeing around the topic of TS. Self -employment may be an option for him in the future.

My son's story is a little different. My son Jake who turned 11 on 9/11/09 started making very odd eye movements, twitching, etc. I contacted his pediatrician and they said to try eye drops. We tried that for a week and with no success, made and appt to see his doctor. He referred us to a pediatric eye doctor. Of course the appt was a month away.


It was a Saturday, the morning of Halloween. Jake woke up with his eyes
twitching the worst we had seen.
By that afternoon, his eyes were rolling from side to side and back into his head. A new twitch had started also, now in his neck, head. By the time my family came over to go trick or treating it was horrible. My whole family was distraught, and wanted us to take him to the emergency room. We contacted his pediatrician, which spending about and hour and half on the phone came to the conclusion it was from the flu shot and swine flu shot.

We were given and emergency appt two days later with a Nuerologist at Childrens Hospital in Washington D.C.

The Nuerologist confirmed that these weird movements, twitching , were actually tics. He also confirmed to us that when he origanlly received the flu shot,( which the eye twitching started one week later from) set off the tics.
Receiving the swine flu shot, put him into what he called full tic mode.

He explained that he probrably had a underlining condition, in which the shots brought out. Of course, the one in a million thing, right? And unfortunetly, there was nothing that he could do. I left there sobbing.
We had brought up to him about magnesium, and reading that it had helped some kids with these tics. He said it would not help Jake, but if we wanted to take over the counter magnesium supplements we could.

My husband was more optimistic, than me. All I could do was cry. The doctor told us he did not know it this would go away or not. My husband immediatley bought magnesium supplements. He has been on them now for a week. I pray to God every night for them to work. I feel such guilt over giving him the shot.

Tracy

My daughter is 5yrs old and she has TS I did alot of research and what calmed her tics was Magneisum Calm. She did have the throat clearing sniffing and eye rolling but this helped alot. Also Viatmins with minerals.

My husband has tourettes which seems to be getting worse, he swears alot and it's taking it's toll on our relationship. He has a very senior (and stressful) and somehow he manages, he has private pilots licence and he is a lovely person. Just wanted mum's to read this to let them know if your child has ts they to can achieve in life! We also have a 2 year old little boy who is beautiful, I find it stressful when my hubby swears in front of him but at the end of the day he is a fantastic dad and we will teach our child tolerance. I admit tho I am paranoid about my son getting ts, and i'm constantly looking out for signs. We will told my the consultant it's unlikely he will have it? but who knows? I just know I love him to bit and will support him thru whatever life throws at him!

Sue - I would take him to a doctor to rule out anything else and then get on ACN to read everything you can about diet and tics. Sheila Roger's book is great, too. Google it! Good luck! Sadly, I have no answer. each of us must try as many paths as we can until we find one that works for us.