I wrote a post below about diet and TS. For two years I was a diet nazi. Nothing that he was even slightly allergic to was allowed. Maybe once a year on a birthday.

I have since lifted the diet ban. We eat only "approved" foods on a daily basis, but if there's a birthday party or it's a special holiday (Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving) we eat a bit of the forbidden foods such as pizza or cake and icecream.

If I was at all wishy washy about my decision to do this, all I had to do was view this photo taken last night at Stink's very small six year old birthday gathering at our home. Similar to the expression he had at his cousin's bowling party last week, my heart melts with joy when I see his exhuberance.

And the irony of my minor food transgressions? No visible tics as a result. Sometimes happiness overrides anxiety over not getting to eat what everyone else does. More on this at a future post.

Also, please see this post below which answers the question about having a child with a person who you suspect has TS. It's my opinion only, of course, and would love to hear yours.


More of my writing can be found daily at BabyCenter and Good Housekeeping.


 


Comments

Lynnie

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:21:10

Hi. it's me again. lol

I agree, with the whole diet thing we do need to let our kids be kids to a point. They don't really understand. If there are certain things my boy can't have I always make sure there is something else "special" for him. I don't want him to feel punished for having TS.

He can be very good about it though, and reminds me about his vitamins. He even stayed off the Sony Playstation for 2 weeks because I said it might be a trigger. He stayed off one week, then did the second week himself.

But they are still kids, we can't rob them of everything. The only "safe" way would be to sit them in a corner and not feed them at all. lol That's not much fun.
Lyn.

 

Lynnie

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:53:36

By the way Andrea, your little boy is absolutely gorgeous. Makes it all worthwhile doesn't it.

Lyn

 

DJ

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:58:25

I just don't understand how my precious son goes from "normal" to tics overnight? I am so upset. My son will be 5 next week and this past weekend we noticed him doing weird stuff with his eyes. In fact, we would ask him "why are you doing that with your eyes? stop doing that. do they hurt? are they itching?" on and on. Now, I feel absolutely horrible about that. I have never experienced tics before. A few nights into the eye rolling I typed it in google and came up with tics and tourette. FREAKING. OUT. I found your link through the babycenter blog. Such good info but I am still in a state of denial? shock? anger? I don't know where to begin. Haven't even actually been to the doctor yet. I did call our pediatrician today and spoke to the nurse who told me he probably picked up a bad habit and is doing it b/c of that. I didn't argue with her, but she is clueless. We have just moved to a new town and know nobody to get referrels for pediatricians in the area. She told me to just schedule a well visit since he has his 5 yr physical coming up and the doc can look at it then. So, my question is, should I look for a pediatrician that is knowledgeable about tics? how exactly would I find out that kind of info. And, would you suggest the blood test (IGG) scheduled as well? Or wait to see if the ped will recommend someone? I am almost sick to my stomach about this. I know it will be okay. I know. And I can't even figure out why I am so upset. I think I just can't wrap my head around the fact that last week my boy could have fruit roll ups for a snack and eat eggs and bacon for breakfast and today I am questioning everything I've ever done for him. Could it JUST be stress? From the move? And it will go away and not come back again? Or do these things usually end up being something they deal with into adulthood. thanks for your help. i think another reason I am freaking out a little is that I am NO cook. I like things quick and easy. We are big fans of pbj for lunch and chicken nuggets or hotdogs for dinner. He is such a picky eater too. UGH!!! I can't stop crying about this.

 

Andrea Frazer

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:51:07

Hi DJ -

I had to smile at your email.Not because I think your pain is at all funny, but because you sound just like I did.

There are so many things I want to say, but it's late for me now. I'll try and respond as best I can.

1. Yes, tics can happen over night. They are crazy little things that happen for a variety of reasons, from stress to food triggers to illness.

2. Tics do not mean Tourettes. Don't even bother with those nasty sites that have you freak out over a kid with TS who is socially unfit and bla bla bla. Bull crap.

3. There is a good chance that if your son is ticking you can find out why through a blood test and remove offending food. Done.

4. You can't be lazy with tics. If you are a McChicken person or whatever, you're going to have to stop it and move on with healthier stuff. Yes it sucks. Yes it's less convenient. But if being organized and making healthy food is going to keep your sons tics down without medication, it's worth it.

5. I would go to the doctor before you rush into an IGG deal. And believe me, there's a good chance your doc, if he's a Western med dude, will tell you that moms like me with their IGG food allergy crap are smoking doobage. Want to know why he might say that? Because food allergy and all that is new. So was acupuncture 60 years ago and now it's common practice.

6. Don't bug your son about it. He can't help it. I am guilty of this also. I've done it. But trust me, the more you talk about it, the more he will do it.

7. Remember that your son is your son, not the tics. I can only say that my son still does the eye thing on occasion. His latest deal? The coughing. Oh my god, a cough every other minute. But guess what? He is an amazingly popular kid at school and wherever he goes. Not just saying that - he could charm a snail out of its shell. He's just adorably verbal and sweet with the confidence of a President.

Bottom line: If he has no problem with the tics, why should I or you with your son? I am telling you that the key to this tic thing is to attack what you can through diet and all that, but then work on your son's confidence. That will be more important than a non-ticking kid with no confidence. Trust me.

Finally, it is normal to be upset. You love your son. I cried until I could not cry anymore. But believe me - your son has not changed. he is just ticking. And there's an excellent chance you will suppress those buggers.

Just look at this as a lesson for you. Some moms find out their kids have cancer. Or kids die from traffic accidents. Our kids are just ticking. It has much more to do with our own perfections as moms than our kids.

I know you're sad.

I know you're mad.

But you will get through this. Because you are his mom. And there's not a damn thing wrong with him except your own sadness at what you thought he was going to be vs. what he is doing right now.

If you can try to look at this from a deeper level - it's just a glich on the radar.

Keep me posted please.

Much love -

Andrea

 

DJ

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:40:56

for some reason I can't see the comments here. still only showing 2 comments (from Lynnie) and not even my emotional rant from last night. am i doing something wrong?

 

Margie

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:35:38

Hello DJ,

I could not help but smile and tear up at the same time reading your words. I recall this same time last year when my daughter and I realized our precious Isaac could possibly have TS. Isaac is almost 7 now and a year later we have gone through all the internet and books research we could get our hands on along with trying different Dr's, special diets, allergy testing and now the twice a week allergy shots. Isaac was diagnosed mid summer 08 with having a mild case of TS...his tics go from nonexistent at times to full blown, eye blinking, coughs, clearing throat, grunts, picking his nose, licking the bottom and upper lip area to make it so chapped and raw. I noticed this weekend he would stand and rock back and forth and I asked him what was wrong...and if he was just excited to be at Mamaws house (that's me)...and he said nothing mamaw, I just have to do it. I was like oh..okay and smiled and walked away.
it's so sad to watch them struggle with the tics...I know at times he will say he is not mad because one of his tics happens to be a facial of squinching his eyes down and at the same time moving his bottom lip up...which appears as a mad face. we already was aware of this one and had never brought it up...but apparently a class mate had asked him if he was mad...so he must have put 2 and 2 together...so he feels the need to let us know he is not mad but his brain tells him to do that.
Fortunately, he is very popular in school and seems to be social and is at the top of his 1st grade class according to his teacher...she claims everyone wants to be his friend and sit by him ect.
of course, we know as he gets older the older children will notice his more obvious tics and most likely tease him. My daughter and I are just dreading those days of course...just makes us sad for him.
Also..wanted to share that this same time last year when the tics became so obvious...my daughter..the mother of Isaac got married and moved into another home with Isaac...they both had lived with me until that time and I had helped her raise him....we too felt possibly this big change brought the tics on...it was like they laid dormant until this event..and they just suddently appeared and never went away. We thought possibly this was traumatic or something traumatic had happened to him...all of these terrible things go through your head. You start to blame everyone and everything..I blamed my daughter for getting married...I blamed her new husband of possibly being to strict.
We have now come to grip that it's just TS and he is still our precious Isaac....as sweet as ever....studies show these are some of the kindest children you would ever want to meet.
They just have these darn tics that are triggered off by a numerous of things.

Take Care and hope this has post has helped you in some way.

Margie

 

andrea frazer

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:53:48

Margie - THank you for that! I will post some more stuff soon. Everyone, hold on. We are in this together!

 

JCK

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:32:31

Just had to say how much your little guy looks like you.

 

Rebecca

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:18:09

I am reading this blog with tears streaming down my face. THANK YOU! I can't believe that other moms are experiencing the frustration that I am. My 8 year old was diagnosed 2 weeks with TS and immediately suggested Zoloft or Paxil. I am reading and rereading everything you've posted.

I can't thank you enough.

 



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