Dear Tics -

You completely suck. And I'll tell you why. You see, I actually thought with all my healthy cooking, supplements and Epsom salt baths that I was going to keep you at bay.

I was so convinced that I was mastering you that I even dedicated an entire blog to how to defeat you.

And most days, yes, I wage a pretty good war against your crafty little empire of blinks, eye rolls, shoulder shrugs and occasional vocal "hmmmms" that make me want to run for the hills with a bottle of Two Buck Chuck and a set of 1970's headphones.

But here's the discouraging point - the extra large bullet POINT part that shines a light on my little narcissistic self who thinks that because I'm Stink's mom, and I love him so much, I can take you down. But somedays, no matter how hard I fight, I can't win.

Nope. No matter what I do, you're going to take over Stink's face when you want to. Regardless of how much sleep I give him, or how many enzyme pills or probiotics he so willingly takes from my hands, if you feel like throwing in a nasty head bob moments before his videotaped Xmas show, then by golly you will so I can remember it for all eternity.

Which leads me to doubt my claims that I have control over. you. "Ha ha!" you seem to snark at me. "You have no power. Stink's good and bad days are simply the normal waxing and waning of tics."

Perhaps you are right. I know that all of Stink's Western medicine doctors who would rather medicate him would agree.

But deep in my mama gut, I know that a healthy diet with exercise and some good vitamins is waaaay better than watching a zillion hours of television and ingesting Taco Bell combo plates like they're going out of style.

And so, dear tics, you might be powerful on occasion. But you won't bring me down. I will always win. Because "Mama Gut" will take "Nasty Tic" down any day of the week.
 


Comments

jluie
09/05/2009 15:22

THANK YOU...for saying much more eloquently and with much more humor what i am currently feeling!!!!!!!

julie

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andrea frazer link
09/06/2009 09:46

Julie - I emailed you. Glad I could help.

Anyone else out there feeling frustrated today?

andrea

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laurie
09/07/2009 08:14

Andrea,
I read your article on the baby website and wanted to tell you that I had similar experiences...

Used a chiropractor who did applied kineseology in order to find food "allergies".....then, avoiding them all caused a close to 100% reduction in motor tics.

UNFORTUNATELY,,,,,it did not help vocal tics.

We tried clonidine, then haldol (only for a month or so..I was REAL hesitant on that one)......

He did "outgrow" them during adolescencs....he's 24 yo now with no symptoms of them at all


How wonderful there is internet information/support for moms these days...

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !! !!

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Krystal link
09/13/2009 19:30

WOW!!!! You go mama gut!!!

Arwen introduced me to your site - I am a mom of 6 kids, 5 of which have autism. I am currently taking my masters in psychology and I am doing a paper on child development and I wonder if you would be willing to answer some questions for me as a parent of a child with tourette's.

I will definately continue to come back and read what you have to say, you seem passionate and strong!!! Go with your gut, it is what we mother's have to go by.

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Mary
09/22/2009 17:25

I've been reading through your old posts (as I just recently found your site) and have truly appreciated you sharing your journey because my own, so far, has felt very similar... the anger and frustration with my husband whose initial reaction was almost exactly like your husband's; the crying, crying, crying (still in this phase actually); scouring the internet for info, answers, anything that might help; the feeling of being totally alone in this; the constant fear of what the future holds... will he be teased, will he have any friends. It helps me trendously to read your posts and find encouragement and strength.

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ingrid
10/01/2009 10:30

Hi Andrea,
I haven't posted since December of 2008 but I still come back to your site to see how you are doing. I have some good news for you. After reading this site, and a few others, I started supplementing Taryn's diet with magnesium. Within 2 days her tics stopped. It was amazing!! She has been tic free for 9 1/2 months now!! She still has to take it every day or she has a difficult time concentrating. I can't tell you how helpful you were to me when I was freaking out. Just know that I am thinking about you and all of the families dealing with this and please know that you and your son help more people than you realize by doing what you do. Thank you!!

Ingrid

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Chelle
10/13/2009 15:02

I feel so thankful that I have found you! You are so encouraging when you feel like you can't go any farther down than you are. Let me give you a brief background on my almost 8 year old son. When he was in Kindergarten his teacher was adamant that I put him on something for his ADHD, I think simply because she didn't want to deal with it. I refused because he didn't have all the signs of ADHD. 1st grade rolled around, towards the end of the year the teacher said that she has done all she can, but his impulsiveness has really gotten out of control. At that point his pediatrician and I decided Vyvanse was the way to go. He was on it for about 4 months. I took him off in May when he started with the throat clearing, I was determined that the ADHD medicine is what brought the tics out in him. June baseball came and his tics were getting progressively worse, he had an EEG done, he was put on Orap medicine for his motor tics. He never vocally tic'd so they ruled out the TS. He dealt with it all summer, and here we are in October, doing worse than ever. Head jerking has been happening since July, blowing on his hands seem to be the new tic this week, sniffing...It can stop as easily as it can come on. His doctors have basically said that there is nothing more they know what to do with him. He has a psychiatrist appt on the 23rd of October, and a neurology appt in January. Kids are making fun of him, he is very self conscious, I don't know what to do for him, I feel so bad and wish I could just go to his school and protect him from all these mean kids! He can't control it, I don't want him to become depressed. He is a very smart boy, and loves learning, and these tics are sucking the fun out of everything for him. I wish I knew what I could do to help him, I feel so lost, and hopeless. He's counting on me, and I feel like I'm letting him down. Any words you could help me with I would so appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Anyone else who might be reading this I would love to hear what you have done to help your child. My email is chelle_dahl@hotmail.com
Thank you.

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andrea frazer link
10/13/2009 17:29

Hi Chelie -

First off, schools can sometimes blow. They don't know what is best for our kids. Only we do. That all said, put on a smiley face and be his advocate. Don't get emotional on teachers. Don't expect them or administration to fight for him like you will.

Regarding the meds, maybe it's time to try a more homeopathic approach. What is he eating? What is he drinking? How much sugar and food dye? have you considered giving him an IGG test - it's an antibody food allergy test - not a traditional scratch/rast test.

As far as the teasing at school goes, THAT is unacceptable. It will be far more debilitating than tics.

I feel like this: I'm donig what I can diet wise to help my son's tics. I would also consider meds IF needed, but now, they are not, despite some flareups. I always say this: A confident kid who tics is better than a "normal" kid who doesn't.

That all said, hit it from all fronts: natural food, lots of sleep, a homeopath you can trust, some good vitamins, some serious positive talk, and a plan for your son to handle the questions. my son simply says, "I tic because that's how Jesus made me!" Um, duhhhh! Of course we're not all Jesus people, so whatever your talk is, go for it.

I truly truly think that being honest is the way to go. Let him get in front of the class and talk about it. "I have tics. This is why. My brain can't help it." Let kids ask questions. And then, they can move on.

What do you think????

Andrea

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andrea frazer
10/14/2009 14:58

Testing... I wrote a whole answer to Chelle - why is it not showing up?Testing

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Jennifer
10/29/2009 12:01

Andrea,

Did u ever invite those from T&B2 to the original group? I never got anything about it that I know of. Let me know!

Thx,
Jen

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