So just yesterday I wrote about my irriatation with the tics. Part of it was seeing my son go through a bunch of movements all at once. But part of of it was not knowing, as a mom, what I should be doing to help him.

I called the office of a top Tourettes specialist from UCLA today. Amazingly enough, the assistant to the main psychiatrist took 20 minutes with me on the phone. I told her about the tic increases. I told her I was considering meds but felt unsure since Stink was such a happy kid. Who would I be medicating him for? She asked me a series of questions.

1. Is he having trouble concentrating in class? (no)
2. Do the tics impede him socially? (no)
3. Do they impede him physically other than making him stand out? (no)
4. Are his grades good? (yes)
5. Does he have emotional problems or outbursts? (no)
6. Does he have friends (too many)

Her response: Don't even bother at this time. "So he stands out a bit. He's happy. He's confident. You are doing him a far better service teaching him to be comfortable in his own skin than eradicating what makes him a wee bit different. All the most incredible/stand-out people in this world have something that make him different."

AMEN!

And so, that answered my question.

And so I relaxed.

And with me relaxed, guess who else is ticking 50% less? Coincidence or not? I don't know, but I'll take it.

More to come as I plan on ordering Bonnie Grimaldi's Tourettes Vitamin Supplements. I am not going to do so with the intention of "curing" TS. But I do think it will be a nice balance between "doing what I can" and then "accepting what Dominic has...some minor tics" without dulling his spirit with Clonodine.

I'd welcome comments and suggestions.

And, as always, remember: A confident kid who tics outweighs an insecure non-ticking child any day of the week. So go give that ticker a big hug! (Throw in some OCD with it: Hug him 3 times in a row. Go for it!)
 


Comments

JT's mom

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:45:20

Did you ever try Tic Tamer? You had one person comment on one of your previous posts that it was helpful. There was also someone on the ACN/Latitudes forum that said it was helpful. My son is only 5.5 and already has 3 tics going at once. I am scared to think what he'll be like by 10, when it really gets bad. Please let us know how it goes with Bonnie's vitamins.

 

andrea frazer

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:02:43

JT - Thank you for your comment. I sometimes worry about the future, but then I let it go. I just have faith that in a few years we'll be that much closer to a cure. And if not, well, Stink is one confident little dude and we'll get through it. I'll just love the tics right outta him! LOL.

PS: I wrote to Bonnie today. As soon as I hear back I"ll order supplements.

 

andrea frazer

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:03:46

Forgot to say that I have not yet tried Tic Tamer. I have heard more about the BonTech products so going with Bonnie. thank you!

 



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