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.

 


Comments

Lynn
08/03/2010 13:09

We just had the IGG blood draw today, then we will get a personalized elimination diet based on the results. So, I for one am hoping we'll find some more answers.

Best wishes, keep up the good work! :)

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claudia
08/09/2010 11:23

The greatest thing is Stink's acceptance of the tics! That was my goal with Aidan, and I seem to have reached it, as well. He, too, will tell other kids, when asked, "it's my tic". I am becoming more and more of a skeptic about the diet connection, and more of a believer that it's just the nature of the beast (waxing and waning). We have slacked off A LOT on the diet all summer long, and his tics have been the mildest we've seen in a LONG TIME. Keep us posted on your experiences!

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Jett
08/28/2010 16:33

Reading this I'm a little worried that you may not be taking the best path here. If you child has tourettes, he WILL tic. I have tourettes and I have tried any natural remedy out there. The fact is, it will always be there. Attempting to eliminate every single tic is much more trouble than it's worth. Sure, I stay away from aspartame and msg because it makes it much worse, but at some point you need to accept that it will always be there, and that it's not something that you should go to the ends of the earth to get rid of completely.

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andrea frazer link
08/29/2010 13:34

Jett - I actually agree with you. I have said several times I don't want to eliminate it. But I would like to find out what keeps them at bay as much as possible.

As a mom, my journey has been to keep my son healthy, but also accept that yes, he tics, and most likely always will to a certain degree.

You bring up a great point about acceptance. After all, I would never want Stink to think he is "less than" because he tics. He doesn't at all now (Thank God) and I don't want him to in the future.

Would you ever consider being interviwed for this site as someone on the other side of TS? It would be awesome to hear your honest viewpoint.

Andrea

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