Sezuire problem tourretes...normal tics????

tattoogirl · 01-07-2008, 09:14 PM

Hi-Kinda lengthy but please try and read and help.

Well my son is 6 1/2. At about 5 1/2 he started having a throat clearing sound for maybe 2 weeks at a time and would stop or constant blinking tightly or moving/straining head to 1 side (would come and go too). He also would do weird hand things which he kinda always has. At first I thought it was tourretes but I found many kids get "tics" off and on (after research and talking to a doctor and nurse). So I was so happy when it just stopped happening!!! Well it just started up again like 2-3 weeks ago...clearing of throat(sometimes for hours at a time). It stops though when he is really into something especially the WII system

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2 nights ago, in bed, his body kinda contorted weird for like 30 seconds and after he said he felt electrical like shocks through his body. Needless to say I haven't slept the last 2 nights. Well today on the way home from school he said he gets hurt every day. I inquired...is someone hurting you? He said no. I asked have you hurt yourself? He said no. I asked if he was emotionally hurt or physically. He kept starting to talk and then would say nevermind I don't want to talk. Well eventually he said that it feels like he is being poked with nails all over. And sometimes things happen he can't stop them.

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He also said since his dog bite things have "gotten worse for him" (he was attacked and almost killed at age 3 by a pitbull). So what is going on. PTSD, Tourettes, Seizures. I feel so sad for him. It is definitely affecting him and I just want to cry and help my little one....he's still my little baby....ya know. I will call the pediatrician tomorrow for an appointment but I bet it will take awhile to get in. And plus his father NEVER wants to talk about it. I think it scares him to admit something may be wrong. And I will make and go to the appointment myself.

Please does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone else experienced this?

Bella

mitpatsmom · 01-08-2008, 09:28 AM

I'm going to guess that your pediatrician will refer you to a neurologist.

The throat clearing and head movement sound like transient tic disorder (a mild form of Tourettes) and the age is about right for when they appear. When my son started his tics, they would come and go that way. Also, being excited makes them more pronounced.

The good news is there is medicine for this. We were hesitant to medicate our son, but the outcome was fantastic. Not only did it help the tics, it improved his concentration and brought up his grades. (He was a B/C student, now he gets mostly A's.)

As far as the seizures, that could be a secondary issue. My cousin started having seizures after a bout of meningitis. I would think that a dog attack as bad as what you describe could do the same thing. My best advice to you is to stay calm and take him to the doctor. Make sure you mention the seizures and his history (the dog attack) when you call for an appointment and maybe they will squeeze you in today.

Good luck and keep us posted.

tattoogirl · 01-08-2008, 05:26 PM

Thanks for your insight!!!! So does transient tic disorder (mild Tourretes) ever completely go away? I see the throat clearing increase when watching t.v. or when he is tired or stressed. I am not even sure if he is aware he is doing it. I don't say anything about it to him now...I think I asked him when it first started but now I just let it be.

He has been having trouble in school this year...attention span...not always listening. He now is sent home with a report of his behavior everyday (good and bad observations). He is definitely intelligent but is easily distracted. So what medicine did (does) your son take? I would love for behavior to get better at school and have his intelligence reflect in his work. I am open to all options, even medications (although it's kinda hard to accept him being medicated so young). But if it makes him better than that would be AWESOME!!!! That is wonderful it has helped your son. Makes me comforted to know there can be a positive outcome!

Well I called and got an appointment for next week but when I explained the situation further the secretary said the doctor will call me today. She felt it might not be safe to wait.

Once again THANKS!!!!

Bella

mitpatsmom · 01-08-2008, 07:35 PM

One of my friend's son had the vocal tics when he was younger, but they are gone now that he's 20-years-old. It's possible his were a side-effect of ADD medication, so I don't really know.

I've heard that puberty is a key time where they get worse. I'm hoping that it will get better after that.

The medication he is on is called tenex (generic is guanfacine). The pills are small, about the size of a tic-tac, so it's easy to swallow. They started him on 1/2 a pill a day and worked up to 2 pills a day. At first (and whenever we upped it), he was very tired and fell asleep in the middle of the day. After a few days he seemed to tolorate it better and the tiredness went away. You can't just stop taking it because it lowers the blood pressure and if you stop, the BP may spike suddenly. We have forgotten it a few times and he didn't seem to have any trouble.

We have found that we can control the tics by controlling his excitement level. It's not always possible (like at Christmas time), but if we find he's getting wound up about something, we try to make him relax. The neurologist we see also recommends activities that require concentration and discipline. The martial arts are very good. My son takes guitar lessons and that helps, too.

An important thing to remember is that he isn't doing it on purpose. It can get annoying, but fussing at him about it will only make it worse. If he is diagnosed with this, you might aslo want to discuss it with his teacher. The friend I mentioned above had trouble with some of her son's teachers because it was aggravating to them. Luckily, all my son's teachers have been supportive.

Again, good luck.

chrislenblue · 01-08-2008, 08:04 PM

I know what you are going through. My son's tics (Tourette's) has gotten really bad lately with neck twitching. The neuro is seeing us in the morning. I guess it is time for us to start meds - which I hate, but whatever will help him. He also had petite mal seizures when he was younger. He's almost 10 now. It sounds like you def need to see a neuro asap. Please post as to what the doctor said today when he called.

I feel your pain and will pray for you.