Tourette's

[amcfanny]

Anyone else have the ADHD/Tourette combo? I've been observing my kiddo (8yo) for a couple of years now trying to figure out if they're tied together. His ability to focus and get his work done seems to come and go just like the tics. His tics have been around since he was 3 yo. Evaluated for ADHD at the end of first grade after a year of trying various tactics to get his work completed during the day with no success. He hasn't been doing well at school work the last few weeks so has been under alot of pressure. Today his tics were going strong. I'm pretty sure the pressure brings on the tics and once they get going who knows when they'll stop. He started clonidine in January. Met with a pediatric neurologist in March. This guy doesn't like to give out any strong medicine for tics unless he's getting bullied at school for them.

Bottom line...I just feel so bad for him when he's suffering with the tics. I just want to give him a great big hug and make his world all better and I can't. That makes me feel bad.

[catseye]

and

What kind of tics does your son have?

My sd has had vocal tics since before she was 2 years old... No one has told us it is toutette's yet... I do wonder though since obviously the tics came before the ADHD diagnosis, and it cant be medication related for her...

Although I do think some of the medicines we have tried, have made the vocal tic worse for a while... I guess I am not alot of help! Sd does have tics, just vocal ones though...

cat

[amcfanny]

Mine has motor and vocal tics. He has a facial tic involving his eyes that went to a head jerk for a while but is now back to the facial tic. I see him doing a thing with his fingers now too. Vocal tics include: clearing his throat, dry cough, and this year a humming sound.

Last night I wrote out a big letter to his teacher cuz he wanted me to ask her not to pressure him so much to see if that would help his tics. But he seemed much better this morning and in good spirits so I didn't send it to school. I gave him a lower dose of concerta too even though I've never seen any relation between the tics and the medicine. Just felt I had to do something.

Thanks...it helps just hearing from you.

[catseye]

this year a humming sound.

Interesting you should say that, my sd's WAS always a monotone (no ups or down in it) growl, like a motor running sound... This year it changed to a hum, thankfully! The growl always made me feel sd was possessed or something... She turned 9 this year...

I never really considered what she does with her fingers/hands could be tics... She picks at everything, strings in her pants pockets, any sequins or whatnot on clothes, other fingers, nose etc...

When sd is humming or growling, I dont think she even knows she does it... From your reply it sounds like your son does realize it, in that he thinks the teacher can help by eleviating some of the pressure... Are any kids picking on him? What brought the tics to his attention?

I am so afraid that the hum/growl thing is part of why she has only one friend (sd is autistic also though)... It stinks watching all of this, and I am with you and understand what you are going through... Hang in there mom!

cat

[mskris]

fanny:

My dh has TS and my ds to a milder extent. In fact, dh's is mild, and ds' is almost nonexistent, except when under extreme stress.

I agree with the neurologist - there is really no great medication for the tics and if they're not that bad, I'd leave it alone. That said, though, I would look into a short-term antianxiety med to break the cycle of tics. Tics, as you know, wax and wane. Once, dh got into a cycle where the tics just didn't wane. Anxiety caused the tics, which made him more anxious, etc. A short course of Xanax really helped break that vicious cycle.

Also, when we first moved here and ds was getting bullied in second grade, we gave him a couple of weeks of xanax and that helped a lot. Ds has a grimace tic, eye-blinking, and sometimes finger-fluttering. They are few and far between, though, especially if he's relaxed. He also had at one time a throat-clearing tic.

Hopefully, you can get your son's adhd under control and then he'll feel better/less anxious. Otherwise, talk to your peds neurologist about an antianxiety med...

Good luck.
Kris

[amcfanny]

Thanks kris...I'll ask about that stuff next time we see the doctor. Fortunately, he's had to stress free days with field days and such so the tics have regressed somewhat. They never go away entirely but since he started on Clonodine in January they are much less pronounced.

That's too bad you had to put up with bullying. I've always talked to my son about the possibillity of getting teased. So far *knock on wood* it hasn't happened. The worst he's gotten is odd stares from visiting students who haven't seen tics before.

I'm wondering if the finger fluttering thing is what's causing his latest problem of incomplete work. I just noticed it last week when I was watching him closely working on his homework. He'd write a few letters than do something with his fingers on one hand then the next then write a few letters then stop and repeat the finger thing. Hmmm....

Hey cat...he isn't getting picked on. The tics are hard not to notice when they get going. If you saw them...you'd know why. We just hug alot...but things seem better today.

I was researching on the ts and found this newsletter by and for kids on the tsa page. My kiddo thought it was pretty cool. I'm sure it's nice to know you're not all alone with this problem.
www.tsa-usa.org/

[AnneM]

This is an interesting website .. thanks amcfanny!!...

Sam doesn't appear to have tourettes at all ... but my paternal grandmother certainly had a tic and I guess we are just plain lucky it hasn't come through the generations ... it was so much "part" of her though (she used to turn her head suddenly from side to side often - probably once very minute or so) .. we sure used to worry about her driving !! ... but drive she DID pretty well until she died at age 93 .. !!