My name is Brandt--I noticed this forum when checking out the site for peripheral neuropathy, which I am currently suffering from. I posted a Tourette's memoir in the "Creative Corner" area--and some suggested I post it here as well--I didn't realize there was also a Tourette's forum. This site is great for me--covers the Tourettes and the Neuropathy!

I hope to learn a lot about my neuropathy and tourette's in these informative forums--and although I came primarily for the neuropathy--I've recently had a spike in my tourette's, which is pretty bad at times--and I'm 36 years old. I thought I was rid of it in my 20's--when I nearly forgot about it. I went five years without a single tic--

It was especially interesting to see how the treatments and understanding of the syndrome has progressed over the years. When I was 10 years old (1981), there was very little understanding of the syndrome--though there was the TSA, as we got the newsletters every so often. Wow--this was pre-internet--had to wait for information to come in the mail!! I was prescribed Haldol--but that didn't work well--as I mostly slept all day. My parents made it my choice whether to take it or not (in retrospect--that was really cool) and I decided against it--and to just keep ticcing.

25 years later and there is a lot more information, web-sites, more drugs, and perhaps a better understanding--though it seems much of it is still quite mysterious. I was particularly interested in the relationship between Tourette's and OCD. I always suspected this, as my tourette's manifests itself as being obsessed with a certain tic, and having to repeat until I get it "just right"--which of course, never happens.

Oh well--this post is getting longer than I intended. Just wanted to say hi to everyone--and look forward to reading threads in the future.

hi Brandt and welcome

my youngest son (18yo) and husband have TS/OCD

some years back my son was seeing a great doctor who really helped us understand the interactions of tics and OCD and how they can "morph" into each other

the OCD part has actually always bothered him far more than the tics, but he has found tremendous relief using some supplements and carefully avoiding artificial/chemical food additives etc. He tried meds for a year back when he was 10yo but found the side effects not worth the minimal benefits

hope you find relief from the PN

hello brandtryan,
My son scott, who is also 18, has tourettes as well. Hes been on clonodine since he was 7. it really hasn't helped alot with the tics or vocalizations, but he has a horrible case of insomnia, which i uderstand is common with tourettes, and the clonodine helps him sleep. His tics and vocalizations are not that bad and he has learned to mask them at school. He says during passing period is when he releases them LOL... he says its no different than what the other kids are doing... LOL
He is a senior in HS this year and plans on going into some field of bio technology. Its great to meet you!!!!
vicky

hi Brandt,

your story will help a lot of others...even though it was in the past...

a lot of parents come here and I think seeing a great guy like you handling your tics, it would give them tremendous hope...

maybe we can petition to have your story to be a sticky and direct new parents coming here that just learned of their child's struggles a sense of hope....

Hi! It sounds like your son is doing great

It's interesting--I've read alot about how touretters can "hold them in" for long periods of time, and then release them later, in a more appropriate place. That amount of sheer concentration would have been exhausting for me (or rather, for me when it was at its peak). I could hold them in, say, for a few minutes (just like in my memoir when he goes to the doctor's office), but that's it. There's no way I could have held them in for an entire class period!

I'd be flattered, WhoMoi, and certainly wouldn't have a problem with it. What's new with you?

well, I guess we'll have now ask the admin or mods very nicely...

would ye ole nice genie admin/mod mind using brandt's story as a stickie??

We bring you offerings:

goat heads and cheese hogs....

scrapplings and corn dogs...

*bowing to ye ole admin and mod....