Topic : 01/17 Extreme Disorders

Hi. I've always watched the Dr. Phil show, but have never written on the message boards. 

I am so happy to see that the show today will include TS. I noticed the blinking and other "habits" (that's what we thought they were) a couple of years ago. The tics continued, but it wasn't until he started having vocal tics that I called his doctor and told him that I thought my son had Tourette Syndrome. He is a wonderful doctor.  He checked my son then sent us to a Neurologist. We saw this doctor a few times. He never really talked to us about what our son has. He would look him over and then write a prescription. He even seemed disappointed that we had more children. (I haven't seen the show yet, it starts in 15 minutes. I did read part of what was going to be on the show. I really want to hear the part about whether or not the gentleman on the show should still consider having children. I'm expecting Dr. Phil not to disappoint me.) In fact, when we found out that our son may have TS, we were expecting our 5th child.        This week we will be going to a new doctor - one that was recommended to us. We made this appointment months ago! That same night, there is a Support Group starting here in our County.   My son has handled his tics very well. We talked to his teacher and principal before the school year started. They have been wonderful working with us. His teacher and I email each other every week.  My son also sees the school Social Worker once a week - just to talk. His classmates have been great too. I do feel sad that he doesn't have any real close friends from school - he hasn't been invited to any parties this year. We still go to church as a family. I just smile when people turn to look at my son when he is ticcing - they usually smile back. He is only 9 years old. As his mother, I want to protect him. I don't want him to lose the great Spirit he has. He has already told me that he is going to grow up to be somebody great - he says all people with challenges grow up to be great. Truth is, he already is.     ~ Christine 

I am in a behavioural psychology class in Ontario, and this really helped me further understand situations, and understand the person. 

My son, age 11, has Aspergers.  I was looking forward to this program, but found it disappointing (as others have expressed).  They didn't seem to touch on the loneliness, the children being targets of bullied and always made fun of for being different.  And the parents being isolated because they are thought of as "bad parents." 

I, too, would like to know more of what can be done beyond the medications.  When they discussed the brain mapping they eluded to the fact that more can be done, but why didn't they mention some of it and how we can go about getting the mapping done? 

I wish he would do an entire show on Aspergers and cover it more indepth and go into what can be done beyond medications.  Show some people who have been helped through various ways.  Give the audience a better understanding and us some hope. 

I have a 16 year old step daughter who exhibits most of the signs of Aspergers.  The 15 year old boy sounds just like her.  She did live with us until my daughter was born and she began to hurt her in her rages.  We too feared for our lives.  She currently resides in a theraputic foster home.  She has yet to be diagnosed and I am gathering information on this syndrome in an attempt to help her because like this boys' father I too woory about what happens when she is in her 20's and living on her own.  She recently got into a physical altercation with her 19 year old sister and had the police called on her.  If there is any one out there with web sites or other places to gather information please post it so we can search there too.  We have ran out of options in our relatively small town.  Please we are desperate, although we now have a spark of hope to find an explanaiton and hopefully a way to manage her outrage so she can have a normal life.  Thank you to any one who helps us. 

Sincerly, 

K. Marshall  

I have 2 sons who were both diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.  My oldest is 23 and my youngest is 14.  There is a big difference between the experience everyone went through with each case. 

My oldest was diagnosed at the age of 8 (shortly after my youngest was born).  Everyone treated him like he had a contagious disease.  Parents that did speak to me were told by others that if they spoke to me, they would also be ignored.  I lost all but one friend due to this.  Before we knew what was wrong, he was yelled at alot for a specific tic.  He would kick.  When we learned what he had, we told him to adjust the way he was sitting so he wouldn't kick objects.  He loved the idea.  His doctor said he had the worse case he had ever seen.  In the space of 10 minutes he saw multiple tics that measured more than 1 per minute. 

I was worried that my youngest would develop Tourette because of the trauma that we all went through.  However, since we all knew what we were dealing with it was easier the second time around.  People have come a long way, and that helps.  My son did a report for his 9th grade health class about Tourette Syndrome.  His doctor told him to say he had tics, not to use the word Tourette because of the stigma.  He doesn't care if anyone knows about it.  He accepts it as part of who he is and it doesn't bother him.  At least he doesn't let on if it does.  I am sure that from time to time it does. 

All you can do as a parent is be supportive.  I am so proud of him for the way he deals with it.  I think that shows like today's are a huge help in alerting the public to what Tourette's is. 

My son has been struggling since he attended his first day at school and he is now 14 years old. He first was treated for ADHD with medication when he was 8 years old, then our problems really started to esculate. With the medications prescribed over the years, brought out a more intensifed problem, the tics that were always there but more defined. My son was later diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome with ADHD, OCD and a disorder of written expression. We have yet to find a happy medium with medication that will treat these disorders with out all of the trying side affects. 

Anyone with any advise??? 

Sherry in British Columbia 

I am the mom of three young sons, two of whom have special needs.  Our eldest was diagnosed with ASD, anxiety disorder and a sleep disorder when he was 4 (now he is 11).  Just last year, we had to admit our youngest to hospital for an psych assessment.  It was the hardest thing that I've ever done in my life, but it was worth it.  Compared to his older brother, our youngest was so troubled and even on an outpatient basis, the doctors had more questions than answers.  

After 6 weeks in hospital, our little guy was diagnosed with Tourette's, OCD, anxiety disorder, severe ADHD and a sleep disorder.  All this and he is only 6.  Some days, I don't know how I can go on, but the remarkable help that we received from the hospital has enabled us to keep trying.  We now have new skills, including instructions on appropriate restraint training.  I still can't believe that I had to get this training to handle my little boy!  I feel so defeated.  It's hard to explain to friends and family the gravity of the situation and unrealistic to expect them to really understand the challenges of our family. 

Do you have problems with extended family members and their lack of understanding/compassion?  I think that psychiatric disorders are still viewed as the "skeleton in the closet."  It's such a shame, because these kids have remarkable gifts and very sensitive natures - it just takes time, patience and a few specialized skills to see. 

Thanks for raising awareness, Dr. Phil.  Maybe your show will help some of our friends and relatives understand the challenges that our families face. 

I am a parent of a 13 year old Asperger's boy and todays show is my story except we have been fortunate to have gotten help from a wonderful therapist who has helped us as a family and with our Son.  Modification of our son's behavior has been a long process and requires time and consistency and is constantly a challenge.  It is also a huge emotional and mental load for the parents who  want to help their child.  Our son is on a restricted diet which excludes gluten, dyes, preservatives and sugars and he is on zoloft and zyprexia.  The combination seems to help.  I certainly have concerns for his future especially whether or not he will continue to be med compliant as he reaches adulthood.  "Family First" did help with some issues and I would recommend it as a supplemental read.  K. Rozum