Re: SSRI's - tics

[Guest guest]

If the tics are bothersome, her doctor may prescribe Risperdal or another

similar med to quell them. How soon is her Bat Mitzvah? Risperdal can help

but unfortunately, yes the stress of a significant event such as this could

kick up both OCD, anxiety, and tics (if they stick around and aren't just

transient due to the SSRI).

However FWIW, I don't think you should skip this or other important life

events due to the potential of OCD or tics. Your daughter, like mine, may

suffer her worse symptom in anticipation, and do fine at the actual event.

You might want to speak with someone at the synagogue about her symptoms and

what options may be if her symptoms flare as the Bat Mitzvah approaches.

Generally, what happens if a child is too ill to do this when the day comes?

Unfortunately, all the SSRIs have the potential of triggering tics in

predisposed kids. Interestingly, the meds given for TS may make OCD worse,

as may the stimulants for AHDH. Kids with two or all three of these

disorders need expert med management, for sure.

When my dd started ticcing, I felt sick to my stomach. We had just come

through the terrifying onset of OCD and had begun treatment with the first

SSRI we tried, and I felt we (I) just couldn't handle any more brain

weirdness. Ticcing *looks* bad, *looks* impaired, I remember thinking

ashamedly. The first med was awful as far as triggering tics, others that

followed were better, but she has never stopped ticcing since. She has

gotten much better about hiding and otherwise managing them in public,

however. Generally tics for her are not as distressing as OCD symptoms.

I hope your dd's tics go away soon as well.

Kathy R. in Indiana

----- Original Message -----

From: " musicgirl9395 " <musicgirl9395@...>

> It is actually a Bat Mitzvah - a real big deal! She wants a big one

> really badly! Agh!!!!! She will have to read and sing hebrew, etc...

> I am worried about this! Will her tics go crazy? (I hope they go away

> soon!)

[Guest guest]

Wow, that's a big deal!

Could you either put the event off two months. . . or, back off on the

ssri for a week before it to relieve the tics?

>

> It is actually a Bat Mitzvah - a real big deal! She wants a big one

> really badly! Agh!!!!! She will have to read and sing hebrew,

etc...

> I am worried about this! Will her tics go crazy? (I hope they go

away

> soon!)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ellen,

When my son started getting tics (he had some pretty

severe ones for about a week), I was going absolutely

bananas. I went so far as to completely destress his

life (took him on calm walks in the neighborhood,

tried to keep his life as calm and stable as

possible). I even bought lavendar oil and put it on

him (it's suppose to help with relaxation) and I also

called a hindu temple in Hollywood and asked about

meditation classes! Another thing I did was visit the

local library and borrow videos on meditation and

relaxation (although none of them were very good).

They also had a cassette tape on breathing techniques

for relaxation, but it was already checked out.

I think if your daughter isn't afraid to have everyone

there it should be okay. One thing that might help is

to make sure she's over-prepared so there's less

chance for anxiety. The " no big deal " attitude should

help.

Good luck!

Tess

--- musicgirl9395 <musicgirl9395@...> wrote:

> Hello,

> The Bat Mitzvah is in a few months. We can't really

> change it

> because she has already learned some of the hebrew

> for that day. We

> have thought about making it REALLY small, with just

> family. But she

> wants a big deal like everyone else has. How can we

> deny her that

> experience? She has to go on with normal life

> experiences. She has

> been taking seroquel at nighttime. I guess we could

> maybe lower the

> ssri for a week (thanks for that idea), or give her

> seroquel that

> morning. (as long as she doesn't fall asleep in the

> middle!)

> Relatives come in from out of town, so it is not

> something to cancel

> easily. However, we will shorten her part in it,

> and try to make the

> whole thing as short as possible. Before the

> invitations are made, I

> better talk to her psychiatrist about it. Maybe

> he'll be able to

> figure something out. Thankfully, she is much

> happier on the

> prozac!!!!!!!! She is normal, for her. Zoloft made

> her almost

> psychotic.

> I am trying to really downplay the Bat Mitzvah for

> her. I am not

> getting uptight about it at all. I am making

> decisions easily and

> quickly and whatever will be will be. I figure that

> the calmer I am

> about it, the calmer she will be. I might wear a

> dress I already

> have, etc..

> It is hard because we can't really know how she will

> be doing then,

> now. Things can change so quickly. But I have to

> solidify plans now!

> I am hoping that my " no big deal " attitude will

> help...???

> I hope her tics go away too! I just found out that

> my husband's

> brother has a little eye tic when he is nervous.

> And I already knew

> that his nephew used to have a tic (he also has

> OCD/ADHD/and maybe

> TS) Oh my.... Good night all and thanks....Ellen

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Have you talked to her about the tics? Does she have any control over them at

all? I know that her tics may be med-related rather than Tourette's, but TS tics

can be suppressed for a while. Of course, you have to be prepared for a " worse "

session of tics later. My case is not official (who knew 30+years ago about

TS?), but I will never forget having to ask the photographer at my wedding to

pause for a moment while I " let out " some facial tics. Unfortunately, a family

member caught a photo during that time and it appears in an album he put

together for us. Oh, well ...

P.

Kathy <kathylr@...> wrote:

If the tics are bothersome, her doctor may prescribe Risperdal or another

similar med to quell them. How soon is her Bat Mitzvah? Risperdal can help

but unfortunately, yes the stress of a significant event such as this could

kick up both OCD, anxiety, and tics (if they stick around and aren't just

transient due to the SSRI).

From: " musicgirl9395 " <musicgirl9395@...>

> > I am worried about this! Will her tics go crazy? (I hope they go away

> soon!)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi. IF my son is already on Risperdal for his TS and will soon be

starting Prozac for his OCD when the Seroquel is out of his system,

does this mean his TS will get worse as well as the OCD. I have read

that it gets worse before it gets better but I thought that would be

his OCD and not both. My son has bad obsessive thoughts, he hears

voices. I would like to be ready when he starts Prozac in advance,

gathering info, I never thought about the TS getting worse.Thanks.

Rose

[Guest guest]

When a person has a stuttering speech impediment, they are able to

sing without difficulty. I wonder if it is the same for ticcing?

Have you heard her sing lately? Since anxiety can make the tics

worse, I wonder if you can give her a mild tranquilizer? Also, I had a

friend who hired a private tutor for Hebrew lessons and then had a bar

mitzvah in the catering hall with a rabbi - is this an option? Then

it would be friends and family who should understand anyway.

Bonnie

>

> It is actually a Bat Mitzvah - a real big deal! She wants a big one

> really badly! Agh!!!!! She will have to read and sing hebrew, etc...

> I am worried about this! Will her tics go crazy? (I hope they go away

> soon!)

>

[Guest guest]

Once her doctor and you have a plan you could do a dry run of the

speech 2 weeks before - she could stand at the same 'podium' and you

can be the audience - once she's done it once in the same room she

won't be nearly as nervous - and you can try out the med combination

on that day too to see how much relief you can give her - see how bad

the tics really are.

Then you can both be more confident and relaxed and enjoy this

wonderful event!

>

> Hello,

> The Bat Mitzvah is in a few months. We can't really change it

> because she has already learned some of the hebrew for that day.

We

> have thought about making it REALLY small, with just family. But

she

> wants a big deal like everyone else has. How can we deny her that

> experience? She has to go on with normal life experiences. She

has

> been taking seroquel at nighttime. I guess we could maybe lower

the

> ssri for a week (thanks for that idea), or give her seroquel that

> morning. (as long as she doesn't fall asleep in the middle!)

> Relatives come in from out of town, so it is not something to

cancel

> easily. However, we will shorten her part in it, and try to make

the

> whole thing as short as possible. Before the invitations are made,

I

> better talk to her psychiatrist about it. Maybe he'll be able to

> figure something out. Thankfully, she is much happier on the

> prozac!!!!!!!! She is normal, for her. Zoloft made her almost

> psychotic.

> I am trying to really downplay the Bat Mitzvah for her. I am not

> getting uptight about it at all. I am making decisions easily and

> quickly and whatever will be will be. I figure that the calmer I

am

> about it, the calmer she will be. I might wear a dress I already

> have, etc..

> It is hard because we can't really know how she will be doing then,

> now. Things can change so quickly. But I have to solidify plans

now!

> I am hoping that my " no big deal " attitude will help...???

> I hope her tics go away too! I just found out that my husband's

> brother has a little eye tic when he is nervous. And I already

knew

> that his nephew used to have a tic (he also has OCD/ADHD/and maybe

> TS) Oh my.... Good night all and thanks....Ellen

>

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who teaches public speaking at a university. She and

her husband have worked in the PR field. I will ask her for

suggestions on Tuesday and get back to you.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

A big, fake smile is not too evident from any distance (the audience). My

child had this one too, the only time it caused her problems was once at

school when a teacher thought she was mocking her!

Easily hidden by looking down at the text, or maybe she could modify it

somehow if it occurs while she is reading.

Kathy R. in Indiana

----- Original Message -----

From: " musicgirl9395 " <musicgirl9395@...>

>I like some of these ideas! Thanks. We are kind of " stuck " with doing

> it on this date (not stuck on the couch again, thank God!). For a

> while I didn't know if we would even be able to get her there. Now, I

> am more confident that we will be able to. She wants it - that is the

> key. I will plan a test run, and also speak with the pdoc in depth. I

> will also talk at length to the Rabbi. And if for some reason she

> started ticcing a lot, maybe we could go out of order and have the

> cantor sing or something??? Her tics are a facial grimace. It looks

> like a big, fake smile. She is aware of it, but we haven't talked to

> her about it yet. We are waiting to see if it will just go away.

> Thanks for all the ideas. I am also going to call a private tutor - it

> would be a good idea to get her OVERprepared. She is not there yet!!!

> As you know, we have been working on putting underwear on and getting

> unstuck from the couch! Agh!!!

> I am going to try to invite only understanding people, BUT.....most

> people don't know about our struggles. Her part will be MUCH shorter

> than most....Oh well, that is not what it is all about. Screw the

> people who will judge!!!!

> Thanks......Ellen

[Guest guest]

Good idea. Also, can you talk to someone at the synagogue about

reserving the front seats for your closest family (our synagogue

will). This way, as Kathy said, it won't be as evident and if it is,

your closest family will be up front. Maybe she can go first - you

know get it over with? There is no self-comparison to be made when

you're first.

You know, if I saw a kid ticcing, I would never comment and I would

probably be more appreciative of the effort that that child makes.

Shame on others.

My son was honored as the special student of the week (his birthday

week) and I was invited to his school to read and bring a treat.

Each child and the teacher had to tell the special student what they

thought was so special about him. They commented on how he is caring

and kind and always tries his best (this is true of him) and they

added that he is able to tell others how he feels - they thought that

was a positive thing. Then they had to tell him what they would give

him for his birthday if they could give anything in the world and so

many of them said a friend (referring to themselves). I left with

tears and I prayed that there will always be some children who feel

that way toward him. Thank goodness too for teachers who help us to

instill such values.

>

> A big, fake smile is not too evident from any distance (the

audience). My

> child had this one too, the only time it caused her problems was

once at

> school when a teacher thought she was mocking her!

>

> Easily hidden by looking down at the text, or maybe she could

modify it

> somehow if it occurs while she is reading.

>

> Kathy R. in Indiana

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: " musicgirl9395 " <musicgirl9395@y...>

> >I like some of these ideas! Thanks. We are kind of " stuck " with

doing

> > it on this date (not stuck on the couch again, thank God!). For a

> > while I didn't know if we would even be able to get her there.

Now, I

> > am more confident that we will be able to. She wants it - that

is the

> > key. I will plan a test run, and also speak with the pdoc in

depth. I

> > will also talk at length to the Rabbi. And if for some reason she

> > started ticcing a lot, maybe we could go out of order and have the

> > cantor sing or something??? Her tics are a facial grimace. It

looks

> > like a big, fake smile. She is aware of it, but we haven't

talked to

> > her about it yet. We are waiting to see if it will just go away.

> > Thanks for all the ideas. I am also going to call a private

tutor - it

> > would be a good idea to get her OVERprepared. She is not there

yet!!!

> > As you know, we have been working on putting underwear on and

getting

> > unstuck from the couch! Agh!!!

> > I am going to try to invite only understanding people,

BUT.....most

> > people don't know about our struggles. Her part will be MUCH

shorter

> > than most....Oh well, that is not what it is all about. Screw the

> > people who will judge!!!!

> > Thanks......Ellen

>