Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders Support Group
This community is dedicated to those afflicted with a tic disorder. A tic disorder is one in which uncontrollable muscle spasms that can range from small annoyances to major disruptive occurrences. .
I've suspected for quite some time that I have Tourette's. My current
diagnosis is bipolar schizoaffective disorder and OCD. It seems that I
have a variety of compulsions, tics (what I think could be tics), and
behaviors that could be a cross between a tic and a compulsive action. I'll list them below and also include the current list of medications that I take.
POSSIBLE TICS/COMPULSIONS
Twisting/pulling my hair (don't do this any longer).
Rapid eye blinking (stopped doing this one).
Bouncing leg up and down (frequency is now seldom; used to happen a
lot).
Blinking eyes a set number of times (3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 times).
Touching walls and furniture a set number of times (1 to 11 times;
this happens very frequently).
Nose wrinkling (this is a weird one. it was very active for two weeks.
now it seldom occurs).
Coughing (always three coughs in a rows; used to happen a lot. now
this is infrequent).
Whistling (infrequent).
Repetitive/intrusive thoughts (primarily sexually related words/
images; very frequent).
Sub-vocalized "cuss words" (my vocal cords actually move when I say
these words but no sound actually comes out; the main word seems to be
f**k; this has been going on for over a month now).
Performing various actions in groups of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. (this
would include sipping various beverages coffee especially, turning the
water off/on at the sink, various hand motions, actions done while
taking a shower, etc.).
Kicking walls with heel (1 to 3 times in a row).
Kicking feet outward while sitting (1 to 11 times in a row).
Walking in place (1 to 3 times in a row).
Stuttering (used to be fairly frequent; appears when stress level is
high mainly).
Neck snapping violently to one side (this went on for about two weeks;
it was so severe that it actually hurt my neck).
Cracking neck.
Rolling head around three times in a row (sometimes more than this
number).
Left leg jiggling (this one doesn't happen anymore; when it did happen
I had little to no control over it. this particular tic even caused me
to fall on the ground a few times).
Creepy/crawly sensation in right ankle (used to be a big problem; only
way to relieve the sensation was to rub my right ankle for awhile).
Arms suddenly jerking (happens infrequently now).
Feet kicking by themselves (mainly happened while I was trying to go
to sleep; this one doesn't happen very often now).
CURRENT LIST OF MEDICATIONS
MORNING
Nifedipine - 30 mg - for achalasia (a disorder of the esophagus); this
is actually a blood pressure control medicine; it helps to relax
smooth muscle tissue in my esophagus so I can eat easier
Abilify - 7.5 mg - for psychosis
Provigil - 200 mg (second dose of 200 mg in the afternoon) - for focus/
concentration and daytime drowsiness from medications
Wellbutrin - 300 mg - for depression
EVENING
Lamictal - 150 mg - mood stabilizer for bipolar
Seroquel - 150 mg - for psychosis and a sleep aid
Zoloft - 50 mg - for OCD
Nexium - 40 mg - for acid reflux
I'm wondering if I have an undiagnosed tic disorder such as
Tourette's. I'm also wondering if one or more medications that I take
is aggravating my tics (or whatever they are). I say this because the
"f word" thing I haven't always experienced, for example. As I
understand it tics can wax/wane over time so perhaps that's going on
here with me. Anyway, I'm hoping that someone can shed some light on
what I may be experiencing. It can be difficult for me to deal with
all of this at times and this is especially the case when I'm at
school, church, or some other place/time that demands my full
attention.
Thanks in advance,
Scott
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diagnosis is bipolar schizoaffective disorder and OCD. It seems that I
have a variety of compulsions, tics (what I think could be tics), and
behaviors that could be a cross between a tic and a compulsive action. I'll list them below and also include the current list of medications that I take.
POSSIBLE TICS/COMPULSIONS
Twisting/pulling my hair (don't do this any longer).
Rapid eye blinking (stopped doing this one).
Bouncing leg up and down (frequency is now seldom; used to happen a
lot).
Blinking eyes a set number of times (3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 times).
Touching walls and furniture a set number of times (1 to 11 times;
this happens very frequently).
Nose wrinkling (this is a weird one. it was very active for two weeks.
now it seldom occurs).
Coughing (always three coughs in a rows; used to happen a lot. now
this is infrequent).
Whistling (infrequent).
Repetitive/intrusive thoughts (primarily sexually related words/
images; very frequent).
Sub-vocalized "cuss words" (my vocal cords actually move when I say
these words but no sound actually comes out; the main word seems to be
f**k; this has been going on for over a month now).
Performing various actions in groups of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. (this
would include sipping various beverages coffee especially, turning the
water off/on at the sink, various hand motions, actions done while
taking a shower, etc.).
Kicking walls with heel (1 to 3 times in a row).
Kicking feet outward while sitting (1 to 11 times in a row).
Walking in place (1 to 3 times in a row).
Stuttering (used to be fairly frequent; appears when stress level is
high mainly).
Neck snapping violently to one side (this went on for about two weeks;
it was so severe that it actually hurt my neck).
Cracking neck.
Rolling head around three times in a row (sometimes more than this
number).
Left leg jiggling (this one doesn't happen anymore; when it did happen
I had little to no control over it. this particular tic even caused me
to fall on the ground a few times).
Creepy/crawly sensation in right ankle (used to be a big problem; only
way to relieve the sensation was to rub my right ankle for awhile).
Arms suddenly jerking (happens infrequently now).
Feet kicking by themselves (mainly happened while I was trying to go
to sleep; this one doesn't happen very often now).
CURRENT LIST OF MEDICATIONS
MORNING
Nifedipine - 30 mg - for achalasia (a disorder of the esophagus); this
is actually a blood pressure control medicine; it helps to relax
smooth muscle tissue in my esophagus so I can eat easier
Abilify - 7.5 mg - for psychosis
Provigil - 200 mg (second dose of 200 mg in the afternoon) - for focus/
concentration and daytime drowsiness from medications
Wellbutrin - 300 mg - for depression
EVENING
Lamictal - 150 mg - mood stabilizer for bipolar
Seroquel - 150 mg - for psychosis and a sleep aid
Zoloft - 50 mg - for OCD
Nexium - 40 mg - for acid reflux
I'm wondering if I have an undiagnosed tic disorder such as
Tourette's. I'm also wondering if one or more medications that I take
is aggravating my tics (or whatever they are). I say this because the
"f word" thing I haven't always experienced, for example. As I
understand it tics can wax/wane over time so perhaps that's going on
here with me. Anyway, I'm hoping that someone can shed some light on
what I may be experiencing. It can be difficult for me to deal with
all of this at times and this is especially the case when I'm at
school, church, or some other place/time that demands my full
attention.
Thanks in advance,
Scott
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But I was told a few yrs ago when my grandson first started the tics and they decided it was TS , that any medication for TS had side effects. And alot of the time those side effects were facial tics. So that would make the tics worse rather than better. Maybe one or more of those pills is doing the same thing to you.
I would sure look into the side efffects of all those and mixing them together.
Good luck
the thing with tics is that they are very difficult to control the num ber of tics you do-
perhaps someone who has actually got turettes wold be better placed to tell you- someone like demi- but my experience of tourettes is that th tics vary in the number of times they happen, the severity and the frm they take. nodding your head (for example) exactly four times sounds purposeful to me and controlled.- ive never heard of anyone that could do this with their tics- although there is always a first time for everything and i think every case is different- i mean every person is an individual.
i wouldnt worry too much about labels- does it really matter to you whether its ocd or tourettes? i dont understand what difference it makes to you really- i is what it is
i thin you qualify to use this support group in any case- thats if you want- there is someone else on here wth ocd aswell.
could you change the F word to fudge when it cmes out?
that might seem like a really lame suggestion- sorry if it is- but i think maybe you could give it a go- practise saying fudge a lot so maybe when you say the f word withou control it might just come out as fudge.
its a lame suggestion but all ive got fr you- hope you get the help and support you need- you sound like youve got a lot on your plate- by the way- out of interest what is this bipolar schizoaffective disorder - i know the bi polar is etreme in mood from exreme ups and down bu dont know what the latter is
I think you're right here. Six of the meds that I take are psychotropics; the other two are for achalasia a disorder of the esophagus. I have a complex set of symptoms so I require a complex polypharmacy I guess.
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|the thing with tics is that they are very difficult to control the num ber of tics you do-
Most of the tics (or whatever they are) I can control fairly well at times, however, there are a few that I have very little control over. The touching, eye blinking, and the "f word thing" are examples of behaviors that I have a hard time keeping under control usually.
|
|perhaps someone who has actually got turettes wold be better placed to tell you- someone like demi- but my experience of tourettes is that th tics vary in the number of times they happen, the severity and the frm they take. nodding your head (for example) exactly four times sounds purposeful to me and controlled.- ive never heard of anyone that could do this with their tics- although there is always a first time for everything and i think every case is different- i mean every person is an individual.
A friend of mine has bipolar and tourettes. After describing my symptoms to her she told me that it sounds like I have tourette. The more purposeful "tics" are largely compulsions but I think some of what I do are actually "hybrids" a cross between a tic and a compulsion (tic-like compulsions). The latter thing is called compultics. The article below explains what that is. It also describes something called impultics. It's also possible that some of what I'm experiencing are in fact complex motor/vocal tics.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656307/
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|i wouldnt worry too much about labels- does it really matter to you whether its ocd or tourettes? i dont understand what difference it makes to you really- i is what it is
I agree with your sentiment but it would be nice to put a name on this. That way I wouldn't be wondering all of the time what's wrong with me something that seems to be a problem in and of itself.
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|i thin you qualify to use this support group in any case- thats if you want- there is someone else on here wth ocd aswell.
|
|could you change the F word to fudge when it cmes out?
Well, I've tried something like that but with limited success. I've developed a number of different coping strategies over the years to help control things. The main one that I employ is carrying out my rituals, tics, and compulsions away from everyone. This seems to work pretty well for me usually. I figure that releasing things in private when I have to keeps in check what I do in public otherwise I might "explode" in public because of the fact that I've been supressing stuff for too long.
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|that might seem like a really lame suggestion- sorry if it is- but i think maybe you could give it a go- practise saying fudge a lot so maybe when you say the f word withou control it might just come out as fudge.
I appreciate your suggestion and if you have any other suggestions for me then please by all means share them.
|its a lame suggestion but all ive got fr you- hope you get the help and support you need- you sound like youve got a lot on your plate- by the way- out of interest what is this bipolar schizoaffective disorder - i know the bi polar is etreme in mood from exreme ups and down bu dont know what the latter is "
What it is basically is having bipolar and schizophrenia at the same time. This means that you have mood swings and psychosis.
--Scott
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I've been thinking along the same lines about that here lately. What I believe could be tics happens to me more/less spontaneously with little warning. I don't have a lot of control over those behaviors. The compulsions, on the other hand, I can control to a large extent. Some of the listed behaviors may in fact be a cross between a tic and a compulsion. According to my research, it's no always easy to put tics and compulsions each in their own respective "boxes". This article discusses in detail what I'm referring to here.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656307/
In any case, I need to get some help here somehow. I'll be seeing my family doctor this thurs. Hopefully he'll be able to help me out. If not, then I may need to see a neurologist. --Scott
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