Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 232148

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what causes intrinsic tics?

Posted by bookgurl99 on June 7, 2003, at 11:17:54

Anyone know what causes tics? I'm too lazy to look this up right now.

I'm thinking of tics that are naturally occurring, not on meds.

From mid-adolescence onwards I've blinked much more than the average person. People who meet me and can't remember my name will say, "you know, the blinky girl."

My girlfriend is convinced it's 'nerves,' but I don't know. I'm completely unaware of the blinking at the time that it's happening. It _does_ happen more when I'm more nervous.

What's up?

 

Re: what causes intrinsic tics? » bookgurl99

Posted by noa on June 7, 2003, at 15:09:30

In reply to what causes intrinsic tics?, posted by bookgurl99 on June 7, 2003, at 11:17:54

Well, when your friend says that it's "nerves" she may be right in terms of using the word "nerves" but not in terms of what she probably meant by the word.

Tics are neurological phenomena, and considered a "movement disorder". Although it is possible for stress to exacerbate tics, nervous feelings or stress do not cause them.

If you only have the single tic of eye blinking, it is considered a simple tic. If you have a combination of motoric tics and at least one "vocal" tic, like throat clearing, sniffing, or vocalizing, etc., then it could fall in the category of Tourette Syndrome. We tend to think only of the more severe cases of Tourettes like those we have seen on TV, where the person has involuntary random vocalizations, including what is called "coprolalia", or blurting out expletives, etc. But in recent years, the diagnosis has broadened to include a lot of less obvious presentations. Often it is diagnosed in childhood.

I also understand that although people can sometimes suppress a tic for period of time, it is just delaying it, and it comes out eventually. It is really involuntary, even if the person can suppress it temporarily.

Here are some links to look at:

http://www.wemove.org/kidsmove/tic.html

http://pediatricneurology.com/tics.htm

http://members.tripod.com/~tourette13/handouts/symptoms-ts.html

 

noa, Re: what causes intrinsic tics?

Posted by McPac on June 8, 2003, at 0:01:37

In reply to Re: what causes intrinsic tics? » bookgurl99, posted by noa on June 7, 2003, at 15:09:30

My young niece has the throat clearing, sniffing, coughing "tics". What are some of her best treatment options (medical or natural alternatives)?
Thanks!

 

Re: noa, Re: what causes intrinsic tics?

Posted by noa on June 8, 2003, at 11:29:39

In reply to noa, Re: what causes intrinsic tics?, posted by McPac on June 8, 2003, at 0:01:37

I don't really know what the newest treatment options are, but she should probably see a pediatric neurologist who specializes in movement disorders.

This site, called "Tourette Syndrome Plus" looks like it has good info:
http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/index.htm

The page addressing med treatments:

http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/tourette_treatment._rx.htm

And, the page addressing non-med treatment:

http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/tourette_treatment_alt.htm

You can also look at the Tourette Syndrome Association website--
http://www.tsa-usa.org/

 

Re: what causes intrinsic tics? » noa

Posted by bookgurl99 on June 8, 2003, at 12:14:07

In reply to Re: what causes intrinsic tics? » bookgurl99, posted by noa on June 7, 2003, at 15:09:30

Hey Noa,

thanks for your website research.

luckily, as i only have the one tic, i am not diagnosable w/ a 'movement disorder.'

but whenever i do a neurological exam in the dr's office, my reflexes come back unusually fast, along with some other minor 'abnormal' findings. i've had so much testing, and am doing so well, that it's no longer really a concern.

i kind of wonder if the whole thing, for me, could be related to having been born a month premature and not breathing at birth. shortly after birth, i jaundiced and had to stay in the hospital for a few days. there could have been some minor brain changes that led to this. but knowing how much harder life has been for other premies, i feel lucky.

 

Re: what causes intrinsic tics?

Posted by noa on June 8, 2003, at 18:23:43

In reply to Re: what causes intrinsic tics? » noa, posted by bookgurl99 on June 8, 2003, at 12:14:07

I don't know--sounds like a reasonable hypothesis to me, as a lay person. And, you have a great attitutde.

I have heard that sometimes it is something that runs in families. I have a friend who has mild Tourette's and was only diagnosed last year at age 40, while his sister had the more obvious form of it and was diagnosed in childhood.

But I would guess that there are multiple causes and so little is yet known about the causes of so many disorders, anyway.

As the website I linked to says, often if the person's life isn't impacted much by the tic(s) then, no treatment is needed. That sounds sensible to me.

 

throat clearing,coughing, etc... » McPac

Posted by Willow on June 9, 2003, at 9:44:04

In reply to noa, Re: what causes intrinsic tics?, posted by McPac on June 8, 2003, at 0:01:37

> My young niece has the throat clearing, sniffing, coughing "tics". What are some of her best treatment options (medical or natural alternatives)?

My eldest had a similiar problem. I had brought her to our new gp to be treated for her chronic bronchitis which she would get after a cold. He prescribed a ventolin inhaler. Suprisingly it resolved the coughing, which I always thought was a nervous cough. Just another thought to ponder.

BEST WISHES
Willow

 

Re: throat clearing,coughing, etc... » Willow

Posted by noa on June 9, 2003, at 15:27:17

In reply to throat clearing,coughing, etc... » McPac, posted by Willow on June 9, 2003, at 9:44:04

Good point, Willow. I have a friend who has chronic asthma. She clears her throat all the time. I hardly notice it except when I am on the phone with her I do notice it and realize just how frequently she does it. Because of how frequent it is, I can see it being misread as a tic, when in fact it is respiratory in nature.

 

Re: throat clearing,coughing, etc...PS

Posted by noa on June 9, 2003, at 15:29:04

In reply to Re: throat clearing,coughing, etc... » Willow, posted by noa on June 9, 2003, at 15:27:17

This is why ruling out the physical causes first can be so important. I was thinking of that with regard to Bookgurl's question about the eye blinking. I guess I'd first want to rule out any kind of eye problem/irritation, etc. first.

 

Re: what causes intrinsic tics?

Posted by OPTIMISTIC on June 10, 2003, at 9:15:24

In reply to what causes intrinsic tics?, posted by bookgurl99 on June 7, 2003, at 11:17:54

I asssume that because you are posting on this site that you also have problems with depression and /or anxiety. If this is so, you should know that Tourettes and depression and anxiety often go hand in hand and present simultaneously in an individual.

 

Re: throat clearing,coughing, etc...

Posted by gregg on June 13, 2003, at 21:04:53

In reply to throat clearing,coughing, etc... » McPac, posted by Willow on June 9, 2003, at 9:44:04

The first symptom I had of alergies was flem in my throat that required frequent clearing. My sinuses were just draining down my throat rather than my nose. This also irritated my throat and caused some coughing. Has your niece been tested for alergies?

greg

> > My young niece has the throat clearing, sniffing, coughing "tics". What are some of her best treatment options (medical or natural alternatives)?
>
> My eldest had a similiar problem. I had brought her to our new gp to be treated for her chronic bronchitis which she would get after a cold. He prescribed a ventolin inhaler. Suprisingly it resolved the coughing, which I always thought was a nervous cough. Just another thought to ponder.
>
> BEST WISHES
> Willow
>
>


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