Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders Support Group

When I was diagnosed with TS it took years to figure out what it was because all teh docs I saw never knew what it was and they put me on meds form ritlin to pills that would lower my blood pressure. all of which never had any good side effects. it took me seeing a doctor by teh age of 7 to find out what i had and he only knew because he had it to. I first began showing signs when I was 4 so i dealt with it for many years not knowin what was wrong with me

When we took Wesley to his pediatric neurologist we got the diagnosis the very first time we were there. Just in talking with the doctor and him knowing that things we were telling him all pointed to TS. Most of the time, if you really sit back and think about it, by the time it becomes obvious that your child is ticcing, you can think back and see that there were other signs of tics that you didn't realize were tics, you just thought it was your child. When this happens you realize it has been way more than the year most doctors wait to put an official name to it.

Yes, I understand when you say you think you will be able to accept it more if you had a diagnosis. It WILL give you peace. When you say that it doesn't sound weird at all to me. When I actually heard the words from the doctor, I felt a sense of relief. I don't know why that is. Even Wesley said to us that he felt better because he thought he was just weird and he thought that he was the only person in the whole world like he was. I think we actually feel better when we know there are others living the same life we are. If you think about it, that is why we all come to this support group. We understand each other. We don't wish ill on anyone else, but we like knowing that we have each other because we know what each other is thinking and what we all experience each day. That is why we do not make judgments of each other here, and why when you have been really upset lately that we try to comfort you, because WE HAVE BEEN IN YOUR SHOES, and we are still wearing them!! We know that one day there will be someone writing in to this site upset because they are about to get or have just gotten a diagnosis. You will be able to say to them "talk to me and I will listen because I know what you are going through".

Hang in there. We all learn from each other and you will feel better one day. You are just going through the grieving process that everyone has to go through. Jennifer