This is my first time at doing a web page. I do have a mission and that is help others understand Tourette's Syndrome, ADHD, and OCD. I confess that I don't know everything about these disorders and that I am still learning. Hopefully, between you and me, I will gain a bit more knowlege which I can share with others and hopefully help you as well.
I am a 40 year old female and I reside in Houston, TX. I am single, never married, and no children. I do have two cats, so I hope that will count for something. Their names are Danby and Patoola. They really are like children., but most pet owners have a tendency of saying that.
I self-diagnosed myself at almost 37 years old with ADHD. It has a rough beginning for me because I did not know where to go to for help. I finally found a psychiatrist, who informed me that I also had Tourette's Syndrome as well as OCD. I was in shock and denial for the longest time. My focus was on ADHD. My doctor started treating me with anti-depressants and I went from med to med to med with no luck. One day, we tried Wellbutrin. When my dosage got up to 300 mgs, my tics became so noticeable and overbearing to the point of constant tears. I finally then realized I had Tourette's, but deep down I was still wanting to deny it. When I was pulled off of the Wellbutrin, my tics did not subside prior to how they were before the medication. They continued to be troublesome and caused me to be stared and glared at. My doctor never treated me for the Tourette's other than trying a drug called Tenex which did nothing but to cause me complete exhaustion.
In May of 2001, I ended up going to my company nurse concerned about my blood pressure and how I felt due to the Tenex. During our coversation, I discovered that her son has Tourette's Syndrome. She gave me newsletter for the Houston chapter and listed in it were names of doctors. I picked the first doctor on my list, called my insurance company, and Praised God that he was there and had an appointment set up for June of 2001.
When I saw him, he confirmed the diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome as well as ADHD and OCD. I was still in denial over the OCD but he said it affected me more than I realized it did. My tics were diagnosed as moderate to severe. I was placed on medication consisting of Trazadone for sleep, Adderall for the ADHD, Effexor for the OCD, and Proxilin for the tics. Within 3 days, my tics had subsided to a 70% reduction. But along came the side effects.
I am presently taking Klonipin , 40 Mgs of Metdadate CD for ADHD. I have been so unmotivated lately and the SSRI drugs just make me want to sleep so out of frustration, I decided to give Wellbutrin another try. I am taking Wellbutrin XL with a dossage of 150 mgs. My tics have increased but it feels good not to be sleeping all the time. I tried a non FDA approved drug for movement disoders called Tetrabenazine. It worked really well but is to expensive for me to afford. I also have Botox treatments in my face to help with the facial tics as well as my neck and shoulders. I would like to say that I have not done botox treatments since July of 2003 and I am doing wonderful. Hopefully, I will no longer have to take them. Praise God.
I am now on the road to healing and recovery. I am able to live a normal healthy life, which includes work and other fun things. No, I will not be completely healed of the disorders, but I can learn to come to grips with them and learn about who I really am underneath the tics and the twitches. I have decided the I will not allow these disorders to run my life. It isn't going to be an overnight process. I do confess that I have have a personal relationship with the worlds greatest physician. Jesus Christ, My Lord and Saviour. He is free and the price has been paid. |
