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Original poster

DD12 suddenly developed tics and twitches.

21 replies

UnadulteratedCat · 13/04/2022 04:44

My DD12 at 11 am yesterday at school suddenly developed tics and twitches, verbal and physical, literally out of nowhere.

We went to emergency yesterday and all tests have come back negative. No unusual substances, no brain damage, no nerve damage. All clear.

Our 100% average 12 year old girl is now neck twitching (Like a pigeon) hand twitching, and can't control her words, repeating sentences and saying random words over and over.

Dr says it is a tic disorder and we are to go back in 2 months to see how she goes.

DH is freaking out and wants to scream at dr to help our girl. I am taking it in my stride. Making sure she is comfortable and school are able to help her and her friends adjust to whatever just happened.

She knows what is going on, completely lucid, just not in control any more.

Has this happened to anyone else? I am so scared for her. Can anyone offer any experience? Please. Not just experience of it all blowing over, I need to know how to support her and the rest of us if it doesn't get better.

OP posts:
alexdgr8 · 13/04/2022 04:49

has she learnt about this condition recently.
could it be due to stress, an appeal for help ?
are there other issues in the family, or at school ?
a sibling with health issues ?
any family disruption.

PragmaticWench · 13/04/2022 04:51

I've heard a fair bit in the news about this being on the increase in the last two years. Whatever the cause, your DH being agitated is not going to help your DD to remain calm. It may be anxiety related, it may not.

I do understand how tics can be scary, DD is younger and going through diagnosis for tourettes and has had tics since she was five. I think the sudden onset is obviously distressing for you all but I'd say your approach sounds sensible. It may be that a sudden development of tics means it's more likely to leave quickly as well?

celestebellman · 13/04/2022 04:59

There has been a lot in the news recently about an increase in functional (ie no identifiable physical cause) tics in teenage girls over lockdown, often sudden onset - if you google you will find lots of articles about it. There have been some links made to emotional stressors as already mentioned, also girls who are vulnerable due to anxiety and previously undiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders (eg autism/ ADHD). Apparently there is a suggestion the phenomenon also may be influenced by tik tok - so may be worth thinking about what social media she is using if any. Agree, a calm approach and doing things that reduce anxiety is probably helpful.

tulipsaremyfave · 13/04/2022 05:07

So sorry to hear your DD is going through this. It must be very frightening. My daughter was diagnosed with PANDAS at about this age, it could be something worth investigating as tics are one of the symptoms. www.panspandasuk.org/what-are-pans-and-pandas

Original poster
UnadulteratedCat · 13/04/2022 05:11

DD isn't on tiktok or similar sites. I have ADHD and we are considering the best time to get her checked out as well. We haven't really had any kind of lockdowns where we live. No anxiety or stresses that I can think of. We had a DD4 with special needs but is all going well.

DH will be told to keep his funky mood and anger for me because DD does not need to see it. She needs us to be united and supportive of her needs.

She has been on a very even keel for quite a long time now. We are a defence family so have moved around but she is currently settled and very happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
UnadulteratedCat · 13/04/2022 05:12

DH in his terror consulted Dr Google and came across PANS. He seems to think her bout of Covid 2 weeks ago may have caused it. I just don't know.

OP posts:
tulipsaremyfave · 13/04/2022 05:22

If you are lucky enough to to find a doctor who understands PANS/PANDAS consider trying a course of antibiotics (Azithromycin and penicillin are considered best) - with my daughter the speed of improvement was as fast as the terrifying onset.

Original poster
UnadulteratedCat · 13/04/2022 05:52

Thank you Tulip. I am sorry your family are going through it too. Poor kids :(

OP posts:
CherryMaple · 13/04/2022 06:03

I have heard that magnesium supplements can help with tics.

itsgettingweird · 13/04/2022 06:08

Someone I knows dd has this at a similar age. It stopped and then started again a few months later. It then didnt return.

She has been diagnosed with adhd so interesting you say you also have adhd as it can run in families.

Hope you get some answers soon.

itsgettingweird · 13/04/2022 06:11

My ds has a neuromuscular condition that started to show signs of worsening after numerous bouts of tonsillitis. Pandas was discussed as a poster here mentioned it.

Not the cause for ds (he has hereditary spastic paraplegia) but it's certainly possible when she had covid she also had a strep infection. Did she have a sore throat with it?

Elephantgrey · 13/04/2022 07:14

If you have ADHD there may well a genetic element as Tourette’s syndrome and ADHD are linked. 1% of the population have Tourette’s which is a genetic disorder but for most people their tics are not very noticeable. It is very common for people to have very few or no tic only for them to emerge at a time of stress ( which the onset of adolescence following 2 years of lockdown could be).

There has been a significant increase in teen and tween girls presenting with tics over the lockdown period. Helen Lewis wrote a very long article about this in the Atlantic.

Do look up PANDAS as there is a possibility the the tics are linked to previously having a virus.

I have Tourette’s my tics have been noticeable since early childhood but I got a very late diagnosis. I am always happy to chat.

Original poster
UnadulteratedCat · 13/04/2022 10:26

Thank you all.

We are in Australia so no long lockdowns at all in our state thankfully.

I have a Dr app for her with my very awesome GP on Tuesday and I will take all information mentioned here. I have also found info on Functional Tics which seem to be linked to the pp mentioning tiktok etc. While DD doesn't watch tiktok or general social media, the other elements at play could have had an effect.

DD school and all of her friends have been really supportive.

OP posts:
DaisyDreaming · 13/04/2022 15:20

I’m not a doctor. Still I would want everything done to rule out every type of autoimmune, viral and bacterial cause. So many “functional’ diagnosis’ handed out have a biological basis but as they didn’t show up on a basic blood test or scan they just the functional label slapped on them. Often they’re function but what % fall through the net

siriusblackcat · 13/04/2022 15:38

This happened to my DD last year, totally out of the blue.

A year later and they've gone. We put it down to anxiety and after counselling they started to subside.

Springandsummerarecoming · 13/04/2022 15:49

How does tik tok contribute to this pp?

AshleyWal · 29/12/2022 07:08

Hello, we are in a similar situation, just wondering how your daughter is now? X

sashh · 29/12/2022 07:24

Springandsummerarecoming · 13/04/2022 15:49

How does tik tok contribute to this pp?

Films of kids ticking, lots of films. Then teenagers start ticking themselves. It's a bit like mass hysteria.

Kalasbyxor · 29/12/2022 07:27

This is my DD1 too. Sudden onset of what appears to be tics or stimming behaviours, seemingly out of the blue, a couple of years ago.
On waiting list for ASC assessment.
Watching with interest.

boboshmobo · 29/12/2022 07:32

Stress can cause tics and sometimes Tourette's etc turn up in puberty .

Don't bring attention to them because it will make her worse .

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