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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to NOT take DD to the doctor?

43 replies

ArabellaRockerfella · 09/03/2016 20:10

My dd who is 10yrs old had developed a twitch/facial tic. She scrunches her eyes up once or twice, sometimes she follows it by sucking in her cheeks and touching her face. This has developed over 3/4 months. I'm trying to ignore it but she is commenting on it saying she doesn't know why she does it, her sisters are teasing her a bit Angry. She does dance and drama and the teachers are saying 'stand still, stop fidgeting'. I have offered her eye drops if her eyes feel dry but she won't have them. Should I carry on ignoring it or take her to the GP, would there even be any treatment? Should I be worried?Any advice please?

OP posts:
Willow108 · 09/03/2016 20:56

It could be a tic related to a condition such as Tourettes. You should definitely take her to the GP. She can be referred to CAMHS. There are treatments for it if it persists or gets worse.

lljkk · 09/03/2016 21:01

It's probably nothing but if it is something, early treatment would be better.

Several friends' kids have had exactly this type of thing, never saw any doc, & it disappeared by itself, no problems... but if OP's Dd were mine I would probably take her because the DD is herself finding it a problem.

OnceMoreIntoTheBleach · 09/03/2016 21:01

She's 10 so she can tell you if she has physical symptoms, right? If she has pain or irritation, or even some for of anxiety, take her to gp.

For reassurance, my DD (8) has developed little tics on and off for years - exaggerated blinking, sniffing so her nostrils close up, etc. She does wear glasses so sees optician regularly, but the blinking was nothing to do with that.

I saw optician and doctor for such things and they both just said to keep an eye on it and come back if anything developed/changed.

Each time, the tic either disappears or changes. I prefer to call it a habit!

I have one myself. I sink my chest muscles or do stunted breathing, or a massively huge in breath to stretch my lungs, or twitch my thigh muscles - it's kind of like an itch I have to scratch. Over time, I've developed tics that no one else can see (hence the chest or thighs) but they are still there.

Weird but not pathological Wink

ketchupontoast · 09/03/2016 21:05

If it is blepharitis then washing her eyes with shampoo will solve that. Take a drop of baby shampoo and dilute in water (maybe in an egg cup) then use a cotton bud to wash inside her lids - both upper and lower to remove the build up of bacteria.

shazzarooney99 · 09/03/2016 21:07

shampoo in the eyes?

ketchupontoast · 09/03/2016 21:20

That was exactly what I said to my gp when he told me to wash my eyes out with shampoo but it is the way to get keep it under control.

MrsDeVere · 09/03/2016 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

offshore · 09/03/2016 21:37

My daughter did something similar aged about 6. Facial "scrunching " is a very common tic.

When I finally realised it was a tic I pieced together that actually she had others but we had never noticed.

I thought she had a urinary infection when she was younger but actually her stomach muscles tightening was a tic.

She also regularly flexed her hip ( sort of dipping when standing up) - all very documented tics when you look into it. All rhythmic , repetitive and quite sudden movements. But all that you wouldn't really see unless you were looking.

We took her to our local GP - who didnt really know very much - and referred us to a paediatric team at our local hospital ( London area) when they read the case they said no point in us seeing send to consultant neurologist.
She was great - and has seen us 3 times now over the last few years. She simply watched my daughter chatted to both of us and confirmed what we thought.

The consultant said they do not medicate unless it interferes with life drastically.

She said they are currently trailing CBT ( there are some programmes at Great Ormond Street) aimed at children aged around 11.

Seeing the consultant helped my daughter understand it a bit better and also be able to talk about it.

It also meant we had paper work to show the school to ensure they allowed her to fidget (!) We had a SENCO assigned and a counsellor just to keep an eye on her.

She is ok with it all and some days you wouldn't notice anything as the tics wax and wane.

We notice an increase when she is tired, stressed or needs the toilet.

All of these things now the school knows they have been able to help us.

Hope that helps !

Julietee · 09/03/2016 21:56

I have tics related to OCD. They started in childhood and have not gone away.

TheoriginalLEM · 09/03/2016 22:10

for the love of God! don't put shampoo in her eyes!!!

leavemealone2015 · 09/03/2016 22:22

??? Wash inside her eyelids with shampoo? NO ! Are people completely crazy on MN these days???
Just Take her to the dr fgs

ADishBestEatenCold · 09/03/2016 22:24

"I am just wondering why she has developed this tic? Are tics medical/psycological?"

Why are you wondering that, OP? Do you feel one of those categories is undeserving of treatment and support?

Just take your child to the doctor.

Arkwright · 09/03/2016 22:29

The optician told us to use baby shampoo for bletharitis.

CeriBerry · 09/03/2016 22:30

I'm another who has been told to use a drop of baby shampoo in an egg cup of cooled boiled water to wash eyes- by an optician!

mineofuselessinformation · 09/03/2016 22:32

Sorry, I've been busy with RL.
I really don't think any doctor would think you're wasting their time. You're obviously concerned, or you wouldn't have posted.

OnceMoreIntoTheBleach · 09/03/2016 22:32

Same. Baby shampoo, because it's a detergent that has been proven not an irritant for eyes.

ketchupontoast · 10/03/2016 19:39

Leave...I am not crazy just someone with blepharitis who washes her eyes with baby shampoo daily. The link to the NHS website also supports this. www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blepharitis/Pages/Treatment.aspx

MrsBobDylan · 10/03/2016 21:08

Two of my DS have tics, one has a diagnosis of mild tourettes. Developing tics is quite common and most children grow out of them.

It is also common for tic frequency to ebb and flow. You will probably find they ease after a time but you could see a Dr in the meantime to rule out anything else.

If it is tics then your DD can't stop or prevent them happening so it might be good to reassure her. But do stop her siblings taking the mickey as she doesn't need that.

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