My 9 year old was gagging and spitting for nearly 3 hours because of a icky thought. Is that OCD?

Lacye - posted on 10/31/2012

No it's not OCD. If I get a nasty thought in my head, I am gagging and trying not to vomit. He just might have a sensitive stomach.

Janelle - posted on 10/31/2012

I wish you and he all the best. It sounds like he's getting the treatment he needs. 2 of my kids used to get ear infections over and over again. the third never got an ear infection but she'd get Croop really bad so she couldn't breath at night. It's hard when they're sick. I hope he's well soon. Take care.

Jazmyne - posted on 10/30/2012

I think I was either 12 or 13. He is stil here at children's (I am there now too) He has RSV. :( Hopefully he gets to go home tomorrow, but IDK if that's stil a posibility or not.

Janelle - posted on 10/30/2012

Actually, Jazmyne, I was wondering when you discovered you had OCD? How old were you? I kind of wish I had a better understanding of what my kiddo is going through. Did you have it as a child? Also, is you baby alright? I saw the post about he being sick. I hope everything is okay.

Jazmyne - posted on 10/30/2012

Alright. You're welcome. No. I personally have only 1 child (living with me) Alyssa is my step daughter. Thank you. (and I completely understand not wanting to add another medication). If you need anything else on the subject feel free to PM me. I am mostly always available to answer any questions you may have.

Janelle - posted on 10/30/2012

Thanks for the offer, but now I just feel lazy ;-) (hehe). He's on Risperidone right now. He used to be on a different one along with the Risperidone called Clonazepam. I hated that one because it made him awfully moody for the first week and a half, and he had to take it on time 3 times a day. It's also considered an addictive substance (yikes!). But for better or worse I think it helped with the tics much better than the Risperidone. However I really like that the Risperidone helped him think farther than the end of his nose. Usually he's all about his toys, talking about the same thing and only wanting to play on the swings. Since the Risperidone he's playing with others, noticing things/people in the world around him, and just generally being more engaged. Even his class work has improved a lot. But he still tics, shakes and wiggles like jello in an earth quake. So I think I have to put him back on the Clonazepam. I think he was happier with it. I was the only one hoping he'd do good on just the Risperidone. We were in between insurance's, changing jobs and such. Bad call on my part. I know one of the side effects to one of those medications was more saliva production. Ergo the spit/drool. But I would love for him to be able to stick his hands in his pumpkin and clean out all the squishy strings and seeds himself, and not get mad/disgusted/ run off to the bedroom. And certainly not spend 3 hours gagging and drooling/dry heaving over one touch from a sticky eyeball. Most of the time he does okay, I just want to make sure we're not making it worse. I really don't want to add a 3rd medication. Thanks again. Cute baby, by the way. You have 2 kids? I'm still trying to up-load pictures. It says I have to download java, which I did. But I forgot how to install.

Jazmyne - posted on 10/30/2012

You're welcome. Repetitive thoughts are linked with OCD. If they become too bothersome I would look into some anti anxiety medication for him. It may help with the spitting as well. I am on Trileptol and it really helps. What medication is he on? Maybe I could do some research (sp?) for you. Such as side effects and other common medications he may do well on. (I am not a psychiatrist I am only looking to help,)*

Janelle - posted on 10/30/2012

Thanks Jazmyne. One more question: Are repetitive, bothersome thoughts part of OCD? Since my son's Tourettes diagnosis, I've been struggling to learn all I can about his condition. Early on his teachers thought he was maybe high function autistic. The dr only wanted to treat ADHD/ADD with meds, that brought out the tics. I stopped all the meds and the tic's went away on their own, then came back a year later. That's when he got the Tourettes diagnosis. I'm just looking for ways to make his life easier and educate myself so I sound like I know what I'm talking about in the Dr.'s office. What if the meds he's on made the thoughts he's having worse?

I really appreciate your response. Thank you. It's nice to be able to connect with others.

Jazmyne - posted on 10/30/2012

Thats a good Idea (about the picture) But personally I would get a second opinion. I have OCD, I know how horrible the disiese is. To me it just doesn't sound likely. Although I have gone through some EMDR therapy, and it has helped quite a bit with obsessive tendencies. Maybe look into that for your son.

Janelle - posted on 10/30/2012

I never thought of him as much of a perfectionist. That's why I resisted the diagnosis to begin with. But getting a thought stuck in his head that makes him feel like throwing-up is pretty common. Just not for 3 hours. It's usually more like when we're walking to school and he sees bird poop on the ground, he spits. He sees a smooshed snail, he spits. He used to be totally terrified of a book about bugs. I had to hid it so his sisters (7) would stop terrorizing him with it.



But he's never obsessively washed his hands, nor arranged his toys just so. That's why I didn't think it was OCD. But the Dr. said he had it. I guess it's common with a Tourett's diagnosis. So I'm wondering if these thoughts that bother him so much, does that fall into the OCD category? Is there a way to help get rid of reoccurring bothersome thoughts for OCD kids? Got any imaginitive ways to help him replace the thought?... Ooo maybe carry a picture that he likes...

Jazmyne - posted on 10/30/2012

Since he was spitting I doubt it is ocd. Most people with obsessive cumpulsive disorder, tend to wash their hands more after touching something 'icky'. Does he do the same thing over and over again till he deems it 'perfect'? Does he avoid foods that aren't sanitary (ie canned) or does he touch something and run to wash his hands until they are raw, chapped and dry? If he does any of these things I would worry about OCD, until then, it could be something else.

Holly - posted on 10/30/2012

probably help him replace it with a good thought... i don't know if that would alone classify him as OCD... i am pretty sure my daughter has OCD, but that is after YEARS of odd behavior and irrational fear of things that she can't explain