ibs and nervous tics

[bob]

Hello, I'm Bob

I've read some of the replies here and it seems like a good place, so here goes.......... I'm here to try to help my son thru some issues that he has.
Last Oct. he developed what seems now to be IBS? Took him to all the doctors and specialist's, no help. He started doing better with some fiber pills we started him on, and he's been mostly accident free. Until this week. We of course help him with all this, but he's getting very embarrased, and as a parent, it breaks my heart.
He[6yr.old] also has been having these tics[??]. For about a week at a time he'll do things such as; place his hand in his pants and fondle himself, chew his nails, lick his hands-arms[and sometimes other people], repetetively cough or clear his throat.
We have a loving, Christ- following home. We have mostly just let the tics run their course, about a week usually.

I know that these issues are minor as to what kind of things can happen in life, but I believe it's taking it's toll on an otherwise very happy young man.
As I said, we are a well adjusted family, but I was wondering if these were related to some issues that we had in the family the past year:
I was out of work for awhile, my father-in law was quite ill and then passed away[we were all close to him], and he started kindergarden also.
We try to use all of these life trials as learning experiences, and address issues openly and honestly and then let them go. And of course, how God works in our lives as we go through these things.
My family thanks you for any help given, or any direction to be taken.

Tx, Bob

[Jennifer]

hello:
children express there emotions physcially because they cannot express them through words. ibs and tics are serious issues for a 6 year old and not sure what kind of docs you took him too were they psychatrists or medical docs. either he has a disorder that is causing this that needs to be addressed or he has had some serious trauma that would also need to be addressed. your first step is to find the route of the problem and go from there. are these behaviours affecting him or more so people around him?

[bob]

Thank you Jennifer for your reply. We have only taken him to the doctors for his IBS, not at all to a therapist. You've gotten me quite concerned when you say that these are serious issues for him. I feel badly that we hadn't addressed this more thouroghly before this, but I had no idea that this was that serious.
Ought we take him to a child psychologist ASAP? I can't think of anything that could have happened to him that would remotely be considered trumatic. He's not withdrawn or introverted or outwardly fearful of anything. He runs around and plays and behaves well.
I don't think his behavior bothers anyone, I do believe that he gets embarrased if he has an accident outside of the house, of course.
I'll reply to anything you suggest tommorow evening then, until then I've asked my wife to look into if any of this is covered by our insurance, and we will be looking for the appropriate help either way.


Thank you for your help, Bob

[Jennifer]

no need to feel bad about this because you are seeking help and yes you should take him to see a psychologist or a psychatrist, the differene is the second went to medical school and can write prescriptions. better to be safe than sorry. ibs and tics are not conditions that just go way and you want to nip the problem in the bud now and figure out what is going on.