At the Bedside: UTHealth Houston brings relief to mother living with rare neurological disorder

For nearly four years, 29-year-old Kiara Bess battled strange, uncontrollable movements that slowly began to take over her body. 

The aspiring nurse and mother of two was able to manage her symptoms for a time, but in 2023, they became unbearable. She experienced severe head and neck jerking, her eyes blinked forcefully and frequently, she developed excruciating migraines, and her ability to speak began to decline.

“I was scared,” Bess recalls. “It was the worst experience I’ve ever had; I couldn’t control my own body. I felt like I was losing myself.”

Bess had a long-standing diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition characterized by symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorder. Throughout the years, she had been prescribed numerous antipsychotic medications — standard treatment for her condition, but also the most common trigger for tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder marked by involuntary, rhythmic, and sometimes repetitive movements, often of the face, tongue, and limbs. 

Expecting her third child, Bess found it challenging to find anyone who wanted to treat her. Being pregnant made her situation more complex. 

She was in a state of complete despair when she met Swati Pradeep, DO, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and a movement disorder fellow with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

“Dr. Pradeep truly listened to me and didn’t treat me like I was imagining things,” said Bess. “She took her time. She knew what she was talking about, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.”

Pradeep not only confirmed the diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia but also determined that Bess had another type of movement disorder: dystonia. Dystonia causes involuntary muscle contractions, leading to twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.  

Pradeep and her team in the UTHealth Houston Movement Disorders Subspeciality Clinic, one of the few clinics in the United States treating tardive dyskinesia, researched every possible treatment to ensure the safety of Bess and her unborn child.

“We were able to safely initiate treatment during her pregnancy, significantly reducing the severity of her headaches and neck movements,” said Pradeep. “After she gave birth, we adjusted her treatment plan further to improve her symptoms, and her relief was palpable. She could finally regain control over her body and feel like herself again.”

Pradeep treated the dystonia with botulinum toxin (Botox injections). After Bess had her baby, she received medication for the tardive dyskinesia. 

“For the first time in years, I felt like myself again,” Bess said. “I could be independent and a mom to my children.”

Pradeep noted that tardive dyskinesia affects at least 800,000 adults in the U.S., yet an estimated 60% remain undiagnosed. The condition’s involuntary, repetitive movements can take a serious toll — physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally — often leading to anxiety, sleep disturbances, difficulty eating, and social withdrawal. 

“Kiara’s story illustrates the suffering that tardive dyskinesia can cause and the gaps in care and awareness that persist, but it also shows how dramatic improvement is possible even in complex cases with the right expertise and timely intervention,” she said.

Today, Bess is focused on raising her three children, including her new son, who was born in January. She receives Botox injections every three months and continues taking her medication. The improvement in her daily life has been life-changing.

“I had reached a point where I felt hopeless, like my life would never improve,” Bess said. “Now, I wake up every day and feel better. I’m in better spirits. I’m Kiara again.”

One day soon, Bess wants to return to nursing school. She dreams of specializing in pediatrics with a focus on oncology or neurology.

“Compassionate care can make a huge difference in a painful and uncertain diagnosis. I want to be the type of nurse who listens and helps families find hope when they feel lost, just as Dr. Pradeep did for me,” Bess said.

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