pgoody

Thanks for the suggestions PowPow and pr40. pr40, I will search later for the extensive blood work that person did, did they post it on this forum? Otherwise if you remember where you saw it could you send me the link?

Hi there, I was diagnosed with OCD when I was in 7th grade, however I saw a therapist when I was only 7 and I know I had social anxieties starting when I was only four years old, so whatever condition I have had it was definately early onset. From an early age through college my symptoms revolved around harming other people. I was on and off of Zoloft during that time, and it was very helpful for those symptoms. I have always been a very sensitive person as far as stress and my emotions are concerned. Recently (beginning after graduation), I spent a year in China which stressed the ###### out of me. I thought I was handeling myself during the time and was going off my meds thinking I was dealing with all of my problems. I sort of crashed after I returned home. I would describe these last two years as exteremely stressful as I do not handle life changes very well. I am normally a person who is poor at planning and likes to get stuck in a routine. I went to China as a sort of means to break out of that rut and to become a stronger person, but, I feel infact the opposite has happened and that perhaps my brain was trying to tell me something, that I should take 'er easy. Now my symptoms have gone from fear to overconfidence. I started taking Zoloft again about 6 months ago and have worked my way back up to 75mg. I was only taking 50mg before China and was feeling much better than I am now. I had experiences with paranoia, hatred, anger, complete apathy. I feel as if my emotions have been a punching bag and that I don't feel them anymore and that they have been completely numbed. My mind just goes and goes and goes and won't stop. I was having terrible insomnia and anger/irritability issues before I began to take Zoloft again. I was paranoid and I haven't been talking to my friends at all since I have come home. I used to play video games my entire life but completely cut them out when I realized the whole I was falling into. They were literally making me extremely angry, and infact caused me to realize my current state. Now I tend to hyperfocus on the present and have difficulty feeling my emotions. I sometimes feel like I trained myself to block my emotions out, but I have been trying really hard this past year to relax and feel them again, but trying to relax just stresses me out and makes me focus more on the stress that I constantly feel in my head. I feel like I am possibly experiencing extreme denial about life in general. About 6 months ago one of my dog's died and my Mom told me. I started crying for maybe 10-15 seconds but even then that felt extremely difficult to do and then the feeling was completely gone after maybe 15 seconds of crying. I feel like I am constantly focused on the present tense and constantly trying to justify that everything is Ok and that I don't need to worry even though I have been unemployed these last 9 months. I believe that I still have symptoms of my OCD, such as the constant stress and repetitive thinking, but I have newer problems like hyperfocus. I feel like when I am hyperfocused that I am trying to discover or completely understand something, so I end up processing, procesing, processing again and again. Can anyone relate? I need better treatment. I am definitely in an over stimulated state. Hyperfocus, suspiscion, highly addictive, and would very much like not feel this way so I can actually move on with my life.

I recently started looking in the Slc1a1 gene because of it is highly implicated in OCD. Several other genes are implicated as well, in regards to serotonin and dopamine, but from what I have been reading from Yale's research and pubmed, excess glutamate in the cerebral cortex and in various brain process (especially in the frontal cortex) is seen as being a possibly physiological cause of OCD. I have also read that SSRIs' primary mechanism (in treating OCD) might be in its ability to correct the glutamate balance as increased serotonin modulates glutamate. Slc1a1 is a gene that encodes for the EAAC1 enzyme which is responsible for transport of glutamate from the kidneys and from interneuronal synapses in the brain. People with dysfunction in this gene may have the inability to transport glutamate out of the synapses (and dysfunctional kidneys, the physiology I don't understand exactly), which leads to higher levels sitting around leading to hyperglutamatergic conditions. People who have issues with this gene can have defects that result in high levels of glutamate and aspartate in a amino acid urine analysis, and it's possible that for some individuals with OCD that high levels of both in the test may be an indicator of a bad Slc1a1 gene. People with high urine counts of these substances would be considered to have Dicarboxylic Aciduria (Where I found out about the test:http://phys.org/news/2011-01-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htmlI) found a great article that discusses this and the genetic region of Slc1a1 that is implicated. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3007158/ Then on the bottom part of the article, it starts talking about how cysteine is and glutathione are also affected by this defective gene. Here is some of the meat of the aricle: "The increased affinity for l-cysteine resulting from the R445W mutation in SLC1A1 led to a reduction in l-cysteine uptake to levels that were 2% of those of WT, while I395del prevented l-cysteine uptake by SLC1A1. Consequently, the increase in l-glutamate and l-cysteine affinity for R445W not only reduced the size of the transporter currents observed but also substantially reduced the rate of substrate transport." [...] “Our findings on SLC1A1 disruption in humans were in agreement with the DA phenotype reported in Slc1a1nullizygous mice. Despite this phenotypic similarity between species, the appearance of age-related neurodegeneration, which was observed in outbred Slc1a1 nullizygous mice, has not yet been clearly documented in humans. This neurodegeneration was attributed to decreased neuronal cysteine uptake. Cysteine is the rate-limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione, and neurons are dependent on the extracellular uptake of cysteine for normal function. Most cell types transport cysteine in the form of cystine, by heteroexchange with glutamate via the sodium-independent system x, but in vitro studies suggest that neurons lose this capacity as they mature. Neurons use sodium-dependent cysteine uptake as the major route for cysteine uptake (80%–90% of total uptake), most of which is handled by SLC1A1 (75%–85% of total sodium-dependent uptake). Thus, abrogation of cysteine uptake in the neurons of outbred Slc1a1 nullizygous mice led to impaired glutathione metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and neuronal death" This might be an underlying reason for why people with OCD benefit from NAC, if they have some inability to transport the cysteine. If you read the whole article however, there are a whole slew of SNPs that could potentially alter enzyme function, while this article focuses primarily on two specific regions of Slc1A1.

I recently started looking in the Slc1a1 gene because of it is highly implicated in OCD. Several other genes are implicated as well, in regards to serotonin and dopamine, but from what I have been reading from Yale's research and pubmed, excess glutamate in the cerebral cortex and in various brain process (especially in the frontal cortex) is seen as being a possibly physiological cause of OCD. I have also read that SSRIs' primary mechanism (in treating OCD) might be in its ability to correct the glutamate balance as increased serotonin modulates glutamate. Slc1a1 is a gene that encodes for the EAAC1 enzyme which is responsible for transport of glutamate from the kidneys and from interneuronal synapses in the brain. People with dysfunction in this gene may have the inability to transport glutamate out of the synapses (and dysfunctional kidneys, the physiology I don't understand exactly), which leads to higher levels sitting around leading to hyperglutamatergic conditions. People who have issues with this gene can have defects that result in high levels of glutamate and aspartate in a amino acid urine analysis, and it's possible that for some individuals with OCD that high levels of both in the test may be an indicator of a bad Slc1a1 gene. People with high urine counts of these substances would be considered to have Dicarboxylic Aciduria (Where I found out about the test:http://phys.org/news/2011-01-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htmlI) found a great article that discusses this and the genetic region of Slc1a1 that is implicated. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3007158/ Then on the bottom part of the article, it starts talking about how cysteine is and glutathione are also affected by this defective gene. Here is some of the meat of the aricle: "The increased affinity for l-cysteine resulting from the R445W mutation in SLC1A1 led to a reduction in l-cysteine uptake to levels that were 2% of those of WT, while I395del prevented l-cysteine uptake by SLC1A1. Consequently, the increase in l-glutamate and l-cysteine affinity for R445W not only reduced the size of the transporter currents observed but also substantially reduced the rate of substrate transport." [...] “Our findings on SLC1A1 disruption in humans were in agreement with the DA phenotype reported in Slc1a1nullizygous mice. Despite this phenotypic similarity between species, the appearance of age-related neurodegeneration, which was observed in outbred Slc1a1 nullizygous mice, has not yet been clearly documented in humans. This neurodegeneration was attributed to decreased neuronal cysteine uptake. Cysteine is the rate-limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione, and neurons are dependent on the extracellular uptake of cysteine for normal function. Most cell types transport cysteine in the form of cystine, by heteroexchange with glutamate via the sodium-independent system x, but in vitro studies suggest that neurons lose this capacity as they mature. Neurons use sodium-dependent cysteine uptake as the major route for cysteine uptake (80%–90% of total uptake), most of which is handled by SLC1A1 (75%–85% of total sodium-dependent uptake). Thus, abrogation of cysteine uptake in the neurons of outbred Slc1a1 nullizygous mice led to impaired glutathione metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and neuronal death" This might be an underlying reason for why people with OCD benefit from NAC, if they have some inability to transport the cysteine. If you read the whole article however, there are a whole slew of SNPs that could potentially alter enzyme function, while this article focuses primarily on two specific regions of Slc1A1.

I just bought kefir from the whole foods section of my local grocery store. I think there are better kinds out there and I hear a lot of people buy the grains online and have them home made and I think I will look into doing that. Apparently it's a really good source of probiotics. Here's what the website listed for the one I bought: "contains Lactobacillius Lactis Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Streptococcus Diacetylactis Lactobacillus Plantarum Lactobacillius Casei Saccharomyces Florentinus Leuconostoc Cremoris Bifidobacterium Longum Bifidobacterium Breve Lactobacillus Acidophilus Bifidobacterium lactis Lactobacillus reuteri Apparently there are strains of Streptoccus in kefir, which bothers me a bit considering strep causes PANDAS, but I guess that is a specific strain called "Group A-hemolytic strepococcus" or GAS. This Diacetylactis kind is something, according to the producers website, that is typically in sour cream.

I'm guessing that antibiotics are commonly used for PANDAS particularly in the cases of strep and lymes disease. Has anyone ever tried solely using probiotics to treat their or their relative's OCD? I have read some articles discussing the condition of one's gut flora and it's impact on one's mental state. This discussion exists in the autism gut and brain connection material, which sort of indicates that "poor gut flora" could impact one's immune response and give symptoms of autism or OCD. I am considering purchasing some coconut milk kefir and drinking some daily as a sort of "probiotic" dose for my OCD. I feel if an individual has a bacterial infection that antibiotics might be the only way to fight it, but maybe a natural probiotic wouldn't hurt if you are using those anyways.

SF Mom, aside from what seems to be sort of "chronic fatigue" I don't present any sort of "sick-like" symptoms (fever, nausea etc). I will copy and paste from this list some of the things I do experience: Disrupted sleep cycles, resulting in poor quality sleep, too little sleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early awakening Back pain Light sensitivity Ear symptoms (ringing, not incredibly noticeable though, maybe just a result of my anxiety) Memory loss (more long term, as opposed to short term as this list suggests) Sexual dysfunction and loss of libido (actually my problem is the opposite, I have an overactive libido) Personality disorders (radical change in someone's personality) I feel as if my emotions have been almost 100 percent blunted and I am just pushing myself through life. There are more, and most of my symptoms are along the lines of psychiatric issues, but those are the most "physical" problems I have. I also have always had asthma (only excersize enduced, otherwise unnoticeable), and I believe as I mentioned above have had chronically inflamed lymph in the back of my throat (not glaringly red, and not painful). Aside from that all signs point to be me having a fairly good immune system. I rarely get sick, even small colds and what not. Usually when I get sick it's because it's bigger stuff. Last sickness I had was in China when I had blood in my stool (sorry), went to a Chinese clinic where they told me I had a virus. One other thing I might mention is that I had a whole blood histamine test, with a result of 103ng/ml, which according to Pfieffer and Dr. Walsh is a rather high blood histamine level (most people are 40-50ng/ml, but it is meaningless to allopathic doctors. Oh and one other thing, while I was in China I had what I would might consider to be a sort of "jock itch" on my leg near the groin area. It was really itchy (not THAT bad, but noticeable from time to time) and I didn't really do anything about it. It might have very well been around for 4-5 months before it disapeared.

Hehe, you definitely know how it is. I am an Eagle scout and have been camping quite a number of times. Also spent many summers in Wisconsin where there were literally LOADS of tics. Lyme is something I wouldn't be shy to say I might have. I know I have gotten bites from wood ticks but aren't deer ticks the ones that spread lyme's disease? Regardless there is a chance I have it. I am curious as the how it may present itself in way other than OCD symtpoms. Is Lyme or Strep something that passes with time? I think I read a post about PANDAS saying that people with that type of OCD have "flare ups" when they get strep. I can imagine OCD would get much worse at the period of time, but does it ever go away? Could a person like me be infected with lyme or strep without any other symptoms than OCD? I do have slight lymph inflammation on the back of my through which I only started to notice about 9 months ago when I thought I was having allergic reactions, I realized there is slight inflammation on the back of my throat and its always the same shape. as I have memorized the lumps. How did you go about getting tested for those problems?

dcmom, I live in Minnesota. I will be moving to Minneapolis in about 2 weeks, but my primary doc is in Duluth, MN, which is where I am originally from. My primary doc is just an internal medicine doc. I had a psychiatrist in Duluth for about 5-6 years but never had a very good relationship with him. In fact I eventually started getting my prescriptions through my primary doc simply because he would listen and my treatment plan has never been anything he was uncomfortable prescribing (SSRI + benzo, which I think is fairly standard). MomwithOCDson, I definitely agree with what you say about the underlying causes of OCD. OCD is caused in varying individuals in different ways, but those various mechanisms of onset and dysfunction result in similar OCD symptoms and a disorder state that can be treated in a similar fashion. I am curious, having done a lot of investigation yourself, have you run across any definite answers in your own search for your sons underlying cause of OCD? Have you successfully intervened?

I have had OCD since I was 7 and now I am 24. I have been treated with SSRIs for quite some time. I am wondering if there is anyway that I could have had some virus or other infection that could be the underlying cause of all of this for this entire time? Is there a website or a place to go with compiled information regarding what to test for if one is suspicious of an underlying disease? I am not symptomatic for any disease aside from the fact that I have OCD and my brain feels like it's on fire because of my anxiety. Also I have had noticeable lymph bumps on the back of my throat for at least over a year (since I noticed them) and am wondering if any of this is a sign of some underlying infection. Any help would be great, Thanks!

As this is my first post on this forum I feel I should say hello to those who regularly visit this forum. There are 2 things I want to outline in this post that might help you guide me down a good treatment path. The first is a simple description of my OCD and how I have addressed it and how it has evolved. The second is a question, based on my description about how I should proceed. I have OCD with obsessions as my primary problem. Truthfully, anyone who has interacted with me in my day to day life aside from my parents and from my girlfriend whom I have told, would not know I have OCD as my issues are not tics or rituals, but more along the lines of obsessive thinking (harm OCD), perfectionism, constant mental agitation, constant logical processing, and at times slight delusional thinking when my processing thoughts overwhelm me. I have also experienced a 6 month period of almost daily panic attacks. My OCD started for sure when I was at least 7 years old. I remember second grade is when my thoughts about harming people or myself began. At this time I visited a therapist once with my mother, who tried to help me stop the thoughts in their tracks. At the same time I began to suffer from depression, which is probably normal in combination with OCD and maybe also a result of having these thoughts. I'm sure that many of you know that when negative emotions (anything negative at all infact) cross your path that they get stuck, and trying to not think or have these feelings or thoughts are impossible. Well anyways, I believe I had this spell of OCD that sort of came and went (I believe for months at a time, at least). It might have been a sort of SAD seasonal related thing. I believe I was affected the most in the spring and fall, I am not entirely certain about that. Anyways, after second grade and up until 7th grade I was always a sort of emotionally sensitive kid (and beyond that age for some time) and this emotional hypersensitivity I believed was a part of that OCD. I believe it was a sort of manifestation of heightened fears caused by negative emotions and feelings. In 7th grade I began with pharmeceutical treatment. I went through I believe Paxil, Buspar, Prozac until I landed at Zoloft, the SSRI that did well for me. From 7th grade and beyond I always had issues with social embarrassment (social phobia) and obsessive thoughts and at times depressive thoughts. From what I remember the Zoloft did a pretty good job at dealing with the depression and the ocd thoughts, and I was sort of left with social phobia at the time. One effect of the the Zoloft (200mg at some pt in highschool) was concentration. Then I was diagnosed with ADD (which I believe was just a result of the SSRI) and was given extended release ritalin, to help me focus. I also used caffeine for this effect. I then realized that I could probably just lower my Zoloft and decrease the stimulants which I did. I also was prescribed Clonazepam for my social phobia. In college I did pretty well with my OCD except my sophomore year I took half of a caffeine pill which gave me terrible panic attacks which I had for the following 6 months until I got back on my Zoloft (I had been trying to get off of it completely, and I had been taking none for about a month). Currently I am 24 and I have graduated from college but I am unemployed and have been for almost a year. I just came back from teaching english in China. During that year I once again reduced my Zoloft completely and went off my clonazepam completely, something that I continued to take at a low dose every day. During the time I had been completely off of my meds I sort of fell of the wagon so to speak. I began to become increasingly suspicious of people (more paranoid) and I had persistant thoughts and the inability to relax my mind and find peace. If I focused my mind on any task it exacerbated my symptoms and made me feel awful. There is a very physical burning in my head (not a headache) that seems to be the source of this anxiety. I have read about the possibility of neural inflammation being the root of OCD ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23547920) and it FEELS like my brain is inflamed. I have, since my lowest low finally gone back on zoloft. I have recently moved back up to 50mg of Zoloft a day and plan to hit 75mg to 100mg, whichever dose is theraputic enough for me. I have been doing a lot of research during this time about alternative solutions for my OCD. I have been seeing a therapist and have seen a psychiatrist as well. My psychiatrist offered me a low dose of Risperdone, but I taking an antipsychotic is not exactly appealing to me, and I am borderline non compliant with treatment. My extreme symtpoms have sort of manifested themselves in this way. Suspicion, paranoid, oppositional, and rapid logical processing. I also feel very disconnected from my emotions and like life is just this task that I am pushing myself through However, I know I need treatment and have been moving in that direction and have been noticing improvement. I haven't restarted the clonzepam yet, since I was on very low doses daily for a long time to begin with. I believe I had been taking an eight of a tablet. Having read a bunch of posts on this forum I got the idea that people may believe that there is a distinctions between "OCD" and PANDAS OCD. Is this the idea that some people have OCD as a result of an infection and other have more of a genetic root to their OCD, both of course resulting in OCD. 1) Is there a step by step process I should follow to determine any underlying infections such as strep or lyme (and others)? Are there any resources with compiled information for searching answers regarding unlderlying conditions? Is there anyway that I could get lyme tests and strep tests from my primary doctor without any obvious symptoms of disease other than OCD, and have them covered by insurance? -Does anyone think I could go into my doc and say, "Hey doc, my brain feels like it's on fire" and convince him to do a battery of OCD related tests to check for a root cause? 2) What do you think about this hyper processing type OCD? It seems to be getting better with more Zoloft. It isn't something I ever experienced before going to China, it's a relatively new manifestation of my OCD. When I was young it was more emotional, and what I am experiencing now feels like the opposite of that. My mind feels very robotic and very unemotional. That might be the result of extreme stress I don't know.