thereishope

I think it's awesome they are at 95% remission in two weeks being that it is not their first exacerbation. It seems the average for the first real exacerbation is between 4-6 weeks to get better. So, because your boys are doing well and progressing, I think you can still wait on the steroid. As for the Augmentin, personally, I think it's a good idea to stay on that if they can tolerate it just because another back to back strep infection can throw you a real curve ball and lay the foundation for a nasty, persistent exacerbation. You could try lowering the Augmentin if you feel it's just too much for their stomachs.

Happy New Year to my online family! May everyone find 2011 to be the year of healing, recovery, health and happiness. You all deserve it! If you didn't realize it yet, today is 1/1/11. Someone said you're suppose to make a wish because of it. There's no harm in trying, so go ahead, make a wish!

Is it oily or take a long time to soak into the skin? I worry about staining the furniture, sheets, etc. Maybe I should try that for my son's lips. They get so cracked in the winter because his bed is close to heater.

I used Aquaphor at night before bed. It would take about a week to fully heal. You can add a cool midst humidifier in the bedroom too. What kind of soap do you use? Consider changing that as well to something less harsh and try to put the softer towels in the bathroom.

Oh, Emerson, I am so sorry.

My non-PANDAS son had to take Augmentin and Zithromax at the same time for a bad sinus infection. Space them out an hour apart and make sure to give probiotics.

There is probably so much surrounding that pacifier...more than you think. Not only is it something she's a attached to since she was a baby but it may have now morphed into a OCD thing and, like you said sensory. As for the attachment as a result of having it since she was a baby, my SIL cut off the suckie part, took her child to Build A Bear and put the pacifier in the bear so her child could always have the paci with them. As for the OCD and sensory part, it may not be the time to try to overcome it. You may have to wean her off of it or start with trying to replace it with something else. I think you'll have to try to talk to her about it to get a feel of what's going on....is it attachment, OCD, sensory and then go from there.

I tried to scan all responses before posting, but I may have missed something so sorry for any duplication. I also give fish oil for Omega 3's. You should also give at least a multivitamin. I've found a lot of children's multi's don't have enough vitamin c or d so even more supplementation than the multi is up to you depending on how cooperative your child is with taking multiple things and what their diet is like.

That's a hard one since refusing to give into a part of the OCD (and sticking to it) can help them overcome it in the long run but it can also cause a lot of anxiety. I had to take part in A LOT of my son's OCD. Then I started to decide what we should start to help him overcome it (since that time it wasn't shedding on its own)and started to say no here and there. Now, I did not go cold turkey and say no to everything, but baby steps. But you have to be mentally ready for the anxiety and the guilt you will feel.

I am so happy for you! Merry Christmas!!!

I hope the morning went better than last night. Some things that may help is not asking if they like what they got, do not ask what their favorite present is, if they got money from anyone don't ask what they want to buy with it right now. I hope this passes overnight and he wakes up happy:)

I am not "anti Lyme" however, I think some people are leary to voice an opinion because they see how some have become blacklisted and labelled as "anti Lyme" if they speak up. Some may not see it that way, but I get the sense of that. To give insight into what has bothered me in the past...there have been statements made that PANDAS is actually Lyme. Perhaps that idea has been retracted but I know I cannot forget reading that. That upset me. Also, reading how if you get a dx for Lyme from a LLMD and you go through treatment, you will not longer have to fear strep. I think that statement worries me too. No one has the answers and no one can guarantee that child will not still react to strep in a PANDAS reaction. I don't believe in giving a false confidence like that. There is a chance a PANDAS child could benefit from Lyme treatment and as JAG stated in a few days earlier...wouldn't that be great if we as a PANDAS community found another way to treat out children. I feel like there's a contest of which camp will get the most parents. It should not feel like that.

As for germs and food, you don't have to go full force into having her overcome her issues. Do baby steps and break it down. Can you give some examples of what she does? As for germs and my son, one time it was as little as me holding his hand and having one single finger touch a toy. That was a big deal. Later we graduated to two fingers then the whole hand. As for food, again, some examples may help. Food can be a big array of things varying from food restriction to sensory. Pixiesmommy once mentioned a brushing technique for sensory issues. I've never tried it, but sounds interesting. Sensory was something we had to wait for my son to overcome on his own.

I hope the appointment goes well! Keep us updated!

I'd fill it, no question. And, yes, amox works for some kids. But keep in mind that you may not see a miracle happen overnight. I started to see signs of improvement between day 3-5. It was still a slow process of healing.

Great news!

If I bought the strep one, I'd have to burn it in effigy.

What has been their timeline in the past once starting antibiotics? I think it's awesome so many symptoms are already gone. I did only a 5 day burst on day 5 of antibiotics for my son in his second exacerbation and it did help and the improvements of the short burst stayed (not temp). I think you can wait since "only" one tic is remaining. My son was in dire straits. Since the 2 year old is doing better, but still irritable, perhaps wait on any steroid right now in the 6 year old in the event the strep isn't fully erradicated in the 2 year old. I don't think a 5 day burst would lower the immune system much, but don't take chances it does either. Hard decision. Has your boys ever had a steroid before?

Tried messaging you, but it said it said I couldn't. Is you inbox full?

Well, having tonsils removed is supposed to reduce your chance of strep by 80%, but there are some on here that go on to have chronic strep problems. My son did have t and a at 5 years old mainly because of PANDAS. Prior to t and a, he only had strep twice. He did go on to have strep again one month after surgery.But the odds were against him since at that time both siblings had strep too. Tonsils can be a hiding place for strep. If they are bigger, you can also get food stuck in them, even if you don't see the food (don't ask me how I know). As for the two year old, I get nervous about anesthesia and little ones. As for the 6 year old, my ENT told me that recovery is usually easier and faster if they are taken out at a younger age than waiting until they are 10 or so. It's a lot to weigh.

I thought you might find this old thread interesting. It's on the "Exorcist Syndrome" http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=6880&st=0&p=54882&fromsearch=1entry54882

I know this sound like an odd request for the ER team, but try to get her some Ibuprofen. It helps with some kids. Keep us updated!

I'm familiar with the odor. It's the puss in the tonsils. As for the amox 250x2...that's a prophylactic dose so if she had a lingering infection that won't help. If dd7 is even on a prophylactic dose of abs, you can get a FALSE negative strep test. Perhaps your doctor needs to be "reminded" of this Follow your mom gut...take the other two to urgent care over the weekend. Tell them about the prophylactic amoxicillin. When they ask why she's on it, tell them she has an autoimmune disorder related to strep and that's why you CANNOT chance she has strep considering it is rampant in the house. If your ped asks why you took them to urgent care, say the kids were complaining of not feeling well and it was the weekend. You had no choice. That amox prophylactic dose also will not prevent a sinus infection or kill one that is present. Sinus infections can be very hard to kill. It can take multiple rounds of abs and take stronger abs. My PANDAS son, which does clear on amox for strep, once had a sinus infection and the amox did nothing. He needed two rounds of Augmentin.

Did you get yourself a strep test? I know you thought that perhaps you had an infection.

Everyone on here deserves to boast! I am so happy for you, your son, and your family!