HelenJenn

My son also has always talked to himself-especially younger ages and now more if he plays hockey or something on his own. But also interesting because he has always had to blow his nose +++. Not sure about allergies as no sneezing etc. He cannot swallow pills yet(12yo)-working on this- has a ++ gag reflex. For my other son we are taking out dairy and grain and sugar. I wonder how that may affect him.

Thanks so much for this perspective. This is the same direction we are taking with our ds. We have yet to get an homeopath who we feel is really motivated and on board.

Because what I first noticed was food reactions and yeast issues- I realised there was this connection. We researched the gaps protocol and have helped him this way-removing dairy etc. He is great until sore throat returns. So we will focus on immune boosting.

My son's OCD symptoms may have been triggered, or pushed over the edge with antibiotics. He was already reacting to food(frequent urination/yeast), low immunity(infection/colds). Then had a gum absess. Never did antibiotics before but had no options. His intrusive thoughts and behaviours coincided with these antibiotics. We are taking the route of boosting the immune and taking out foods we think he is reacting to-dairy, wheat etc. He improved+++. But still reacting when sore throats come back so hence working to build immunity while staying away from antibiotics.

I have had a sub clinical sinus infection for 2-3 years. My worse episode of strep in my life last year-and then onset of symptoms with my son(OCDetc). My symptomatic son seems to be mirroring me- or me him. I get a sore throat, he gets a sore throat etc. I see my immunity as well needs to be dealt with.

Thanks so much! This looks very interesting.

We are newly investigating the biologic link to OCD symptoms in our 8 year old. We are interested in a less medical/natural approach to find what benefit we can achieve in the way. Our son is able to go to school etc. We have decided to go this way as he has a history of significant reactions to food(during a period of low immunity/cold)-that were not typical of allergies. He would present with frequent urination(every couple minutes around the during the day/evening). We have decided to follow the gaps protocol and are slowly removing foods not allowed-and quickly increasing the foods recommended. He responded with a huge reduction in systems when dairy was removed. When we removed all grains/beans etc- he became a happy child again after 1 year of worries/fears etc. He became organized, able to get ready ahead of schedule and became very even and steady with emotions. In addition, we started inositol- from Dr. James Greenblatts protocol. I am giving him about 3 grams per day. On the first day/night he slept through the night for the first time in weeks. When I removed this from his diet-he began waking each night/several times. When back in he slept again. Our problem is that now we have regression since he began complaining about a sore throat last weekend. So for the last week we have had a return of symtoms during this cold(diarrhea, sore throat, congestion etc)-ocd, worries, lack of organization, labile emotions, etc. We are interested in connection with families who might be approaching colds/infections without antibiotics to find out their successes and observations of their own children.

Our son as well would be very manic/wild in moments. I have now read about caseo and gluteo morphins from wheat and dairy that act as morphine in the brain of some of these kids. We removed dairy and He did improve with a short absence of dairy. We did return to dairy because I was not organized to provide other items. Since then we have taken out grains(like paleo diet). He has improved quite dramatically until he got a cold(maybe strep-sore throat) and behaviours returned. So there are multiple things going on. For us it seems to be low immunity, sugar, dairy and wheat. Our whole family will do this diet(gaps/paleo) which will make it doable. Also I am trying to take out a little gradually so I can learn new recipes and it isn't so obvioius to the kids. My son also went through a phase, a few days, of finger licking.

Just wondering how many families have been successful in curing PANDAS(tics, ocd etc) with diet changes(remove wheat, dairy etc), and supplements(inositol, B vit, etc).

We also went to allergist and other types of testing to determine what foods were causing problems(4 years and then again 5 months ago). We were given a list of foods and went for this for a week or 2. The results were terrible! My child got way worse. We have been through that twice. So I have not found the allergy testing to help us. Finally I had to get back to what I had seen with his one discreet reaction(wheat, dairy, sugar, staws). We had taken those foods out and he got better. We were slowly able to introduce them back over the years. We found his reactions would happen when he had a cold or virus-low immunity. So it was a combination of things. We have just gotten into new territory I think since the antibiotics. So maybe we have to work to heal his gut(which we are starting with some special supplements). It is hard to chose to change the diet-especially when the whole family is just barely managing. As much as anything moms seem to need to trust what they are seeing. But also to get support from the professionals who are actually turning these serious situations around for kids and families - basically removing dairy & wheat(sugar) and then extra support-nutrition etc.

Just following up my earlier post. The change that led my child into the ocd(instead of just the physical symptoms of frequest urination) might have been that at this same time he had his first ever antibiotics. I've always thought my kids were a bit at risk so have avoided when I can vaccinations and antibiotics and tried to do other things. In this case he had a gum abcess. It was painful and I did not see any way around doing the course. So that is just when we got into the ocd symptoms.

Hi- we are also interested in the food connection with ocd. My son, now 8, first reacted to eating scones, whip cream and strawberries at 4. It took 10 minutes and then he had frequent urination for the next 6 weeks. Tried all the tests-infection etc all negative. Allergist and GP had never seen this reaction. We took him off the above-wheat, sugar, dairy and straw. He started to improve immediately but 6 weeks to be back to norm. We tested again at his birthday and then a month after that with grandparents visiting. Both times frequent urination returned but easy to turn around because we new what to take out. Then 9 months ago- food reaction again(eating friends lunches/birthdays). But in hind site also develop obsessive thinking-falling to sleep at night. Anyway, we did not know the connection with the diet and this. Then 2 months ago full ocd. Wow! This has been hard work. I tried to educate myself and read everything I could find-seeing pyschologist etc. But it was only last weekend when a pyschologist helped me make the connection with ocd and diet. She mentioned that kids with PANDAS have frequest urination-his primary symptom. This has led me to James Greenblat work(psychiatrist in boston area). He seems to be one of the only Doctors working on this connection. With such relief have I found this. So far we have take out wheat. Dairy will be out today. I am also figuring out protocols. These seem to be very similar to what autistic kids need. +++good fats(we are using egg yolk in almond milk smoothies) fish oils, gut healing, we started inositol(read james greenblat work). With the little we have been able to do in 2 days we have a dramatic change with ocd. From 5-20 questions in a minute at times to 5 in an evening. He even noticed himself by saying "mom, when I think that is a very good question I am asking you because when I ask that question I do not have to ask anymore"! I am now trying to figure out recipes and what will be for breakfast and lunch etc. My kids are picky but my first batch of almond milk(soaked org raw almonds & cashew, blended with water & dates, & vanilla) past their test on oatmeal this am. We really want to reach out to parents because this is devasting, confusing, impossibly challenging(OCD) etc. The kids suffer in on so many levels and it just does not make sense. We are at the beginning of the road but to find the right resources I have begun to breath a sigh of relief and connnect the dots.

WE have a boy, 8 years, who we first noticed had reactions to food at 4. He ate scones, whip cream and strawberries. Within 10 minutes he had frequent urination- every 2 minutes that then lasted for 6 weeks. We did tests- all negative for infection, sugar etc. Allergist and GP had never seen this type of reaction to food. So they were of no help. In any case, because we had seen this reaction start right after the scones(3 plate full) we just took those items out of his diet-wheat, sugar, dairy and strawberries. He started to improve immediately but it did take us 6 weeks to be back to normal. In the meantime, we managed by confince him to wear pull ups to fall asleep and for car rides-as I could see he wasn't peeing so much as having the urge to pee. Anyway, 9 months ago symptoms returned with eating foods we don't usually have. He was trading food at school, ++ birthdays etc. We tried again to uncover what precisely he was reacting to. In any case, he started to, in hind sight, develop obsessive thoughts and then full ocd 2 months ago. It is just this past weekend when a pyschologist finally made the connection to his behaviour(ocd etc) and his reactions to food-frequest urination. Kids with PANDAS I guess have this symptom. In any case, we were relieved to start to see there is a connection for these kids with what they are eating(wheat, dairy, sugar, gluton) and these disorders-ocd, autism etc. I finally found one health care professional/psychiatrist-boston area(james greenblat)- working on this in particular. We have taken out wheat and dairy today. With the protocols I am figuring out on internet-+++ nurtition, gut healing. We are starting fish oils, egg yolks, homemade almond mild smoothies, homeopathic detox/liver kidney support, inositol, multi's etc. In 48 hours we had a dramatic improvement of more than 50%. He even noticed and said he did not have to ask so many questions.