PANDAS question

[Spartan32]

Hello, I was reading some information on PANDAS but I am not totally clear on it. I am 17 years old and had tics when i was 6.. then not until I was 11 and 12.. Then an absence until I turned 15... I am 17 now and still have them since I was 15. I have had strep throat numerous times when I was younger, when i was 11, and 3 months before it came back when I was 15. I was wandering if this could be the cause for it and how to treat it. I was also allergic to a lot of things as a kid and I have respiratory problems... Asmtha and am allergic to pollen and such. The supplements of magnesium, calcium, and zinc helped for a while but tics are coming back. I am also verrry stressed right now.

[Frank_Sm1th]

Yeah, stress'll do it. So will lotsa things...

 

We've found supplements help my 10 yr old with his PANDAS, but the biggest single help is being on antibiotics full-time. We've just begun giving him digestive enzymes and even though it's only been a couple of weeks and it's hard to be objective, I think they are making a significant difference for the better.

 

With your respiratory sensitivities, I hope you have a good air cleaning system at home and keep everything free of dust. Dust mites, pollen and such can aggravate tics and other PANDAS symptoms.

 

Frank

 

PS-- diet is critical...are you aware of the Feingold program? feingold.org

[Spartan32]

Yeah, stress'll do it.  So will lotsa things...

 

We've found supplements help my 10 yr old with his PANDAS, but the biggest single help is being on antibiotics full-time.  We've just begun giving him digestive enzymes and even though it's only been a couple of weeks and it's hard to be objective, I think they are making a significant difference for the better.

 

With your respiratory sensitivities, I hope you have a good air cleaning system at home and keep everything free of dust.  Dust mites, pollen and such can aggravate tics and other PANDAS symptoms.

 

Frank

 

PS-- diet is critical...are you aware of the Feingold program?  feingold.org

Thanks for the info! I have a lot to learn. I took pennicillin 2 years ago for the strep and that was it. I am now currently taking magnesium, calcium, and zinc.. I am TRYING on my diet but it is very hard. I am 17 years old and I lift weights to stay active so it is hard finding food. I cut fast food out and mostly everything else, but at school I have a milk usually. I am working on cutting that out too.. My room is a pretty big mess also and my house doesn't have an air cleaing system to my knowledge. I am going to ask my mom about a food allergy test so I can see what I can't eat. I definatly think PANDAS is involved too. These digestive enzymes. Are they over the counter? But yea I am really looking to do anything to help. These last two years have been hard enough going through high school but to have this on my back too. Very rough. I feel though, that if I can come out of this on top, I will be able to get through anything. This information is great though. Without it, I wouldn't even have a hope with this.

[Frank_Sm1th]

Spartan-

 

Do you have other symptoms of PANDAS such as OCD or ADD or ADHD or emotional lability? They can be triggered by strep antibodies. You might want to check out a site or 2: http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/research/pd...ublications.htm

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumd...aysprune=&f=196

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnzymesandAu...yguid=161718866

 

That last link is a large group that's learning how enzymes affect health and behavior. Most good health food stores have digestive enzymes and I think it's making a big fast improvement in my son's health. He has food sensitivities and strongly reacts to food colors and certain preservatives. These enzymes help him break down the foods properly and help eliminate toxins. An enzyme product that has a wide variety of different enzymes in it should help tackle whatever the specific issues are.

 

Here's another link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PANDAS_Suppo...yguid=161718866

It's mostly folks who are trying to help their younger kids. Much of the discussion compares antibiotic results and there's not much mention of diet or natural help.

 

Frank

[Claire]

Spartan,

 

I suggest that you get a throat culture in case you are a strep carrier. Like Frank said, I believe that a round of antibiotics is fundamental if there is strep and it is causing PANDAS.

 

Otherwise, please read some of these threads...lots of people have improved bigtime with some of the ideas here. It is trial and error to a large degree, unless you are managed by an alternative doctor--even then some trial and error is involved.

 

Many triggers are common though (certain foods, artificial ingredients...), but first I would get the strep checked.

 

Claire

[Spartan32]

Spartan-

 

Do you have other symptoms of PANDAS such as OCD or ADD or ADHD or emotional lability? They can be triggered by strep antibodies. You might want to check out a site or 2: http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/research/pd...ublications.htm

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumd...aysprune=&f=196

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnzymesandAu...yguid=161718866

 

That last link is a large group that's learning how enzymes affect health and behavior. Most good health food stores have digestive enzymes and I think it's making a big fast improvement in my son's health. He has food sensitivities and strongly reacts to food colors and certain preservatives. These enzymes help him break down the foods properly and help eliminate toxins. An enzyme product that has a wide variety of different enzymes in it should help tackle whatever the specific issues are.

 

Here's another link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PANDAS_Suppo...yguid=161718866

It's mostly folks who are trying to help their younger kids. Much of the discussion compares antibiotic results and there's not much mention of diet or natural help.

 

Frank

Yes, I absolutly have OCD. Never have been diagnosed but... I no for a fact lol.. Since I was 8 I had always wanted to repeat things and touch things till they feel right. May have a bit of ADD too because I lose concentration. Thankfully none of this effects my school work since I still somehow manage to get A's and B's. It's tough though. Since I am 17 years old and not a young kid. This treatment will still work for me right?

[Frank_Sm1th]

I don't know... PANDAS is by definition a pediatric disorder. We look forward to our son losing some of his symptoms by adulthood. It appears that many do. We've worried about what if he doesn't outgrow some of this stuff?

 

I think Claire's advice about the throat culture is important because you want to know the cause of your symptoms.. right? The doctor who does the strep test may also want to do an A.S.O. titer to measure the anti-strep antibodies in your blood. It can be tough finding a doctor who's competent to deal with PANDAS if that's what you have.

 

Frank

[Spartan32]

I don't know... PANDAS is by definition a pediatric disorder. We look forward to our son losing some of his symptoms by adulthood. It appears that many do. We've worried about what if he doesn't outgrow some of this stuff?

 

I think Claire's advice about the throat culture is important because you want to know the cause of your symptoms.. right? The doctor who does the strep test may also want to do an A.S.O. titer to measure the anti-strep antibodies in your blood. It can be tough finding a doctor who's competent to deal with PANDAS if that's what you have.

 

Frank

Thanks alot for your information. Yoy have helped me a lot. Yea my tics are unpredicatble. I thought they were gone after I was 6.. Then I thought they were gone after I was 12... Now I'm stuck. BTW.. I only had vocal at the younger ages. No motor until age 15.. Now I have no vocal.