Did this really just happen to us?

[Kbossman1]

Non pandas dd age 6 had strep. 10 days of amox. she still had strep. 10 days of omnicef and we seemed to be ok for 2 weeks. This tuesday....fever back, she says her throat and her tummy hurt. I couldn't take her to the ped. because they were closed because of the big ice storm here in NC. Took her to urgent care.....strep negative, but her throat is red, so with her history he put her on Zithromax. Today....fever free and appeared to be just fine. No complaining all day. All of the sudden tonight at dinner she says she is cold, and won't eat. Then by 8pm she is laying on the floor crying. When I try to comfort her she says her head hurts and she feels like she can't breathe. No fever....she starts to breathe rapidly. I lay down with her, trying to get her to calm down. She's crying and says her chest hurts. Before I know it she is scaring the heck out of me, and we're racing to the er. She is breathing SO fast....she says she can't breathe.....breathing so hard she can't talk.

****I'm thinking maybe it's an allergic reaction to the zithromax. We get to er....they take us straight back. She looks awful, red cheeks, red eyes....she's worn out from breathing so hard. She finally calms down before we see a dr....and falls asleep. I'm sitting in the room, almost knowing what has happened....but too scared to think about it. Sure enough.....some dr is saying the words "panic attack" to me 10 minutes later. They think she had a panic attack. OMG Maybe I'm just paranoid.....or has anyone else's child started this way. 2 hrs later, she wants to go home because she's tired. We're home now....she's in bed, but I can't sleep. Wow

[peglem]

I'm so sorry!

[Megs_Mom]

hi, yes, panic attacks were the first sign of an issue. We quickly learned to recognize and manage a panic attack (breathing techniques, waiting it out, calm, etc) but given your families history and the clearly documented strep timeframe, I would be sure to keep her on abx and get her to a specialist. For the next few days, while she is still sick, I might add Motrin to keep fever down & to try to keep the bbb closed. Your ped may want to add another antibiotic, since this has gone on for so long. Sounds like the Omnicef was working well, so that might be a good option.

 

So sorry you both went through this - a panic attack is such a horrible thing, and so hard to tell what is real and what is not.

[sptcmom]

I am so sorry this happened to you. DS has had his shares of panic attacks in March of 2010. After the IVIG (hd) those resolved leaving us with mostly chronic underlying anxiety-fear syndrome. His first one that sent us to the ER as well was in the summer of 2006- even threw up the motrin the ER docs gave him but we didn't know then. Ds has Pandas plus Bartonella and we're treating both. I wish you goodluck, fortitude and prayers coming your way to help you thru. God Bless.

[Fixit]

i am sorry...i know how you feel....my "non-pandas"kid, went panda on me 2 days befoe christmas......

again..so sorry

[Dedee]

I am sorry you are dealing with another potential PANDAS. I can't tell you yes or no. I will say that I have three children and all three have some degree of PANDAS. My first son is typical PANDAS with the rapid onset following strep. Got worse with each successive infection, then tics, blah, blah, blah. He is doing well now (many years later)after having tonsils out and he has been on daily antibiotics and supplements for three years. My second son has mild PANDAS with mostly sleep issues and some repetative thoughts but has never had medications and is only on a few supplements. My daughter is 7 and we are just now starting the journey with her. She fits the PITANDS criteria more so than PANDAS, but she is going to be a full blown case. WE are about to start lab work up on her now. My guess is she will end up needing IVIG. She has been out of control for several months now and there doesnt seem to be any remission in site.

 

So, I know how devestating it can be to see your self going down that road again. Go ahead and have a really good cry and then pull out and dust off all your good articles and books and search for the new ones. You still have lots of good support (thanks to this board) and so many resources. Your kids are lucky to have you for a parent. They need you to fight for them and stand up for them and their future. You have been chosen and you are the perfect person for the job. This is such a hard fight, but you are doing a wonderful job. You obviously care very much for your kids or you wouldn't be here now. Please hang on tight for this ride and know that it will be worth it in the end for you and your children. May God bless you and your family.

 

Dedee

[PhillyPA]

My second son got pandas last summer at age 6. So now I have two boys with pandas.

 

Antibiotics and one month of tapered steroids put him in remission. He is doing great! You know what you are dealing with. You know early treatment means remission quickly. Steroids plus antibiotics was our magic mix.

[swim]

From reading this forum and dealing with PANDAS, it seems when there is one PANDAS child in the house there is a better chance that other kids will be PANDAS too. It took 6 years for our youngest to show PANDAS symptoms after his older brother did, but it happened and I can still remember my disbelief. I felt like someone kicked me in the gut and knocked the wind out of me. I cried in the doc office saying I never thought I would be there with child #2 talking about PANDAS. Our first symptoms have been tics, so I can't answer on the panic attacks. If there is a bright side, it is that you have an advantage now. You know what needs to be done and hopefully being able to act faster will lessen the effect of PANDAS. Good luck ...