Mid Terms Week

[lynn]

This has been the most difficult week I can remember. DS (HS freshman) had his first experience with mid terms week, where he had a cumulative test in every subject (except for the kind lady in art who asked them to produce a picture of how mid terms week feels--there appeared to be a lot of black in DS's version.) DS's anxiety was so high that in some subjects it took him a full hour of diversion, picking arguments, hitting people and raging before he could even crack the book. Finally, DH and I split up the subjects (he got Chemistry, I got everything else ) and took turns sitting with him and drilling him on the subjects. He absolutely could not study on his own. Geometry was the worst--even with me helping he could not study for more than 15 minutes. The level of stress and anxiety was so high that I was actually glad when everything went to h**l in a handbasket at work and I had to deal instead of being at home one evening. We only have one test score back--geometry 68 This from my child who used to be so proud that there wasn't a math concept he couldn't get.

 

I don't know where all of this has come from. We have been on zithromax, had 2 HD IVIGs (last one was about 3 months ago), are currently starting ERP therapy, have no known infections going around, and we are in major increasing crisis mode. I got the lab request for Igenex but no lab kit. I emailed them asking for one but no response, so I guess I have to call on Monday. Is Igenex what I should do, or should I just (like Stephanie) go direct to the Dr?

[emmalily]

Hi Lynn,

Just wanted to say that the exam weeks I went through pre-diagnosis were incredibly difficult. Have you got anything set up with the school? Even before I had a diagnosis of anything (just doctors notes explaining the symptoms) I was allowed to test in a separate room, to start and stop when I needed to, etc. If I had completely bombed my test I'm very confident a retest would have been allowed. I know it might be difficult for your son to retest now, but some schools might be willing to wipe out whatever grades he earned now and give him and incomplete until he is feeling well enough to do his best on those tests.

 

I definitely sympathize with the predicament--it's the worst to know you're good at something but be unable to succeed in it because of PANDAS.

[lynn]

Thanks Emmalily, as someone who has been through this, your sympathy means a lot! Yes he does have a 504, but the problem is that unless something else changes, I think he would have the same result, maybe worse because even more anxiety. Did you ever have ERP therapy, and did that help fairly quickly (or even slowly?)

[Megs_Mom]

We did erp and it helped a lot. But it is very common to have an extinction burst too. So if he just started erp, it coiled be that, or an exposure or stress. . Have you tried motrin before studying and maybe before test to see if that helps?

[Fixit]

We did erp and it helped a lot. But it is very common to have an extinction burst too. So if he just started erp, it coiled be that, or an exposure or stress. . Have you tried motrin before studying and maybe before test to see if that helps?

 

i also heard something about mint or spermint..before testing

 

i bought something at whole foods called rescue me..natural stress relief spray

and there is a little gummie candy

..i might try on ds on a weekend to see what happens...will try on me first as usual...to see if it takes edge off anxious moments...ie for me..getting them off school bus when i am axniety ridden because i don't know how they will be after along day at school

nix that..gonna try one now

[emmalily]

Thanks Emmalily, as someone who has been through this, your sympathy means a lot! Yes he does have a 504, but the problem is that unless something else changes, I think he would have the same result, maybe worse because even more anxiety. Did you ever have ERP therapy, and did that help fairly quickly (or even slowly?)

 

Hi,

I haven't had ERP/CBT. I wish I had more to tell you, but the best I've got is that once I got the right combo of antibiotics to stop the PANDAS symptoms my academic abilities came back. I'm glad you've got the 504...I really did find that helpful because last thing you need is to feel real anxiety over your grades while dealing with PANDAS anxiety, too. I'm crossing my fingers for him!