Sicker!

[missionmom]

Was going to post this as a response to "Urgent Care Again", but seemed better to start a new thread, slightly different scenario. We are still new to the site, and I am here due to symptoms with my adult son (22) with PANDA like symptoms. I reversed my stance on the use of abx (won't go into the whole history again, its elsewhere). Since we've been on this path - only about 2 to 3 months of western doc intervention - my DS is about to start his 3rd course of zith, and is sicker than ever. Each infection seems to hit him harder and he is currently physically and mentally depleted. He (according to him - very busy guy in college and working who doesn't live with me) is still using alternatives to boost his immune system as we have for many years, but I am not sure how much. I feel like I am missing an important clue here, but can't quite grasp it. His escalation appt to a Stanford University neuro psych doc is April 25th. Are the 5 day courses of zith just too short?

If his college health center strep test shows neg, although his ASO was very high recently, any suggestions on which test(s) to ask for that may identify which bug is plaguing him?

[Kimflow]

Missionmom,

 

This sucks for him and is scary for me as we also are currently either on our 2nd strep infection in 3 1/2 weeks or the first one was not sensitive/controlled by the z pack.

 

The one thing I can tell you is that from the reading I did.....the normal course of antibiotics helps lower bacterial levels but your immune system then comes in and has to finish the job of clearing the strep. If you have a faulty immune system as many kids on this board do, then they will frequently need longer courses of antibiotics.

 

Also, as the urgent care doc. told me last night, when he sees any type of repeat infection whether strep, UTI, etc. he almost always prescibes a different antibiotic the next time. So maybe he should try a different antibiotic as I think I remember you writing that he was on his 3rd course of zithromax.

 

I am sure the other more experienced Moms will post to you soon.

 

Kim

[Kimflow]

Forgot to say also that many here have advised to check for lyme, bartonella, mycoplasma P. on our next blood draw.

[bulldog24]

Yes I would check into lyme and associated coinfections

 

If you ask for Lyme testing, ask for Lyme western blot IgG and IgM. you need these specific tests not just an elisa

[LNN]

In what way is he sick - sinus? cough? sore throat? If he has a persistent cough and fatigue, consider mycoplasma (here's a good background article http://www.morgellons-uk.net/?p=467 If he has chronic sinus troubles, consider MARCONS and/or mold http://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis

If he is quite active outdoors, or has muscle pain, brain fog or neuropsych symptoms, certainly look into lyme. Chronic viruses also create havoc.

 

A chronic infection will wear the body down and you end up dealing with secondary issues as a result of the body becoming depleted of essential resources. It sounds like either he never eradicated the infection (so trying a different abx is a good suggestion) or there's an underlying infection (e.g. lyme or mycoplasma or viral) that requires much more aggressive treatment (either longer courses of abx or multiple abx or a combo of abx+herbs) or there's an environmental toxin that's keeping him sick.

 

Sorry to throw spaghetti at the wall to see if something sticks, but there could be multiple things behind this. Is there an integrative doctor nearby who might be able to help him test for these things?

[Fixit]

Was going to post this as a response to "Urgent Care Again", but seemed better to start a new thread, slightly different scenario. We are still new to the site, and I am here due to symptoms with my adult son (22) with PANDA like symptoms. I reversed my stance on the use of abx (won't go into the whole history again, its elsewhere). Since we've been on this path - only about 2 to 3 months of western doc intervention - my DS is about to start his 3rd course of zith, and is sicker than ever. Each infection seems to hit him harder and he is currently physically and mentally depleted. He (according to him - very busy guy in college and working who doesn't live with me) is still using alternatives to boost his immune system as we have for many years, but I am not sure how much. I feel like I am missing an important clue here, but can't quite grasp it. His escalation appt to a Stanford University neuro psych doc is April 25th. Are the 5 day courses of zith just too short?

If his college health center strep test shows neg, although his ASO was very high recently, any suggestions on which test(s) to ask for that may identify which bug is plaguing him?

 

yes longer zith...even when my ds was young it was a 10 course or zith from a traditional ped dr

now we(pandas parents and drs) know it effects them neurologically(think about it) it would seem that for panda people a month cours of any abx would be the starting point. JMHO.

and as llm said there could be many other triggers to invesitgate...remember to maintain the gut...you can get panda symptoms from disbiosis.

[dcmom]

If you have a second strep infection in 3.5 weeks- typically it is considered that the first one never went away.

 

For those who think the kids are having trouble clearing the strep bacteria, I would suggest considering clindamycin. This is the antibiotic of choice used for carriers- with repeated infection I would think most doctors would be willing to prescribe. My girls both took clindamycin when they contracted strep while on multiple antibiotics (one was on zith plus augmentin) and it cleared the infection immediately.

 

In the case of pandas- clearing the infection does not always resolve the pandas symptoms. Sometimes you need to consider taking another step to tamp down the autoimmunity/ inflammation with ibuprofen, steroids, IVIG or PEX.