Would I be crazy to ask to be tested for strep?

[pwinkler]

Hi all. Great forum.

 

I had strep numerous times as a child and mold induced pneumonia about twelve years ago. My OCD was not diagnosed because I am not a neat freak and never got into the hand washing thing. I kept my obsessive thinking patterns to myself and my compulsive quirks were harmless and went unnoticed. I have had these fairly mild symptoms all my life.

 

At the age of 60, the symptoms have become worse. When I Googled key words from my symptoms it pulled up OCD info. "What in the world?" I thought and began researching. Saw a therapist today and he concurs.

 

I have struggled with alcoholism even with aggressive treatment. I am excited at this point that treating the OCD may give me better success in dealing with the other. (Going to a meeting tonight!)

 

I want to leave no stone unturned to get me straightened out. My therapist agrees that CBT is the way to go combined with anti-depressants. I have an appointment with my gp for referral to a psychiatrist for the meds.

 

So back to the question - does PANDAS only affect children, or should I ask my gp to do a culture?

 

Thank you for being here and being willing to help this n00b.

[MomWithOCDSon]

There's increasing evidence that PANDAS is not limited to pediatrics. So, yes, by all means, go get a culture. But I wouldn't even stop there, especially if you have no current classic signs of infection (sore throat, fever, etc.). My son was entirely classically asymptomatic -- only had psychiatric symptoms (OCD, anxiety, etc.). Cultures always came back negative. But then we got blood tests for antibodies (ASO and anti-dnase B ), and his levels were very highly elevated. These days, savvy docs will tell you it's not how high the levels are, but which direction they move subsequent to exposure or antibiotic treatment. Still, should your antibody levels be significantly elevated, that may be sufficient evidence to get you an antibiotic trial, and then you can take it from there.

 

Good luck!

Edited August 17, 2013 by MomWithOCDSon

[3bmom]

You wouldn't be crazy to test for strep. We even tested our dog after I learned a couple of Pandas kids were reacting to their pets strep. May I suggest when they do blood work for strep titers they also do mycoplasma pneumonia especially given your history with mold. You can be asymptomatic, I was. Also HSV (herpes simplex virus) 1,2 and 6 can cause the same inflammation in the brain. My son's Dr. Has found this to be true with some Alzheimer's patients. Best of luck!