PANDAS Dr in VA

[dasu]

My son and daughter both have PANDAS. We are looking for an alternate opinion/approach from Dr L. What is the consensus on doctors in Virginia? We live in Charlottesville but can travel some.

 

 

[bigmighty]

In her new book, Beth Maloney recommends recommends David Band, MD in Ashburn - northern VA. He's a psychiatrist. http://www.crossroadspsych.net/davidbandbio.html

Edited March 13, 2014 by bigmighty

[PowPow]

We live about an hour or so north of Charlottesville.

We see /saw Dr L- one child has since been given a related but different diagnosis and is being treated very successfully and aggressively elsewhere.The other children still see Dr L as needed.

I can understand you wanting a different approach- however, if you want PANDAS tx (abx, IVIG, pex) she is the way to go, locally.

If you want more integrative/alternative care- you can certainly check into autism/LLMD docs.

We saw one in Fairfax for Lyme & babesia- was helpful, but not curative,not even remotely.

 

We have not seen Dr Band, personally, but know of a PANDAS child who did see him a few years ago- he was sympathetic and helpful to her. She was on zoloft and possible abx from him.

 

We did see psychiatry at UVA at onset. The resident was fascinated and wanted to help. The attending (or whoever is "over" the resident) was clueless. This problem was way over their understanding. They tried, but just threw psych med after psych med at us. When I asked about PANDAS (which it turned out NOT to be for one child- no strep involved) they did do an ASO (no throat culture, no DNase-B testing) and it was neg and they said, literally, " sorry, this is worst, most sudden onset case of OCD we have ever seen, but sometimes it just happens like that!"

nice...

 

what are your children's symptoms?

[dasu]

My son has issues with impulse control, hyperactivity, anger (directed at himself and others), morbid thoughts and speech, and tics (spitting, picking at body, speech). The symptoms have been cyclical in severity but have increased through time and through periods where he was sick. My daughter also has PANDAS and the combination of the two can be difficult to handle, particularly since they both got sick over winter.

 

We live in Madison.

 

We took my daughter to a psychiatrist in Cville when she had her first major episode. He was also fascinated, but thankfully wanted us to see a PANDAS specialist. I am also thankful that the pediatrician we used suggested that this might be PANDAS, although she gave us documentation stating that PANDAS would resolve itself. I am still glad she suggested it, because it motivated us to to some research on the internet and then schedule an appointment with Dr L. We are now looking for a more supportive local physician as they are slow to act etc.

[pr40]

Hi dasu, I suggested you make another post about drs in va because I thought I remembered previous posts.

here is one thread, http://latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=21365&hl=reston#entry164918

and another http://latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17639&hl=reston#entry140764

there may be more.

info is overwhelming but this site is like a gold mine of information for pandas parents

we also had difficulties traveling but have discovered an aid -- books on tape. now, our kids can be mesmerized for btw 2 and 4 hours. we don't hear from them.

also ibuprofen seems to help.

Edited March 15, 2014 by pr40

[PowPow]

dasu, I PM'd you