Pandas from Strep vs Yeast from Antibiotics

[Claire]

I feel this frustration right now.

 

Clearly some of our children had tics and/or OCD symptoms triggered by strep throat. My son had 'fears' that went away with the antibiotics the first two times (no PANDAS dx, doctors around here don't even know what PANDAS is!).

 

Now I believe that we believe that all 3 of our kids had some issues with yeast. It is completely reasonable to wonder if the yeast is correlated to the antibiotic use.

 

I put in a call to the head of an NIH/NIMH study to ask if they had studied yeast as a factor for PANDAS kids. I mentioned that a group of doctors found yeast one of the common underlying issues for neurological issues such as tics/OCD, and that perhaps they might wish to compare notes. (My idea is that those doctors could ask their patients if they had had strep, and she could test some of her PANDAS patients in the study for yeast/food allergies)

 

Her voicemail response was, that it was an interesting thought, but no, they hadn't considered yeast as a factor, and wasn't looking at it from that angle. That seemed to be the end of the conversation.

 

I am not saying that PANDAS is just yeast, but I am saying that just based on our own anectodal evidence and some logic, that it is worth some consideration that yeast could be a contributing factor in many cases. Really, people are willing to experiment with blood transfusions, but they can't do a simple stool and urine test?

 

Sorry for my rant. I was wondering whether you might contact her with your stories--if you think this merits a further look. I heard the NIH has a ton of funding on PANDAS right now.

 

If so, I will try to get her email--I only have her phone number. No sweat if you don't see the correlation. I just have this strong gut feeling now--I was wondering whether kids with PANDAS could benefit from these same treatments, and your stories have convinced me that this has merit.

 

Claire

[Heather]

Hi Claire,

 

I agree with you 100% and I would definitely be interested in doing what I could to convince someone involved in research to consider it a factor. Let me know of how to contact this person.

 

My naturopath told me that in the cases of tourettes she has treated that the strep virus has been present and her feeling is that this virus as well as other viruses are overactive in the body because of yeast issues suppressing the immune system causing what is known as PANDAS.

 

When I think of my son's disturbing tics from the past and how we have had so much success with natural treatment, I would really do anything to convince other families to at least try some form of natural treatment. It frustrates me to know that there are possible answers and most people in the general public have no knowledge about this treatment. If I diddn't have the Internet and the desire to research this on my own, I would still be struggling with the treatments the medical doctors prescribe. Thank God we didn't go there!!!!

 

I also wanted to say Claire that when you talk of your son's fidgeting it brings back memories of feelings I experienced years ago. There were times I couldn't sit still and one time even ended up in the emergency room with almost a panic attack because I was so fidgety and just couldn't sit still. I paced in the emergency room for an hour before I was seen by a doctor and given a valium or something like that to settle me. It was the scariest feeling and at the time (almost 20 years ago) I never dreamed I would find the answers for why it was happening to me. I do believe now that it was my own yeast/heavy metals issues.

 

Anyway, I do feel that if we collectively tell others of our successes that this treatment will continue to spread in a positive way but not as fast as we would all like to see it happen. In the meantine, if there is anyone I can contact, as I said above, let me know.

 

Heather

[Claire]

Thanks Heather!

 

I will call this woman this week to try to get her email. I like the idea of 'documented input' as well as phone input.

 

How interesting regarding your own fidgeting comments! I am so glad that you healed yourself. My son never complains about the supplements anymore, I think he is grateful for them now, and how much better he feels.

 

I was going to wait for the results to comment, but FYI I set my own visit with my son's doctor. They said it was quite common for parents of kids with these issues to go through such testing. In my case, I can get interrupted sleep and terrible respiratory allergies. My cough gets so bad around 'bad' dust that I start gagging--fortunately our own home is 'clean'--though I am still not sure re mold. With antigen shots and filters I am okay--no cough at all, but I can't help but wonder if I have some of the same underlying immune issues. As I have said before I am convinced I used to have yeast issues (frequent bladder and yeast infections, fatigue, stomach aches dermatitus). I used to just HAVE to take a nap every weekend. But doing a sugar free diet exercising a ton I think 'cured' it. Since I am doing no sugar and reduced carb, I realize that it alone may affect the yeast test results. But I am also curious about the heavy metals and vitamin deficiencies.

 

Claire

[Chemar]

I truly feel this is one of those "chicken & egg" phenomena.....which came first??

candida or strep???

 

Candida weakens the immune system and the toxins produced by yeast make the environment favorable for secondary infections by viruses, bacteria, and other parasites.

 

Use of antibiotics kills off the good bacteria that make it harder for Candida to thrive, so without proper probiotic treatment, the yeast overgrowth is rampant during and after antibiotic use....

which once again makes the system more susceptible to strep and everything else....and the cycle starts again.

 

We have thankfully not had strep problems in our family, and have also not used antibiotics for our children unless it was truly an emergency(ie hardly ever).....still, they did have yeast overgrowth and the younger inherited the disposition that allowed the onset of TS/OCD etc etc......

 

sooooooo.....

[Claire]

Chemar,

 

I agree with the chicken and egg scenario. I am certain that my own son's immune system was depressed long before he got strep (not until upper elementary), and he was rarely on antibiotics then. I personally believe that in his case the mercury from the vaccines was the genesis of it all.

 

I do think that the interrelationship merits having the PANDAS researchers add to their investigation whether yeast is a contributing factor to some portion of the PANDAS kids symptoms, especially those that had repeated episodes of strep and thus repeated rounds of antibiotics. I won't presume to guess at exactly how it all fits together, just that I think they can affect eachother, as you also indicate.

 

By the way, I asked my son today and he said that his energy level has been better lately (I noticed this in him myself). Yes!

 

Claire

[Chemar]

 

By the way, I asked my son today and he said that his energy level has been better lately (I noticed this in him myself). Yes!

 

Claire

YAY!!! That is great news.

 

It is so rewarding when you actually start reaping the benefits of all the hard work ...hopefully it will also be a major positive reinforcement for your son to persevere!