OCD w/ strep last year; strep now...when to expect ocd?

[TracyRee]

Last year DS (4yo at the time) developed a compulsion to urinate constantly. Turned out to be strep triggered. He would go to the bathroom, walk 5 feet away and turn right back around to try and go again. Lasted for 2 weeks until we did a throat culture (after I found PANDAS info about compulsive urination). Antibiotics stopped the behavior after 2 days.

 

So DS has been sick since Thursday. Rapid culture came back positive today.

 

How long can I expect it to be before any ocd behaviors start?

[thereishope]

What prompted you to take her for a strep test? Did you see any behavior changes at all, not necessarily OCD, but even just being more emotional? With my son, his behaviors worsened for days after starting antibiotics then they would ever so slowly start to taper off. No matter how fast I caught it, it took months to heal. But then, I guess I never really knew how long he had strep before the behaviors changes started. He doesn't get classic strep symptoms, just PANDAS.Was she on prophylactic antibiotics?

 

Please keep us posted and let us know if any PANDAS type behaviors surface or not surface. I hope they don't.

[TracyRee]

He's never taken antibiotics prophylactically. He had strep last September (2008) and compulsive urination. We did 10 days of antibiotics. Compusive urination stopped after 2 days on antibiotics. No problems since.

 

About a month ago we were concerned about his behviours, and they fit PANDAS symptoms (rages, emotional stuff....). BUT, he also started school for the first time and has a new baby sister. We were tempted to chalk it up to adjustment, but took him in for throat culture AND checked his titers for strep. Both came back negative,he hadn't had strep and didn't have it at time of culture.

 

Big relief.

 

So Thursday he came down with a fever and sore throat. Cough, stuffy nose and no appetite ever since. Because he couldnt shake the fever, we took him in today. Doc did a throat culture becase he knows I'm worried that that episode indicates a PANDAS diagnosis.

 

So, no ocd beaviour right now, just a sickly 5 yo

 

 

What prompted you to take her for a strep test? Did you see any behavior changes at all, not necessarily OCD, but even just being more emotional? With my son, his behaviors worsened for days after starting antibiotics then they would ever so slowly start to taper off. No matter how fast I caught it, it took months to heal. But then, I guess I never really knew how long he had strep before the behaviors changes started. He doesn't get classic strep symptoms, just PANDAS.Was she on prophylactic antibiotics?

 

Please keep us posted and let us know if any PANDAS type behaviors surface or not surface. I hope they don't.

[thereishope]

Why don't you give Ibruprofen for now. It'll help with his throat and also hopefully fend off any inflammation that may still occur. If he ends up having no PANDAS symptoms, that's great and it's a big deal. Maybe because it's a different strain of strep or because he's had a decent amount of time between episodes? Either way, keep me posted! I hope he feels better soon.

 

ps. I would have the other family members checked for strep. You don't want to end up reinfecting him. Also, change tooth brush, tooth paste, etc.

[TracyRee]

Thank you so much. I gave him some Ibruprofen before bed. It never occured to me to give it to help with pandas, I'll give it to him more often than I have been. Thank you.

 

I've always hoped last year was a one time thing, not actually pandas but am watching him carefully for any symptoms.

 

Our doctor prescribed antibiotics for me as well as I'm sick too. Didn't check my throat, just assumed it's the same as what DS has. DH says his throat's getting funky tonight, so we'll call for antibiotics for him as well.

 

We have a 6 month old. Doc said that it's highly unlikely that she'll get it as kiddos under 3 don't usually get strep. Do you think I should have her checked anyway?

 

Edited to add: thank you again, it've very comforting having some hand holding through this.

 

 

Why don't you give Ibruprofen for now. It'll help with his throat and also hopefully fend off any inflammation that may still occur. If he ends up having no PANDAS symptoms, that's great and it's a big deal. Maybe because it's a different strain of strep or because he's had a decent amount of time between episodes? Either way, keep me posted! I hope he feels better soon.

 

ps. I would have the other family members checked for strep. You don't want to end up reinfecting him. Also, change tooth brush, tooth paste, etc.

[thereishope]

I'd have her checked. So many on this forum are told that under 3 thing. It is not true! I was told that, I insisted they swab my 2 year old anyway, and her rapid came back +. No sore throat, no fever.

 

Just get it done and rule it out. Untreated strep would not be good. You'd hate to have something occur down the road and always think "if only I had done that strep test ...."

[TracyRee]

Thanks. She has a well baby check on Monday, I'll ask them to do it then.

 

 

I'd have her checked. So many on this forum are told that under 3 thing. It is not true! I was told that, I insisted they swab my 2 year old anyway, and her rapid came back +. No sore throat, no fever.

 

Just get it done and rule it out. Untreated strep would not be good. You'd hate to have something occur down the road and always think "if only I had done that strep test ...."

[faith]

TracyRee,

wow, you are a perfect example of how 'catching this early' and at first onset may be key to preventing the disorder from ever escalating. you hve an great instinct of what to look for, bot behavioral and illness. since hehad those behavioral changes and then showed the illness about a month later, perhaps it was 'brewing' inside him. great if he doesn't have any of the ocd behaviors currently, but you never know, this could start even a month after he gets better from this current illness, but if he will be on abx, it may not happen. He is going on abx, right?

 

but you have been really great at keep track of all this, I wish I had known all this when my son was younger.

 

 

Faith

[TracyRee]

Thank you. I don't feel like I'm doing enough though.

 

He is on antibiotics for his current strep infection. I started them yesterday and we're getting some for DH as well as he woke up with a sore throat.

 

DS's doctor and my husband think last years strep induced ocd was a one time thing. DH thinks I worry too much about it being more.

 

Some of DS's behavior just worries me and I feel like there's something causing it. I just don't know what to be DOING.

 

He did have a rage this morning. I said something to try and make him laugh and it just set him off. If I hadn't have ever heard of pandas I wou;d have though he's a brat and sent him to his room. Instead I just sat and cried with him.

 

I'd love any guidance on what I can be doing....

 

 

Is it possible it was a one time thing? Are antibiotics at every strep infection enough? Doc & DH aren't going to take it seriously unless there is a tic disorder, is that what I should be doing as well??

 

 

 

 

TracyRee,

wow, you are a perfect example of how 'catching this early' and at first onset may be key to preventing the disorder from ever escalating. you hve an great instinct of what to look for, bot behavioral and illness. since hehad those behavioral changes and then showed the illness about a month later, perhaps it was 'brewing' inside him. great if he doesn't have any of the ocd behaviors currently, but you never know, this could start even a month after he gets better from this current illness, but if he will be on abx, it may not happen. He is going on abx, right?

 

but you have been really great at keep track of all this, I wish I had known all this when my son was younger.

 

 

Faith

[faith]

Tracy,

you are doing all you can right now. you'll track how he does while on the antibiotics and go from there. I'd be interested to see how it goes too, for most of us here are kind of cases that got on board with some sort of treatment "after the fact' if you know what I mean. so setbacks are all the rage around here.

 

but that said, what I would suggest is also to persue some dietary and supplements. this side of the board doesn't discusss that too much, so you might want to visit the tics/tourettes board, there's lots more infor re natural treatments for kids with tics/ocd and how parents talk about what has helped their kids. Do you give magnesium? that might be a good one to start for his behavioral, there is a product called Peter Gillian's "Natural Calm" or "Kids Calm" which is a powdered mangnesium you mix into hot water and add juce and made into a drink. you can google it, they have some good info why magnesium is important. it does seem to help in kids with thest type behaviors. Also stay low on artificial/colors/flavors/dyes in foods and even make sure to give a multi vit free of artificials. some of these things can contribute to behavioral problems in all kids, not just those with tics/ocd or PANDAS. So these are some of the things you can do to fine tune. Here is a thread we did on what others here also give their kids in the way of natural treatments, so this might help.

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...ural+treatments

 

good luck, let us know how things go after the abx.

Faith

[TracyRee]

Thank you so much. I will definitely keep you updated.

 

Already we do fish oil, probiotics, vitamin d and a multi . We eat organic as much as possible and avoid dyes and such. We also avoid dairy asn I think it's what causes his eczema.

 

I'm not good about remembering every single day but am going to make an effort to do better.

 

Adding Magnesium! Thank you so much for all the info.

 

 

Tracy,

you are doing all you can right now. you'll track how he does while on the antibiotics and go from there. I'd be interested to see how it goes too, for most of us here are kind of cases that got on board with some sort of treatment "after the fact' if you know what I mean. so setbacks are all the rage around here.

 

but that said, what I would suggest is also to persue some dietary and supplements. this side of the board doesn't discusss that too much, so you might want to visit the tics/tourettes board, there's lots more infor re natural treatments for kids with tics/ocd and how parents talk about what has helped their kids. Do you give magnesium? that might be a good one to start for his behavioral, there is a product called Peter Gillian's "Natural Calm" or "Kids Calm" which is a powdered mangnesium you mix into hot water and add juce and made into a drink. you can google it, they have some good info why magnesium is important. it does seem to help in kids with thest type behaviors. Also stay low on artificial/colors/flavors/dyes in foods and even make sure to give a multi vit free of artificials. some of these things can contribute to behavioral problems in all kids, not just those with tics/ocd or PANDAS. So these are some of the things you can do to fine tune. Here is a thread we did on what others here also give their kids in the way of natural treatments, so this might help.

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...ural+treatments

 

good luck, let us know how things go after the abx.

Faith

[faith]

Tracy,

boy you are really ahead of the game, and I might say that perhaps this is also the reason your son is doing kind of well since that first episode of urinary frequency. i think we can't discount a favorable dietary regimen and avoidance of artificial junk, and a good supplement program.

 

could I ask what Vit D you use? do you do that separately or its in his multi? and why do you supplement that one?

 

Faith

[TracyRee]

Thanks. Like I said, I'm not good about giving his supplements every day, so not that ahead of the game.

 

I give him vitamin D (Carlson's Baby D drops) because I can't get the kid outside. He just doesn't play outside. He drinks hemp milk with vitamin d, but on days when he doesn't I try to give him the drops.

 

My thinking was to boost immunity, but here we are all sick and miserable. lol

 

 

Tracy,

boy you are really ahead of the game, and I might say that perhaps this is also the reason your son is doing kind of well since that first episode of urinary frequency. i think we can't discount a favorable dietary regimen and avoidance of artificial junk, and a good supplement program.

 

could I ask what Vit D you use? do you do that separately or its in his multi? and why do you supplement that one?

 

Faith

[thereishope]

My son has no tics. None with any of his exacerbations.

 

Do you know why he doesn't want to go outside? Does he get anxiety when you try to get him out? My son was on the verge on becoming agorophobic. He didn't step out of the house once for over a week. It took a lot of creativity and baby steps to get him to overcome it.

 

Your DH needs to realize that your son didn't catch PANDAS. PANDAS is not a virus like a cold. PANDAS is a disorder like his eczema. But I know it's one thing for me to say that another for you to get him to think that.

[TracyRee]

How does pandas present for your son? i thought tics were the defining criteria. Can you point me somewhere to get info on this. I really think DS's behviour issues are pandas related and need to find some support.

 

As for not going outside. He'll go if I go with him, but he won't go by himself. I have a 6 month old and haven't been able to take him to the park and such as much.

 

It's like he doesn't know how to play. He doesn't pretend play ever. We've wondered if he has Asperger's because of some of his behavior and his lack of pretend play, but now I'm wondering if it's pandas somehow....

 

 

My son has no tics. None with any of his exacerbations.

 

Do you know why he doesn't want to go outside? Does he get anxiety when you try to get him out? My son was on the verge on becoming agorophobic. He didn't step out of the house once for over a week. It took a lot of creativity and baby steps to get him to overcome it.

 

Your DH needs to realize that your son didn't catch PANDAS. PANDAS is not a virus like a cold. PANDAS is a disorder like his eczema. But I know it's one thing for me to say that another for you to get him to think that.