Better and Worse

[simplygina]

DS is both better and worse after 5 days on Augmentin. He's more volatile than he has been in a long time. But he recovers quickly. He is also really witty and funny like he used to be.

 

The tics are much, much less. Vocals are gone. Only a stomach tic seems to remain and its frequency, duration and intensity are much less. He says he is also touching things still but I haven't seen it much.

 

His OCD is worsening, or at least changing. He's never had huge contamination issues but yesterday he wouldn't sit by his brother because he didn't like his breath. It wasn't bad, he said, just didn't want to be near it. Funny thing is he is more than willing to sleep with him every night. He is also struggling at school because the little bits of paper on the floor really bother him. And he freaked out because someone got frosting on his backpack yesterday. But after I fed him an afterschool snack he seemed much better. He tends to be grumpy when he's hungry.

 

He is sleeping through the night again (with his brother) but his dreams have been very vivid and some have been quite scary.

 

He's also on his 5th day of being off Zoloft, which may be contributing or causing the grumpiness. I've noticed his mood is worse about the 3rd to 5th day following a dose reduction and I've also heard that getting totally off is the hardest adjustment of all. Maybe I should have waited to go off the Zoloft? I had heard the antibiotics seem to work better when they are off though.

 

I also took his brother in again to have him tested for strep because he was complaining of a sore throat. I think the InstaCare is beginning to think I have a Munchausen by Proxy issue or something! Anyway it was negative again. This time the doc was a little more helpful though. She suggested that it was likely allergies because our air quality right now is so horrible (3rd worst in the nation). I'm wondering if that is also affecting my PANDAS son. Does anyone treat for allergies as well? Does Zyrtec work? I've wondered about allergies because he was so bad in the Fall when the sagebrush is bad around here. This is the first year I had seen him actually have allergies to anything. I'm wondering if he is worse in the Fall because of it.

 

This whole process is so nerve wracking to me! If they only reacted to strep it would be so helpful, but this reacting to colds, allergies, flu, hunger, stress, etc. is so much to keep track of. I guess that's why a journal is so important.

 

I'm rambling this morning trying to process it all. I appreciate all your input. Thanks!

[momto2pandas]

We find we need to control allergies to keep PANDAS symptoms at bay but I personally haven't found Zyrtec or antihistamines to help in that way for my kids. We use HEPA filters in the bedrooms to minimize airborne allergens, and that seems to help a lot. We also use a HEPA vacuum for the house. Ds6 and I are highly allergic to dust mites, so we use anti-allergy mattress covers.

 

DS is both better and worse after 5 days on Augmentin. He's more volatile than he has been in a long time. But he recovers quickly. He is also really witty and funny like he used to be.

 

The tics are much, much less. Vocals are gone. Only a stomach tic seems to remain and its frequency, duration and intensity are much less. He says he is also touching things still but I haven't seen it much.

 

His OCD is worsening, or at least changing. He's never had huge contamination issues but yesterday he wouldn't sit by his brother because he didn't like his breath. It wasn't bad, he said, just didn't want to be near it. Funny thing is he is more than willing to sleep with him every night. He is also struggling at school because the little bits of paper on the floor really bother him. And he freaked out because someone got frosting on his backpack yesterday. But after I fed him an afterschool snack he seemed much better. He tends to be grumpy when he's hungry.

 

He is sleeping through the night again (with his brother) but his dreams have been very vivid and some have been quite scary.

 

He's also on his 5th day of being off Zoloft, which may be contributing or causing the grumpiness. I've noticed his mood is worse about the 3rd to 5th day following a dose reduction and I've also heard that getting totally off is the hardest adjustment of all. Maybe I should have waited to go off the Zoloft? I had heard the antibiotics seem to work better when they are off though.

 

I also took his brother in again to have him tested for strep because he was complaining of a sore throat. I think the InstaCare is beginning to think I have a Munchausen by Proxy issue or something! Anyway it was negative again. This time the doc was a little more helpful though. She suggested that it was likely allergies because our air quality right now is so horrible (3rd worst in the nation). I'm wondering if that is also affecting my PANDAS son. Does anyone treat for allergies as well? Does Zyrtec work? I've wondered about allergies because he was so bad in the Fall when the sagebrush is bad around here. This is the first year I had seen him actually have allergies to anything. I'm wondering if he is worse in the Fall because of it.

 

This whole process is so nerve wracking to me! If they only reacted to strep it would be so helpful, but this reacting to colds, allergies, flu, hunger, stress, etc. is so much to keep track of. I guess that's why a journal is so important.

 

I'm rambling this morning trying to process it all. I appreciate all your input. Thanks!

[faith]

simplygina,

have you found any reaction to the augmentin in the way of stomach or nausea? just wondering as I started this a couple of days ago and my son was naseous this morning and threw up a few times, no fever.

 

thanks

Faith

[simplygina]

simplygina,

have you found any reaction to the augmentin in the way of stomach or nausea? just wondering as I started this a couple of days ago and my son was naseous this morning and threw up a few times, no fever.

 

thanks

Faith

 

 

Sorry to hear your son isn't handling it well. The pharmacist warned me it can be bad that way.

 

So far so good tummy-wise for my son. I have been giving him 2 different probiotics during the day, making sure he eats before he takes the abx, and he takes it with milk. Also he's been eating a lot of yogurt and bananas. I've asked him how he feels and he claims his stomach is fine. I hope he remains able to tolerate it.

[simplygina]

We find we need to control allergies to keep PANDAS symptoms at bay but I personally haven't found Zyrtec or antihistamines to help in that way for my kids. We use HEPA filters in the bedrooms to minimize airborne allergens, and that seems to help a lot. We also use a HEPA vacuum for the house. Ds6 and I are highly allergic to dust mites, so we use anti-allergy mattress covers.

 

What do you use to control the allergies? Did you have them tested and are doing shots?

[momto2pandas]

No, just environmental control. They have had RAST testing (blood test), but I have been a bit reluctant to get them scratch tested because I had a bad reaction to scratch testing once (that's how allergic I am). Their allergist has been ok with that. Likewise, I have been afraid to get shots so far, for either me or them. We are mostly allergic to foods and indoor allergens (dust mites, cat), so avoidance hasn't been as hard as it would be if we were very allergic to pollens, etc. That having been said, HEPA air cleaners in the house can help with pollens, etc. that get into the house.

 

There is also a product now called "Little Noses Allergy Block", I think, that you actually apply to the outside of the nostrils and that is supposed to "catch" allergens before they enter the nose. I tried it on my ds's a couple of times when my Mom's very allergenic cat was visiting us while she was away, and it seemed to help but I can't say that I did a real test.

 

 

 

We find we need to control allergies to keep PANDAS symptoms at bay but I personally haven't found Zyrtec or antihistamines to help in that way for my kids. We use HEPA filters in the bedrooms to minimize airborne allergens, and that seems to help a lot. We also use a HEPA vacuum for the house. Ds6 and I are highly allergic to dust mites, so we use anti-allergy mattress covers.

 

What do you use to control the allergies? Did you have them tested and are doing shots?

[thereishope]

I would think that since you started antibiotics at the same time as weaning off the Zoloft, it's going to be hard to assess what is going on.

 

As for allergies, my ped said dust mites are at their worst this year right now. Allergies are a trigger for my son. I am vacuuming a lot lately. I also have a vacuum with a HEPA filter. The ped also gave him Flonase. I don't use it every day but only when I think there's a problem. Th ped thinks his sinus ifection was caused by his allergies. For spring allergies, Benadryl works best on him. As for allergy meds, it seem sdifferent kids react different to them. The only one I've read to stay away form is Singulair. My PANDAS son tried Claritin. It worked at first by on day 11 he was crazy hyper from it.

 

Speaking of allergies, I just remembered I need to change his bedding. Time to get off the computer!