One Year Later...My Happy Son!

[Seansmom]

It's been a long time since I've posted. Sean was diagnosed with PANDAS in November 2008 at the age of 5. We were lucky to find a psychologist who was able to immediately identify the PANDAS and refer us to a local doctor willing and able to treat it. Sean will soon turn 7, and is almost a happy little boy. His medicine regimen consists of minimal antibiotics, omegas, vitamins, probiotics, and corticosteroid inhaler. It was a year before we were able to get thru a day without fits. Most days his symptoms are mild and manageable, to the point that we can predict when he is coming down with something 24 to 48 hours before other signs of illness show. We continue to see gradual improvement, but we remain guarded and protective against any illnesses.

 

Like most PANDAS children, our journey has had it's share of cocommitant issues. Less than a month after being diagnosed with PANDAS, he was diagnosed with asthma (prior to this I hadn't seen signs of it since he was 2). After a long and difficult fall and winter in regular school (due to the continuous behavior issues and missed school due to illness), we decided to homeschool. While it ensured he was learning, it was tedious because of his daily fits. We've only recently been able to make some headway on this.

 

In January Sean got Lyme disease. I was able to identify it within 48 hours of when the tic bit him, and we treated it with cephalosporin. On days 4 and 5 after the tic bite, we saw an exacerbation of PANDAS symptoms, but these quickly disappeared.

 

Our biggest challenges have been the homeschooling, living out of our camper (waiting for the grandparents to get well so we can travel), and getting medical care for Sean as we move from place to place. I have been fortunate to find doctors that are willing to support the course of treatment even though they may not be intimately familiar with PANDAS.

 

Just this past month we have really and truly hit the road! Hopefully our year will be full of adventure and travel! My best wishes go out to all the other PANDAS children and their families, that they be able to find the solutions to be able to cope with PANDAS on a daily basis as we have and that this year will be better than the last as it has been for us.

[KeithandElizabeth]

Thank you so much for posting. We REALLY need this positive updates.

 

Elizabeth

[forjpj]

Yes...Thank You!!! Happy Trails!!

[thereishope]

Thank you for posting! I wish you and your family continued health and happiness.

[coco]

What a great story...all good things for your family, you deserve them!!

[matis_mom]

It's been a long time since I've posted. Sean was diagnosed with PANDAS in November 2008 at the age of 5. We were lucky to find a psychologist who was able to immediately identify the PANDAS and refer us to a local doctor willing and able to treat it. Sean will soon turn 7, and is almost a happy little boy. His medicine regimen consists of minimal antibiotics, omegas, vitamins, probiotics, and corticosteroid inhaler. It was a year before we were able to get thru a day without fits. Most days his symptoms are mild and manageable, to the point that we can predict when he is coming down with something 24 to 48 hours before other signs of illness show. We continue to see gradual improvement, but we remain guarded and protective against any illnesses.

 

Like most PANDAS children, our journey has had it's share of cocommitant issues. Less than a month after being diagnosed with PANDAS, he was diagnosed with asthma (prior to this I hadn't seen signs of it since he was 2). After a long and difficult fall and winter in regular school (due to the continuous behavior issues and missed school due to illness), we decided to homeschool. While it ensured he was learning, it was tedious because of his daily fits. We've only recently been able to make some headway on this.

 

In January Sean got Lyme disease. I was able to identify it within 48 hours of when the tic bit him, and we treated it with cephalosporin. On days 4 and 5 after the tic bite, we saw an exacerbation of PANDAS symptoms, but these quickly disappeared.

 

Our biggest challenges have been the homeschooling, living out of our camper (waiting for the grandparents to get well so we can travel), and getting medical care for Sean as we move from place to place. I have been fortunate to find doctors that are willing to support the course of treatment even though they may not be intimately familiar with PANDAS.

 

Just this past month we have really and truly hit the road! Hopefully our year will be full of adventure and travel! My best wishes go out to all the other PANDAS children and their families, that they be able to find the solutions to be able to cope with PANDAS on a daily basis as we have and that this year will be better than the last as it has been for us.

Thanks so much for sharing your story. Hats off to you for all the hard work and standing by your son through it all. We are homeschooling too and I know the tough days can be challenging, but you will reap the benefits, believe me

Enjoy the journey, all the best,

 

Isabel

[MomWithOCDSon]

Awesome! Another Success Story for us to recall in those tough moments in our own experiences! Thank you so much for hopping back into the forum and posting!

 

All the best to you and your family in your travels! Sounds exciting and a wonderful opportunity for your son, especially!