BIPOLAR RELATED TO PANDAS?

[EAMom]

There is a TN doc listed here http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=6428 (helpful docs by state) but I don't know much about that person. Sometimes the doc on the list are helpful in certain cases, but might not necessarily be an expert.

 

Since your dd's case is a little out of the ordinary (she is older) sometimes, in those situations, you need to go to one of big PANDAS experts (ie Dr. K., or Dr. B., or Dr. Latimer).

[matis_mom]

Hi there,

I agree with the others that is it at least worth a try. I would suggest you print some of the articles pinned at the top of the forum, and see if your primary care physician is willing to just give you a prescription and see what happens (alternatively, do you have any sympathetic MDs in the family?) Of course while you are there, insist on a strep test. That would be the quickest way to go about it, since you are not near any of the experts. But, I would just call and make an appointment with Dr. Latimer (301) 530-9200. With her and all the other specialist, the waiting can be a couple of months, so just schedule it now and you can always reschedule if you have to. Hopefully you will find someone local who will be helpful, maybe you could even try going through a rheumathologist or an immunologist.

[EAMom]

"If a person can control their rages in public, why can they not control them at home toward the people that love them the most?" I have always questioned that. One counselor told me that possibly at home there are more triggers, not that I am the cause, but there are more boundaries, rules, etc. I don't know. Lots of unanswered questions. Maybe someone can shed light on that subject.

 

 

When my dd had rages (when PANDAS was bad) she did mostly hold it together at school (well, she was altered enough that her teacher noticed she was depressed/withdrawn/changed) but she didn't have rages/tantrums in school. At home, I was walking on eggshells, never knowing what would "set her off". I think she was just more comfortable to "let it out" at home. She had too much anxiety to have a tantrum in school.

[EAMom]

I wonder if the psychiatrist who told you that bipolar is a throw-away diagnosis meant that there's no specific test, but you just have to rule out everything else...kind of like fibromyalgia

 

Yup fibromyalgia is a good example of a "throw-away diagnosis". You have certain symptoms, the doc can't otherwise figure out the cause (maybe not looking in the right places), so they call it "fibromylagia". Interestingly...I read in "Cure Unknown" that a good percentage of cases of Lyme in New York were originally misdiagnosed as fibromylagia.

[~Red Head~]

No MDs in my family really, just my ex-brother-in-law's first cousin who I went to school. He became a neurosurgeon and practices in Biloxi, MS. I actually typed him a letter this week, but I am hesitant to send it. Not sure what his response will be. My best friend and I used to flip his ears during recess. He never would take a recess or do PE. Always studied. We always said "That boy is gonna be a brain surgeon some day." Prophecy fulfilled! Ha! So, would a neurosurgeon have any dealings with PANDAS? I mentioned that in my letter, but I've nearly talked myself out of sending it.

 

 

 

Hi there,

I agree with the others that is it at least worth a try. I would suggest you print some of the articles pinned at the top of the forum, and see if your primary care physician is willing to just give you a prescription and see what happens (alternatively, do you have any sympathetic MDs in the family?) Of course while you are there, insist on a strep test. That would be the quickest way to go about it, since you are not near any of the experts. But, I would just call and make an appointment with Dr. Latimer (301) 530-9200. With her and all the other specialist, the waiting can be a couple of months, so just schedule it now and you can always reschedule if you have to. Hopefully you will find someone local who will be helpful, maybe you could even try going through a rheumathologist or an immunologist.

[~Red Head~]

I tried that website but had no luck opening it. Yeah, my daughter's case is different since she is older, and also my case is different because I am DEFINITELY older, 52, still suffering from trich.

 

There is a TN doc listed here http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=6428 (helpful docs by state) but I don't know much about that person. Sometimes the doc on the list are helpful in certain cases, but might not necessarily be an expert.

 

Since your dd's case is a little out of the ordinary (she is older) sometimes, in those situations, you need to go to one of big PANDAS experts (ie Dr. K., or Dr. B., or Dr. Latimer).

[EAMom]

Here's the guy in TN.

 

Tennessee

Dr. Daniel B. Kalb

615-791-9784

csfmed.net

[EAMom]

My best friend and I used to flip his ears during recess. He never would take a recess or do PE.

 

 

 

 

OKay, I don't know what flipping an ear is! But, it sounds pretty funny.

 

okay, a brain surgeon...hmmm. I don't think that would have too much to do with PANDAS. Honestly, it seems that many MD's are *so* specialized these days that they really don't know much outside of their areas of expertise.

[mkur]

Here's another list of doctors listed on the forum

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5023&st=61

 

Johnson City, Tennessee

 

First Choice Pediatrics Group

Dr. Meg Farmer (pediatrician)

Dr. Thomas Gill (pediatrician)

Dr. Heather Beadry (Psychologist)

Dr. J.P. Abner (psychologist)

[~Red Head~]

I don't know any other way but to just be blunt here. Flipping someone's ear is about like flipping...a goober,( )only you come up behind someone and flip the back of their ear lobe or anywhere on the ear. Does that answer your question EAMom? LOL I thought maybe a brain surgeon would have something to do with PANDAS since it is related to the basal ganglia. I dunno.

 

My best friend and I used to flip his ears during recess. He never would take a recess or do PE.

 

 

 

 

OKay, I don't know what flipping an ear is! But, it sounds pretty funny.

 

okay, a brain surgeon...hmmm. I don't think that would have too much to do with PANDAS. Honestly, it seems that many MD's are *so* specialized these days that they really don't know much outside of their areas of expertise.

[~Red Head~]

Thank you, MKUR. Are these physicians in TN and are they actively treating PANDAS children?

 

Here's another list of doctors listed on the forum

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5023&st=61

 

Johnson City, Tennessee

 

First Choice Pediatrics Group

Dr. Meg Farmer (pediatrician)

Dr. Thomas Gill (pediatrician)

Dr. Heather Beadry (Psychologist)

Dr. J.P. Abner (psychologist)

[~Red Head~]

Ok, I'm sorry. I see they are in Johnson City. I missed that at first. My question is....will the insurance pay for PANDAS? One lady told me she's having a problem with the insurance refusing to pay for PANDAS. I guess they don't consider it a real diagnosis? Looks like they would rather pay out for a few antibiotics than a bunch of psychiatric medications that nearly all fail.