Gwenny Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 My dd7 has recently started some very odd behaviors. Just this week out of nowhere, she has become obsessed with the clocks in the house. She will look at her bedroom clock, then say "Here we go, here we go", then blink as she walks backward out of the room. When she is in the den, she will look at the clock, then blink while turning her head to see the clock in the kitchen. She has been getting up from meals and school work to go to her room and look at the clock and walk backwards. She has no explanation for why she does it, but it bothers her that she feels she has to do it. It sounds like OCD to me, but I'm surprised by it's sudden arrival. She has always been a bit "off". Nothing noticable to strangers, but "off" to me. There are things that she "has" to do like run out to see Daddy when he comes home, watch people leave our house and drive away, and watch a bus leave that picks a neighbor. If prevented from watching or doing any of these things, she becomes extremely agitated. I'm at a loss as to how to go about getting help for her. Do I first see her regular MD, how do I pick a specialist that deals with this? Thanks for any advice you might have. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I know others here have dealt with this - sudden onset of OCD-like symptoms. Has she had strep recently? Or a sore throat? Google PANDAS. :grouphug: I hope and pray it's something simple!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Yes, first take her to her GP. He will recommend someone. It sure sounds like OCD to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwenny Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Yes, she had strep, with the scarlet fever rash, about 2 months ago. Is that too long ago to cause OCD symptoms? Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) Sudden onset can be infection related like PANDAS (or another infection..I can't remember what non-strep PANDAS like episodes are called). I'll try to get some resources for you for that. For treatment (outside of if this is infective in which case you're talking antibiotics) you would want a therapist who specailizes in pediatric OCD because the treatment for OCD is different than for other anxiety disorders and specialized. The OCD foundation has a find help section where you can find therapists in your area who work with pediatric OCD. I'm going to dig up some more resources (books, a yahoo group, and some information on the PANDAS including contacts and doctors who will treat) for you but it may take me a while to see where I put it all. I'll be back. Edited February 18, 2011 by sbgrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Yep, first I'd look into PANDAS, then move on from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) I would have a difficult helping my child without the guidance of a therapist I believe and I "know" OCD. It's really helpful to have an outside expert with this because helping her learn to overcome her fears is going to be difficult and our instincts as parents are to help and reassure. Adding back in the previous link for finding a therapist who can treat pediatric OCD-it does matter if you go to someone who works with OCD vs. someone who doesn't as the treatment is specific. http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php After I saw your follow up post re: strep I would go treatment for PANDAS first. Then use therapy and the other things to handle any residual OCD. She sounds like she may have been mildly OCD prior to this onset so you may need to address that at some point. The sudden spike sounds very suspicious for PANDAS. Books and a Yahoo Group information: This book by Chansky is good. I've heard this one mentioned too. This yahoo group includes knowledgeable parents and some doctors/therapists (including the author of the first book) will, last time I knew, answer questions directed to them on the board. PANDAS related links (support, information, etc.): http://www.pandasnetwork.org/impactdad.html http://www.pandasresourcenetwork.org/about-pandas/patient-information.html http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=11008 Doctors able to treat PANDAS at a distance (because finding really knowledgeable doctors in PANDAS is very difficult in most places it seems): http://webpediatrics.com/practice.html and http://www.site.neurokidsr.us/Home.html (this is the dr. I personally know of someone using to treat her child) If I had a child who needed some type of medication boost according to a doctor to help make therapy goals I'm nearly certain I would first try using Inositol (safe, a vitamin) before I tried prescription meds. Information: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2002_July/ai_87720062/pg_2/?tag=content;col1 I've seen some research with it used on pediatric trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) so there is no reason to think it wouldn't work for pediatric OCD as well as it does for adult and without significant side effects. Edited February 18, 2011 by sbgrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 No, two months post strep is not too long for this to be PANDAS. I know there are post-infection cases. I can't remember the percent of PANDAS that have a delay like that but it can make diagnosis difficult I think in terms of lab tests. In your situation I would want to work with one of those PANDAS expert doctors. Some of the websites/forums will have people who have worked with them I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 What it sounds like to me is that your dc already had a tendency toward OCD (the things like getting agitated if not being allowed to watch someone drive away). Something seems to have triggered the OCD to make it get worse lately; the strep throat is a possibility, or it could be other stress or something else entirely. I do encourage you to get some help. Hang in there! Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Yes, the behavior does sound OCDish but coming so close on the heels of a case of strep I would suspect PANDAS as well. I would start with a pediatrician. One specializing in PANDAS would be even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winni Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 No advice, but praying here! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamedesignmom Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Your general ped. may already be familiar with PANDAS and prescribe antibiotics. If these symptoms came on suddenly and on the heels of strep definitely look into that. This happened to my dd 7 last fall. She has also always been a bit 'off' as you put it, but nothing too serious. However, around her 7th bday she developed SEVERE OCD symptoms within 2 weeks- washing hands every 5 minutes until they bled, irrational fear, to the point where she couldn't get into her bed to go to sleep at night. She became very irritable and moody and would scream at her brothers if they barely touched her. It was a very difficult time. Our family had been ill around the time she began exhibiting the OCD although she only ever complained of a slightly sore throat. I researched online and discovered PANDAS, took her to her ped. who had already treated several cases. He prescribed antibiotics and at the end of the ten days her symptoms improved about 50%. It took three months for her to get back to 100% normal (for her). In the meanwhile, we did our due diligence and saw a neurologist, who stated she did not have PANDAS and recommended she see a psychologist. We did not do so immediately, preferring to wait and see if she improved, which she did. That is to say, I would try antibiotics first and wait a while to see if she improves before taking her to a psychologist. Our ped even said that sometimes it takes two rounds of antibiotics and six months for the child to return to normal. Good luck and I will say a prayer for your dd- it's stressful to see your child so drastically change like that. __________________________ Game Design Mom married to Game Programmer Dad Playtester 1 dd 7- S.F. Math, ACHOTW history, mixture of lang. arts curr. Playtester 2 ds 6 (Aspie, ps kinder, coming home in two months) Future Playtester ds 3 loves trains, planes and automobiles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I have never heard of PANDAS. But I had scarlet fever as a child and shortly after started getting OCD. I used to wrap and rewrap bars of soap obsessively. In fact, my parents would buy a big pack of them to "babysit" me so they could watch movies. :glare: I still have OCD. But not nearly as bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all4them Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I was thinking PANDAS, too. I hope you find some answers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwenny Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Thank you all for your replies and links! I called my daughter's pediatrician this morning, and the next appointment I can get isn't until March 2. I may go crazy by then. Just this Sunday, she complained of a sore throat, but she only mentioned it once or twice and it didn't seem to bother her in the least. Today, we unplugged or covered all the clocks, and she is so much better. Still not quite herself, but a lot happier. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherbrother Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 FWIW, I would be looking for a different doctor. Any pediatrician should be able to see sudden onset of anything much sooner than two weeks. Right off the bat I would feel as though I wasn't being taken seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Thank you all for your replies and links! I called my daughter's pediatrician this morning, and the next appointment I can get isn't until March 2. I may go crazy by then. Just this Sunday, she complained of a sore throat, but she only mentioned it once or twice and it didn't seem to bother her in the least. Today, we unplugged or covered all the clocks, and she is so much better. Still not quite herself, but a lot happier. Gwen The receptionist may not have understood the acute nature of this. I would research it, and call back tomorrow armed with information. I believe it is an acute-care need. Maybe someone who knows more will chime in, but I am guessing the sooner this is nipped in the bud if it is PANDAS, the less chance there will be of residual effect. If it was OCD not related to PANDAS, I can see a two week wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 The receptionist may not have understood the acute nature of this. I would research it, and call back tomorrow armed with information. I believe it is an acute-care need. Maybe someone who knows more will chime in, but I am guessing the sooner this is nipped in the bud if it is PANDAS, the less chance there will be of residual effect. If it was OCD not related to PANDAS, I can see a two week wait. I agree. I wouldn't be waiting two weeks. I'd call back and if they wouldn't see her then I'd go elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 If you do some reading on treatment and looking in the forums I linked you'll find that the sooner you begin treatment (in a PANDAS case) the better your chances of successful treatment. She's already post strep by quite a bit. I would not be willing to wait that long. You also may find your doctor doesn't now how to treat or is unaware of PANDAS. That does happen to people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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