No, I haven't had a strep test.

Carolyn

Carolyn,
Yea, that is all a little confusing, huh? But I was interested to know what effect the antibiotic (what kind BTW?) had on your tics. Was the coughing tic something you always have and it was gone during the course of antibiotic? Did you take it for the whole 10 days at least or finish all the pills? From my understanding, you have to finish the whole course or the antibodies that are produced by the infection may not be totally eradicated by the antibiotic. Strange that it should keep coming back.

Now that just makes me think that the PANDAS thing is not a totally different thing than tics and TS. I can't put it into words, but somehow I feel like the same mechanisms are at work in the PANDAS and TS. (Remember I once mentioned last year my son had a weekend where his blinking was very exacerbated and was given amoxycilin for strep throat and the blinking cleared up after two days? It did not come right back tho) So I always have in the back of my mind that illness that causes exacerbation is not just for the subset of PANDAS, somehow I feel like there is some commonality there. Maybe strep is just ONE thing that triggers it, but it the ones who don't test positive to the titres, it is something else going on that is maybe not that obvious. Not sure if I'm coming across right.......just my thoughts.

But I suppose you should let the doctor know of this, and see what he thinks?

Faith

Faith

The antibiotic was was amoxycilin. I took the amoxycilin 9 out of the 10 days (skipped the last day). The coughing tic was not something I've always had, but for atleast the last 3 months. Yes, the coughing tic was gone during the course of the antibiotic.

I'm getting tired of doctor appts. If I do decide to go to the doctor, what strep test should I ask for? Just the quick strep test, a 48 hour strep test (if that's what it's called), both, or something else?

Carolyn

Carolyn, I would suggest starting with a regular throat swab to check for strep...you can go from there, depending on what it shows

If the cough improved on the antibitotic that would indicate to me that a microbe may be at the root of it
Whenever there is an up in tics coupled with a sore throat...I tend to wonder about strep

I am not suggesting you may be showing PANDAS....just that you may have a strep infection at the root of all this
If so................you know what many have learned....that zithromax/azithromycin seems to be more effective than the penicillins or cephalosporins

I couldn't get in with my regular physician today so if my throat isn't better by tomorrow, I'll go in then.

Carolyn

Strep test was negative, but my doctor gave me a script for Zithromax because she's still seeing a lot of strep going around. I haven't decided if I'm going to fill the Zithromax or not. It's a tough decision.

Carolyn

glad it showed neg on the swab Carolyn, but as you know, that doesnt mean you havent been exposed.......only antibody titres would show that.

it is a tough call re the antibiotic. If you do have strep lurking anywhere it would be good to eradicate, but if not, you sure wouldnt want to expose yourself to an antibiotic for no reason...........

If you do fill the script....do remember to take extra probiotics (3 hours after anti)

hope you feel better soon
Cheri

You should have a test for Mono... it is a simple blood draw.

The Epstein virus reduces your immunity, so local organisms which are always present, then take hold. A blood test will show this quickly. It is called a Mono spot.

My son had mono a few years ago, a mild case, and his only major symptom was sore throat (after the virus was entrenched for a while).

Thanks Cheri & MrsD. I decided to give the zithromax a try with lots of probiotics. I'm also going to talk to my doctor about the mono spot test.

Carolyn