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Update on Tristan
First off, thanks so much for the support as we go through this trying time with Tristan. I've received emails and FB messages from quite a few of you asking how he's doing with his pica and compulsion issues. I truly appreciate it.
Dan and I had our first appointment yesterday with the therapist without Tristan to discuss some ways to modify his behavior. It was very positive and I feel it will truly work. But I found out something very interesting that I had to share.
For about a year now Tristan has exhibited what I can only describe as OCD patterns. There are times that he can't seem to "function" unless he does things a certain way, or finishes what it is that he's doing. It can be something as simple as he has to be the one to open the door if we're going out, or as complex as needing to put toys away in a certain pattern and method. If you interrupt his methods he has a complete meltdown and desperately tries to continue what it is he was doing. As if his brain can't move forward until he finishes. It can be very trying, but it's certainly even more concerning.
The therapist had initially told us that full OCD doesn't manifest until the teen years, but the OCD patterns can show as early as grade school age. HOWEVER, I had mentioned in passing that Tristan had a double ear infection and strep last week and the therapist perked right up. He asked if this was the first time Tristan has had strep. We honestly don't know, and it's entirely possible that it's not. Tristan had so many ear infections the first 3 years of his life that always had a sore throat with it. And it's hard for doctors to tell if the ear or the strep is the primary infection. Since Tristan had chronic ear infections, they never bothered to do strep tests on him. But a few weeks ago, they did, and it was positive.
Turns out, strep can cause OCD. WEIRD RIGHT? When you come down with strep antibodies are released in your body to fight the infection. In some young children (certainly not all), the antibody that's released can actually trigger something in the brain that can cause OCD behavior literally overnight. And let me tell you, Dan and I can almost pinpoint when these strange patterns and behaviors started with him. Regular OCD comes on gradually, but OCD triggered by this certain neuro...whatever...is like a lightswitch being turned on.
Holy.crap! So I googled it and found lots of interesting articles about it. It's something that we can definitely work on with him with cognitive behavior therapy. Basically we have to retrain his brain. But man, it made us feel a little better knowing how it came to be.
He doesn't have full blown OCD, and he's not an extreme case by any measure, but it's enough that it has an impact on our lives, and now we may have a way to help him.
Thanks again for all your support and kind words. Dan and I are very positive now that our little boy will get some relief.
Re: Update on Tristan
Wow. Who would have thought? Thanks for passing along the info! I keep you guys in my prayers. I can't imagine what you guys must be going through. ((HUGS)).
WOW! who freakin' knew! Def something Drs. should share!!
I'm glad that things are progressing for you guys and hopefully Tristian can have some relief soon. You and Dan are awesome parents.
OMG!!! That's incredible! I'm so glad you that have found such an amazing therapist that came up with that correlation. I've been thinking of you and the kids, hoping that things were good with Tristan. Please continue to update us!
Hugs!!
That's great news.
Who knew about the OCD/Strep correlation. Pam - if you can, can you email me or fb me a couple of those articles? I should show them to DH. He sees a cognitive behavioral therapist and has OCD tendencies as well.
Pam -
Wow - definitely interesting about the strep connection! Thanks for sharing the information!
I'm so glad that there is a plan and a way to work with him and hopefully help him with this issue. You guys are amazing parents and I know that with your love and strength he'll get stronger and stronger every day and grow up to be a wonderful boy and man!
Hugs!
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I think there was something on the Today Show about this within the past year. It sounds vaguely familiar to me.
I'm so glad you are getting some answers and I hope that things get better soon.
Okay that is seriously a strange connection. I mean how is a parent supposed to know what is a kid being a kid and needing to follow patterns and routines and what is OCD? I mean just tonight after bath, I put Christian's Tshirt on him. He corrected me and told me that we usually put his pull up on 1st. He didn't give me a hard time, but seriously he just had strep over his bday in December so how do you not read into this stuff?
I am just so glad that you have a plan and that you are happy with the care that Tristan is getting. I love good news!
wow! that is such a weird connection, and you are so lucky to have mentioned something to your therapist and to have her actually make that connection! its good that she is staying up to date on current research.
i hope things get better for your family. I've seen CBT do great things! keep us updated pam-a-lam
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