Link between OCd and thyroid?

[Dori1223]

My 8yr old son was diagnosed with a condition called PANDAS (which we have been discovering many doctors do not admit to being a true condition) a year ago. His OCD (what is his result of the PANDAS) has been managed with medication (a liquid form of zoloft) and it has worked wonderfully. My question is this....he has gained alot of weight in the last 6 months. His new doctor (we had to switch for insurance purposes) had a full blodd work up and his blood work came back showing he had a thyroid issue. Could it be possible that any of his thyroid issues could be affecting his OCD or even causing any of his problems? I am just nervous that he may have either been misdiagnosed or we may be missing something else? Could a thyroid problem aggravate his OCD? Any information or pointing me in the right direction in where to get more info would be greatly appreciated. While our doctors of recent have been very kind I can't seem to find any doctor who doesn't seem to think it's odd that such a young child is manifesting so many different issues in such a short period of time.

[JimH68]

Also, please let us out here know (post the links, etc) if you find any new info about a thyroid/OCD connection.  There are so many unknowns about the human body, and even yet to be proven theories can be extremely helpful.

[JimH68]

I am not a doctor and have no clinical backround in psychology so anything I post is merely my opinion based on what I have read/people I've talke to.  As you are aware, I had forgot to mention that tics are also associated with Pandas, especially when they either increase over night or materialize out of the blue.  High Titer count and a doctor who says "What do you want me to do about it?".... unreal. It can be such a frustrating journey.  Sadly, some professionals aren't much help.  Not because they don't care but maybe they just don't know.  High Titer counts mean that something is definitely going on.  Even if it has nothing to do with your son's tics and OCD symptoms, it needs to be addressed.  I don't know what would be the antibiotic of choice (if there is one) but amoxicilen is one.  I am not up on the dosage or duration but the scrip for STREP is usually about 10 days.  It appears you have done your homework on Pandas if you are aware of the long term antibiotic treatment scenario.  I honestly don't know the risks involved or how bad (frequent) a child's OCD has to be before this would be a viable option.  Only a Pandas expert could give that info. (anything you get from one would be a greatly appreciated post.)  Keep in mind the possibilty of allergies (not just food but all types of allergins.)  My child has both.  Yours maybe, hopefully not. But the more things that are ruled out, the better the chance of finding helpful treatment.  I will keep your son and your family in my thoughts/prayers and hope that better days are not just ahead but right around the corner.  And your post made perfect sense to me, didn't seem to ramble at all.

[Dori1223]

Hi! The doctors we have around here are not very willing to help. It seems as though I know more about what is going on with him than they do. He was doing really well over the summer as far as his tics were going. But now we are having an upswing of his tics and especially of his OCD. I actually have been on the phone most of the day talking to the school and trying to reach the doctor to bring him in. I was thinking perhaps we could give him a strong antibiotic for now because his OCD is extremely bad right now. Almost dibillitating (sp?).
The first and only test he had done was one that checked his anti-body titers. Which were ridiculously higher than what they should be. I had one doctor look at them and say "What do you want me to do about it?" Another who was a little more understanding and prescribed the Zoloft for him. And now the doctor we have now I can barely ever get in to see and usually only focuses on what she considers to be his being obese (he is heavy but still falls under the appropriate percentage for his age and height - he does not yet by any charts I have read count as being obese).
I was thinking that because this particular onset of his OCD & tics had happened so quickly & hard that perhaps a strong dose of antibiotics could help. I have read recently from about 70 other PANDAS parents that continued antibiotics up until age 21 has seemed to have a dramatic effect on these children. I just have certain personal "doubts" as to a child being on antibiotics for extended periods of time. But at this point I just want him to stop hating the world and be able to function as normally as he possibly can. He is so miserable right now. (School issues regarding his condition & how the other kids treat him - kids can be sooooo mean.)   :(

P.S. Sorry if I am rambling a bit. I am just so wound up from dealing with the school and everything I have been reading...

[mandyisme]

I have OCD and thyroid problems.  I too have always wondered if there was a connection.  My OCD started at a very young age (5 years old) and I also have a goiter but they still can't exactly tell me what is wrong with my thyroid.  Sometimes it is low , sometimes it is high and I have always had a weight problem despite being very active and eating healthy.  Best Wishes!

[JimH68]

Just curious.... as your son was diagnosed with PANDAS, I take it that he had strep at or around that time?  Do his doctors routinely check him for strep even if he doesn't exhibit signs of strep or signs of being sick?  Have you thought of food allerigies that could trigger his OCD (milk, wheat, peanut butter) or medications (asthma meds?)
Just wondering.  please post.

[Patrick23]

Dori,

It is amazing how many connections and discoveries haven't been made by doctors who are probably just to close to the situation to really see the connection.  I wouldn't be surprised by a thyroid/OCD connection.  Keep pushing.

Pat

[Dori1223]

I have been googling and trying to find out more info. I find alot of things that seem to indicate there is a sort of connection somehow but no concrete evidence. And I certainly haven't found anything that can definitively tie them together. I wonder if any doctors even notice the "coincidence" of thyroid issues and OCD symptoms. Thank you for your comment though. I am still looking into it more...

[hysteria81]

I"m not a doctor but I have OCD and one of the things I was tested for recently was for thyroid issues.  It turned out that nothing was wrong with my thryoid but I believe that the thyroid may cause such symptoms as depression and anxiety so yes it could be affecting his OCD and even causing it.  I just googled thyroid and ocd or thyroid and anxiety and there seems to be other people with thyroid issues and OCD.