Allie's strep is back

[peglem]

I just can't believe this! I'm so sick of this evil, demonic bacteria! She's been battling yeast since all the antibiotics she's been on with the strep. Since her tonsillectomy, she's been testing neg. for strep. So today I take her in on the yeast, and since she has a bit of a thick nasal discharge- we decided to run a strep. I'm so disappointed! I was just getting used to the idea that its OK to hope that her brain will have a chance to heal.

[milivica]

I am sorry . Doesn't seem like too much to hope for...to have the strep subside after getting her tonsils removed.

I hope the strep at least is less intensely painful. I have rarely gotten strep since my tonsils were pulled (at 17) and the throat pain I've had cannot compare to how aweful it was with tonsils. Doesn't change the strep issue returning and the dissappointment I know you feel. What a let down. But at least I hope she is less uncomfortable (downright painful as I recall, with tonsils anyhow).

(((Mili)))

[peglem]

I'm thinking the infection is mostly in her sinuses, since she didn't test + until the sinus congestion started dripping down her throat. She hasn't been eating much the last 2 days, maybe from sore throat, since y'know that risperdal boosts the appetite...Oh, oh! Here comes Isabelle!- Just joking Isabelle- I love ya! Anyway she's been saying, via aug comm that she needed a doctor. When I asked her where it hurt, she said nose. But, that was 3 wks. ago and she tested neg when I took her to the doctor. The worst part is she starts this hyper, hyper stuff that makes her low function into almost no function- can't do much while she's whirling both arms full circle and racing full speed from one end of the house to the other-I seem to recall my other kids getting lethargic and less active when they got sick. We'll get through it and her "behavior mod" school is only until Christmas break

[milivica]

I don't want to say anything accidentally irritating or gross but I want to be factual in case it would matter for Allie. For me, there was a DIRECT link between my sinuses having a brick of green snot in them with threads of blood (from what saw in the toilet when I managed to get it out eating hot peppers) and DAIRY. I'm guessing it was a lactose thing? And I don't want to go ballistic pushing a non-dairy diet or non-gluten diet (did that already in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 1/2 of 2004). I say lactose, cause cheese seems to be more tolerable, but not in big quantities, and I know how cheese (hard textured dairy) is processed changes the lactose by comparison to the soft dairy like milk, ice cream, sour cream etc...

You probably already know dairy is a mucus maker, and depending on the person a diareah or constipation maker. But I just had to mention it, just in case.

Mili

[callyflower]

Try using xylitol spray (Xlear is the name of a good one) in the nose twice a day. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that will kill strep like nobody's business! Also, use Xylitol toothpaste and mouthwash (if she can handle that.) Biotene is an easy to find brand of those.

Good luck.

[peglem]

Mili, Allie was CF/GF for about a year. The dairy didn't seem to make a difference, and anyway, she's not much of a dairy consumer- never drinks milk, seldom ice cream, but she does enjoy a bit of cheese or yogurt. We continued only GF for several more years and just went off this summer- once we figured out that it was the strep causing her behaviors, not gluten infractions. Giving her back wheat has made no difference at all.

Cally, I'll look in to the Xylitol- why would they make a natural sweetener into a nose spray?

Allie, today is absolutely miserable- and running around like WinnDixie in a thunderstorm- if you didn't see that movie, you should, or better yet, read the book!

[callyflower]

They make sweetener into a nose spray because it kills bacteria!

Cally

[Lara]

I'm so sorry to hear that she's sick with this again.

Just a little tip... throw out ALL the toothbrushes in the bathroom and get new ones for everyone.

Also just wondering if someone else in the family is a carrier... symptom free carrier I mean.

[Isabelle]

Did someone called me? Are you mentioning Risperdal? I love you too.

At all events, you knew that the chances that removing tonsils woudn't really stop the infection it'd would just show up in another part of his body. Apparently it went up to her sinuses and apparently in her brain causing 'behaviours'.

What I've read is that excessive use of antibiotics allows for yeast to propagate.

So, is there any effective treatment for yeast? Nyastin????

Once brought under control...probiotics galore. I read that probiotics help also on yeast propagation. So, first eliminate yeast, then eliminate the source of infection, then probiotics galore. Vitamins for her immune system. The first one in my mind vitamin C.

Is there anything out there to improve her immune system?

Is Allie using augm communication to communicate? Oh, that's wonderful!!!!

Adding, the test came neg. So, could just the presence of yeast causing problems?

[peglem]

Yes, i knew their was a chance of strep coming back after the tonsils were removed-(which is why I didn't let myself get too hopeful at that point)- but 3 mo. w/o a +strep test, I was beginning to get hopeful. Its been a long, long time since she's gone longer than the course of the antibiotic w/o a +strep test. No, the strep probably hasn't gone to her brain (whaddo I know?), the strep antibodies that her body makes in response to a strep infection "mistake" the basal ganglia in the brain for strep bacteria. Even when the strep goes away- she still has the antibodies in her system which continue the attack on the brain, as though she has an active infection. The problem with actually getting the strep is it causes the antibody levels to rise. If she can be strep free long enough, the antibody levels should gradually go down, and then her brain would have a chance to heal if it is not constantly under attack. The basal ganglia is the part of the brain that is usually involved in movement disorders- parkinsons, Huntington's, heck even Hyperactivity.

The yeast is likely from constant antibiotic use. I give Allie probiotic everyday, whether she's on antibiotics or not, and her bowel function has been great- normal stools daily. The yeast is vaginal and bellybuttonal. I'm using nystatin creme on the BB and she's on diflucan for the vaginal (I don't think its a good idea for her to think people can do stuff to her down there!)