New and need help

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Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking here for a while. I've wanted to post a few times, but mostly I find the conversations SO helpful that I haven't had to post at all! You guys are really good!

My son was premature, born at 28.5wks, did really well for a preemie, but it was clear early on that there were some issues. He's been getting services since his expected due date of one type or another. He is 7yo in 1st grade now. He has been diagnosed as LKS, seizure disorder, PDD-NOS, and most recently as ADHD with lingering PDD issues and anxiety (which to me sounds more like Aspergers - but hey I'm no psych!). He's going to the neuro on Monday for a visit due to spacing out...we're thinking the seizures have become active again...it's been a while since we've seen him so he's getting a full assessment...I'm prepared for an Aspergers diag.

So much of what goes on with him is similar/identicle to what I read here...so no real need to get into it...I'll be posting more about him later.

So what brings me to post tonight...actually it's for a friend.

I'm still active in another Autism group...I guess because so much is still very relavant. I've made some good friends there, as I suspect I will here.

One friend has a little girl who has PANDAS...it's heart breaking what she goes through...so I'm breaking my silence for her (and all the others like her).

You may have heard about the contest that Pepsi is sponsoring...they are giving away 4 grants each month one each of the following: $250K, $50K, $25K & $5K...

There are SO many amazing causes competing, one of which is PANDAS. They are in competition for $50K and need all the support they can get.

If you haven't heard of it...it's basically a subset of Autism.

So I'm asking you tonight to please please please take a minute, sign up and vote for PANDAS. You will have 10 votes to use each day, and there are so many causes that I have found that support special needs kids. All very much worth the effort.

Please vote daily and please vote for PANDAS @ www dot refresheverything dot com/pandas

I appologize for asking for this favor right from the gate...once you get to know me you'll see, I wouldn't do that unless it was THAT important.

Thanks for you help & your support! And I look forward to getting to know you all!

KJ

PANDAS is not a sub-set of autism actually.

It's an auto-immune response to strep which causes the body to attack the brain, triggering OCD in some children and various behavioral issues in others.

It's an autoimmune disorder.

KJ2010: Welcome to the Wrong Planet! And to your son. ~ Welcome ~

Your post caught my attention as you wrote about PANDAS. Chronos is correct but PANDAS are significantly correlated to (later in life) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (and related) - even allergies which can be considered an immune dysfunction. Although Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are not OCD, of course, but there is invariable diagnostic overlap. From what you shared, your son has multiple features associated with ASD, notably certain physical/development markers.

[Ummm, I'm an Aspie but *maybe* a touch OCDish (not diagnosed with OCD though) - instead, I like to think I'm a perfectionist ]

As you probably know, oftentimes those developmental featues are outgrown (or otherwise compensated). But hope your son feels better soon (and his Dx is pursued). I imagine you have much to contribute to the WP Parent's Forum! (btw, I don't usually check the Parent's Forum as I'm not a parent). Just thought I'd respond to your astute insight about PANDAS though.

Okay...I guess I should have realized that I couldn't be so general here...my bad!

Trust me I know what PANDAS is...I mearly meant that most PANDAS kids are also ASD or ADHD.

Of course the obvious question is: Coincidence? But that's a discussion for another place & time.

Thanks for the welcomes, and the support for these kids. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!