Asperger's and PANDAS (or similar conditions)

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I don't know if this is the right place to put this, but here goes...

My doctor diagnosed me with a condition called PANDAS a while back. It's an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections. From what I can tell, PANDAS, which you get from having a bad reaction to Strep throat, causes minor tics such as eye-twitching, shoulder-shrugging, and throat clearing.

My problem: my tics are FAR worse than what is described in PANDAS, or even in related conditions such as Sydenham's chorea. The closest one that I can find is Tourette's, which can apparently develop from a case of PANDAS, but even then the tics described aren't quite as bad as the ones I get. I will get an urge to scream that will hurt if I don't do it quickly, or I will have the urge to 'windmill' my arms over and over again quite forcefully, both of which surpass the tics that I have researched such people having (though I will be the first to admit that my research does not extend far beyond Wikipedia quite yet). I do get more minor tics, such as straining my neck muscles and Palilalia (the repetition of one's own words), but when I am particularly stressed I get more overt tic urges.

My question: Do other people who have both Asperger's and such conditions as PANDAS and Tourette's have it far worse off than people who have just one? My mother has found a Facebook group specifically for parents of children with both (Asperger's and PANDAS), which has led me to believe that they do. Is there anyone here with a similar experience?

I've never heard of PANDAS resulting in AS. It is usually seen to jumpstart OCD and/or Tourette's in children. This is because the streptococci bacteria in PANDAS attack the basal ganglia, a region of the brain thought to be critical in OCD and Tourette's. (This is why many people with Tourette's have comorbid OCD.) Sydenham's chorea is also a basal ganglia-related disorder. Yes, those with PANDAS tend to have more severe symptoms, and the symptoms have a very sudden onset.

I've never been diagnosed with PANDAS, but I'm pretty sure strep played some role in my OCD. I had strep a lot as a kid. When I was five, I had it five times in one year; had I gotten strep one more time that year, I would have had to have gotten my tonsils out. I know I didn't have true PANDAS because I have had OCD symptoms since age three. The PANDAS didn't suddenly make me have OCD. However, I would not doubt that having had strep so often as a kid only made my OCD worse. I developed full-blown, severe OCD at age 11 1/2.
-OddDuckNash99-

I just wanted to say hi and let you know you ar not alone. My son has PANDAS OCD and Tourettes and now has been diagnosed with Aspergers. I don't know if the PANDAS caused the OCD and tourettes and aspergers but he had the strep PANDAS first. We are going to Dr's and using psych meds and prophylaxis antibiotics for the symptoms. Right now we are doing the OT pretty hard also for motor delays and sensory issues. Would be happy to chat with you. Thanks for the facebook group tip.

Michele