Please help me find a doctor who can diagnose my son

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:13 pm

My regular pediatrician is not helping right now.
Over the last few months my son has become very anxious, depressed, withdrawn, lethargic and angry.
I don’t know if something specific happened or if there’s something going on physically.
He is 11. He did have strep a year ago (pandas?) and he had a tick bite recently. It’s just so out of hand. He used to be talkative, close to me , easy going but now he won’t answer any questions and when I stop asking he still never shares. Simple things - it’s like pulling teeth… how many English teachers do you have? Did it take a long time for the bus to come? He won’t let me ask him anything! He either ignores me or mumbles something that I can’t hear or shouts a one word answer. He was never like this! He was quite the opposite- really soft spoken and respectful.
He also always complains that he’s tired and that’s something new. He used to be the first one up in the house. Now he can sleep until 11-12.
Is this a puberty/pre teen thing?
Pediatrician said we should do bloodwork. Nothing was alarming.
Where do I go from here?

amother

↑ Snowflake ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:20 pm

amother OP wrote:

So they just stop talking to you?

It gets better over time but yes for a time while they figure out their new feelings and hormones.

amother

Yarrow ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:24 pm

I don't agree that this is puberty. Find a doctor willing to go further in testing. Dr. Braverman at Dr. Shanik may.
There is an NP Naomi Indich in NJ who does PANDAS work up.

amother

↑ Snowflake

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:27 pm

amother Yarrow wrote:

I don't agree that this is puberty. Find a doctor willing to go further in testing. Dr. Braverman at Dr. Shanik may.
There is an NP Naomi Indich in NJ who does PANDAS work up.

You don’t really know do you. That’s great that you want everything to be pandas but sometimes it’s just what it seems to be. Things like puberty 100% affect kids and it’s highly likely.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:33 pm

I’m more inclined to believe it’s Lyme disease since he had a tick bite recently
I’m not sure what to do because the basic lab test did not show he has lymes but I’ve read in the past that this test will not always show Lyme disease so I’m wondering what else I should do since he has the characteristics of mood change and always being tired

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:33 pm

amother Yarrow wrote:

I don't agree that this is puberty. Find a doctor willing to go further in testing. Dr. Braverman at Dr. Shanik may.
There is an NP Naomi Indich in NJ who does PANDAS work up.

I use chemed because pediatric affiliates stopped taking my insurance

kenz

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:34 pm

amother Snowflake wrote:

You don’t really know do you. That’s great that you want everything to be pandas but sometimes it’s just what it seems to be. Things like puberty 100% affect kids and it’s highly likely.

Yes, puberty is a beast. But on the other hand it could be something physical or emotional that gets chalked up to puberty and thereby ignored while it gets worse. Why shouldn’t OP explore every possible option to help her child? OP, I would definitely do a thorough workup as well as possibly speak to a psychiatrist. And bear in mind Lyme can be positive without testing that way, so you might want to consider asking a doctor about treating that way regardless. Hatzlachah and refuah sheleimah.

amother

DarkYellow ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 6:51 pm

Please look into Dr. Shannon Delaney. She is a top Pediatric Neurologist in Manhattan who specializes in these types of scenarios.

I had a very similar situation with my son and she diagnosed him and medicated him. Regular pediatricians will NOT pick up on tick borne illnesses. She does special blood tests sent to specialized labs. She also knows which combination of medications to give.

My regular pediatrician told me that there is nothing medically wrong with my son (incorrect) and that I should take him to a psychiatrist and put him on strong anti-anxiety and anti-depressants (also incorrect).

One of the illnesses that he had was potentially fatal and could have life long effects on the brain. Imagine if we had listened to the pediatrician and not gotten to the bottom of it??

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 7:17 pm

amother Orchid wrote:

There are other tests for Lyme. Basic bloodwork doesn’t always show it.
I would go see Dr Shanik

Yes, I know there are other tests for Lyme but I don’t know who can help me get these tests done.
We actually saw Dr Shanik outside the office and briefly told him about our son’s behavior and the tick bite. He said he would have treated with antibiotics the first 10 days but now it’s too late. I think that’s what he said but he was rushing so I’m not even sure. I just know that I was kicking myself that I didn’t bring him to the doctor for the tick bite right away. I was remembering all the other times I called Dr shaniks office after I removed a tick and I was told to mark it on the calendar and if he gets sick within 30 days. So he didn’t get sick. He became crazy.

amother

↑ Orchid ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 7:24 pm

amother OP wrote:

That’s very interesting because Dr Shanik does NOT medicate right away for tick bites

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 7:41 pm

amother Orchid wrote:

That’s very interesting because Dr Shanik does NOT medicate right away for tick bites

I think it’s because we told him that it got infected

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 7:42 pm

amother DarkYellow wrote:

How did you find this doctor?
What was wrong with your son?

amother

↑ DarkYellow ↓

Mon, Sep 09 2024, 7:53 pm

amother OP wrote:

How did you find this doctor?
What was wrong with your son?

We got her name from Relief. I don't want to write the exact scenario on a public forum but in many ways our situation was very similar to yours. He had physical symptoms (fatigue etc.) as well as a change in personality/behavior. He was also a similar age to your son.