Episodios

  • Siblings, Schools, and Friends: Navigating PANS/PANDAS Conversations With Kids

    Siblings, Schools, and Friends: Navigating PANS/PANDAS Conversations With Kids
    Nov 4 2025
    One of the hardest parts of a PANS/PANDAS diagnosis isn't just getting the diagnosis—it's figuring out how to talk about it. How do you explain to your child that their brain is under attack by their own immune system? What do you tell siblings who've been walking on eggshells for months? And how much should teachers, friends, and extended family really know? In this episode, licensed clinical social worker Angela Henry joins hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth for an essential conversation about communication. They break down how to have age-appropriate discussions with children about their diagnosis, why naming the disease can actually be liberating, and how to navigate the delicate balance between privacy and advocacy. From the child who presents about PANDAS to their entire fifth-grade class to the teenager who only confides in one parent, they explore how different families approach these conversations in ways that work for them. Whether you're preparing to tell your child they have PANS/PANDAS, trying to help siblings understand why things feel so unfair, or wondering what to share with your child's school, this episode offers practical guidance rooted in compassion. Because the right conversations, approached with curiosity instead of judgment, can transform a diagnosis from a source of shame into an opportunity for connection, self-awareness, and hope. Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com. RESOURCES:Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/ OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/ Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ Parenting Resources: Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    47 m
  • How Mold Testing Changed Everything for One PANS/PANDAS Family

    How Mold Testing Changed Everything for One PANS/PANDAS Family
    Oct 28 2025
    What do you do when you've tried everything—antibiotics, therapy, multiple specialists—and your children are still struggling? For Tricia, the answer came from an unexpected place: her own home. In this episode, we sit down with Tricia, a teacher and mom of two kids with PANDAS, whose five-year diagnostic journey took her from Tourette's and ADHD diagnoses to discovering PANS/PANDAS—and ultimately uncovering mold as a hidden trigger keeping her children sick. Tricia shares the gut-wrenching moment when both her son and daughter began showing symptoms, her battle through insurance denials for IVIG treatment, and the surprising discovery that changed everything for her family's healing journey. Whether you're just beginning to suspect PANDAS, fighting for treatment approval, or wondering why your child isn't improving despite doing "all the right things," this episode offers validation and practical insights. Tricia's story reminds us that healing isn't always a straight line, and sometimes the answers we need are hiding in places we'd never think to look. Because when you're a parent fighting for your child's health, you learn to question everything—and trust your instincts above all else. Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.RESOURCES:Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/ OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/ Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ Parenting Resources: Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    53 m
  • Understanding Flares: Stanford Study Research Reveals Four PANS/PANDAS Course Patterns

    Understanding Flares: Stanford Study Research Reveals Four PANS/PANDAS Course Patterns
    Oct 21 2025
    For years, parents have been told their observations about their child's PANS/PANDAS symptoms don't match the "typical" pattern—leaving them confused, doubting themselves, and struggling to get proper treatment. But what if there isn't just one typical pattern? What if your child's unique journey is actually completely normal? In this episode, we break down a groundbreaking Stanford University study that finally gives scientific validation to what parents have been experiencing all along. Licensed clinical social worker Angela Henry joins hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth to translate the complex research into practical insights families can use today. Discover why having a common language for flares changes everything—from getting doctors to take you seriously to knowing what to expect in the months and years ahead. Whether your child just had their first flare or you've been navigating this journey for years, this episode offers both validation and hope. Because when the research finally catches up to what parents have been saying, everything changes. Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.RESOURCES:Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/ OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/ Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ Parenting Resources: Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    46 m
  • Navigating Insurance Denials: How Claimable is Helping PANS/PANDAS Families Win Appeals

    Navigating Insurance Denials: How Claimable is Helping PANS/PANDAS Families Win Appeals
    Oct 7 2025
    Getting a PANS/PANDAS diagnosis is only half the battle—the other half is fighting insurance companies for treatment coverage. In this episode, Krystal and Lindsey sit down with Dr. Warris Bokhari, co-founder of Claimable, an AI-powered platform that's helping families overturn insurance denials for IVIG therapy with an 80% success rate. Dr. Bokhari shares his journey from emergency medicine in London to taking on the US healthcare system, and reveals why insurance companies routinely deny legitimate claims—often using unqualified reviewers and cherry-picked evidence. Learn the critical mistakes families make when appealing denials, discover the hidden rights you have under federal and state law, and find out why copying your CEO on your appeal letter could be a game-changer. Whether you're facing your first denial or your tenth, this episode gives you the roadmap and resources to fight back and win. Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.RESOURCES:Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/ OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/ Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ Parenting Resources: Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    1 h y 12 m
  • When Strep Hijacks Your Child's Brain: One Family's PANDAS Journey

    When Strep Hijacks Your Child's Brain: One Family's PANDAS Journey
    Sep 29 2025
    What happens when a simple strep infection transforms your child into someone you don't recognize? Flying Through Fog dives deep into the hidden world of PANS/PANDAS — a condition where common infections trigger autoimmune responses that attack the brain, causing sudden personality changes, severe anxiety, and behavioral issues that leave families desperate for answers. In our first episode, meet our hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth. Lindsey shares the story of how her son, age 7 at the time, went from being an "even-keel" kid to experiencing daily meltdowns, irrational fears, and emotional breakdowns. She had no idea what to do — but then a conversation with a school nurse changed everything. Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.RESOURCES:Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/ OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/ Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ Parenting Resources: Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    51 m