I think ds is having absence seizures

[alibobins]

Ds1 is 8 he has quite a medical history seeing many consultants. He is currently being investigated at Gosh for a rare condition called AVM he is having an MRI scan Thursday to confirm and plan a treatment plan. It is believed to be a facial AVM.
This week I've noticed that part way through a conversation or activity ds will zone out with a funny expression and his lips move like he is trying to suck in air these can last quite a few seconds and he is slightly confused after.
My main question is do I need to be getting him seen today or can it wait till Monday or would things like this show on his MRI?
Sorry for the long post didn't want to drip feed.

[sneezecakesmum]

If the MRI is of the brain too then an abnormality may cause epilepsy to some degree including vacant episodes. They would need to do an EEG really to see what's happening. Provided these episodes are minor and do not progress I would see the GP tomorrow for some advice. Obviously if you are seriously concerned and he develops worsening symptoms take him to A&E.

[alibobins]

Thanks sneeze the MRI is of the brain. I will make an appointment with the gp tomorrow unless anything else changes today.
I'm just worried that it does mean the avm is on his brain :(

[TessabelleDaydreamer]

Get the ball rolling by going to the GP, they do sound like absence seizures but the GP should give you a referral the either a paediatrician or ideally a paediatric neurologist who will request an EEG. I know it's scary but the GP should hopefully get the ball rolling quite quickly :-)

Hope everything goes ok
Xx

[TessabelleDaydreamer]

Also, have school noticed him having them?

[alibobins]

I think it's a new thing as I have not noticed them before this last week or so.
I will all to school tomorrow but he has missed quite a lot of school due to appointments and he had surgery last week.
Today so far I have noticed 2 the first lasted quite a while he was staring and making chewing movements his face really changes almost no expression :(
Thanks for all the advice

[InMySpareTime]

My DS has absence seizures, they sound very like your DS's.
We kept a diary of the time, duration, location and specifics of his seizures, and filmed a couple of them on my iPod. I also got school to note any seizures in school time.
This helped the consultant build a picture of the seizures and how they affect him.
He had an MRI at A&E after he blanked out while running and hit his head on a concrete floor.
He has an EEG next week, then we can start him on meds, which by all accounts are very effective.

[alibobins]

Ds has had 4 of these today but each time he has wet himself and not been aware :(
He had his MRI this afternoon and mentioned them to the doctor and they said they could be related or he needs referring to a neurologist x

[InMySpareTime]

My DS has never wet himself during an absence, but he does have lots of absences each day, usually 1 or 2 over each mealtime (the few times he sits where we can see him for any length of time), and several more through the day. I estimate he has 10-15 a day, we certainly witness around 4 or 5.
I hope you get a diagnosis and treatment soon.

[DisAstrophe]

Try to film as many seizures as you can. Just keep filming as much as you can so you can get the bit before and after to show the paed. The fact that he is wetting himself does suggest epileptic seizures but not I've not heard of that happening with absence seizures, and the ones you describe seem longer than absences which are a couple of secs. -disclaimer- I'm an ignorant mum not an expert.

Get a chart and write down how many you see each day and ask school to keep a look out too.

They will probably order an eeg but that is not conclusive in ruling epilepsy in or out. Observation is a key.

Ds has absences seizures - tens and sometimes hundreds a day. They are not dangerous to him but have a terrible impact on his ability to learn. On the plus side most kids with absence and other types of seizures have them well-controlled by medication but it is trial and error.

Could there be any link to the surgery he had or other medical conditions? Ds hasn't got his seizures under control but he has lots of other medical stuff going on and I'm sure that doesn't help.

The special needs: children topic has some posters who know about all sorts of epilepsy so perhaps post there too.

[alibobins]

It's not related to the surgery but could well be related to another condition that's why he had an MRI yesterday.
I'm just really worried as I can't find and information about absences and loosing control of the bladder :(

[alibobins]

Ds ended up being admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with partial complex seizures and started on carbamazepine :(

[InMySpareTime]

For the hospital admission, but at least you have a diagnosis.

[confusedalways]

I just wanted to say that I have the same as your sons been diagnosed with and it doesn't affect my life hardly at all. The main issue is getting the tablets dispensed correctly from the bloody pharmacy. So hopefully your son will have as easy a time as me and sail through life hardly noticing it

[alibobins]

Thank you :)

[DisAstrophe]

Alibobins - so sorry you and your ds are going through this. But with a dx you can start to treat the condition. Thinking of you - hugs