Absence seizures- any experience?

[Smartiepants79]

For anyones child suffer from absence seizures?
Can you tell me how they present themselves?
Do they affect your child’s memory?
Have they developed into more obvious seizures?
My Dd had a seizure last week and we are now questioning if she has absence seizures and we’re only just noticing.
I’m very stressed. Any idea experience would be welcomed?

That’s interesting. My DD is 12 and just started her period in September. She was on her period when the seizure happened.

It might be worth raising it with the doctors. We only knew about this because of her pre-existing condition so I don't know if puberty can be a trigger in other cases.

One of DDs friends has epilepsy and seizures linked to her cycle. It’s not uncommon but not always looked for so might be a good idea to keep a note of any activity you think might be seizure-like. Good luck. I hope you get some answers soon.

@Moonicorn you should get yourself and your daughter checked. You may choose to limit your life with these seizures but it's not fair to do the same to your daughter. She may want to drive when she's older and she'll need medication to make that safe.

This post is so nuts I don’t even know where to start 😂 😂

@Smartiepants79
My DD had absence seizures beginning around puberty. Tiredness, stress, being run-down all had a part to play.
A small number of tonic-clonics including one brought on by faulty LED lighting in a commercial premises.
More than 10 good GCSEs, a full set of A-levels and a good degree later, the meds are working and other than driving, no different to anyone her age.

@Moonicorn why is it nuts? If these are genuine absence seizures then it will prevent your daughter driving when she's older, unless she gets treatment. If they aren't absence seizures then great, but you won't know unless you get her checked. You yourself asked if you should get her checked.

I did then you wrote some absolutely baloney about ‘choosing to limit my life’, which sounded hugely dramatic and nuts.

Sounds pretty limiting to me.
Your choice, but as a doctor of 30+ years I would refer your daughter to a neurologist.

Interesting what you said about grip slackening, Fretful, as I have a grandchild due and started a separate thread a few weeks ago wondering if I'd drop her. It was one of the reasons I opted for surgery.
Also I wondered if I would wander into the road, so thanks to the PP who mentioned that.

How is your daughter getting on op? My DD has been having absence seizures. Started in January (she was 12 too). Only just had our initial appt with the paediatric doctor though.

Apologies, but I’ve only just read this.
Can I ask if your Dd ever had an eeg and if so what did it show?
Was she never medicated?
Did she just grow out of it??

My DD is most certainly medicated - not sure of the drug but it is safest for females of childbearing age.
EEG showed that she had epilepsy.
She may grow out of it, but is happy at present with her lot, other than driving, she lives her life the same as her friends.

What made you decide to medicate her if you don’t mind me asking? It’s something we’ve been asked to consider but obviously there’s pros and cons and it would be good for some first hand experience rather than Google.

It was suspected my son was having them, by the time the referral and appointment came though they had completely stopped. He either grew out of them or was just genuinely daydreaming. Hope you can get to the bottom of it x

I to would love to know the answer to this.
Could I also ask why she doesn’t drive? Is that a personal choice because she doesn’t feel safe or on medical grounds?

My daughter has absence seizures - they’re not epileptic, we had 2 EEGs which ruled it out. She’s had them for a couple of years now.

She has several a day. It looks like she’s staring into space for a few seconds. She does notice it herself as she notices she misses chunks of conversations, lessons, TV programmes, etc.

DD was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder about 18 months ago.

She also experiences other types of non-epileptic seizures that look like the more typical ‘fit’ that you expect when you hear the word seizure but not as often.

DD is on pre-gabalin for anxiety and CAMHS hoped it may have some effect on the absences but we haven’t found it’s made any difference.

DD is not allowed to drive as she hasn’t gone more than 3 months without a seizure (we’re lucky if she goes 3 hours)

In the UK, those with controllable epilepsy are allowed to drive after being seizure-free for a number of years and with the support of the family doctor.
If you begin to drive but suffer further seizures, then you lose the right to drive, so many people choose not to drive until they feel that they are well over them.
There are a number of drugs to deal with different forms of epilepsy, some of which can cause birth defects - I know of one woman who took that drug, but was weaned off medication to start a family, her kids are fit and healthy.
The fear of seizures is a powerful emotion, so I believe in medication, but my daughter is a scientist who develops drugs, she understands the issues and possible side-effects with cold remedies, birth control and hay fever medication for example and is happy to take the drugs and not be inconvenienced.

I have these, for me it's just zoning out. I have severe ADHD. One of my daughter's who also has ADHD does it to and has since she was a baby. I know it isn't an absence seizure because I am conscious of it, and can here people but I just take a moment to respond. I do it more when I'm tired and unmedicated.

having such a vigilant mother goes a very long way when it comes to epilepsy. I have had absence seizures and partial seizures all my life, eventually it generalised. It has had a big impact on my memory but that took many years, and many years undiagnosed until it became apparent and I now have tonic clonic. If I had of been treated years before, it likely wouldn’t have escalated to the stage it did, an my memory would be ok. Knowing and treating goes such a long way when it comes to preventing the situation from escalating and protecting your memory xxx

My 7 year old has been diagnosed with absence seizures
can anyone recommend a good paediatric neurologist

You’ve posted on a very old thread.
Also people will need to know vaguely where you live if they are going to be able to help.
In uk you don’t usually get to ‘choose’ your doctor. Especially if you’ve only just been diagnosed.

Based in london
you can choose a dr to some extent if theu do private work