was i right to go to A&E?

[Carrie5608]

Last night Dd aged 10 had a seizure. Fell to the ground with a twitchy leg and stayed like that unresponsive for three minutes.

I took to A&E by car where we waited four hours to be seen. The doctor then told us A&E not necessary for a first seizure unless it lasts over 5 minutes. She can just go to GP next time.

She really hurt her neck when she fell and had a numb arm.

Seriously, is there any Mumsnet parent who wouldn't have went to A&E?

I would have dialled 999. I'm not a medical professional but I'd say that doctor is a muppet.

Yanbu. Of course you'd go.

Unresponsive? Too right I'd have gone to A&E. The Dr sounds like their bedside manner needs some work - how were you to know it wasnt life threatening?

of course you did the right thing, and I am sure that 99 per cent of us would have done the same!
That sounds really really scary, how were you to know that "A and E was not necessary for a first seizure"?
Hope your DD is OK.

'she can just go to GP next time' - really and wait a fortnight for an appointment, only to be then shooed away with some aspirin?
fucks sake.

That doctor sounds horrible. If your child has never had a seizure before how on earth are you supposed to know how to respond. I'd have been at A&E like a shot.

Hope she is ok.

Yes, I absolutely would have done the same thing.

I'd also be putting a formal complaint in, that's simply unacceptable from the Dr, as well as being dismissive and patronising.

I would have gone to A&E. That Doctor may be a good doctor but they lack people skills. How on earth do they expect someone who has never seen a seizure before to know what is an emergency and what is a GP matter.

What a load of crap from that Dr! I would have had an ambulance too, if they have s seizure there must be something wrong that needs looking into. How are you to know what was happening, I hope you just caught him on a bad day and he's not that insensitive all the time.
Hope your dd is ok now too.

My nieces both suffered seizures (one it was just febrile, the other has epilepsy). The doctors were absolutely clear that with a first seizure you call 999.

That doctor! of course YANBU at all.

I would have gone too. How would you know that 5 minutes is the threshold?

Absolutely the right thing - I'm a paed nurse

I was taught (admittedly a while ago) that a first seizure in a 999. The five mins thing is for diagnosed epileptics who have fitted previously.

I think any mother would go to a and e for a seizure they are incredibly scary to witness in your own child when you are not used to them. Have they given you any kind of reasoning or reassurance about the seizure, and follow up appointments ?

Yes once you have found out why she had a seizure,and if she needs treatment, then you will be able to manage them at home most of the time, but for first one - you were absolutely right to go to a and e IMO.

Hope your DD is feeling a bit better today - when my niece has seizures she often feels rough and very tired for a couple of days afterwards, so she might not be quite herself today.

Shocking yes i would certainly have gone to a and e, if there were no history of similar things and the child was mostly otherwise well.

Tbh if one of mine collapsed in front of me, had a seizure and then conked out for 3 mins, I'd have been on the phone for an ambulance after the first 2 mins I reckon. I don't care if that's an over reaction, its an unexplained event and at the time you have no idea if what is happening, is life threatening or not I'd hate to wait the 3 or 5 mins and find that they don't come round, then what?

I'm an a&e nurse and I would have gone!

i would have gone to hospital as well. maybe you could ring your gp and ask them. but even if they do say yes thats fine still go with your gut feeling.

If this is her first seizure then she needs to be seen by a paed urgently. Please make an urgent appt with your GP. I would also suggest contacting PALS at the hospital to raise your concern about the A&E advice - someone more senior needs to review the notes and discuss with the doctor you saw. On the face of it, it sounds poor advice.

the doctor is a muppet for a) telling you this, and b) thinking it's helpful to tell you after the fact - it's not like you can go back in time and have a first seizure again so what exactly is the point?

How very, very odd.

I'm a doctor and not one to rush to the GP/A&E with the children, but this would have definitely sent me to A&E!

Subsequent seizures are a bit different but not first time round!

www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/patients_leaflets/paediatrics/First_seizure_in_children_young_people.pdf

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Epilepsy/Pages/Ifyouseeaseizure.aspx

You were right to go for a first seizure, 5 mins is for children who are known to be epileptic although my son carries midazolam so would give and wait another 5 to see if it stops. The doctors talking nonsense.

Of course I would have gone (even here in the US where it costs $$$$s to do so)

Critical care nurse here, I would have been to A&E like a shot! In my opinion a seizure in someone who isn't known to have seizures needs investigating to rule out a cause. How does that doctor know it isn't caused by meningitis, sepsis, haemorrhage, encephalitis, a tumour ? (Not saying it is any of those things btw, just think they need ruling out).