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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Febrile convulsions...

17 replies

LokiBear · 14/05/2018 15:44

My dd had a febrile convulsion last night. She stopped breathing. The convulsion lasted for a good few minutes but, thankfully, she did take a few shallow breaths shortly after she stopped breathing. Her lips turned blue and we called for an ambulance and they took us to hospital. Dd's heart rate and breathing were a little erratic during observation but the doctors decided it was ultimately down to the virus she is battling and let us come home this morning. The doctors, nurses and paramedics were brilliant. Constantly reassured us that we did the right thing by calling for an ambulance and reassured us that febrile convulsions were common. As we were discharged, the doctor advised us that dd would likely have a convulsion with a high temperature again. I asked if I should just put her into the recovery position and wait it out and she said 'no, put her into the recovery position and phone 999, every time. It is safer.' I'm sleep deprived, I was terrified and dds temp keeps creeping up. I'm feeling anxious and all I can think is why would we need to phone 999 if it is 'common' and not dangerous? Can anyone advise? Sorry not really AIBU clearly posting for traffic.

OP posts:

CardinalCat · 14/05/2018 15:50

It is extremely common and the overwhelming majority of children recover well from it quickly and with no repercussions, but that's not to say that it's not scary. I would suggest that the lack of breathing is what concerned them, as that doesn't always occur, but your child recovered well from it, (and they will do so again with the correct care if it happens again.) Do try not to worry.

Original poster

LokiBear · 14/05/2018 15:52

Perhaps it was the length of time it took her to come around? It was a good 10 minutes because the paramedic commented. Thanks. I'm resist g the urge to Google because I know I'll scare myself. None of my friends kids have had them so I have no one to ask.

OP posts:

PencilsInSpace · 14/05/2018 15:54

DS had these, it's terrifying isn't it?

They usually kept him in for a few hours so they could monitor his temperature until stable/on the way down. Otherwise there was a risk his temperature could spike again, causing another convulsion.

Original poster

LokiBear · 14/05/2018 16:08

Thanks. It was really scary to watch and I felt so useless. She was born with the cores around her neck and took and took a minute to breathe. I never thought anything could be scarier than that.

OP posts:

Lifeaback · 14/05/2018 16:15

dd2 used to get these, it was terrifying. I'm quite anxious anyway and this didn't help! We bought one of those breathing monitors and that really gave me piece of mind- DD2 was a great sleeper but I ended up sleep deprived because was waking every 10 minutes in a state of panic to check she hadn't stopped breathing!

My mum once told me that you spend your whole pregnancy worrying in case something goes wrong and think once the babies born you'll stop worrying, but the worrying only really begins when they're born!

SluttyButty · 14/05/2018 16:17

My eldest had them every time he had a temp. We were to.d to call an ambulance because he didn't come out of his first one until they gave him diazepam up his bottom after half an hour of fitting. Sometimes they don't stop quickly. We had a stash of diazepam at home that he had to give him whilst waiting for an ambulance.

BellyBean · 14/05/2018 16:22

That advice might ultimately change, but they usually recommend getting checked out if they last more than 5 mins so if his first was 10, that might be partly it.

Colonelpopcorn · 14/05/2018 16:27

My friends ds has suffered with these. He’s now 4.5 and seems to have outgrown them now.
Very scary, especially when you don’t know what they are.

Thegirlwithnousername · 14/05/2018 16:49

My son had this last year, He took a long time to come out of it and ended up being sedated in ITU (He was 1.5 years old at the time), It was very scary but he's fine now and not had one since, but we were advised the same to dial 999.
Hope your little one is feeling okay now :)

WilyMinx · 14/05/2018 16:59

My son had these. The first two times, we dialled 999, convinced he was dead. Absolutely terrifying. The doctors told us to call an ambulance if the seizures lasted for more than a minute and/or he hadn't gained consciousness within 5 minutes (was told they are exhausted after a convulsion but it is possible to wake them up). First time at 17 months, the last time at 4.5 years, and it happened around 3-4 times in between. Apart from the first two times, and the last time, when he was in his grandma's care, we dealt with them without having to call an ambulance. But I think you should always do as advised by doctors since every case is different.
My son 5.5 years old now and I really hope they're a thing of the past. Doctors have said they should cease entirely by age 6.

myfriendbob · 14/05/2018 17:14

I don't know why you would be told to call an ambulance for every febrile seizure, unless you have a particular risk factor, as their is usually no need for hospital at all, let alone an ambulance.

samewitches · 14/05/2018 20:23

I think the doctor told you to call 999 because it was her first one and she'd stopped breathing. The advice is to call 999 if they have difficulty breathing, it may pass quickly but if it doesn't it's better to have an ambulance on it's way! If the seizure passes and breathing resumes you may not even need to go to hospital but if (heaven forbid) it didn't you would have assistance there quicker. I'd plan to do as the doc suggested and just hope you don't need to!

Isabella1978 · 14/05/2018 20:41

My son suffered years ago, stopped when he was 2. Now 10 and no ill effects!
Advice to call ambulance is generally because they are scary to watch and no matter how chilled a parent you are you are going to freak out...best to have professional support and you can then reassure your little one rather than trying to play paramedic and parent.
Hope there aren't any more and dc gets better soon.

myfriendbob · 15/05/2018 09:59

you don't call ambulances because something is scary. You only call them if they are medically indicated, and for a regular self limiting febrile convulsion they are generally not.

samewitches · 15/05/2018 21:04

I was under the impression that a regular febrile convulsion doesn't include breathing problems, and also that if breathing problems do occur you should be on high alert that they could occur again? I'm happy to be corrected, but my understanding was that it was the breathing problems that made this not a regular FC and therefore warranted extra caution.

holycityzoo · 15/05/2018 21:10

My dd had these and grew out of them a year ago. They are horrible she probably had around 15 in total. I was told by the paramedics,my gp and the doctors at a and e and also the doctors on the children's ward to always call 999.
She often used to turn blue, froth at the mouth and wet herself, they were very frightening. She's seven now and has no recollection or ill effects from them.

boomboom12 · 15/05/2018 21:49

My son had one when he was 2. It was absolutely awful, I thought I was watching him die & couldn’t do anything. He had the foaming, blue lips & then went floppy. The ambulance team were fantastic & really calmed me down while I was on the call & they arrived in minutes. He had started to come round but we went in for checks & tests. I was also told to call 999 if it happened again. I moved him back into our room for a few months as I was paranoid it would happen again but thankfully it didn’t.

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