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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if your child has ever been seriously ill...

60 replies

StarryNightChina · 09/12/2018 18:08

...and what advice you would give to someone who's 7 week old was just admitted to hospital after a seizure?

Not sure why I'm on mn but out of my mind with worry and don't know what to do. We feel so helpless.

OP posts:
corythatwas · 09/12/2018 18:09

Flowers OP, really sorry to hear this.

MissyCooper · 09/12/2018 18:11

You poor thing Flowers

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 09/12/2018 18:12

Both of mine had seizures at that age. DD because she had contracted chicken pox after having been on steroids and DS because his adrenal glands had switched off after having been on steroids. It is as scary as it can be, DD seized for over two hours before they could get control of it, I have never been so scared. At one point, when she was blue and obstructing her airway I wanted them to stop the ambulance and let me out (I have never forgiven myself for that feeling). Both kids are now healthy adults. Is this a first seizure?

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 09/12/2018 18:13

Sorry, mine were 7 years old. Does the baby have a temp?

Original poster
StarryNightChina · 09/12/2018 18:13

I literally posted on mn giving people advice on something under a different name an hour or so ago. My son was in the lounge and I was in the kitchen making him tea. I was gone for 5 minutes and came back in and he was having a seizure. He could've been having one for up to 5 minutes. I feel so stupid.

OP posts:
Original poster
StarryNightChina · 09/12/2018 18:15

@Oddsocksandmeatballs he had a fever of 38.5 when the paramedics got to the house. He's never had a seizure before. I didn't even notice he had a fever I don't know how.

OP posts:
Original poster
StarryNightChina · 09/12/2018 18:17

Making tea, not making him tea.

OP posts:
CaptainCallisto · 09/12/2018 18:19

DS2 has been really poorly a few times, and one thing I've done since the first time (when I got totally overwhelmed), is to write down what is said each time he was seen by the various paediatric teams. It can get really confusing, especially if you're in a little while and see different people over a few days. I found it much easier to have it there when I was asked by yet another doctor what had been happening!

My other advice would be to make sure you take time to eat/drink/shower (if you're there overnight), even if it means leaving your little one for five minutes. You need to take care of you so you can take care of them. It took me several hospital stays to work that out and I wish someone had told me at the beginning.

Thanks for you, and hope he's on the mend soon

Sirzy · 09/12/2018 18:21

My biggest bit of advice, and reading your updates important advice, don’t beat yourself up. Don’t blame yourself. These things happen and we can’t control them.

Also make time for you, look after yourself and don’t be afraid to let people know if your struggling. Ds was seriously ill at 8 weeks old and it was onlh when I had councelling last year (8 years later) I realised what an impact it has had on me.

Hope he is home soon

Roomba · 09/12/2018 18:22

DS1 had a febrile seizure at 9 weeks old, so I know how scared and helpless you feel. If it reassures you at all, he has never had another one since and is a very healthy 13yo now (sorry if that really isn't helpful right now). Fingers crossed that this is what it is - although scary they are not unusual and at least you feel like you can keep an eye out and give calpol in future if he has a temp.

Hope you can get some answers quickly and he is on the mend soon. This parenting lark is bloody terrifying sometimes SadFlowers

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 09/12/2018 18:22

You're not stupid, honestly you're not. You're a completely normal mum, we can't watch them 24/7. Do they think it is the temp that did it, it sounds like it could be. Keeping everything crossed for you Flowers

noeyedeer · 09/12/2018 18:25

My 4 day old was admitted after having seizures. We didn't realise they were seizures at the time, looked like hiccups. Transpired he'd had a stroke in utero.

My advice; try not to panic, get someone to bring all the extras you need to hospital, try to get some sleep if possible so that you can take in what the doctors are saying. Make a list of all your questions and notes of answers. Tell who you need to, but don't feel the need to respond to every message from friends and family; nominate one person to keep the rest informed. Also, have a huge unmumsnetty hug.

Snowwontbelong · 09/12/2018 18:31

Ds was diagnosed with whooping cough at a fortnight old. We had only been home a week! Sent home as no real treatment, he stopped breathing - standing trying to resuscitate him with older dc standing by was horrific. Admitted for ten days. Home for a week then he got bronchiolitis. This continued until he was ten months old.
Fighting fit 17 yo now.
Bloody tested parenting to the brink .
Regards to you both op.

DCIJackieDeering · 09/12/2018 18:38

DD went in at 3 weeks and 8 weeks, not sure what advice I'd give. Look after yourself, ask the doctors questions because you're not likely to take things in the first time they say things. If you're likely to be in more than a couple of days, get a friend to bring you snacks and magazines. Don't beat yourself up, easier said than done.

DD is now 9, grows out of clothes every time she blinks, and never stops moving

Paradyning · 09/12/2018 20:03

Be kind to yourself. You will likely have some sort of post traumatic shock.
Mine was admitted for the same thing at similar age and I still get flashbacks when I see an ambulance.
Hope it's a one off OP and that you can return to normal life. Thanks

Paradyning · 09/12/2018 20:06

Have they diagnosed? There's a whole heap of support out there if you need it x

Wolfiefan · 09/12/2018 20:07

Completely and totally do NOT blame yourself.
Be kind to yourself. Try and meet your basic needs. (Saying this as a parent who spent nights and days on ward!) shower, pee and eat!!
Do not google. Not under any circumstances. It won’t help. It may panic you.
You may feel helpless but your child is in exactly the right place to get all the help you need.
Hold each other. Cry if you need to.
Wishing for good news soon.

Original poster
StarryNightChina · 09/12/2018 20:32

They're talking about doing a lumbar puncture. Waiting for blood tests to come back. Waiting to see paediatric neurologist now. All this waiting.

He's not had another seizure and the nurse said she's seen seizures in baby's a lot and most of the time they're nothing to worry about. Said the fact he has a fever is a good thing and if he didn't have one they'd be more worried about things like epilepsy and long term stuff.

So worried.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 09/12/2018 20:38

Children do fit from fever.
At least they are testing to check what’s going on.
Hope for good results soon.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 09/12/2018 20:39

Sometimes you can’t give advice
Just let them know you are thinking of them and offer practical support

As it’s could be something . And it could be easily fixable

agnurse · 09/12/2018 20:43

All of the tests they're doing are very reasonable. Frankly as a nurse I'm more worried about the fever itself than the seizure. Fevers in a child under the age of 6 months can be a cause for concern, because usually a child is protected by maternal antibodies until 6 months.

Under the age of 5, febrile seizures can be very common. The temp doesn't have to get that high to cause a seizure; in fact I think most febrile seizures occur with a relatively low-grade fever. If it is truly a febrile seizure it is self-limiting and they don't lead to epilepsy.

CoffeeTeaChocholate · 09/12/2018 20:50

Oh my dear, please be kind to yourself. My youngest had a fever seizure and I remember just shouting right out and calling 999 who tried to calm me down and advising me to get a taxi to the A&E (we live close to the hospital). She was also admitted for several days with bronchiolitis about the same age as your DS (She is perfectly healthy now) . I agree with captain, write everything down and do take care of yourself. Your DS needs you, so it is beyond important that you are strong enough to be there for him. Without food, drink and at some point some sleep, that is not humanly possible. Sending you lots of strength, you WILL get through this. x

Adviceforhouse · 09/12/2018 20:59

Hugs OP,my DS has a seizure two years ago now when he was a toddler, he had a fever which wasn’t coming down much with Valois, he was lay in my arms trying to sleep then suddenly looked straight at me and starting having a seizure, never in my life been so terrified. Went straight to hospital, he was acting completely un normal and in a confused state, worst night of my life. All they could put it down to was it was brought on by his high temp and he has been absolutely fine since and never had one again (touch wood) I absolutely panic with high temps now but at least I know the seizure was harmless. Hoping for good news for you soon, the waiting is bloody torture xx

Adviceforhouse · 09/12/2018 21:00

Stupid autocorrect, wasn’t coming down with calpol that should say x

Bamchicabaawaa · 09/12/2018 21:08

I asked my mum this, as my sister and I were very poorly newborns and Didn’t leave the hospital until we were over 6 months old. And shortly after this my sister contracted pneumonia and was an inpatient for almost 2 months.
Her single piece of advice, was: be kind to yourself. You’re not a medic, but you are an amazing mum. Nothing you did/didn’t do made your baby poorly. And right now nothing you can do can make them better. That’s not your job. By getting baby seen at the hospital you’ve done everything you could.
💖 sorry you’re going through this

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