Eye rolling and hard blinking - are they seizures?

[FTMF30]

I've recently noticed my 8 month old will start rolling his eyes out of nowhere and sometimes closes his eyes quite intensely for a couple of seconds. He seems fine in himself and it's not like he spaces out when it happens. These 'episodes only last a couple of seconds but they're quite concerning when they occur. In every other aspect, he's fine. He babbled and crawls and is very alert.

I am going to book him a doctors appointment first thing as he did it again after his bath. Previous to that I kept second guessing if I needed to be worried. Has anyone else had DC who have done something similar? What was the outcome? I've gone and worried myself sick looking on Google and tomorrow seems like forever away.

Anyone?

Have been to the docs and they've just said to keep an eye on it over the next couple of weeks. But I'd really like to know if anyone has experienced anything similar?

My DD did something similar around the same age. She was kind of doing a shuddering/shivering thing every now and then, especially when she was eating.

We filmed her doing it, and ended up seeing a private paediatric neurologist, as I couldn't cope with the waiting time via NHS. She had an EEG and all was fine. The paediatric neurologist concluded that she was just doing the movement because she liked it! It tailed off after a few weeks.

It all started a couple of weeks after she had her BCG vaccination, and I do wonder if it was related to that in some way (as it looked pretty involuntary to me, rather than something she was doing on purpose). But I guess I will never know. Try and get your little one on film if you can, it will help the Drs a lot.

Sorry, meant to give as it is so anxiety-provoking. I hope you get some answers soon.

Thank you so much for your response @tolleshunt. You're definitely right about the anxiety. I think I'll be going down the private neurologist route if it continues. Better safe than sorry. I'm hoping it will fail of in a couple of days though - dont know if I could bare a 2 week wait as doctor has suggested!

Glad your DD turned out to be ok😊

Thanks FTM, I hope your LO is absolutely fine. They do some funny things at that age, but best to get it checked out.

If you are in then London area, I would recommend the neurologist we saw, who practices at the Portland. We saw Dr Adelaida Martinez and she was absolutely lovely, very thorough, but very reassuring.

@tolleshunt Thanks for the recommendation. It's a shame I live in Birmingham or I would have definitely checked her out. Hopefully we get someone as good as your Neuro was.

I'm sure you'll find a good one in Brum. We've had to see a few paediatricians with DD (she was prem), and they seem to be a special breed of extra-lovely person, who all care deeply about their patients. Wishing you all the best.

Can you try to get a video clip of him doing it?

@FTMF30 did you ever get to the bottom of this? My son is 2.5 and has been doing the eye roll upwards for a second or two since he was 9 months, it looks completely involuntary. They sometimes come in clusters and last maybe a few days/weeks then I don’t seem them again for months, then they’re back. It’s bizarre! Mainly seen in the highchair (more when he was younger), in the bath and now especially when he wakes up in the morning. It seems they can happen whenever but these are the main times I have noticed. My son has had 2 EEGs which were normal but I always get concerned when the rolling starts up again incase I’m missing something! I’d be really greatful if you could let me know the outcome of your child x

@AT20 He's 4 now and, as far as I can tell, completely healthy. He had an EEG a while after my OP, which came back clear too. The explanation was that he was discovering and enjoying what he could make his body do. So, in the case of DS, rolling his eyes. He grew out of it by about 1.5. I'm not sure about that explanation accounting for a 2.5year old though. However, in general 2.5 is still within reason of an age for some odd (anxiety inducing!) behaviour. So it could be your DS really enjoying being able to do funny things with his eyes too.

I was also told that it was good that I was able to disrupt his 'episodes'. That's not the case (and not advised if they're seizures).

I understand this can be tricky and you've probably already been asked this, but try and get a vid when it's happening as it helps doctors get a true account. I managed to get the last few seconds of it with DS and it was abig help.

In all honesty, reassurances and a clear test didn't ease my mind instantly. It was more the passage of time.

I hope that helps ease your mind. I understand how stressful these occurrences can be.Two clear EEGs bodes very well! 🙂