my dd had a seizure last night

[cariboo]

Dd(8) was in the kitchen serving herself some more chicken & suddenly there was an almighty crash. I rushed in & there was dd on the floor, eyes rolled back, convulsing... I shouted for dh, who saw the convulsion too & then dd came to. She was dazed but not frightened. She seemed confused, asked me an nonsensical question.

I've just called the paed & am waiting to hear what we should do next. Feel sick with worry.

SalLikesCoffee - I found it so helpful to read your post. Very similar to my dd - started having seizures age 14. She's now on epilim, and hasn't had a seizure in 8 months. I do think stress is a factor. And every so often she'll have a day or two when she is totally wiped out, sleeps all day - it's almost like the after effects of a seizure when she slept for hours, but without the seizure IYSWIM. I just have to let her take the day off school and sleep. I feel more reassured having read your post that this is probably quite normal.

Bless your heart, Sal! You've cheered me up immensely & I'll get dh to read your post also. My mum & stepdad have taken dd & ds for the afternoon so that dh & I can get some rest & try to sort our marriage.

To hear that you're living with epilepsy as an adult, with a baby (I was thinking that dd would never be able to have children so marvelous news & congrats to you - well done!) and coping is so heartening. I also have an illness for which I take meds & will have to do for the rest of my life but I've known about it & it lived with it for a long time. But I have difficulty equating that with my children - that my cherished babies can go ill in this way is an enormous shock.

I'm going to go on & on, too - sorry, but it helps to unload! - but we've had so many health problems in the family that dh & I are almost at the breaking point. Ds was diagnosed with spondilodicitis (sp?) almost 3 yrs ago, which is an infection of the disks between the vertebrae, and was seriously ill for about 2 months. He then had to wear a body cast, then a corset, for another 6 months. Although now he's physically cured, he's emotionally 'retarded' (in the sense of retard = late) & we've been through hell this past year trying to cope with his hyperactive & violent behavior & find diagnosis & treatment for him. He's just started psychotherapy (yes, at the age of 5), which we have to pay for as not covered by our insurance.

We'd no sooner had ds' diagnosis when dd started her seizures, mostly at night. We thought they were night terrors but now know otherwise. It's a lot to take on board.

Oh findtheriver and scaryboo, I'm so glad I could help. Honestly, if you fancy asking anything, please go ahead.

Scaryboo, good luck with everything. Wow, you sound like a really strong woman having dealt with all this. You're a great mom, you'll get through this, and in the process you will teach your children that anything can be achieved if you really want to.

Sorry for not having been back sooner. Can't believe my last post was in October!

Dd has nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy & is now on the maximum dose of Tegretol for her height & weight. For awhile after diagnosis, she was fine. No more seizures, sleeping well, chirpy & happy during the day, no more problems at school. Then, bam! She started having seizures again, less violent & less frequent, usually about an hour or 2 after falling asleep. So the Tegretol was upped. She had a small seizure last night but dh & I had quarreled at dinnertime & I've noticed that the seizures occur more frequently if she goes to bed upset or overtired.

I also found out about something called SUDEP. Not good. Unlikely to happen with children but couldn't sleep for days worrying about her.

Just stumbled across this thread Caribo - DS has epilepsy, just seizures in his sleep and we are waiting on the results of his video telemetry eeg that he had last week. If it turns out to be similar to your DDs, would be good to chat! We have controlled his big grand mals with keppra, but he has these episodes which wake him with a huge start and gasp of breath - up to maybe 10 times a night He then wants to get up at 6.00am so by school time (he is Year 1) he is shattered and just can't concentrate
Am hoping that this EEG will help us to find the right meds.

I've just seen this thread. My DS has epilepsy, and is also on a maximum dose of Tegretol. I no longer see major seizures, but just occasional smaller episodes, much like you, just a couple of hours after falling asleep. I think these are linked to stress too. he is 5

I felt like I had been hit by a train when he was diagnosed, and was very panicky about each episode. Even now we can be jogging along happily, you have almost forgotten about it and he will have another seizure. It always knocks me back for a day or two.

Just to say I know exactly how you feel.

fatzak, this is a terrible time for you, I know! Let me know what the diagnosis is & until then, keep calm - your ds will be fine. xx

Widemouth, good to know you're there! Let's all keep in touch; it's so comforting

A couple of years ago during very hot weather my 1 year old had a fit. Eyes starting rolling and body started jerking. I was petrified and rang 999 but couldnt get the words out. The operator said there were no cars and that they would send the air ambulance. It was able to land in the field opposite and turned up at the same time at the ambulance. We went to hospital and his temperature was really high but they managed to contain it. A number of years later there has been no repeat although he does get very hot when he gets a cold. So, dont worry, these fits are very common.

Our neighbours were all out when the helicopter landed and my older son in his orange pants waved in the front garden to show them the way. He was very disappointed that he couldnt have a ride. I will remember that day forever and all the small details too.

Rocky, thanks for sharing your story but what you described happening to your 1yo is a febrile convulsion, which is common (1 in 20 children will have one) among infants over the age of one and up to five in a reaction to a rapidly increasing body temperature usually at the onset of an illness. My dd has had three of these in her lifetime and although they are frightening to observe they are not usually serious or harmful.

The OPs above have LO's with diagnosed epilepsy which is a condition which will need to be medicated to be controlled.

I was going to mention "sounds like febrile convulsion", too. Must have been absolutely terrifying, Rocky but doesn't sound like epilepsy, thank God!

Oh, no. She's just had another one. Just now. And she's been on max dose tegretol for about a month & there haven't been any more until now! What's happening? Will my little darling girl just get worse and worse? I hate this! I've got one child on Tegretol, the other on Ritalin & neither seems to be getting any better. shit

I can't go to sleep now. -I need to listen for dd. so a long MN night ahead... unless dh shuts me down.

Cariboo - I just read your thread and couldn't leave with replying. I don't have any personal experience of this illness, but you sound like an extremely strong woman. I wish you luck and hope that your DD and DS get better.

Thank you, Huntress. It cheers me up enormously to have someone reply AND give me such a compliment. Strong woman, eh? Not really thought about it before but yes, I must be a very strong woman. Chuffed!