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Original poster

Anyone's dc suffer from petit mal? I need to know more... [worried]

44 replies

Oovavu · 20/01/2009 19:47

Dd2 is 3. Our CM rang me a few eeks ago to say that she had had a kind of 'episode' whilst eating lunch - went into a glassy-eyed trance for a numbers of seconds, went grey and swayed, as if she was going to pass out. CM caught her before she slipped, then she 'came to' and vomited. I collected her and took her home and she was absolutely fine after this.

CM now says dd2 seemed to have another funny turn again today: went glassy eyed and swayed as she was standing. CM's student noticed and called her name but dd2 was not responsive. She then came to and said she needed to lie down. But after a min or so, got up and was full of beans again. CM now says that it has got her thinking and she can remember incidents when dd2 has gone off into a little world of her own - we recognise this as she also does this at home - but we have all put it down to being in toddler 'la la land' as it's not led to any change in pallor or sickness.

Now I'm not so sure and I'm worried to death. I've booked a GP appt for tomorrow but wondered in the meantime if anyone has had anything similar with their dc?

Other than this is she is full of beans, speech and movement is normal, etc., eats and sleeps well.

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whoingodsnameami · 20/01/2009 19:53

My niece had this years ago, but its gone now, what I do remember is during an episode she would raise her left arm (very common I believe)and she passed out each and every time, not much help sorry, unless you have noticed her arm raising.

wotulookinat · 20/01/2009 19:57

I taught a boy once with petit mal, and as far as a remember, he got on with what he was going straight away - didn't feel sick or want to lie down or anything. Could it be a low blood pressure thing?

Original poster
Oovavu · 20/01/2009 21:13

bump

OP posts:
PheasantPlucker · 20/01/2009 21:21

My dd1 has absence seizures. (petit mal. Diagnosed by a series of observations and tests. (I am really tired tonight and embarrassingly cannot remember the test name - it involved having lots of probes 'glued' to her scalp to observe epileptic activity.) If you are worried get your GP to refer to hospital for tests? Good luck. Hope your dd is OK. My dd1 is usually very tired after a seizure, but has never vomitted.

whoingodsnameami · 20/01/2009 23:02

EEG scan or something like that.

PheasantPlucker · 21/01/2009 09:28

YES!!!!! EEG!

Original poster
Oovavu · 21/01/2009 10:33

I know that dd2 is very sensitive to when she eats and if she's tired. She needs to eat little and often, and if she's hungry her mood is terrible. It visibly lifts as soon as she eats. One of the episodes was just as she sat down to lunch, so I'm thinking maybe she was just 'past it' a bit with hunger and it resulted in the passing out.

On the bbc health website it did say that some absence seizures can be triggered through low blood sugar. I have noticed that vomiting is another way she reacts to any sort of 'overload' as well: too much party food; over-tired, etc. Her gag reflex sseems to be quite sensitive, which is quite like me as well.

OP posts:
downanddowner · 21/01/2009 13:08

It's a bit rude to ignore people who have posted responses, isn't it?

smudgethepuppydog · 21/01/2009 19:43

Vomitting can happen once a seizure has passed. I work with a child who usually vomits when he comes out of any type of seizure (he has more than one type including absences).

My brother also has absence seizures, at first we just thought he was away with the fairies but we gradualy came to realise that when these absences happened he actually missed what had happened (so he'd miss the bit of teh TV programme he'd been watching, or he'd not be sure what had just been said to him).

Keep a record and if it continues see your GP?

Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 20:23

downanddowner - what are you on about?

IMO it's a bit fucking ignorant to say something like that on a thread concerning my worries for dd2, where you have brought absolutely nothing to the thread except to make me very very angry.

I have found the replies very useful, although I do NOT have to justify myself to you

OP posts:
Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 20:25

and FYI I've been at work for the past two days and have only logged on when I've been able to

OP posts:
catinthehat1 · 22/01/2009 20:47

Oovavu, I don't think Downanddowner deserved the sweary response.

You've ignored three posters who took the trouble to write down their experiences and haven't bothered to say thanks - one word! - it's plain rude. Yes plenty of people have to log on for 2 minutes here and there, it's not unusual and not an excuse.

Just think of people reading this thread who've passed on contributing to help you out because you have blanked 3 people already and sworn at a third.

An apology would go down well here and would make sure your conspicuous name is remembered for the right reasons.

Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 21:03

Whaaaaaaat??????

I can't believe I'm reading this. Two posters who are absolutely NOTHING to do with the thread have come on here to tell me how to reply to posts????

It's a discussion. I replied to the idea that it might be low blood pressure. It's really not up to either of you to decide how and when I reply to other posters. It wouldnt even be as bad if one of you have been a poster who's replied, but you have nothing to do with the thread!

I will not aplogise for swearing - it's an opinion site and in my opinion downanddowner was rude herself. Better I'd have thought to stick to topics you can constructively contribute to, without further upsetting posters who have been here for more then two days, who are living lives that you know NOTHING about - not when I log on - not where I log on - not what is going on other than my poor dd2 being really sick.

I am truely greatful to the posters who have replied so far and had I been given the chance to I would have told them, when I have something more to go on and respond to.

Unbelievable. It's been a long while since I've been so angry.

OP posts:
catinthehat1 · 22/01/2009 21:13
Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 21:18

Yes, exactly. You obviously have no actual interest in the outcome for my dd2, so do your 'talk to the hand' stuff and walk away.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 21:21

and for the posters who replied before the last two, we saw the gp and dd2 has been referred to hospital for tests - waiting for date through. Not sure if tests will involve the EEG yet but will defo be bloods and urine. She's been very feverish last day or so but think that's a cold. Doesn't stop us fretting a bit though and looking at her every 5 mins to see if she's got that glazed look again .

OP posts:
CioccolataCalda · 22/01/2009 21:27

I am always ignored on threads but kind of don't worry about it.

Childish posters.

catinthehat1 · 22/01/2009 21:34

Actually CC here's a thread where somebody took the time to post their experiences and the OP did not blank them or swear at them and in fact thanked them for their contribution. Recognise it?
If you sincerely expect to be blanked regularly its a shame.

CioccolataCalda · 22/01/2009 21:59

Cat - I don't want you to worry about it either!
Apologies to OP

hazeyjane · 22/01/2009 22:43

My mum says that I used to have petit mal episodes when I was a child, but I have never really found out anything about it. However, I have had low blood pressure (esp when pregnant), which has led me to go very pale, sweaty, vomity and faint (which sounds similar to what you describe)

I have noticed recently that dd1 (2.10) does that staring into space thing, so would also be interested to hear more about petit mal.

I hope your lo feels better soon, and that the hospital tests go ok.

Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 22:57

I'm told (by a friend whose dd is epileptic) that the 'petit mal' label isn't used much nowadays but it's the phrase eveyone recognises - it covers a huge range of symptoms which is why it's hard to pinpoint. Hence the arm-raising which whoingodsnameami mentioned: there are thousands of different reactions and because it's due to electrical lapses in the brain, each person's expereience is unique. Interesting about your experiences hazey, esp since the low blood pressure link is there as well. Maybe, like you, my dd2 will always be a bit susceptible to these sorts of reactions to changes in blood sugar?

It's so hard with toddlers as they do tend to daydream, like your dd1. I wouldn't have even thought of it at all if she hadn't had these fainting things. I think she's done the starey thing for a while but hard to say when it started?

Smudge - how old was your db before anyone realised he was missing stuff? Is he ok nowadays?

OP posts:
Original poster
Oovavu · 22/01/2009 22:58

and, hazey, no need to apologise at all - don't know why you were!

OP posts:
BumblBeee · 22/01/2009 23:07

Oovavu you have a problem you are very worried abouty and (normal) people post responses to help YOU.

We do not need you to waste your time holding OUR hands! We are here to help not exact gratitude.

Anyway(!)

I had this when I was young for a few years then it just went away. I still have a poor attention span but it this may be completely unrelated - don't know. Anyway I have had two successful careers and have been to University so it didn't hold me back too much.

Go to the GP and get it diagnosed. Get support for your child at school if they are missing some of their lessons.

Good luck! xx

BumblBeee · 22/01/2009 23:09

I too had EEG tests with electrodes many times.

PheasantPlucker · 23/01/2009 08:01

Sorry to sound pedantic - but I tend to say 'a child with epilepsy' rather than 'an epileptic'. The condition then does not 'define' them, they are children first, who happen to have a medical condition. It's just more common (and more PC!!) practice.

Feel free to post on the SN board too, a lot of us have children with epilepsy.

Agree (as in my original post) petit mal is not in general use any more.