Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

smudgethepuppydog · 23/01/2009 08:15

Oovavu-My DB was senior school age before it was realised that his episodes where he stared into space and 'ignored' people were actually seizures. It's a long time ago now but I seem to recall he fell in a shower at school after PE and was out of it for a while so he was taken to hospital and that's when the epilepsy was picked up on a EEG. If he hadn't fallen I think he'd continue to have been undiagnosed for a few more years. He did have a few rough years as a teen and had a few full blown tonic clonic seizures but has been well controlled for many years now, his epilepsy no longer really affects his life to any significant degree.

PheasantPlucker · 23/01/2009 08:48

Now dd1 has gone to school I can post a bit more.

If the concerns continue you need to get a referral for an EEG. The problem with an EEG is that is can be inconclusive; a diagnosis is only possible if epileptic activity is taking place in the brain at the time of testing. My dd was tested 3 times before we got the official confirmation, although her Consultant was pretty much sore earlier on. Because absence seizures take place 'on and off' they are not always picked up at an EEG, if that makes sense.

From my early reading around the subject 6 years ago, children under 5 can develop absence seizures, and some of them will grow out of them. (my dd will not; these are the result of a trauma to her brain following a massive brain haemorrhage at birth. She currently takes Sodium Valproate and the seizures are generally controlled, with a 'break through' seizure around once a month if she is ill or tired. The break throughs are due to the specific type of epilepsy she has - complex partial seizures/focal seizures, and their derivation from the brain injury, so this is not common - just to reassure you somewhat.)

I hope thsi helps. I am happy to answer further questions you have if you feel it will be of help to you and your dc. Good luck.

PheasantPlucker · 23/01/2009 08:49

Sure.. not sore.

Original poster

Oovavu · 23/01/2009 10:10

Thanks so much (and thanks PP for the semantics advice - it's good to know these things and I won't do it again ). Thank you for sharing your experiences about your dd, PP. The EEG does sound a bit 'hit and miss'.

It's becoming clear that there's no one answer to this and it may take a fair while to get to the botoom of what might have caused dd2's 'episodes' (if ever?). Hopefully though we might get some help if we keep recording any changes and noting down when she has these absences. The GP was sposed to ring last night with the details of the referral but they didn't.... so I will chase them up now.

OP posts:

PheasantPlucker · 23/01/2009 12:16

Yes - I am sorry, I forgot to say that it really helps if you keep a diary of when these episodes occur. Also to be able to decribe as accurately as possible how they manifest themselves.

Good luck with it all.

ChocFudgeCake · 23/01/2009 12:47

When I was 7 years old I started having episodes of feeling suddenly cold and sweaty and then fainted. After some tests (EEG and others I don't remember) someone misdiagnosed epilepsy. My parents changed doctors and it turned out to be a inmature nervous system, not epilepsy. My mum was told I might not be able to ride a bike or do things with my hands that required precision. I was put on medication that turned me very slow (I don't rememer most of this). Then my mum was so sorry for me that she stopped the medication and I turned "normal" again. " 2 years later the EEG were fine. I could ride a bike and do embroidery, etc. I have a masters too. I am glad that my mum asked for a second opinion, otherwise I would have been stuck with the epilepsy medication. Also I'm glad my mum followed her instinct Good luck
Two year later the EEG came out normal. My mum

CuttySark · 23/01/2009 13:05

My eldest son had this when he was younger and it was a devil of a job getting a diagnosis twenty years ago.
He would go 'dreamy' for a short while and when he came to he would be mildly confused but came back to himself fairly quickly. He likened it to watching a television programme and if you switched the tv off for a little while then on again you had missed a bit of the programme but soon picked up the thread again.
There was sometimes a bit of vomiting before or after it happened.
We managed to get extra time for him to sit exams at school and he seemed to grow out of it around 17/18 years old.

Good luck with getting help for your son.

Original poster

Oovavu · 23/01/2009 14:15

(It's my dd!)

Thanks for that. What Cuttysark has said seems to match dd2's 'symptoms' very closely.

Good job your mum was on the ball Choc. Mums know best...

Our CM has started logging the events for us and will do so if she has any further episodes, to add to our own log. Rang the doc's this morning and she has been referred to the paed neurologist, which sounds a bit scary, but it's just a title I spose.

If it is absent seizures, would that mean she wouldn't be able to do certain things until there had been a sufficient enough gap between episodes? Would it cause problems going on school trips, etc? I seem to remember my cousin was diagnosed with something similar in adult life and had to stop driving. (I know I'm jumping the gun a bit with the driving, as she's only 3 now, but my mind's racing a bit!)

OP posts:

CuttySark · 23/01/2009 19:19

It never stopped my son from doing anything - swimming, rugby, school trips, driving (it seemed to go by driving age ie the 'absenses got fewer and further between attacks)

The schools knew he would go dreamy for a bit but it happened more frequently when he was bored or watching television. It never occurred when he was doing sport or music.

He never let it bother him at all and never thinks about it now. (26 and drives tractors)

Original poster

Oovavu · 23/01/2009 21:37

Thanks

OP posts:

wheesht · 24/01/2009 19:45

Oovavu, my dd and I have temporal lobe epilepsy. I have had it since I was seven although it wasn't diagnosed until I was 24.

Just wanted to assure you, further to what cuttysark said, there is no reason for absences to stop your dd from doing anything she wants to. my dd2 is not even on any medication but once she needs to drive she will prob needs meds to ensure she does not have any turns. When I was first diagnosed I had to hand my licence in as you can only drive once you have been a year without any episodes. Have had no problems since.

If you want to know anything else let me know x

lottiejenkins · 24/01/2009 19:59

My ds(12 years old deaf, dyspraxic) has absent seizures sometimes...I find it quite scary as his eyes glaze over and then he "isnt with me" for about ten seconds, then he will suddenly do an over-exaggerated blink and come back to me! He was tried on SV but it affected his behaviour REALLY badly so he came off it. he has had 2 EEGs and because he had fits when he was three weeks old he has had two MRI's too.

Original poster

Oovavu · 25/01/2009 12:26

wheest - can you explain temporal lobe epilepsy to me if you can? What form does it take? What's the difference between that and absent seizures (if any)? Thanks

lottiejenkins - that does sound quite scary. How does he cope wth the 'missing bits'? HOw often does he have them?

OP posts:

lottiejenkins · 25/01/2009 15:13

He doesnt talk about the "missing bits" I never know when he will have them but it is normally when he either very a) angry or b) excited. I find it is harder to cope with other people who are with us when he has them as they panic too and keep asking what the matter is.

Original poster

Oovavu · 25/01/2009 18:56

Yeah I can understand that must be hard for you, esp when all you want to do is make sure your ds is OK and not have to 'look after' other people and their reactions.

OP posts:

mamas12 · 26/01/2009 13:47

Just found this thread, my ds last year got very frightened by 'going away' and 'forgetting' what happened for a few moments and just cried and when we took him to the docs. doc said it was a virus. Was happy then but recently has said it happened again. Think it may be emotional response myself am I right.
Does anybodys dcs get scared when it happens.

Original poster

Oovavu · 27/01/2009 19:56

Interesting about the virus, mamas12. She's just had a bit of a funny one post-Christmas and so did I. someone suggested she might just be suffering from the last bits of it. It was a very nasty virus with no real cold symptoms but feeling very sicky, off our food and sleeping lots. Can't say she's seemed frightened after a spell, more just a bit disorientated. Worrying for you though I know. Whats tests did the GP do, if any?

Got the date through to see the paed neurologist which was quick; it's for about 3 weeks time.

OP posts:

mamas12 · 27/01/2009 21:35

Hi oovavu doc didn't do any tests just said if he kept on doing them to come back. But he has mentioned them again lately which coincided with another bout of illness but also because xh and i have now divorced and we've moved house and he's gone up to secondary school I think it is an emotional/nervous(?) reaction. Don't know but he still doesn't like them and they scare him.
Good news on a quick referal.
Would you mind posting back with any comments after you go.

Original poster

Oovavu · 28/01/2009 20:55

Will do

Might your ds be reacting to the stressful events maybe? I've heard about things like that in children - like the brain temporarily shuts down as it can't cope with thinking about all the events that are out of the child's control?

Think my dd is a bit young for this but maybe your ds isn't? just a thought. Will post again when I know more about the tests.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2