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Original poster

Ds (aged 4) had what looked like a seizure last night...what do I do?

61 replies

Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 16:07

I have seen adults having tonic-clonic (sp) seizures and this looked just the same, but smaller.

He was asleep in our bed (long story), he woke me up. I was half asleep but I think it lasted about a minute. He went back off afterwards.

When he was about 2 he was investigated quite thoroughly (EEG etc) because he seemed to be having absences.

I am hoping this is a one off but he has woken a few times with nosebleeds and its occured to me that this may be why. There isn't usually anyone with him at 10pm at night, except dd1 and she sleeps like a log.

I don't know wtf to do. I guess I make an appointment with the gp in the morning. I am so bloody about this, I don't know why. Am also very worried.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 16:08

oh and results of investigation were that all was normal.

OP posts:
sarah293 · 20/04/2008 16:10

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avenanap · 20/04/2008 16:20

You have a couple of choices. The first is to phone NHS Direct. If he's had a seizure of any type they will (or should)send him to the hospital. The second is to phone your GP in the morning and get him an appointment. The chances are your GP will either refer him.
I think that it may be better if you give NHS Direct a call, especially as this is the first one you have seen and you are concerned. Seizures can happen at any time, especially as he is not taking medication to control this. If one happens in the night then it can be very worrying. If you take him to the hospital then at least there will be staff around to help him, whether he starts to fit or not. Then it will be documented and he can recieve the medication he needs to stop the fit. They will do some tests and prescribe the best medication they can to help him. If you wait for an appointment at the GP's then he will have to wait to be seen at the hospital. Some Gp's will tell you to take him in anyway, some will tell you to wait for an appointment.
If you decide not to phone NHS Direct you must call an ambulance if he starts to fit. For children that are on medication an ambulance must be phoned if they have been fitting for longer but they will have medication that their parents will administer to stop the fit before their parents call an ambulance.

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 16:26

oh god I didn't know this

It was last night, he has been fine all day

He is out with his grandparents-should I get him back and take him to A&E?

I know I sound naive-he is a very healthy little boy, there doesn't SEEM to be anything wrong.

OP posts:
avenanap · 20/04/2008 16:34

It's Ok. Don't panic.
From what you have said they appear to be occuring when he's asleep (correct me if I'm wrong). The vast majority of children who have fits are healthy otherwise. Wait for him to come back, then give NHS Direct a call. He does need monitoring overnight in case he fits again. The problem with night fits is that there's no idea how long they last because everyones asleep. NHS Direct might tell you to phone if he starts fitting again but you really should contact them. Don't worry about last night, no one would expect you to know. You have done the right thing by asking for advice. I'd send you a big hug if I could.

sorkycake · 20/04/2008 16:37

Oh my Filly!

You need to see you GP asap. If it happens again, go to A&E or ring an ambulance

Has he been okay since?

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 16:45

oh christ

I've been thinking, basically, oh he's seemed fine, I'll wander down to the gp tommorrow

it hit me an hour ago that this could have been going on for a while.

given its sunday, would you go to a&e or go to gp tommorrow? (I know thats kind of been answered but I can't think here )

Also gp took ages to refer last time for EEG-I got in myself in the end by phoning.

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Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 16:45

oh he's been FINE sorky

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avenanap · 20/04/2008 16:49

You have a choice here. You could either stay up all night (you won't be able to sleep anyway) just in case, if he fits again you must phone for an ambulance

or

You can give NHS Direct a call. I'm fairly certain they will tell you to take him to A&E. This way, the nurses will monitor him over night so you might be able to get a bit of sleep.

Did he wet the bed?

hifi · 20/04/2008 16:56

dont know if this will help but dd had seizure type movements 10 to 12 times a day, i videoed them for gp and paed, it helps them out immensely.i dont know about going to a and e as most of the investigations are eeg based.
are you able to do a good impression of what he was doing? you will have to describe it in detail so make notes, finger movements, eye movements any noises, does he acknowledge you when hes having one? take notes of absolutely everything.

hifi · 20/04/2008 16:57

is he reaching his milestones?

moodlumthehoodlum · 20/04/2008 16:58

another vote for the videoing thing, if you get a chance at all, when it happened to dd, the paediatrician said that videoing it was the most helpful thing we could have done.

avenanap · 20/04/2008 16:59

They have a policy where I am to admit all children who have had a first siezure over night so that they can be monitored until the doctors work out what they want to do. It also helps them work out if there is anything else that can be causing the fit.

sarah293 · 20/04/2008 17:02

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avenanap · 20/04/2008 17:05

A fitting child ALWAYS has priority emergency treatment. They are triaged as 1, the highest category.

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 17:06

no, he's done this once to my knowlege and I was half asleep

he's always been fine, milestone wise.

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Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 17:08

and there has been nothing during the day

I feel like the world's worst mother here

am only still on here because we are waiting for the grandparents to bring him home, then we will call nhs direct (they are going to ask me about what he looks like & stuff)

I had no idea it was so serious

he is perky as ever atm, has been all day.

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avenanap · 20/04/2008 17:09

My advice is still the same. Wait to see the GP tomorrow or phone NHS Direct and see what they suggest.

avenanap · 20/04/2008 17:14

It's not your fault, no one expects you to have known. People normally sleep after a fit, as it was night then you would have not been aware anyway. He would have been ok in the morning. Don't feel bad about it. I once care for a kid who had fell on a concrete floor and knocked himself out. His mum took him to the GP 5 DAYS later because he couldn't see out on one eye. Just be honest with them. No one's judging your parenting skills. They may say not to worry and see your GP in the morning.

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 18:21

oh good news (I think)

the nurse thought it was unlikely to be a proper fit as he didn't wake me up properly. She thinks a nightmare, and he did apparently have a dream about trying to escape from a tiger and also possibly a wolf . Also he has had a normal eeg. I bloody hope it IS a nightmare

We need to see gp asap tommorrow though.

I bloody hope it IS a nightmare.

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avenanap · 20/04/2008 18:23

Was she from NHS Direct?

yurt1 · 20/04/2008 18:26

Filly don't feel guilty. I have wondered on and off about ds3 and absences (he did have one febrile seizure that is known about). And ds1 had some weird things inbetween waking and sleeping twice. I always think 'if I see that again...' but then it's never very clear. I did however know for sure when ds3 was having his febrile one, so perhaps its the sort of thing that is usually very obvious when it happens iyswim.

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 20/04/2008 18:30

oh dear, why ave?

yurt thats the thing, it WASN'T that clear. otoh I have seen seizures, and this looked like it, and after 2 appalling sleepers I do sleep like the dead. BUT he is fine.

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avenanap · 20/04/2008 18:37

I didn't realise that NHS Direct could do an EEG and an MRI over the phone. There are several different types of seizures and there is a possiblilty that it may have been something else but she (in my opinion) should not have told you that she thought it could have been a nightmare as A) she was not there B) she does not have access to test results C) she's guessing!
Don't worry, keep an eye on him (I'd stick him in your bed tonight to keep an eye on him) and take him to the GP in the morning. Not all people thrash about when they are fitting.

slippergirl · 20/04/2008 18:38

Please don't panic - if he is okay now, then you just need to make an appt to see GP in the morning, you haven't done anything wrong or made things worse by not getting him to see anyone today. If it happens again tonight, I would take him to A&E but otherwise just take him along to GP tomorrow. If it were me, I'd probably put him in my bed tonight though, just to check if it happens again.

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