Seizures - Issaquah,WA

Oh Y., I'm so very sorry you're going through this. My son had a febrile seizure at daycare when he was around 5 months old and I remember how terrified I felt for a long time afterwards. They didn't know it was febrile at the time b/c he started turning blue and had to be rushed to ER via ambulance. They tested him for everything including meningitis and it was a horrible horrible few hours. In our case, it turned out to be just that one time and I hope and pray that you daughter's seizures are over as well. I just wanted to give you a virtual hug b/c I truly do remember that feeling all too well. I'll pray for you and your family. God bless.

I'm so sorry this is happening. Our family has gone through this and I know how scary and awful it is!

Our (then 21 month old) son had 4 seizures within 4 days a year ago in January. Like your situation, the EEG and MRI results were good. We decided to start the anti-seizure medication after the 4th seizure- a low dose of a drug called Keppra. He was doing well, but then had 3 "break-through" seizures a few months later when he was sick. They increased the dose and he has been seizure-free since. We don't know if/when he will have another and so a certain level of anxiety is always there...but we now have what we call the "new normal".

The new normal involves giving our son his medication every 12 hours and remembering to take his emergency medication with us wherever we go. We also have a video monitor over his crib to watch him during naps and at night. This has been helpful- 2 of his seizures I saw start to happen on the monitor while he was in his crib waking up in the morning. Other than these things, we try to get on with life, have fun and not think about it all of the time. Things like camping and getting on an airplane (basically being out of the range of emergency services) still causes me anxiety though- we have stayed close to home for a year.

Our son is happy, progressing well cognitively, and there have been no ill effects from the medication at this point so I focus on these things. I've done a lot of reading on seizures and epilepsy and have learned that up to 70% of childhood epilepsy resolves itself by the end of childhood. If our son is seizure-free for two years, they we will slowly withdraw the meds. Since this all started, I have talked to MANY people who have said that they had a few seizures when they were kids and then didn't have anymore...and people whose children had seizures and then stopped having them at some point. I really had no idea it was so common. Here's a link to a book I would recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Questions-Answers-About-Childs-Epil...

I'm sorry that this is so long! I hope your daughter never had another seizure. Please don't hesitate to email me privately if want to get contact information and talk. Take care!

Sometimes they are a mystery. My twin sister had a grand Mal when we were 5 and was unconscious for many hours. They thought she would have permanent brain damage but all was well. Her scans all were clear as well and they never found the cause. My mom did have her on phenabarbtol (sp) for a few yrs because hers was so bad. If they aren't sure why and for your peace of mind, why not put her on a low dose? I know we don't want to unnecessarily medicate our kids but that sounds scary. I would take any measure possible to make sure it doesn't happen again. Best of luck love!

Watching your child have a seizure is horrible. Especially if they go unconscious like my DD did. She did not even shake, she just was out and blue. Have they diagnosed her with epilepsy yet? Sorry you are going through this, it's horrible.

Sending you lots of hugs. So sorry you have to go through this. I would
not let her out of your sight. I think if she continues to have these seizures,
I would get a second opinion and do not stop until you have an answer.
Seizures do not happen just because. Was she ill at all. How does she
act afterwards. Does she resume normal activities. Hang in there and
stay strong. Will keep you in my prayers.

Like other posters my daughter had 3 seizures at about 15 months that were considered febrile at the time. She also went blue, didn't shake, etc... so we really thought the worst. It was horrible. I actually believe that I suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome from this incident and I think you should consider this possibility as well. It really got bad for me and my husband and I even fought about it because I freaked out every time she even felt warm for a second.

This was 4 years ago and thought I'm not totally better I do have a second child now and I would say I'm not as insane about fevers and don't rush to overprotect as much as I did right after the incident. But it is still always in the back of my mind - as any near death experience with your child would be (and this felt like that at the time).... but that said, I wish I would have talked to a doctor about this right away and not just suffered through it. I didn't realize until much later after hearing about things like car accident victims not wanting to drive, etc. that this was really what I had suffered. Don't feel bad if you need help to sort this out - maybe it is talking to someone - maybe it is anti anxiety assistance - maybe it is just time - maybe a bit of all that.

You can all get through this and the fact that you have a plan and a currently very happy healthy baby is a good thing so take assurance in this as much as you can.

Hugs
S.