Seizures - Richmond, VA

Hi B.,
I'm so sorry about the seizures. That must be just horrible to go through. None of my son's had seizures, but we had other medical/developmental issues that eventually landed us in Dr. Frymann--an osteopath out in San Diego--office. It was the best thing we ever did for our kids. She does cranial manipulations that resolve head injuries, birth injuries, spinal issues, among many more things. I know there were several children she was treating successfully for seizures. I wish she were here because she was so good, but do some research and try and find the best osteopath you can. The good one's are worth traveling to. Often in the waiting room I was the only one living in San Diego. Most traveled from other cities, states, even countries as there was a family from russia there once. Best of luck to you and your family.

T.

B. - Not to scare you, and I know every case is different. How long have the seizures been going on? A friend of mine had a toddler who had encephalitis...the doctors said the first time she had the seizures it was because of the fever. The next time was without and they finally believed her enough to send her to a university hospital where they did a spinal and determined it to be encephalitis. May want to approach your doctor about this.

Another possibility (which my son has) is seizures caused by television and video games (I know...seems strange). The flashing lights can confuse the brain and wreak all kinds of havoc. My son had a grand mal seizure after watching cartoons for 3-hours after waking up at night in a darkened room with nothing on but the tv. A lot of times it is caused by japanese animation (which I'm sure your son is not watching) as they use a different method of animation which can confuse the brain (stationary backgrounds with the character moving or vice versa, I don't remember).

Just a few things to think of...

B. - sorry this is a late reply, but i wanted to let you know that my first child had a similar situation with seizures; although, not quite to the extent your child has gone thru. when she was 8mos old she had one seizure w/o a fever and one seizure with. she hasn't had any since. we went to children's memorial hospital both times, which has an excellent pediatric neurological staff. they weren't able to explain exactly why she had the seizures (eeg's came out normal) and whether they were related or not, but the info they did share was that all children have a body stress threshold. some children's thresholds are a little less than others. that seemed to be the case with my daughter. seizures act to "reboot" kids, so to speak, when they can't withstand the stress there body is under (i.e. from a fever/bad virus). my daughter took anti-seizure medication for 1 yr, was weaned off it and is fine. i hope you have found answers, but if you haven't, i would consult a pediatric neurologist. let me know if you have further questions!

B., I agree with some of the other comments that I would be curious what you pediatrician said. The 1st three seizures that occured with fever may have been febrile seizures, which can occur at his age. However, the two that occured without fever have now placed him in a cantegory of a seizure disorder. That isn't always a bad thing. He does need to have a work-up done that should include an EEG and an MRI. He also probably should see a Pediatric neurologist. He probably needs to be started on medicine to help control his seizures. I think that if they are controlled, they are a little less scarrey because they do not occur as often or as strong. Just because he has seizures at this age, doesn't mean that he will have them lifelong. Many kids will grow out of them. The neurologist will be able to help you with this.
It is important to know that controlling his fever when he has one is important, because fever will lower the seizure threshold and allow him to seize more easily. Give himm good doses of Tylenol or Ibuprophen and if need put him in a warm bath(nomal bathtub temp) and soak him for 15-20 minutes keeping the water warm. This is to dilate his blood vessles and release the heat of the fever. A tepid bath will cause the fever to go up higher, and in his case could make him have a seizure.
I know that seizures are a very scarry thing for parents and the child as well. I do think that they can be well controlled with the right guidence and the correct medication. The first place that I would start is with a Pediatrician - not a family doctor - and then move on to the Pediatric neurologist. Good Luck

Hi B.,

I was started on phenobarbital when I was three years old for eplipesy. Thankfully I FINALLY outgrew the seizures and was able to come off of my meds at age 15. My son was in K-4 when he passed out, the teacher said he had a seizure. We did a MRI, cat scan,EEG & blood work. Nothing showed up on any test. He did it again 4 months later, again at school. They did a round of blood sugar test and everything was fine. The doctors finally said he was dehydrated. We were limiting his drink at night because of bed wetting, then he would go to school and not be able to drink when he wanted to. We felt awful!! I never ever imagined that he wasn't drinking enough (this happened in December the first time) My daughter was 9 months old and had a febril seizure due to a spike in her fever. She was limp and lifeless. It was so scarey. We didn't have all of the test done on her (except blood work) because the doctors believed the fever was the cause of this. I know this may not be of much help, but I want you to know that I'll be praying for your little one. I understand from my own experience as a child and teen with seizures and the worry and fright from my own children's episodes.
Thanks

Dear B.,
My son had his first seizure over a year ago. He was ill at the time and I had given him ibuprofen, but he awoke from his sleep burning up. He had a grand mal focal seizure that lasted around 30 minutes. I thought my son was dying in my arms! Luckily I am certified in infant and adult CPR which I highly recommed to everyone! I had to do rescue breathing on my son until the ambulance arrived. By the time we arrived at the hospital, his temp. was 105.7. They diagnosed this as a febrile seizure, but as I researched this condition I realized this could not be the cause. After visiting with his pediatrician, I demanded an EEG that was abnormal and showed that my son had epilepsy. He had to have an MRI done to make sure he didn't have any cysts or tumors, and it came out okay. If your son has seizures that start on one side of the body these are called focal seizures, and they are caused by a misfiring of electric currents in the brain, which in turn is diagnosed as epilepsy. My son is now a patient at UK neurology clinic and he has been put on Tegretol (Carbamazapine). He takes 3mL in the a.m., and 3mL in the p.m. with no subsequent side effects. He has also been seizure free since March of this year. He is a perfectly normal 2 1/2 year old, but in the back of my mind I know to always be prepared! I have printed up directions for caring for my son if he happens to have a seizure and I have posted them in his daycare, and at the homes of my family members. I also keep one in his backpack because he always has that where ever he goes. I have also educated his daycare workers and all the members of my family. It seems to give me a sense of control over this unpredictable condition. If you have any questions or just want some support my email address is ____@____.com

My daughter (2.5 years old) had 3 febrile seizures back to back (within 20 minutes with little or no recovery in between) last month. so far, she hasn't had any more and we're treating it as an isolated incident. i do know that she's at an increased risk for more after that time, though. Feel free to email me off-list if you want.

my son also had three febral seizures, within a 9 month span - my pediatrician said that we should have him test and had him at a neuroligist straight after the third - the test is rather difficult to do with a 2yr old but necessary and will clear up if he has any effects from the seizures and if there are any problems causing it. I also took him off all triaminic products, had him tested by an allergist and has been removed from dairy products - his seizures happened at very low grade fevers - as his pediatrician said.
Definately get him tested by a pediatric neuroligist asap

Hi there, just to make note to everyone I am in the process of relocating to Fort Wayne in October, I currently live in Grand Rapids MI. There is a hospital out here that can actually cure epolepsi. Not sure how they do it but from what I understand it does include surgury.I had a friend growing up that had it, so I know very well how scary it can be. Good Luck.
K. T

B., You don't say what your doctor has to say about these seizures. First trip is to the pediatrician and find out what could possibly cause them. If he doesn't have answers then I would have him reccomend a specialist to find out. He is kind of old to just have seizures for no reason. Maybe a pinched nerve, (yes, at his age he can have one), maybe something in your home he is ingesting. Lead based paint, lead pipes, many things in your home. But if I didn't get answers, then I would head to a blood specialist first and then a neoursurgeon until I got answers. Whatever it is, it needs to be nipped in the bud while he is small before it could do something permanent. I'd suggest a blood work-up first as it usually is something in the home. Do you have animals? There are just too many variables here. Good luck, keep us posted.