Was that a seizure????

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2004
Was that a seizure????
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Tue, 03-04-2008 - 10:30pm

Help!!!!


My three year old has always done weird things sleeping. He usually has little angry episodes, when he says audible things in his sleep like, "Hey, that was mine! You give it back!" or "I just want a tissue; NO MEDICINE!" (Yes, he speaks in CAPS in his sleep.) Last night, he kind of burst into laughter sleeping.


A little while ago, after he was asleep more deeply than usual (judging by the number of toenails cut scale-he was at a ten!) he started shaking his arms and legs and puckering his lips. The shaking seemed a lot like shivering, but he didn't seem cold. He is not feverish, either. His fingers were curled.


Could this have been a seizure? This means he will probably need an EEG, doesn't it? I can't shampoo my little guy or comb his hair; I don't see him cooperating with electrodes and conducting gel.


I am really scared, and grasping for other possible explainations for trembling in bed. He didn't urinate, so it can't be a seizure, right? It was probably his way of warning me never to cut his toenails again.


If anyone has any experience with this kind of episode, and what happens next, please let me know.


Thanks,


Sidney


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 12:04am

I really don't know but you really should take him to a neuro to get checked to be sure. And, yes, he really REALLY should have an EEG just to make sure. 1/3 of kids with ASD can have seizures, often in sleep and can be "subclinical" or where you don't really notice them. They can really affect their skills so you want to make sure to check it out if there are any concerns.

Hopefully if they see he does have seizures then can put him on a med and find one quick that helps. Most often seizures are pretty darn treatable with medication and it can make a world of difference. We have notice with Cait nearly immediate fantastic changes with her seizure meds. Our only problem is that it seems for some reason after a couple years it stops working and we have to switch to a different seizure med. Some kids with seizures will out grow them as well.

Basically once you get through the diagnostic stage of the initial neuro appointments and EEG after that you just have regular check ups with the neuro to adjust meds. If there isn't any problems we go either once or twice a year for those. Every year or 2 she has an EEG if there is a new issue coming up or we need to follow.

Cait's seizure issues are a bit more severe these days it seems due to her brain lesion so she has to have regular MRI's and EEGs. You may only have the initial one then follow up check ups with a neuro. The neuro appointments are pretty easy over all.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2004
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 9:57am

Thank you Renee. I am waiting for a call back from the neurologist. Geez, the man can talk for hours about one of my kids knowing all of his letters, but not the alphabet, but has not called me back about a possible seizure.


I decided to send him to school in spite of this and a cold, since missing school puts him in

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 10:24am

I hope you get a call from the doc soon.

                                

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 11:53am

Sidney,


If he does end up having a EEG, I strongly recommend you take him in to be introduced first.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 12:07pm

Sidney, I agree w/the PP.

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 1:08pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2004
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 4:01pm

Thanks for the support everyone.


If you are bored, here is the sequence of events and updates:


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 4:35pm

Oh gosh Sidney you poor thing!


Okay one thing to do tonite or any other night he is acting this way, is to videotape it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 5:38pm
OMG, Sidney...what a day for you!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-05-2008 - 7:18pm

Sidney,

Not to discourage you, but these docs don't rush on stuff. I don't know if seizures are too common for them or what.

Cait is going in 2 weeks for an EEG that was ordered nearly 2 months prior. That is a 24 hour one. the 1 hour ones are easier to get in for but honest, I would get a 24 hour one if you can. That is at a children's hospital as well and harder to schedule there.

Good luck. It is ok to breath easier though. Seizures are actually pretty common amung kids and the vast majority come out of them just fine.

Renee

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