My son had 2 seizures after taking a prescribed medication

Sandy - posted on 04/14/2011

Shannon ... doctors gave my son a decongestant and it kicked his seizures into overtime!!! Decongestants or cold medicines lower the seizure threshold and as with my son, the seizures got much worse and he had to go through two more brain surgeries!!
Sandy Lora

Carolyn - posted on 02/16/2009

Hi Shannon,



You are not overracting. I also have a child who was diagnosed with a seizure disorder at 7 months, and continued to have seizures on and off until about 23 months old (she's been seizure-free for about 10 months now with medication). She's also been diagnosed with Autism and sensory disorders.



Rule one about being a mom: Trust your gut. If you think something's wrong with your child, speak up. Chances are you're right. You may be a first time mom, but no one knows your child better than you. If you feel something isn't right, there isn't anyone else more qualified to make that observation. When Abby was in the hospital when we started ACTH, they doctors and nurses relied on me & dad to tell them when a seizure occurred, but they "don't know your child, we may not recognize it when it happens". And these are the experts!



I think the best piece of advice I got was from one of the nurses at the neurologist's office when I called all apologetic about "being a bother" when I thought the seizures had resumed (I was right). She told me, "You are your child's advocate. Let's face it, you're probably the only advocate she'll have. You need to be her voice."



The best thing is to get an EEG. Misty gave a good description. I also found the hardest part was having to hold Abby still while they stuck the goop to her head (depending on the local policy, you may or may not be allowed to be with them). But it wasn't painful, just distressing because they do need to be temporarily confined.



You may find it helpful before going to neurologist to keep a diary. Keep track of your day, and you may see a pattern of when the spells occur. For example, the type of epilepsy my daughter has makes her very prone to having seizures within 1/2 hour of falling asleep or waking up, so that was an important clue for the neurologist. Also write down details of what the spell looks like (did both arms move? or only one? right side or left side? what about their eyes? how long was their postictal state [the period of altered conciousness that sometimes follows a seizure]?) This will help the neurologist. Also try to capture some film of the spell.



It's also possible, if there has only been two seizures, that they were isolated events. Sometimes people have seizures for unknown reasons, and they never reoccur. Children often outgrow them.



I hope that helps. Let us know what happens!





Carolyn

Shannon - posted on 02/16/2009

What were Ashlyn's symptoms to make you think she was having seizures?  Since Eli had his two seizures on Thursday I have been searching the internet for anything that I can find on seizure disorders. I never knew there were so many types.  Now, looking at the symptoms for the different types I am finding things that match my sons actions and activities.  But then again, I am a first time mom and I am afraid I may be overreacting.

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

Quoting Misty:

My daughter Ashlyn was diagnosed with a Seizure disorder at 6 months. An EEG is the way to go.  It will test the brain wave patterns in your son's brain.  They usually don't glue the cable down unless you are doing a 24 hour EEG.  If it is just in the office they use a type of cream and apply it to electrodes all over the head.  It doesn't hurt them at all.  They are more aggrevated because the have to be still.  We have had three 30 minute EEGs and two 24 hour ones.  She takes a medication called Topamax now that seems to work wonders.  She isn't walking yet, but is well on her way!  Let me know if you need anything!

HOW OLD IS YOUR DAUGHTER?

Misty - posted on 02/15/2009

My daughter Ashlyn was diagnosed with a Seizure disorder at 6 months. An EEG is the way to go.  It will test the brain wave patterns in your son's brain.  They usually don't glue the cable down unless you are doing a 24 hour EEG.  If it is just in the office they use a type of cream and apply it to electrodes all over the head.  It doesn't hurt them at all.  They are more aggrevated because the have to be still.  We have had three 30 minute EEGs and two 24 hour ones.  She takes a medication called Topamax now that seems to work wonders.  She isn't walking yet, but is well on her way!  Let me know if you need anything!

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

Quoting shannon:

Does anyone in your family have a history of seizures?  My dad and an uncle have both been diagnosed with having them. I think that is why I am so worried.  Was the EEG that they performed on your daughter all overnight in the hospital?  I am glad your daughter is doing well.

Not immediate family, the EEG that they performed on the baby was overnight. They will let you stay with your son all night. 

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

Quoting shannon:

Does anyone in your family have a history of seizures?  My dad and an uncle have both been diagnosed with having them. I think that is why I am so worried.  Was the EEG that they performed on your daughter all overnight in the hospital?  I am glad your daughter is doing well.

Not immediate family, the EEG that they performed on the baby was overnight. They will let you stay with your son all night. 

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

Quoting shannon:

Does anyone in your family have a history of seizures?  My dad and an uncle have both been diagnosed with having them. I think that is why I am so worried.  Was the EEG that they performed on your daughter all overnight in the hospital?  I am glad your daughter is doing well.

Not immediate family, the EEG that they performed on the baby was overnight. They will let you stay with your son all night. 

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

Quoting shannon:

Does anyone in your family have a history of seizures?  My dad and an uncle have both been diagnosed with having them. I think that is why I am so worried.  Was the EEG that they performed on your daughter all overnight in the hospital?  I am glad your daughter is doing well.

Not immediate family, the EEG that they performed on the baby was overnight. They will let you stay with your son all night. 

Shannon - posted on 02/15/2009

Does anyone in your family have a history of seizures?  My dad and an uncle have both been diagnosed with having them. I think that is why I am so worried.  Was the EEG that they performed on your daughter all overnight in the hospital?  I am glad your daughter is doing well.

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

When my daughter was born it seemed she suffered from seizures and she also saw a pediatric neurologist, my husband always recorded these moments that seemed she was having one, the neurolgist saw the tape and right away they perform a EEG video for 24 hrs. and everything came out normal. Since then she has had two routine check ups and everything is fine. During the appointment he examined her completely, they do this examination and just by doing this they can tell a lot without the tests. The EEG is very hard to experience, well for me it was. She was only two weeks when they had to glue all these cables in her head, it was really hard to see her go through this, but everything felt better when the results came. Hope this works for you.

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

When my daughter was born it seemed she suffered from seizures and she also saw a pediatric neurologist, my husband always recorded these moments that seemed she was having one, the neurolgist saw the tape and right away they perform a EEG video for 24 hrs. and everything came out normal. Since then she has had two routine check ups and everything is fine. During the appointment he examined her completely, they do this examination and just by doing this they can tell a lot without the tests. The EEG is very hard to experience, well for me it was. She was only two weeks when they had to glue all these cables in her head, it was really hard to see her go through this, but everything felt better when the results came. Hope this works for you.

CHRISTINA - posted on 02/15/2009

When my daughter was born it seemed she suffered from seizures and she also saw a pediatric neurologist, my husband always recorded these moments that seemed she was having one, the neurolgist saw the tape and right away they perform a EEG video for 24 hrs. and everything came out normal. Since then she has had two routine check ups and everything is fine. During the appointment he examined her completely, they do this examination and just by doing this they can tell a lot without the tests. The EEG is very hard to experience, well for me it was. She was only two weeks when they had to glue all these cables in her head, it was really hard to see her go through this, but everything felt better when the results came. Hope this works for you.