Another one of those days... (Read 598 times)

We've all had them. The kind of day you wish you never had to experience. Yesterday was ANOTHER one of those days. My youngest (Aaron - 5) has been sick the past few days, (fever, cough)...so I took him to the dr yesterday a.m. Turns out he has Bronchitis...okay, we can deal with that. Discussed with the doctor Aaron's history of Febrile seizures (induced from sudden spikes in temp). Well, assured that he was past this stage at age 5 and being that it has been over a year and a half since his last seizure, I felt okay that this was not a concern. WELL...at 8:30 he had a normal temp (98.6). I still planned the rest of the day that I would be working from home...At 12:05 Aaron called into my room to ask me what time it was - I told him, then around 10 minutes later I heard what I thought was throwing up, I ran out to find him slumped in an unusual position and he was clearly in the tail end of a seizure. When he came too and was with it enough, I took his temp and gave him fever reducer, his temp was 103.5. Okay, he's had about 12 seizures since his was born but I was caught off guard for this one. So, then I set him up in my bedroom, tv, drink, fluffed pillows...etc. We were snuggled watching Hamtaro (AGAIN)...then he fell asleep around 2:00, so I got up and was working on the computer (which is in my bedroom too). I looked over at him when I heard him gasp and he was going into another seizure. This one was BAD (the worst one I've seen with him), his eyes rolling and wide open, "foaming" at the mouth, body stiff and shaking, lips were turning blue and purple, constant moaning. This one lasted about three minutes. Then he did the usual pass out afterwards - moaning for a minute or two. I was on the phone instantly, called his dr., told him I was zipping over to the ER. So, that is what I did. I got to the hospital and couldn't find a parking space in the three close parking lots, ended up parking a million miles away. It is not an easy task to carry a lethargic 5 year old, and a back pack, for such a distance. I was furious by the time I got to the ER desk. But I was nice, it wasn't their fault parking is so bad. So we spent the afternoon there, they did the usual tests (blood, x-ray), got his fever controlled, gave me a bunch of papers (which we already have a collection of) and then sent us on our way. Since we are used to the seizures (to some extent), we don't usually rush to the ER, but this one was just so severe and with two of them so close together I felt better having him checked out. He does indeed have Bronchitis, but I'm still confused since I thought that fevers that high weren't brought about by Bronchitis. As for his seizures, I have him on a schedule of Advil and Tylenol every 6 and 4 hours. Last night I slept in his bed, well, lets just say I was in his bed all night, I don't think slept more than 30 minutes. Every little move he made my eyes popped open. Every cough, sniffle or twitch I was sitting up and looking at him. This morning after getting him settled on the couch I got ready for work. As I was leaving I said goodbye to my husband and then goodbye to Aaron...who asked me "did you see my Gameboy (hand held game system)?" Then he spotted it across the room so he jumped up, got the game and jumped back onto the couch, and then with a big smile he said "see you later stinky head!!" At this point I'm happy to see signs of life come back to him but considering how much like a zombie I felt, his little spunk was slightly annoying!! And NO I didn't run this morning...as I was planning on doing. I'll have to run tonight sometime.

Thanks. I think he just wanted attention ! (JUST KIDDING) Yeah, this weather is nice...I think up to 70 today, 60 tomorrow. I like it! Although it has me wishing I was heading to the beach.

Oh, poor kid! I would have been terrified! Seizures of any sort would just about be my worst nightmare. (((HUGS))) to your entire family. I hope he will soon be past the age where these are common. k

zoom-zoom---- Thank you. We thought he was past this. Even the ER dr said, "oh, by age 5 he'll grow out of this...how old is he?" I just glared at him and said -- he'll be 6 in August. He'll be fine. I just wanted to vent about it.

I am not your kiddo's doctor, but some thoughts. 1. I am sorry you had to go through all this. 2. Bronchitis does not cause fevers and is uncommon in nonsmokers and 5 year olds (read: it is overdiagnosed without science to back it). He likely has flu or a flu-like viral infection. 3. Febrile seizures are usually 1 or 2 time things that happen until you are about 5. It is very uncommon to happen 12 times. Regular seizure may be triggered by fevers, but these are not true febrile seizures and may not be limited to the first 5 years of life. I would suggest that you take your kiddo for an evaluation by a qualified pediatric neurologist. 4. I hope all of you recover well.

Follow you hunch. Seizures in and of themselves are not a bad thing, although they can be terribly inconvenient. Most people with seizures can be seizure-free with medications, and in this case it may just be tylenol. After 13 seizures, your child requires further neurologic evaluation, especially with the family history. You should settle for nothing less. Is your family doc a pediatrician?

Family history scares me. My husband's maternal grandmother had many strokes and spent years in a nursing home before passing. One of my aunt's (on my father's side) had several strokes and died from the last one, she was only 42. None of my older three children have ever had a seizure of any kind (but they are from my ex-husband). Aaron has been our "sick" child. Our doctor is a family dr, not a pediatrician. He's a by the book dr, literally, he'll pull books out of every room and show you and explain inside and out what is going on. I like him but in this case, as in with the asthma and allergies, it's time to see a specialist.

Let me know if you have any other questions, and I am curious as to what the neurologist thinks. Feel free to email me. Click