I have a 13 and a half year old son that has mild CP. He had a stroke at birth, and they had to place a VP shunt. The effects of his CP are hard to detect to the untrained eye, unless he is very tired or sick - then he has right-side deficits. He has had a totally normal life up until now, except for the shunt. He plays piano, is an A student, and all other activities of childhood are normal.
Seven weeks ago, he had a seizure. It did not last long, but they labeled it a grand mal. Two days ago, he had another one. This one lasted around 5 minutes, and took him another 45 minutes to "come out of it" - get his normal speech back, and normal mobility. The docs checked his shunt both times, and did blood work both times, and everything is normal.
Are seizures common with CP? I had never heard that they are, but am wondering now. I want something reasuuring to tell him - he is terrified that it will happen at school, or church, or someplace in public, and he will be embarrased. His mother and I have tried to tell him that this is nothing to be ashamed of, but we are just sounding like parents to him. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif
He can remember nothing with either seizure that will qualify as an aura, so he doesn't yet know how to tell when one is coming on.
Thank you for any insight!

Sometimes seizures are common with cp. Every child with cp is an individual. Have you checked with the neurologist for seizure control medications and/or testing for seizures or epilepsy? That would be the first step.
Good luck.

Blackbelt

Hi there!

I have had Epilepsy and CP since I was 2 yo. It was caused by chicken pox and 104 fever which caused brain damage.

I had brain surgery 3 years ago to cure the seizures and it worked.

hi wraith

seizures are caused from epelispy i have had CP and Epelispy ever since i was born. They also had to put a shunt in. And thank God i have never had to have it changed. its the orignal one.

As for the seizures i have also had one grand mal. dont know how long it lasted but you said that the one two days ago lasted 5 minutes and took you a long time to wake him up. well i am no expert but that sounds like the grand mal NOT the first one that last only a couple of minutes. My friend just told me that a grand mal lasts a long time. so either one of those seizures your son had maybe was not a grand mal. but like i said I am no expert.
The way i tell when one is coming is i get a sick feeling in my throat not my stomach. It feels like i am about to throw up i know that sounds gross. And its different for everyone i think.
You son doesnt have to be afraid or ashamed its just part of the life a percentage of us live. But tell him that having this was like a gift from God he will be able to understand people maybe not like him but others with disabilities. And maybe one day he wont have them at all but for now assure him that your love for him will never change and that he is special in your eyes and in Gods eyes.
God bless