Here is our situation. Our Daughter is 3.5 years old. Two years ago after getting a stomach bug she started having "seizures", when she slept, for a few days (total of 6 that time) before they stopped. We took her to ER and she was put through many tests. Everything came back normal including her EEG. All of her electrolytes were normal as well. They said that possibly it was due to her fever because of the rapid change in temperature when the fever broke. So that was two years ago. The next year after being sick and having a temp she had them again but only a few and alot more mild, we didn't take her in that time because we assumed they were because of the temp or perhaps the tylenol we gave her (some kids have reactions). So, fast foward to this year when she got a stomach bug last weak. Again as it seemed she was getting over it she began to have these "seizures". This time however, she never had a temp at any point and we never gave her any medications. There were 9 "seizures" over the course of a couple of days.
We took her to ER and they took more blood and again the bloodwork came back normal. She wasn't even close to being dehydrated. The doctor simply released us and forwarded the info to her pediatrion. The problem is that all of her tests come back normal, even excelllent normal, (we saw the numbers ourselves) they are neither on the high or low side of normal.
The "seizures only happen when she is sleeping. She is fully aware when they are happening and is coherant afterwards as well. She doesn't pee herself or vomit. Basically to describe it, it's like a leg cramp, but her entire body. All of the muscles are contractiing at the same time. She is crying through it because of the obvious pain. My husband and I message her mucsles out to help them relax. They last from35-45 seconds. I ask her immediatly after if she can see and hear mommy when her "muscles hurt" and she says yes.
So the quetions are: Are they seizures? If everything is normal why do they happen? Why do they happen when she sleeps only, and only after she has been sick with something other than the "common cold"? And, why do they just stop? If anyone knows anything please help. My husband and I have looked on the internet but aren't comming up with anything that sounds the same and the doctors are not suggesting anything at this time. Thanks for your time hope to hear from someone soon.
Sincerely Varga28

[QUOTE=Varga28;2795647 She is fully aware when they are happening and is coherant afterwards as well. [/QUOTE]

Is she aware WHILE it happens? I'm no doctor, but I have witnessed a few seizures (sz) on various people and they are all unconscious while the sz is happening. It doesn't sound like a sz if she's aware of her surrounding during the activity.

As for the EEG, it would be normal if the sz is not occuring at the time the test is being taken. To see if it really is a sz they'd have to at least get an EEG while it's occuring, which is tricky, of course, b/c you don't know when it's going to happen. Since fever seemed to be ruled out as the cause it makes it harder to manipulate the sz to occur for the EEG to be done. But, not sure you'd want to inflict that on your baby just to get a test.

If your ped can't find out what's going on, I would contact the closest teaching hospital. They usually have doctors that can diagnose what other doctors miss.

When you took her the ER what kind of blood tests did they take, do you remember?

I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you. I wish I did.
Good luck, keep me posted.

Is she aware WHILE it happens? I'm no doctor, but I have witnessed a few seizures (sz) on various people and they are all unconscious while the sz is happening. It doesn't sound like a sz if she's aware of her surrounding during the activity.


My aunt is epileptic, and is usually aware of what is going on when she is having a seizure. She only loses conciousness during a grand mal seizure.

There are dozens of causes of seizures, and possibly the doctors should consider an MRI or CT scan.

Thankyou for your replies. We were at the docs today and she is sending her for an MRI and I believe another EEG and possibly a CT as well. I think she is leaning towards seizures. She is also refering us to a pediatric nearologist. So we should get to the bottom of this soon hopefully. I also did some more of my own research and have finally found something on the epilepsie page that fits her. They are called Tonic Seizers, and apparently you can still retain awareness. The web sight also mentioned that sleep deprivation can be a big trigger for seizers. Which would explain why everytime she gets sicker than your average cold she has seizers. She obviously isn't getting solid sleep for several days in a row while she is up with a temp or vomiting. We origionally thought it was linked to her immune system being depleated (which I'm sure doesn't help) but the lack of sleep probably plays a bigger role if these are seizers.

Thanks for your help
Varga28

Is she aware WHILE it happens? I'm no doctor, but I have witnessed a few seizures (sz) on various people and they are all unconscious while the sz is happening. It doesn't sound like a sz if she's aware of her surrounding during the activity.



I'm sorry for not clarifying between grand mal and petit mal seizures. LisaFaith is right, you can be aware during petit mal seizures and some others as well.

I hope the MRI and other tests will give some answers you want.
Good luck.