mom2kiddos
12-11-2007, 10:35 AM
MY 3 year old son has had seizures since March. In the last 8 days he has had 2 grand mal seizures, even while on his medicine. Both times I took my son to the ER and was there before the seizure was over.
At my sons check up yesterday, his neurologist said that unless he has been seizing for 5 minutes there is no need to take him to the ER. But at the ER, on the discharge papers it says to bring him in immediatley if he has another one.
I am thinking that if my son seizes for 5 minutes something is very wrong and he should be there in the ER right then, not 2 or 3 minutes later.
What do you do with your seizures or how do you handle someone else when they are having one? Do you make a trip to the ER everytime? Do you wait it out whereever you are? Did I get a bad piece of advice?
At my sons check up yesterday, his neurologist said that unless he has been seizing for 5 minutes there is no need to take him to the ER. But at the ER, on the discharge papers it says to bring him in immediatley if he has another one.
I am thinking that if my son seizes for 5 minutes something is very wrong and he should be there in the ER right then, not 2 or 3 minutes later.
What do you do with your seizures or how do you handle someone else when they are having one? Do you make a trip to the ER everytime? Do you wait it out whereever you are? Did I get a bad piece of advice?
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Sherri5186
12-11-2007, 03:30 PM
Hi,
Because of moving and having seizures all my life,all of my
doctors have told me and my family the same thing about
waiting until it has been about 5 or 10 minutes.My insurance
company would not like it if I went in everytime,because I have
them every month around my period.My family will sometimes
take me in if I have a grandmal because I normally have complex
partials,and usually by the time I actually get to the ER I am fine
and can fill out my own paper work etc.So I do not think that it
is just your doctor,I have read it many books also.
Good-luck and take care,Sherri
Because of moving and having seizures all my life,all of my
doctors have told me and my family the same thing about
waiting until it has been about 5 or 10 minutes.My insurance
company would not like it if I went in everytime,because I have
them every month around my period.My family will sometimes
take me in if I have a grandmal because I normally have complex
partials,and usually by the time I actually get to the ER I am fine
and can fill out my own paper work etc.So I do not think that it
is just your doctor,I have read it many books also.
Good-luck and take care,Sherri
030free
12-11-2007, 03:54 PM
hi mom2kiddos, Im sorry to hear of the gran mals your son is having. I had partial complex seizures as well and every month due to my hormone changes a week b4 my period, but my mother would only call an ambulance and race me to the ER if i had a grand mal seizure for more then 10 minutes or I passed out for too long. I dont see the need to rush your child to the ER every time he seizs, but keep a close eye on him and make sure his n=behavior, eating habbits, and unconscious times are not drastically changing in between those attacks. You should make an appointment asap with the neuro which is his actual dr, and expalin the situation, maybe he needs his levels checked. The ER can only do but so much for epileptic individual. Trust me I was there a lot through out the 20 yrs. I wish you and your child the best.
vickie45
12-12-2007, 12:38 AM
030free.how did they pick up on your being e? im curious because im having a tough time here not knowing and can you or sherri tell me what the grandmas are cause on dec 4th i was out cold for 1/2 to 45 mins to a hr was that a grandma maybe i had cause i cant even remember nothing that took place that day . and i been to ER many times out of fear and when my hubby took me there once i passedout but the dumb hospital never even checked me for any seizures because me and hubby thought it was panic .and when i blackedout back in june and the ER took me to the hospital they thought i overdosed which i didnt i was only on 2 meds at the time and my stomach started hurting really bad and i was screeming and crying and they wanted to send me to a mental ward how stupid they should have tested me to find out why i blackedout .
vickie
vickie
Sherri5186
12-12-2007, 09:27 AM
Hi Vickie,
A grandmal is the worse kind of seizure you can have,it is the one
that you see most people on Tv etc. have when they fall shake,
stiffen up,sometimes bite their tongue etc.You can have one
of those as I have and then fall right to sleep and not know what
is going on around you for hours,and before I really come to,I have
been told that I will sometimes then have a couple of CP during
that time and be out of it for many hours,and not be able to tell
anyone what has gone on.Take care,Sherri
A grandmal is the worse kind of seizure you can have,it is the one
that you see most people on Tv etc. have when they fall shake,
stiffen up,sometimes bite their tongue etc.You can have one
of those as I have and then fall right to sleep and not know what
is going on around you for hours,and before I really come to,I have
been told that I will sometimes then have a couple of CP during
that time and be out of it for many hours,and not be able to tell
anyone what has gone on.Take care,Sherri
neurowreck
12-12-2007, 01:46 PM
If I went to the ER with every seizure, they'd have to have a parking space made for me. I live alone, and the hospital is only 2 miles away, so the ambulance trip is hardly worth it, and the ER is actually nasty to seizure patients who come in (even with back to back seizures, or witnessed seizures longer than 5 minutes- which is status epilepticus and can cause brain damage or death if not reversed- however, going with every seizure isn't practical for me- with a child, I'd get the neurologist's input on when to go).
I've had ER nurses tell me that :
-seizure patients just take up beds in the ER that 'real' patients could use
- if seizure patients would talk to their primary doc and take their meds, they wouldn't be in the ER (guess they never heard of breakthrough or intractable seizures, or 'status')
-the ER can't 'fix' seizures, so why come?
-and other incredibly stupid and ignorant comments, leading to hostility when I'd be brought in, generally when someone else saw the seizure, or my former employer would call an ambulance (at home, I just go to bed, and ride it out- I don't remember anything after the aura, then waking up hours later, sore, and with a headache).
ERs have A LOT to learn about seizure patients. I personally think they're quite cruel, and prejudicial. I do see/talk to my doc. I take my meds. My drug levels in the ER confirm that. I don't send myself in, but others do (liability and practical reasons- even my MD has sent me in by 911- no room in the MD office for a post-ictal person). If they don't want seizure patients, they need to put a sign out front !!
I've had ER nurses tell me that :
-seizure patients just take up beds in the ER that 'real' patients could use
- if seizure patients would talk to their primary doc and take their meds, they wouldn't be in the ER (guess they never heard of breakthrough or intractable seizures, or 'status')
-the ER can't 'fix' seizures, so why come?
-and other incredibly stupid and ignorant comments, leading to hostility when I'd be brought in, generally when someone else saw the seizure, or my former employer would call an ambulance (at home, I just go to bed, and ride it out- I don't remember anything after the aura, then waking up hours later, sore, and with a headache).
ERs have A LOT to learn about seizure patients. I personally think they're quite cruel, and prejudicial. I do see/talk to my doc. I take my meds. My drug levels in the ER confirm that. I don't send myself in, but others do (liability and practical reasons- even my MD has sent me in by 911- no room in the MD office for a post-ictal person). If they don't want seizure patients, they need to put a sign out front !!
Travis from MN
12-12-2007, 04:02 PM
A good general rule is if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes bring them in.
IF you are concerned don't worry, bring them in.
If there is an injury, excessive bleeding, broken bone GO IN.
Otherwise let it run it's course. Keep an eye on the person for their safety, learn Seizure first aid from the Dr/Neuro so you know what to do with the person in your house.
However, in general what the hospital said is correct. There isn't much they can do except moniter or overdose a patient.
--Travis
However, that has NOT stopped me from going in to the ER after having GM's that felt bad. You sort of learn WHEN to go in and when you need not to.
IF you are concerned don't worry, bring them in.
If there is an injury, excessive bleeding, broken bone GO IN.
Otherwise let it run it's course. Keep an eye on the person for their safety, learn Seizure first aid from the Dr/Neuro so you know what to do with the person in your house.
However, in general what the hospital said is correct. There isn't much they can do except moniter or overdose a patient.
--Travis
However, that has NOT stopped me from going in to the ER after having GM's that felt bad. You sort of learn WHEN to go in and when you need not to.