Does this sound like a seizure? - Epilepsy Message Board

sugarmyst · 12-28-2008, 04:17 PM

Hello everyone, I just found this board and am hoping to get some feedback from people with more experience. My 8 year old son had 2 Tonic/Clonic seizures within a 24 hour period almost 3 years ago. All the tests/workups turned up nothing and it seemed we were in the clear. He does however have tourettes syndrome and mild OCD/Anxiety.

For the last week or so he's not been himself. He's been weepy and anxious and having trouble falling asleep. Anyway last night at around 5am I woke up to hear grunting noises coming from his room. He was not convulsing but he was grunting almost rythamically with snoring sound as he exhaled. But what was most troublesome was the amount of drool coming out of his mouth. There was a wet spot about the size of a cantaloupe under his mouth, the drool was just pouring out. I tried to wake him but it was impossible, he would not wake up. He would try to open his eyes when I called his name but couldn't. I even splashed water on his face, nothing. My husband carried him downstairs and tried to get him to urniate. He was able to stand but was not able to get to a fully conscious state. We put him on the couch and he immediately fell back asleep for many hours. When he woke up (later than usual) he complained of a slight headache and just seemed "off".

I don't know what to do. How do I know if this was a seizure? Thank you in advance for your help.

Travis from MN · 12-28-2008, 05:33 PM

Have there been any more in the last 24 months (2 years)? If there was a fever or recent booster shots given by the doctor (when it happened) those are POSSIBLE causes.

It is known that children around the age you mentioned to have one or two seizures, or seizure like spells, then nothing. I have not heard a reasoning for why this is.

(I'm going off on MY OWN TANGENT HERE, so don't give this much credit) If it has to do with growing in the child's body, or a slight imbalance in their bodies that causes these "random" seizures at this young age who is to say. Fever and infection I can fully understand. However with those two removed it is a wild card. When they become stable and show no symptoms afterwards (no more seizures) it is inexplicable.

(BACK TO REALITY) I would take it as one of those once in a blue moon times and keep the note in the doctors file, but go under the assumption that everything will be fine.

--Travis

alistone · 12-28-2008, 06:26 PM

It sounds to me like some kind of seizure, although I'm definitely no type of doctor, I'm aware that seizures present in many forms. DEFINITELY something worth asking your doctor about - any type of state in which a person can't be woken is troublesome. For example, absence seizures (sometimes called petit-mal seizures) can present without muscle spasms and can appear as though the person is staring into space. Although what you described doesn't sound like that, obviously there is something to be investigated. Before I was diagnosed with nocturnal seizures, I had at least two in my sleep without realizing (biting my lips and cheek, etc.). These were accompanied by those lovely large drool spots, tiredness and emotional instability.
I hope everything works out for you, good luck!

sugarmyst · 12-28-2008, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the replies. I should have mentioned that he is on antibiotics for a strep infection right now. I don't know if that's relevant. I will see what tonight brings. It's very nerve wracking.