Epilepsy
My 8 years old son has epilepsy, we have always suspected something
but 2,5 years ago we found out what it really was.
He was playing a game with his older brother and suddenly he
lost his sight, he told me everything went dark. I thought
he was joking, but by the time I went to see what was happening
he collapsed right into my arms. He didn't respond to anything,
his eyes and mouth were half open. I yelled to him, but he didn't
respond to anything. I called the emergency line and my Mother, within'
5 minutes the ambulance arrived and I went with my son to the hospital.
It took about 15 minutes to get to the ER and my son was still not responding
All together the seizure lasted for half an hour.
A week after he got a brain wave test, also called an EEG (electroencephalogram),
to look for changes in the brain's electrical patterns that are related to seizures,
the results were pretty shocking. I got a phone call from the neurologist saying
he wanted an MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging), to look for abnormal
areas such as a tumor or infection.
Thank god the MRI turned out just fine.
My son was put on medication for small children, this didn't work as
another EEG showed. For 2 years now he's getting KEPPRA, which is
usually not given to children under the age of 16.
For a year it all went well, but lately I see daily seizures, most of the time
more than once a day.
This morning we went back to the neurologist, we scheduled another EEG
for upcoming Wednesday, but the doctor thinks we'll have to double the
medication. The only hope I have is that my little tough guy will grow
over it once in puberty. Till that day comes, I'll have to live with the fear
something might happen to him while he's riding his bike and such.
posted by Christie Lee at 10/13/2006 11:32:00 AM
4 Comments:
My heart is breaking for your son. It must be hard for him.
He's strong enough, he takes his medication and goes on with his life. It's me who's worried, I'm scared when he wants to go swimming and stuff like that.
I've heard about other illnesses that can disappear with changes in the hormonal balance, so I really do hope his condition improves in puberty. Maybe it's also easier with medication then? A guy I know got epilepsy as a grown-up and had to stop driving for a while, but it is much better now.
It sure must be hard for a mother when so many activities suddenly turn out to be more dangerous than normal. Have you talked to mothers with similar experiences?
he is on medication already, but I think he needs more.
I'm not the type of person to talk to people who are in simulair situations, only when it comes to Billy LOL
I do read a lot and depend on my son's doctor, he looks like a wise man ;-)
I can only hope he will grow over it some day!
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