First off, my brother had epilepsy from ages 4-12. He had petit mal, gran mal, and unclassified seizures until he basically *snapped* out of them and was weaned off meds. He did have a seizure at age 16 due to morphine after a surgery. He's 24 now and is just fine even after doctors thought he would be left brain dead, wouldn't be a "viable" citizen, etc. if they kept coming on like they were.

Back in March, right after my son turned 7, I noticed that he was having these blank spells. He would completely stop whatever he was doing, and nothing would bring him out of it. They would probably last no more than 10 seconds. He was also diagnosed at age 5 with ADHD, was put on Ritalin for about 6 months. He would be very physically agressive, would cry nonstop about every little thing. I had to take him off it because he was so much worse than the over-active child that he was before.

Well the blank stares seemed to stop, at least I never noticed them at home, and his teacher never noticed I assume at school, until early June when we went to visit my dad for the weekend. He had several during the day. I haven't noticed any since then either.

This past Friday 7/6, he came down with what I think was a stomach bug. Complained of a headache, stomach ache, wouldn't eat, started vomiting in the early afternoon. Slept all afternoon, evening. I gave him some Ibuprofen to help ease the pain. Took one bite out of a hamburger I made him, but he said he couldn't chew. Fell back asleep til 630Am when he started vomiting again, complaining of a bellyache. He woke up around 11am, and he seemed fine and he was a bit energized. Around 1pm he started vomiting again. So he went into the house to lay down on his bed and to watch a movie. He started SCREAMING that his head was hurting and to turn the movie OFF. He wanted "his" icepack, covered with a washcloth, but he said it wasn't helping any, even though he layed his head on it all afternoon. I gave him some more Ibuprofen, and he fell asleep again for about 15 mins until he started screaming again that his head was hurting. He was running a fever as well, 101.3. I convinced him that he should probably get into the tub to help his fever go down and to hopefully help his headache go away. He got out and he said he felt better and layed back down on his bed and watched 2 full movies. He ate a handful of fishsticks for supper and played on the computer for a bit, so I'm happy that he was feeling better at that point. I ended up buying some Dramimine to see if it would help the nausea. He fell asleep around 7pm and woke up at 130am complaining of his belly hurting again. He's pretty constipated but has had bowel movements tonight and last night. Then he said his head was starting to hurt again and threw up twice on the kitchen floor. I went to get something to clean it up, and within the 2 mins that I was gone he was curled up in the fetal position sleeping again. I gave him another Dramimine and got him to go back to bed where he's at now watching a movie. He's been getting pale, lips are bluish, dark eyes. He's normally very active and very talkative, so for him to be in bed and sleeping as much as he is, is just not like him.


So I know what he's experiencing is definitely a migrane. I don't know if he had a stomach bug/flu yesterday or not.. I don't know if this is seizure related or not either. Ibuprofen takes so long to kick in, that I feel really sorry for him.

I'm kinda worried that maybe there's some underlying issue though. He's never complained of headaches before, or at least not this severe.

He has a doctors appt on 7/19 for the blank stares and I'll bring these episodes of migranes up as well.

I'm not really sure if I have a specific question or not. I don't know if there's anyone that has any advice or has been in similar situations.

I'm not really sure if this is the place to post this or not. I'm just a concerned mother and I know that the only person to give me answers is a doctor that can examine him and run tests. Hopefully this will be short-lived and he feels better soon. It just hurts to see him in so much pain.

Thanks for reading and sorry this got so long! =)

Michelle - I'm so sorry this is happening to your son.
I know nothing about children's epilepsy and other problems but wanted to wish you the best.

Other people with more knowledge will soon be here to answer you.

Hi Michelle,
I'm sorry that your son is going through a hard time but I can remember it very well. I was 10 yrs. old (44 now) when I started having absence (petit mal) seizures where I would just stare for a few seconds and then I was exhausted and would sleep most of the day but before the seizures started I had wicked migraine headaches which I found out are connected to epilepsy for many people. Also many people who are ADHD end up having seizures do to their medical problem.
Often when I get a stomach bug, cold or virus of some type I end up having many more seizures because the virus throws my body chemistry off. If your son has the stomach bug have him eat only chicken broth, and drink hot or cold tea. I was sick with it for 3 days. I ask myself if the migraine headaches are what's causing your son to feel nausea and get sick. It happens to many people.
Since epilepsy runs in your family my advice to you is to have your son see an epileptologist (Dr. specializing in epilepsy) I've had the best luck with an epileptologist at an Epilepsy Center which are at many University Hospitals. Also you should have the Dr. do an e.e.g. on your son to find out if he's having seizures. Try cutting him back on sweets, carbs, and starch foods and keep him away from nutra sweet (aspartame) all of these types of foods and beverages can trigger seizures and nutra sweet causes more electrical activity in the brain. I found that out the hard way when I bought diet soda and had many more seizures.
Try putting your son on vitamin B12 it has been great reducing my seizures and you can buy it over the counter. Also take note and keep a calendar writing down what time your son had a seizure along with a description by doing this the Dr. can often see a pattern as to what days of the month or what time of the day or night a person is more likely to have seizures. If the weather is bad outside that can sometimes cause seizures for some people also so take note if there's a low pressure outside.
I wish you and your son the best of luck and May God Bless All of You!

Sue

Thank You very much Sue. Fortunately I haven't noticed him having any seizures with the migranes, but that doesn't mean he didn't have any either. He stopped having the flu symptoms and migranes, but now he's got severe body aches. He can barely move any part of his body and he's got a horrible rash all over his legs. I took him to the ER yesterday morning after I noticed the rash and all the doc basically said was that it was a result of the viral infection. His white blood cell count is normal. I was told to give him motrin and benadryl. Motrin doesn't cut the pain at all. He can't sleep because every little move hurts him. I can barely touch him.. and he'll scream out that I scratched or pinched him. His skin is so sensitive right now.

He goes to the doctor on the 19th, and I'll be explaining all of this. I can only hope that his pain will be gone before then.

Thanks again!

Hi Michelle,
I hope your son is feeling better and things go well at the Drs. hopefully you will be able to find out what's going on. A few yrs. ago I broke out with a terrible rash and had to see a dermatologist (skin specialist) who did a skin biopsy on me and found out I was allergic to the drug (lamictal) I was taking for my seizures. I wasn't in any pain just a lot of itchy skin with a rash. I had to go off the drug immediately.
If you're interested here are a couple of website to help you learn more about epilepsy and different types of seizures and treatments.

www.epilepsy.com

http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/neurology.htm
(when the main page come up click on epilepsy and check out all the info. or you can just do a search.)

Here's wishing you and your son the best of luck and May God Bless You Both!

Sue

Well I have came to my own conclusion that he's got Viral Meningitis. He is so stiff right now. He can't raise his arms above his head, can't bend his knees, he can't even straighten his back out. Luckily he's not around a bunch of kids, and I'll be keeping him away from all kids. I think I'm actually coming down with something now as well, but I've been his main caretaker through all this.

Hi Michelle,
I'm so sorry to hear that your son may have meningitis. I have a cousin who got it a few yrs. ago and his short term memory went down hill fast. He was in his 60's when he got the virus and the Dr found out he got it from a flock of pigeons that were by his house. The pigeons had a bacteria in them and the fumes from the bacteria went around the outside of the house where my cousin breathed the odors in and then the meningitis started. He's also had a lot of neuro problems but thank goodness no sz. I wish you and your son the best of luck and May God Bless You Both!

Sue

Well with viral meningitis, its nothing really serious. Its kinda like an extreme version of the flu. Bacterial meningitis is definitely something to worry about though, but its not a bacterial infection that he's got. I wish they would figure out a way to treat/cure viral infections.

He's seeming to be a bit better today. More alert and active. He's having pain in his left shoulder and won't move that arm much. His back is bothering him quite a bit, but at least he's attempting to get up and walk around. I'm encouraging him to do so to at least try and stretch his muscles.

michelle,

I was thinking as I was reading this, that is does sound like mening.....it is very serious, my next door neighbor has this right now as has been in the hospital for over a week.....if you suspect he has this he needs to be seen by a doctor.

I hope he is doing better....

Kimberley

Hey, Michelle.

((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))) to you and your little guy. This sounds a lot like what has happened to me all my life. I would have this peculiar "sickness" that no one else in the house ever got that would result in several "spells" of heartburn-like sensation, light and sound sensitivity, panic and anxiety, and on occasion I would see yellow glittery spots. The ordeal would consist of about 8-30 of these incidents over about 1-2 days and leave me with a fever and chills, severe pain in my right eye, and a dazed, drained feeling for at least another day or two. At last, when I was 25, they were IDed as simple partial seizures (and only because I always had them before grand mals as well, but would often have them without GMs, too).

I want to point out to you that migraines and szs are very closely related, and I have had both, so it's entirely possible that he has had both as well. Also, szs are more common in families where another family member has had szs (of any type) or migraines.

As for the possibility of viral meningitis, I'm glad to hear that he's getting better, but even though it isn't as serious as bacterial meningitis, I would address it with the ped, especially if he has any more szs.


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