Seizures

[wylesgirl]

My daughter has been diagnosed with absence seizures She will "zone out". She can be in the middle of talking to you and just tilt her head and stare off. She is 10 years old. I was told years ago that she may be having them by her speech therapist. I disregarded it because my daughter cant be having seizures. That was my way of thinking. I guess denial. She had speech therapy from age 3 until the end of her 1st grade year. I finally took her to a neurologist. He gave her Keppra. 500mg twice a day. I started it first time last night. She doesnt have convulsions with this type of seizure. I just dont really know much about it. Her school work is affected also. I guess what I am doing here is trying to find out as much as I can about this type of seizure She has other things going on also.
This is the neuro. impression: Static encephalopathy
Seizure disorder of an absence type vs a complex/partial type
Limited intellectual abilities functioning at an IQ level of 70-80%
History of recurrent ear infections treated with 2 sets of PE tubes.

I am trying to find the best course to help my daughter with these findings. She has a real hard time being accepted by her peers and struggles in school and if there is something I can do for her, I want to be doing it. She has a MRI scheduled for tomorrow. I am thinking she may have ADD also. She is all over the place when she is telling stories. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[thehunts]

Wow! As I read this I felt as thow you were describbing my daughter. Well since my oldest daughter has started school she has been having problems. Last year when she was in JK I was getting calls all the time she was identified with behavior problems. I was willing to do anything the school said to get her the help she needed and I was at my wits end. I didn't see any of the behaviors they saw at school. I had to admit that they were obviously not making things up.

Well this year she was being followed by an educator and a resource teacher in order to give her extra support. The message I was getting from the teachers and educators and all other professionals working with was that there is something wrong they just don't know what. No one could explain it. Then one day as they were asking infomation on our whole family health history and I mentionned that my youngest daughter was epeliptic. A light bulb went off for them and they asked me to get her cheked because they had thaught at one point that she may be having absent seizures. I didn't believe that this could be possible. I kept thinking that I would have noticed. And with my youngest daughter having GrandMal seizures at least I know when she has one. They are the scaryest things I have ever seen but at leas I know how many she has had and when she has had them.

Well anyways I braught my daughter for an EEG and sure enough I was told that it showed that she has regular absent seizures. Actually her EEG was more apparent to have abnormal brain wave or whatever that is that they call it. My yougest daughter was only diagnosed after a 2nd EEG and 6 Grand Mal Seizures.

I have just gotten these results and now am waitting to see her pediatrician to know where we go from here. She is also being evaluated for ADD and has a speach delay and sees a speach therapist. I guess if she has had that many apsent seizures she has missed alot along the way wich does explain her inconsistency in her school work and capabilities.

[wylesgirl]

I am sorry to hear your daughter is having seizures (both of them). I am glad that you figured it out and she can get the help she needs now. Good luck!

We had the MRI and they said everything looked ok. The neuro. has put her on ritalin. Something that I thought I would always steer clear of. I guess when it comes down to it, you will do ANYTHING for your kids. The Keppra has been helping. I havent noticed any more 'zoning'. I just did a 504 plan for her at school so she can have untimed testing. They take standardized tests that determine you placements for the next year and have a lot of bearing on your passing and failing. I just could kick myself for letting her get to be 10 and in the 6th grade before I REALLY opened my eyes and accepted that there really maybe something wrong. The neuro. says he thinks she is functioning on a 3 or 4th grade level. School disagrees. School is basing this on her grades on her report card. WELL, truth be known, I or my husband have done the major projects that have had to be turned in. Homework is graded on if you did it not if it is right. Tests count so little when you add in all the homework AND projects. She makes F's on her tests. One as low as a 28 in math. Gave me 2 today. 54 ( had an extra 10pts added bc teacher said students didnt understand part of the test) and a 44. Two different subjects. So her school is not seeing the whole picture. I know they are mislead by the projects not being done by her but I just want her to pass. She has a younger sister that is in the grade below her. If she were to fail, she would be sitting in class with her YOUNGER sister. I tell myself I am not doing anymore projects but then when it comes time to do it, I cant help myself. I feel I need to give her every opportunity I can. I know it is hurting her in the long run doing it for her but it is so hard not to. Its hard when you see one thing and the school sees something else and you end up butting heads. I am glad we got the 504 plan started and I guess we will go from there. We have a pulm. appt. next tuesday because of the allergies she has. They keep her stopped up which is what is causing the ear infections. He says that she maybe keep fluid in her lungs as well. The neuro. wants us to take her to psychem...something. The dr. he refered us to is not a prefered provider. The test is 3-4 hrs long and cost $750. I am looking for one that is in my network bc the $750 is too high for me to be able to pay right now.
I just dont even know anymore. Sometimes I dont know if I am coming or going.


I hope everything works out with your daughter. Does her school have any type of programs that may help her? See if they cant get her in the 504 plan so that it will take the pressure of having to keep up with everyone else taking tests. It is hard when you are having seizures and ADD. 504 is a federal program. I am sure you already know all this with your older daughter. If you need to talk or vent....I will be checking back for updates. Good luck.