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Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and chronic bed wetting
Thu, 10/26/2006 - 17:47Topic: Parents & Caregivers
My 8 year old son was diagnosed with benign Rolandic epilepsy last year after 2 separate seizures during the early morning hours about a year a part. He recently had another, about nine months after the last one.
He is also a chronic bed wetter. We have attributed this to how deep he seems to sleep. It is very difficult to awaken him during the night. We purchased a device that will vibrate when it comes into contact with moisture. Our first attempt at using it coincided with his most recent seizure. We have been fearful to use it since. He is embarrassed by the bed wetting and frustrated that his 5 year old brother has no problems at night.
Does anyone else have a similar experience and/or recommendation for addressing this? I really believe the 2 are related.
We have 4 sons from ages 2 to 10. He is the only one who has these issues. Apart from these, he seems fine. He is a great student, and has no behavioral problems.
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Re: Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and chronic bed wetting
Submitted by rhettr on Thu, 2006-10-26 - 20:07
I believe it is a similar device that we purchased. The first night we had him use it, he ended up having a seizure early the next morning. It is likely that the stress of using the foreign object, or lack of sleep, or combination is what caused the seizure, in my opinion.
The doctor hasn't said if he thinks the two are related. I'll definately ask on the next visit.
I haven't heard about the nausea or vomitting before seizures. We haven't experienced that.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and chronic bed wet
Submitted by ekoorb on Thu, 2006-10-26 - 20:38
If your neurologist recommended the devise for bed wetting, s/he probably does not think it will cause a seizure. Maybe you should try it on a Friday and Saturday night when he does not have school the next day. I am sure it is really tough emotionally for a nine year to accept the fact that he is wetting his bed and maybe this devise will help him. I know it is scary to think you are doing anything that could bring on a seizure but hopefully when you try it again, everything will be ok.
By the way, was your son wetting his bed before he was diagnosed with E or did it occur after? Is your son on any meds? Could that have any effect on his sleep and wetting the bed? Do you guys see an E specialist or a general neurologist?
Re: Re: Re: Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and chronic bed wetting
Submitted by ekoorb on Thu, 2006-10-26 - 19:45
I had a girlfriend who used a devise for potty training when her son was in kindergarten that was put in her son's underwear and when it got wet, something would occur with the devise that would wake him up as he started to go to the bathroom. She said it worked pretty quickly and it did not hurt him. Did something happen that made you afraid to use the devise? I can find out what devise my girlfriend used it you would like. Did the doctor say s/he did not believe the bed-wetting was related to seizure activity/BRE? Has your son ever done an overnight VEEG? Also, I agree there is a certain indicator on the EEG to classify it. Our daugther did a 24 hour VEEG and our E specialist was looking for certain spike/patterns to determine whether it was BRE or BOCE. When certain patterns were not there, he ruled out BRE and concluded BOCE. Both forms often include nausea or vomitting before the seizure.