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My 10-year-old daughter with epilepsy

Fri, 03/09/2007 - 23:09
I am new here. My daughter had her first seizure at 6 yrs. She had a grand mal or tonic-clonic seizure. Seven months later she had another seizure and then was started on Clobazam. She was on Clobazam for about 6 months, but then the doctor changed her meds as she was having a lot of irritability and moodiness on it. She was started on Valproic acid and slowly weaned off of the Clobazam. She has been on Valproic since. She started having absence seizures a couple of years ago, but they were getting more frequent and lasting longer. So she now has started on Lamictal as well as the Valproic Acid. She is having a lot of problems at school over the last 4 years. This past year has been awful for her. She is failing grade 5. She has an IEP, but this year her teacher is new to the school. She doesn't know my daughter and has no patience for her at all. My daughter has been having absence seizures and the school is aware but I don't think they believe that is what is happening. I have tried talking to her teacher, but she never offers any info. as to how she is doing, other than she is doing the same, very non-compliant. My daughter cries almost every day, she hates school this year and doesn't want to go much of the time. The teacher gave me a letter last week saying she needs to do tests for about 5 subjects in the next week. She had this week and then next week they get report cards on WEd. If my daughter doesn't do these tests, she will get a failing grade. Right now she is getting incomplete. Why the teacher never told me when she was getting so far behind, offered to send work home for her or anything to try and help my daughter. I think she just leaves my daughter doing nothing and never bothers to see if she is having problems or seizures or anything. I think she just doesn't want to do anything to help her, figures she should be able to do what all the other kids are doing in her class. She doesn't have a support worker in the class with her, which she has for the past 4 years. They do have a support worker that comes in once in awhile to work with her, but not enough I think. I am hoping the addition of the Lamictal will stop her absence seizures or that she won't have as many so she can concentrate better thereby giving her more confidence in herself. We have decided to keep her in grade 5 for next year as this year has been a total write off for her. Sorry for all the complaining, I just needed to get this out. I never realized the anti-seizure meds and the seizures could be causing her learning problems and her knowing things one minute and then gone the next until reading a lot of the posts here. Her doctor always said he didn't think it was the meds or seizures. He figured she has ADHD too. It is so hard to know which is true and probably never will. Thanks for listening.

Comments

Re: Re: Re: My 10-year-old daughter with epilepsy

Submitted by Mollysmama on Thu, 2007-03-22 - 12:46
From what I understand, a 504 plan is for individuals that do not qualify for an IEP. It is geared to make accomodations during the school day. Like longer time to take tests, tests with multiple choice only, longer time for homework - less homework, no homework...whatever you (as a group) decide is best. The group usually includes parents, school officials, district officials and possibly your doctor. Seperately, I suggest you definately ask to be referred to ped neuro! We have both, ped and ped neuro and I love them both - differently. Don't take no for an answer. Your doctor gave you those responses, because he might not be as familiar with the meds as someone trained in that specialty. I'm not knocking your doctor, just remember we have to do all we can to help are girls. Back to the 504 plan, check out wrightslaw dot com. Very informative! Good luck and I look forward to hearing your progress.

Re: My 10-year-old daughter with epilepsy

Submitted by rootbeergirl16 on Thu, 2007-03-22 - 13:05
Try this web site wrightslaw.com it explains 504 plans and what they entail.

Re: My 10-year-old daughter with epilepsy

Submitted by bmcmullin on Thu, 2007-03-22 - 14:31
I'm 49, w/ E, since 3rd grade. I had absence sz that went unnoticed for much longer, many times being accused of things I wasn't aware of. Teachers (Nuns) who were not compassionate. Go to the highest level in the district if you have to. Your kid's teacher is cheating her out of an education, oh wait, I think its called discrimination. You believe your precious one deserves better treatment from her, and you will be reporting the atrocity. Barb in Houston

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