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EEG said epilepsy
Thu, 09/21/2006 - 21:16This is all we have. Our 6 year old daughter was ill, fell over backwards, eyes open, for about a minute. We rushed her to the ER, they did blood work (normal), CT scan, normal. Pedi said to be on the safe side, we should do a sleep deprived EEG. I can't tell you how often I nearly called to cancel it. She was sick, spiking fever, she just fainted--that's what I thought. But a good mom checks it out, right? So we went ahead, and when the pedi's office called and said the report said our daughter had epilepsy, I just was in total shock. They couldn't tell us what kind or how severe or anything, just made us an appointment with a pedi neurologist, which is on Monday. I am SCARED! The only thing we can think of that is weird is our daughters' wild nights. She is prone to night terrors, or that's what we thought they were. I'm having a very hard time getting through the days. Our little girl is adopted, and all she needs is something else to make her feel different. I guess everyone thinks why my child, and I'm no different.
Comments
Re: Re: EEG said epilepsy
Submitted by katgilliam on Fri, 2006-09-22 - 10:18
Thanks very much Pam. I appreciate your advice.
So why are you scared? I was
Submitted by solis on Thu, 2006-09-21 - 22:54
So why are you scared?
I was also adopted (at 6 months old) and I have had E since I was three years old; so, I assure you, your daughter is not alone in either case.
Blind fear is generally the result of ignorance; and (unfortunately) very few people realize that the epilepsy commonly illustrated on stage & in movies is perhaps visually the most active; but, it isn't anywhere near the majority of the more than 40 types of epilepsy
Epilepsy is a physical condition caused by an upsurge in the electrical activity in one or more parts of the brain. Where that overload is = what is seen as seizures (which is often not recognized.)
3/4 of those with E are perfectly controlled so there is no reason to freak out and be scared. (True, just like those with diabetes daily meds are required; but, unlike diabetes, controlled epilepsy is not known to lead to other medical problems)
www.epilepsy.com is an excellent information source. (And, as the site is run by medical specialists in epilepsy, the information is also accurate).
I recommend you read about E (knowledge nixes fear); and, please know, I wish you and your daughter the very best.
~sol :)
Re: EEG said epilepsy
Submitted by rootbeergirl16 on Thu, 2006-09-21 - 22:51
Hey there, First off take a real deep breath. You are not in this alone and there are so many of us who have been right where you are now. I know its really scary for you right now but just because you have been given a name to the thing that your daughter is dealing with makes her no different than she was before. Just because they have told you she has E does not mean that the world will stop. I think that in time you will have more info on what kind and what you might expect. I wish that I had some answeres or something profound and really wise to tell you that would make you feel at ease. I can tell you that there are many many wise people here and they are willing to help you sort things out and make sense of them. I am sending many well wishes and healing thoughts your way. Pam