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I have a question
Thu, 04/20/2006 - 15:58Topic: Living With Epilepsy - Youth
OK now I would like some insite on this. I dont have Epilepsy so Im not sure what it feels like but my daughter who is 9 does. She can be feeling great in the morning and then in the afternoon I will get a call from school that she really is feeling ill. I am sure its not the meds she is on a very low dose and we have not uped it for a long period of time She has also been Sz free (thank God) for almost 10 months. So is this normal to be fine one minute and yucky and over tired the next or is she just yanking my chain to come home. I would hate to not believe her if there is truly a reason for this to happen. Thanks All
Pam
Comments
Re: Re: I have a question
Submitted by spiz on Fri, 2006-04-21 - 00:41
Pam,
I know with kids, it's always difficult trying to second judge how they really feel...especially when it comes to school.
I wasn't as young as angelface but I clearly remember how the meds made me feel and still do at times. I would have bouts of nausea on and off during school hours (stress, peer pressure, worry of possible seizure or whatever others were thinking, etc). Pretty much the same concerns other children have minus the seizure worries and the harsh meds rolling on their tummies.
It was my school nurse of all people that came up with a solution that worked for me. When I would start feeling ill I would go to the nurses office, she would give me a pack of nabs and container of cold milk. She would turn the fan to blow directly on me. I would chew very slowly on one cracker and sip some milk and then lay down til the feeling passed and then go back to class.
The meds often can cause a wave of nausea and with it the sensation of being hot. If you can get the school nurse to work with you on this, you could see if this may work for her.
If this is a genuine problem, it will teach her to work around it. If it isn't, it will show her going home isn't the only option. Good luck gal!!! Smiles!
-Spiz
Re: Re: Re: I have a question
Submitted by Cathy_C on Fri, 2006-04-21 - 07:13
The school nurse was my first thought. If she is truely not feeling well and wants to come home, then she won't get upset with you having
her go see the school nurse first to see if the feeling will pass. I am older and am on Keppra & Lamictal, and I know that I can get up and be feeling fine, but after I take my meds I sometimes get to feeling a bit more tired then I was. I sometimes feel like a possible
headache could come on, and since I don't need one of those while at
work I will take an advil or tylenol when I feel the headache coming on to stop it before it actually happens. Then as my day goes on I get feeling better. I really try to eat before I take my meds to keep
from getting the upset stomach feeling and the headaches. Have her keep a couple packages of saltines with her in school. I hope every thing works out for her. Have a Great day:)
Re: I have a question
Submitted by ekoorb on Thu, 2006-04-20 - 18:20
I do believe it is possible to swing from up to tired. I know with my daughter, we need to keep her in a good routine- good sleep etc., or else her tolerance is not as great. She could start the morning great but may get tired earlier than normal or out of sync because of a kink in her routine. My daughter is only 5 so that kind of comes with the territory but I have seen this effect with the meds and she she too is on a low dose and has been on it less than 2 months. As to coming home from school, that is a tough one. Maybe you can express to her that if she is going to feel like she needs to leave school, then she may have to give up other outside activities until she can get her balance back. That obviously is not the best solution because the outside stuff is so fun for the kids but that may help her regroup. Good luck.