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should epileptic 6yo stay with mom at night?

Wed, 08/15/2007 - 08:23
Hi! My 6 year old had her first nocturnal seizure, (that we know of) a week ago. She's had partial facial seizures for three years, but this was the first seizure where she was completely unresponsive. It lasted 15 minutes, then started again three minutes later. We administered diastat and rushed her to ER. She was non-responsive and vomiting for 40 minutes altogether. Very scary. We were on vacation so she was in the same room as us. I've had her with me since, and have noticed that she is very restless during sleep. She has always hated going to bed and always wants to sleep with me or her sister. I wonder if she has had these before and that's why she hates to sleep alone. I'm terrified to put her in her own room at night. What if she is on her back and starts vomiting during a seizure? Our Nuerologist's PA suggested that we put her back in her own room ASAP and use a baby monitor. Would we hear a seizure over a monitor?

Comments

Re: should epileptic 6yo stay with mom at night?

Submitted by eanj on Wed, 2007-08-15 - 08:58
We have the same problem with my 8 year old and 5 year old. I really DO want my 8 year old son to sleep in his own room. If he has a grand mal, we do hear it over the baby monitor. However, he had two partials that we did NOT hear and only knew something was up because the dog started barking at his bedroom door. So his bed,(and my daughter's who also has seizures), are in our room right now. I would never tell a parent of a non epileptic this. They just would not get it. But I feel like for right now it is the best thing for my son as well as myself until we feel more comfortable with his seizures. (Will that ever happen? I do not know.) Status seizures are THE most scary part of epilepsy if you ask me. My daughter goes into status every time she has a grand mal. (She has grand mals only during fever). So that is why she sleeps with us right now. So I would say do what works best for your family and do not worry about what others might think or say. You know your own child the best and if you are feeling nervous about sleeping, chances are your child is too. Take Care- Jean

Re: should epileptic 6yo stay with mom at night?

Submitted by jacksmom on Wed, 2007-08-15 - 09:09
I agree with Jean. You have to do what is best for your daughter right now. When my son had his seizures (all while sleeping or waking up) he wanted to sleep with us too. They are children, they don't understand what is going on with them and its scary. He did want to go back to his room after about a week but we did and still do use a baby monitor. Just use your gut instinct. You will know when its time to have her sleep in her own room. She may even tell you when she's ready. Take care, Sheri (Jacks mom)

Re: should epileptic 6yo stay with mom at night?

Submitted by littlebug on Wed, 2007-08-15 - 12:31
I am so glad you asked this question.My daughter is also six. She has had seizures for four years now. There was a time when she did sleep in her own room.It wasnt until the last 7 months that she has been sleeping in my room every night. She has a baby monitor in her room but after her last complex seizure I am not convinced that I would have heard it on the monitor. It was late at night and she came into my room.She said she thought she had to go to the restroom and walked into my bathroom.Then she said mom will you help me.I went into the bathroom and caught her on her way down.She was out cold.While I started to carry her to my bed she started vomiting silently.Had I not been there the out come probably wouldnt be the same.Because it was so quiet I dont feel that a monitor would have picked this up.She is in my room every night and I dont know when she will go back to her own room.I know part of that is for my own security but I also feel that it is for her safety as well.I dont think there is a wrong answer to this question.I think what you feel is right for you and your family is the right thing to do.

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