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Help! First seizure for 12yo daughter

Tue, 05/15/2018 - 17:15
I am bringing my 12yo daughter the doc tomorrow, but I’m worried, and would like to hear others' thoughts. My daughter has no history of any type of seizure activity. On Friday, she competed in a large cheer competition (lots of stress), then spent the day in the pool (lots of sun). She had a good dinner and drank a decent amount of fluid, so I don't think she could've had low blood sugar or have been dehydrated. The next morning, while I was braiding her hair, she asked for water just before stiffening and falling against my legs. She started rapidly blinking her eyes, smacking her lips, and shaking her arms and legs—all very rhythmically. She was non-responsive for the duration of the seizure. When she came to, about 60 seconds later, she said she heard what sounded like rice being poured in a glass bowl. She also told me she had asked for water (just before her seizure) because her abdomen felt very full, and she felt it was a little difficult to breathe. What could've caused a seizure? Surely stress and sun wouldn't? Also, it seems like she's too old to suddenly have epilepsy? What are your thoughts? Anyone have similar experiences?

Comments

Actually, lots of people have

Submitted by Amy Jo on Tue, 2018-05-15 - 18:00
Actually, lots of people have changes around puberty so, no, it's not too old to suddenly have epilepsy. Some types of epilepsy often start during teen years, e.g. JME. Some people are very sensitive to hormone changes, but mostly they have epilepsy and not a hormone problem. 12 is not too old to get epilepsy. One can start having seizures at any age.

Actually, lots of people have

Submitted by Amy Jo on Tue, 2018-05-15 - 18:02
Actually, lots of people have changes around puberty so, no, it's not too old to suddenly have epilepsy. Some types of epilepsy often start during teen years, e.g. JME. Some people are very sensitive to hormone changes, but mostly they have epilepsy and not a hormone problem. 12 is not too old to get epilepsy. One can start having seizures at any age.

FWIW - 1 in 10 people have a

Submitted by Amy Jo on Tue, 2018-05-15 - 18:02
FWIW - 1 in 10 people have a seizure, but only 1 in 26 have epilepsy. Your description sounds like you should follow up on the possible epilepsy and not assume this was a one time event.

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