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It’s been over a week since you have heard from me, and what a week it has been!
In the wee hours of the morning last Monday, my oldest climbed into bed with us complaining of headache. He felt warm to the touch as well. We kept him fairly well quarantined from the other children for the day, and thought nothing more of it than perhaps it was some strain his flu shot didn’t catch. However, as the day wore on, his temperature began climbing, but then would seem to go back down rapidly. Due to his Type 1 diabetes, his blood sugar often spikes with high temperature, so we monitored him closely. Because I had heard that seizures are common in children with high temperatures, I researched febrile seizures online in the late afternoon.
Sure enough, shortly after midnight, my oldest had what appeared to be a febrile seizure. It was one of the most terrifying things to witness in my entire life! He could not communicate. It did not appear as though he heard us. We called the paramedics and after several stressful minutes, they arrived. By then, the fever which had less than an hour before had been over 103, was now slightly over 100. He began to be able to talk again, and within a few minutes of the paramedics’ arrival, he was conversing as usual, and impressing the guys with how well articulated a little man he is! After assuring us that though we could ask them to run him to the ER, they didn’t feel it necessary, so they left.
We had our son sleep with us for the rest of the night, and shortly after 6:30 in the morning, he had another mild seizure. It had not been long since I had checked both his blood sugar and his temperature, and again, found him to be over 103 degrees. This seizure was much milder and much shorter in duration, but shared the same characteristics of the earlier one wherein id did not seem as though he could hear us or communicate with us.
God was clearly looking out for us, because right when his doctor’s office opened, I got the nurse’s automated line, so I called his endocrinologist on her cell phone. There was some weird static it seemed and the connection broke, so I tried again. She answered – in India! She was on vacation and shocked that the phones made the connection! Yet, she was all for helping, since my son seems to hold a special place in her heart. She agreed that it sounded neurological and was sure that his regular pediatrician would order an EEG and MRI, along with a trip to the pediatric neurologist, and she gave me his name. Sure enough, his pediatrician called shortly after the appointment was booked via the advice line, and pretty much echoed the earlier conversation with his endocrinologist. We went to the appointment, and his pediatrician had the neurologist “reserved” knowing my son was due in (the very one his endocrinologist named!), and concurred that, indeed, we should schedule the EEG and MRI along with a formal consult with him, just to rule out anything beyond a febrile seizure, since my son is a little older than the demographic normally seen in these types of seizures. Additionally, he was diagnosed with an ear infection and given medication.
The following day, I came down with whatever bug has been going around, and having asthma, it hit me hard with regard to my respiratory system. In fact, even as I write this, I don’t completely have my voice back yet, having lost it last Thursday. So, between that, caring for my oldest, and watching out for my youngest two, I can honestly say, it’s been a week to remember for sure.
The two youngest did well considering that they were woken up out of sleep only to have men in uniforms running through their house. It was very scary for them, as it would be for any child, but particularly for those who have experienced trauma. To their credit, though initially pretty freaked out and crying, they don’t appear to have any lasting ill-effects. As the group of paramedics dispatched was quite large, some of the men spent time talking to them and reassuring them, which was tremendously helpful. And, this event took place during a time period wherein we’re engaging in the personal safety series, so we got to debrief after they left, and talk about “good” strangers, “bad” strangers and community helpers. The fact that they got to see two cool paramedic fire trucks helped as well!
So, that’s where we are right now. We must keep our oldest son awake until midnight tomorrow night, and then wake him at 4:00am on Thursday for his 9:30am EEG appointment (because they said they want “a sleepy brain”). We meet with the neurologist on Monday, Lord willing, and then the MRI will be the following Monday. If anything other than the suspected febrile seizure comes to light, I’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Photo credit: Stock Xchng
