Seizures....And some Answers (sort of)

As some of you are aware, recently JT started having some "spells". He would stare off into space and be non-responsive (different from zoning out). During one of them he slouched to the side. After each one he just snaps right back into real life, smiling, talking, carrying on with whatever he was doing. He's had 4 at daycare and two at home. They all last around 10-20 seconds we think (they are hard to time since they are fairly short). He may be having more shorter ones but they are under 5 seconds so hard to know forsure. We had an EEG a couple weeks ago (which was negative but it can be if they don't catch a spell during it) and saw the neurology fellow who thinks they are caused by the viral meningitis he had when he was a few weeks old.

So to find out if there were any other causes we had an MRI under general anesthesia today, an ECG, and a bunch of labs drawn. We again met with the Neurology fellow. The MRI was negative (thank you for all of you who said extra prayers!). This means that there is no tumors, deformities, or malformations that are causing them. This is super good news. His EKG was normal which we kind of figured it would be. The labs wont be back for a couple weeks.

So now the Fellow isn't quite sure what to do from here. We think they are seizures (most likely absence or partial complex seizures) but he isn't having them frequent enough to catch one on the EEG. He may or may not have more of them. He may or may not have generalized seizures as well. He may or may not grow out of them but with the MRI being negative it is more likely that he would grow out of them (unless the labs show something). In general about 2/3 of kids outgrow their seizures.

So now we are awaiting the lab results (which we think will be fine as well) and if they are normal then we will wait until he has another longer one to start meds.

Also, with his developmental delays (which are pretty much all resolved), she thinks those are from the meningitis as well. There can be cellular changes with the meningitis that don't show up on an MRI that would have caused his delays and his early left handedness (favoring the stronger side of the body).

So I left the appointment a little dissappointed in not having any answers or substantial plan but in this case no answers is a good thing! Many times with childhood seizures no cause is ever found.

So if you see JT having one of his seizures/spells, estimate how long it is, let us know what he was doing before. during, and after it, say his name/poke him etc. and see if he responds at all (again these are much different than just spacing out, he is basically non-responsive), and keep him safe (i.e. remove from water, take off bike/scooter, prevent falling etc).

And most of all, say an extra little prayer for Mr JT tonight! He had a long day and was such a good trooper!