'No Name Seizure'

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in School Nurse.

Student tells counselor & teacher today he has seizures - not on emergency card at all. He said his brain hurts and won't shut off, then he cannot sleep and everything is amplified. He also has visual issues with it. Never heard of this type of seizure that lasts for 3 days.

This past week was the practice STARR test - he hates these tests and was out Tues/Wed/Thurs and blamed it on seizures (no note from mom/MD). Wednesday after school he was on school property riding a battery operated mini motorcycle, carefree not a worried look on his face.

Today he has arms and head in shirt appears very upset, crying. Talked about his 'seizures' and he said mom gave him a sleeping pill this morning since he has not slept for thee nights due to his brain not turning off.

Not quite believing this story I send him back to class and call mom. She said the MD said he has seizures, but does not have a name for his. Stated he has not been to neurologist because they happen rarely - but lots of kids have this (unnamed seizure). I asked if she would give me permission to discuss with his MD, now insert defensive momma bear. "I have told you he gets a twitch in his brain and everything is amplified." No plan of care or medication recommended by MD. She refuses any assistance. The 'sleeping pill' was melatonin.

Counselor, teacher and myself feel this is anxiety.

What do you my 'co-workers' think?

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Specializes in kids.

I think some parents get so vested in their child being sick, they lose touch with reality. It is so important for them to be driving the medical bus- that headaches become brain tumors, anxiety becomes seizures and fatigue is OF COURSE LYME DISEASE!

Giving him melatonin on his way out the door is just ridiculous! I would get a release from parent to speak with MD to clarify the non seizure/twitch in the brain diagnosis and the expected plan of care in the school. Then make him go take the test.

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Me thinks they are trying to feed your school a big old line of BS!! A physician has never been consulted that is why she does not want to give permission for you to discuss.

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Me thinks they are trying to feed your school a big old line of BS!! A physician has never been consulted that is why she does not want to give permission for you to discuss.

Right??

Why wouldn't the parent want the SN to have as much info as possible?

ETA- very similar situation at the last district I worked in. Parents FREAKED when the elementary nurse asked to reach out to the doctor. Big red flag.

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Parents don't tell me anything "brain" related, unless it is a concussion.

Can this kid have ADHD? The can't turn off/amplification symptoms?

Yes, he may very well have anxiety.

At any rate, he needs to get thusly to a neuro.

This must be documented in order for you to help the teachers make considerations for his schoolwork, homework and testing- that's how I would play it. How can we help him if we don't know how?

Keep Psych on board.

504?

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Reading the first few lines made me think migraine, that's how mine feel, noises are amplified, sensitive to lights, but any who, needs neuro consult. IMO.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

the kid has ISIPPSD - Idiopathic School Induced Phantom PseudoSeizure Disorder...very common.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
the kid has ISIPPSD - Idiopathic School Induced Phantom PseudoSeizure Disorder...very common.

Love my 'co-workers'

Great ideas - Mom is so defensive (other issues shockingly) to counselor and teacher I doubt we could work with her. Discussed 504; has that for his ADHD, mom said plan of care is to pick him up from school. Counselor is considering CPS. Interestingly dad picked him up (not in my presence) and basically said he has told mom the student needs help.

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the kid has ISIPPSD - Idiopathic School Induced Phantom PseudoSeizure Disorder...very common.

This is common, we have a coupe case of it here!

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the kid has ISIPPSD - Idiopathic School Induced Phantom PseudoSeizure Disorder...very common.

I second that! Interestingly, I get partial seizures and they presented a little bit like that, but sadly it took over ten years until I was an adult and went to a neurologist -- now they're gone with treatment.

So frustrating, though, when parents don't want to collaborate. Especially for us since we're too small to have an RN. For us it's usually the other way around where kids don't get in to a provider so we're all at a loss for the ISIPPSD and the like that presents.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I perused epilepsy.com and found that same seizure disorder. It sounds similar, but the child says it has lasted 3 days? Did yours linger like that as well? I don't understand why the MD told them to NOT go to neurologist. We will be pursuing this problem. I would love to tell mom he could be treated.

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I perused epilepsy.com and found that same seizure disorder. It sounds similar, but the child says it has lasted 3 days? Did yours linger like that as well? I don't understand why the MD told them to NOT go to neurologist. We will be pursuing this problem. I would love to tell mom he could be treated.

I don't think the MD said that. Why would any MD tell a mom not to take her kid to a neuro for possible seizure?

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