Pseudo Seizures

ixchel · May 6, 2016

I've heard that term before and I agree with Mr. There isn't such a thing as a false seizure. Regardless of the cause, a seizure is a seizure or it's not. Oh, my child has pseudo headaches; the doctor doesn't know why. Yes, he has a history of pseudo stomach aches; we've run all kinds of tests and we can't find the origin. Oh, we're dealing with a pseudo fracture; we've had an xray, MRI, and CT and nothing shows a fracture so we can't figure out why we think it's broken. Right...

Thank you so much for saying this.

I am trying really hard to keep my response as polite as possible, but shame on anyone who declares "pseudoseizure" a ploy for attention. Epilepsy comes in SOOOOO many different forms and will not always reliably show up on an EEG. The person being called a faker is WAY more frustrated than you ever will be with "wasting" your time.

I was in status epilepticus for 6 days before someone actually paid attention to me. I was blown off completely by providers I'd seen for years. But because MY type of epilepsy doesn't look like REAL! epilepsy, I was ignored. My EEG didn't show epileptiform activity throughout most of it. (This was months after the epilepticus, because I had to beg for a referral.) Thank god it did for the small time it did. I would have moved on from that, still getting blown off. I'd be labeled an "attention seeker".

I'm already in a horrible mood today, so please take some of my disgust as being part of that. Even in my best mood, though, the assumptions and judgment displayed here would still bother me.

OldDude · May 7, 2016

blackribbon...whatever, ixchel...I know you're a smart nurse...I'm sorry you had to endure what you did...but...you guys are refusing to read what we're saying. You're all about comparing the clinical adult world of psych medicine and whatever else baggage you're carrying to the world of elementary school kids or adolescents. Frankly I'm tired of hearing about it. My entire nursing career has been devoted to pediatrics, the past 14 years as an elementary school nurse along with the past 10 years and currently pool nurse for a pediatric Urgent Care clinic. I've worked in pediatric ER, pediatric rheumatology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology, and yes, pediatric neurology; all specialty clinics. So, when you've had the experience with kids that I've had, bring it on and we'll talk, otherwise, unless you're willing to stop going on the offensive/attack and actually "listen," then please move on to another forum.

ixchel · May 7, 2016

blackribbon...whatever, ixchel...I know you're a smart nurse...I'm sorry you had to endure what you did...but...you guys are refusing to read what we're saying. You're all about comparing the clinical adult world of psych medicine and whatever else baggage you're carrying to the world of elementary school kids or adolescents. Frankly I'm tired of hearing about it. My entire nursing career has been devoted to pediatrics, the past 14 years as an elementary school nurse along with the past 10 years and currently pool nurse for a pediatric Urgent Care clinic. I've worked in pediatric ER, pediatric rheumatology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology, and yes, pediatric neurology; all specialty clinics. So, when you've had the experience with kids that I've had, bring it on and we'll talk, otherwise, unless you're willing to stop going on the offensive/attack and actually "listen," then please move on to another forum.

I've realized quoting you as I did made it seem as though I was only responding to you. I apologize for that.

I also reread what I wrote and realized I missed my most repeated phrase when it comes to this - it is a seizure until it is proven beyond a doubt that it is not, and one EEG proves nothing except that person had no epileptiform pattern waves during that specific hour or two.

Anyway, OldDude, I enjoy your posts immensely and I have every bit of respect for your experience. Some attitudes in this thread as a whole riled me up. I was not specifically aiming at you.

OldDude · May 7, 2016

I've realized quoting you as I did made it seem as though I was only responding to you. I apologize for that.
I also reread what I wrote and realized I missed my most repeated phrase when it comes to this - it is a seizure until it is proven beyond a doubt that it is not, and one EEG proves nothing except that person had no epileptiform pattern waves during that specific hour or two.
Anyway, OldDude, I enjoy your posts immensely and I have every bit of respect for your experience. Some attitudes in this thread as a whole riled me up. I was not specifically aiming at you.

Thank you, I hope you know I love you like a sister!!

ixchel · May 7, 2016

I totally admitted it. Please be aware of the context in which you are responding. We are dealing with kids, which, as my kid's counselor agreed, are much more "fragile" than just 2 generations ago. Although there may be traumatic sources, it has been my experience here in the land of abundance to be a cry for attention, normally involving MANY more people than the child's parents. This is my worldview. I would keep them safe, monitored, and treated with respect, but that doesn't change the root of what I would see in my environment. I have a "Tourette's" that leans into a microphone to amplify her tics, be sent to my office with tics that have NEVER lasted more than 2 minutes with therapeutic boredom, etc. I have given NAMI presentations to my middle schoolers to reduce the stigma of mental illness, but I believe many adolescent issues are really relational issues, not organic, at least in my environment. This is not a psych forum, we encounter all aspects of health and issues, this is our nurse's lounge to discuss our hard cases, as we don't have coworkers to bounce things off of. You're welcome here, but please keep the forum context in mind.

Understood. To be honest, before I read OldDude's response to me, I thought we were in the general nursing forum. I hadn't gotten through the whole thread yet. (Fail! I know!) Apologies! All around!

Maybe keep my story in the back of your mind just in case you see something you're not quite sure of. Pretend it was written nicely, in polite language, and not shared at an inappropriate moment. I do tend to dive into epilepsy awareness and advocacy since my journey was actually such a struggle.

Kids are complex and unfortunately have their own battles that for some reason I don't understand even though I'm pretty sure I just was one yesterday. Not sure how you guys get through your day with hundreds of them all the time, when I'm just going crazy with two.

ixchel · May 7, 2016

Thank you, I hope you know I love you like a sister!!

You just like my for my hipster glasses and steely stare. [emoji15]

OldDude · May 7, 2016

You just like my for my hipster glasses and steely stare. [emoji15]

I'm sorry, I can't help myself!! That's hot!!

ixchel · May 7, 2016

I'm sorry, I can't help myself!! That's hot!!

You should check out the boob I hold in my right hand. Farawyn was bummed I wouldn't include it in my avatar. It was too big to fit.

OldDude · May 7, 2016

You should check out the boob I hold in my right hand. Farawyn was bummed I wouldn't include it in my avatar. It was too big to fit.

Anatomically speaking...damn it!!!!

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · May 7, 2016

It wasn't a student but an inpatient admit to r/o for abdominal pain. Everything was fine VS-wise but there was some exaggeration of certain symptoms and then, suddenly, the big show. A lot of thrashing and kicking (previously weak legs were now stronger than a pack mule) but no true signs of seizure activity. There were some, ahem, psychiatric issues. :confused: We were not impressed. The family was very convinced, however. Even forced a CT scan because of it. It's in their head but not organically, that's for damn sure. Had the nerve to complain about why we put seizure pads on the bed rails. :dead:

Whispera, MSN, RN · May 7, 2016

It wasn't a student but an inpatient admit to r/o for abdominal pain. Everything was fine VS-wise but there was some exaggeration of certain symptoms and then, suddenly, the big show. A lot of thrashing and kicking (previously weak legs were now stronger than a pack mule) but no true signs of seizure activity. There were some, ahem, psychiatric issues. We were not impressed. The family was very convinced, however. Even forced a CT scan because of it. It's in their head but not organically, that's for damn sure. Had the nerve to complain about why we put seizure pads on the bed rails.

Bolding is mine. I'm next to verclempt that it seems you're making fun of psychiatric issues.

OldDude · May 7, 2016

Understood. To be honest, before I read OldDude's response to me, I thought we were in the general nursing forum. I hadn't gotten through the whole thread yet. (Fail! I know!) Apologies! All around!
Maybe keep my story in the back of your mind just in case you see something you're not quite sure of. Pretend it was written nicely, in polite language, and not shared at an inappropriate moment. I do tend to dive into epilepsy awareness and advocacy since my journey was actually such a struggle.
Kids are complex and unfortunately have their own battles that for some reason I don't understand even though I'm pretty sure I just was one yesterday. Not sure how you guys get through your day with hundreds of them all the time, when I'm just going crazy with two.

Like I say...I love ya like a sister!!