'No Name Seizure'

[tining]

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?

[bay area FNP-to-be]

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.

Mine lasted 5-10 seconds with a brief postictal period (minutes, not days!) after. What took so long to diagnose them was the way I tried describing them as an otherwise healthy 10 year old. Dealing with sick kids that age every day now, I realize why no one understood me! It's hard to tell the world what's wrong with you, even that old. (Although I'm partial to our younger kiddos and the way they try and convince me how sick they are and need to go home -- "No, I don't have a fever! I'm just very sick and the chef packed the wrong lunch for me and I threw up this morning when I was having celery for breakfast" as I was informed by a vegetarian in 2nd grade.)

Depending on your school climate around testing, it really could be anxiety, in which case I'd hope the teacher can support you. Once I rule out anything warranting a call home, I get support trying to work out our kiddos' anxiety since it's so common in our school. (Family stressors, etc.)

Best of luck, though, if mom won't collaborate to get to the root of what's actually causing whatever is happening....challenging indeed.

[canigraduate]

I was going to say it sounds like sensory processing disorder (common comorbidity with ADHD) or migraine aura. I know a few people who get atypical migraines and get the auras, sensory disruption, and nausea, but without the headache.

Or, from my ADHD experiences in high school, it could be anxiety, which ramps up comorbidities like SPD.

I hear EVERYTHING when I get anxious. Dog's stomach growling, plumbing, electric humming, my heartbeat whooshing in my ears, cat licking his fur, chair creaking while my leg bobs... y'know, EVERYTHING. Thank God for earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones.

[sailornurse]

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

Hah, PseudoSeizures! I was stationed on the neuroscience unit at Bethesda Naval Hospital in the 1990's. We had cameras (hidden) to determine true seizures from pseudo-seizures for those wanting to get out of their military time.

[kidzcare]

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

Hahahahahahha!!!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

possible bipolar disorder?

[Farawyn]

possible bipolar disorder?

I was actually thinking something like this as well, but as a non psych nurse, I didn't weigh in.

[OldDude]

possible bipolar disorder?

I understand, and this could possibly be the case. It's just that with kids, I like to keep it simple, they seldom have baggage like adults, and often their symptoms have arisen from seeds planted by adults.

[CASTLEGATES]

You can always tell mom it's a child protective issue, where he has a disorder and he needs to be seen, so you can better look after his needs. If he's having uncontrolled "seizures" at school, you need to have a multidisciplinary meeting how to attend to his needs, telling her the disability assistance laws come onto effect with this case. Let her know she's got to do her due diligence, just like you do, if he's continuing these "seizures" uncontrolled an untreated--of course it could become a legal issue (turn the tables) :-)

[canigraduate]

You can always tell mom it's a child protective issue, where he has a disorder and he needs to be seen, so you can better look after his needs. If he's having uncontrolled "seizures" at school, you need to have a multidisciplinary meeting how to attend to his needs, telling her the disability assistance laws come onto effect with this case. Let her know she's got to do her due diligence, just like you do, if he's continuing these "seizures" uncontrolled an untreated--of course it could become a legal issue (turn the tables) :-)

I want to like your post, but I'm scared your avatar will bite me.

[tining, BSN, RN]

I am going to send the seizure plan paperwork home today - has to have an MD signature. Thanks for the great information everyone provided.