Seizures....
Yesterday was a REALLY BAD DAY! Rowan had three major melt downs and the first was more than likely a seizure. The doctors say from his EEG activities (a 24 hour ambient EEG, and a 48 hour video EEG) he is not having seizures. I say what they have a 72 hour snap shot of his life. I say I know parents who's children have grand mal seizures (the big ones, the type we all think of when you think of a seizure) and they have had MORE THAN ONE EEG that says their child does NOT have seizures. So yesterday as Rowan was having a seizure in Penn Station all I could do was try to make him comfortable and wait for it to end. I know that sounds odd but if I would have tried to take him to the hospital (keep in mind it was me, Logan, and Rowan, Joe was working) I could not have made him comfortable and it would have been over by the time we got there. So I have decided two things, ONE, I am going to buy a video camera to carrie with me (ALL THE TIME) so the next time this happens I can video it and SHOW his doctors what is happening! And TWO share this information with all of you:
FIRST AID FOR SEIZURES:
For a Non-Convulsive Seizure (complex partial)
Symptoms: Blank staring, aimlessness, chewing motions or lip smacking; often mistaken for drunkenness, drug abuse or mental illness, unable to interact.
Care:
Do Not restrain.
Stay calm and track time.
Redirect from hazards or remove hazards.
Do not agitate the person (speak calmly and don't grab)
Aftercare:
So stay with the person until recovered. Reassure and reorient. Don't offer food or drink until the person is fully conscious. Allow to rest if necessary.
For a Convulsive Seizure (generalized tonic-clonic, gran mal)
Symptoms: The person will lose consciousness, may fall, stiffen, and make jerking movements. Difficulty breathing may cause the person to turn pale or bluish. The person may drool or become incontinent.
Care:
Cushion head.
Remove glasses and loosen any tight neck-wear.
Turn person on side and keep airway clear.
Track time.
Check for epilepsy or seizure disorder I.D.
DO NOT:
Put any thing in mouth.
Give oral medications during the seizure.
Restrain.
Give food or drink until the person is fully conscious.
Aftercare:
So reassure the person. Allow to rest if necessary. Stay with the person until he or she is fully awake and reoriented.
Call for medical help when:
A convulsive seizure lasts more than five minutes.
The person does not resume breathing after the seizure. Give mouth to mouth resuscitation.
The person has one seizure after another.
The person is injured.
The person requests it.
There is no medical I.D. for epilepsy and the person is not known to have epilepsy.
For More information call the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.
FIRST AID FOR SEIZURES:
For a Non-Convulsive Seizure (complex partial)
Symptoms: Blank staring, aimlessness, chewing motions or lip smacking; often mistaken for drunkenness, drug abuse or mental illness, unable to interact.
Care:
Do Not restrain.
Stay calm and track time.
Redirect from hazards or remove hazards.
Do not agitate the person (speak calmly and don't grab)
Aftercare:
So stay with the person until recovered. Reassure and reorient. Don't offer food or drink until the person is fully conscious. Allow to rest if necessary.
For a Convulsive Seizure (generalized tonic-clonic, gran mal)
Symptoms: The person will lose consciousness, may fall, stiffen, and make jerking movements. Difficulty breathing may cause the person to turn pale or bluish. The person may drool or become incontinent.
Care:
Cushion head.
Remove glasses and loosen any tight neck-wear.
Turn person on side and keep airway clear.
Track time.
Check for epilepsy or seizure disorder I.D.
DO NOT:
Put any thing in mouth.
Give oral medications during the seizure.
Restrain.
Give food or drink until the person is fully conscious.
Aftercare:
So reassure the person. Allow to rest if necessary. Stay with the person until he or she is fully awake and reoriented.
Call for medical help when:
A convulsive seizure lasts more than five minutes.
The person does not resume breathing after the seizure. Give mouth to mouth resuscitation.
The person has one seizure after another.
The person is injured.
The person requests it.
There is no medical I.D. for epilepsy and the person is not known to have epilepsy.
For More information call the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.