strange episodes/daytime night terrors?

[Anonymous]

my 11 year old who has been fine generally but has tics/tourettes and some anxiety issues has had a few strange episodes the last 2 or 3 months where during the day he suddenly starts yelling/crying and seems like he's not present, does not answer. he had night terrors sometimes when he was younger and this is reminding me of how he was during them. only lasts a few minutes and then he's ok. i'm freaked out though as i don't know what is going on. have a doctor appointment for the tics later this week so i'll bring it up them but wondering if this sounds like anything anyone else has dealt with?

[Anonymous]

Could be a type of seizure. Definitely talk to the doctor about it. Consider taking a video of it to show the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Having had a child with night terrors, the only time they were ever during the day was during his mid-day nap, most always when we were traveling and not on our normal schedule and he was overtired. They always occurred during sleep. I was told that if it was ever something that occurred when he was wide awake, that it would be more cause for concern. I would get him seen immediately and would indeed try to get video of it if you can.

[Anonymous]

I really hate to say this but it sounds like seizures to me

[Anonymous]

Definitely video if you can. I have a child with epilepsy and had never heard of yelling or screaming during one, but I did a quick search on reading OP's post and apparently it is not that uncommon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely video if you can. I have a child with epilepsy and had never heard of yelling or screaming during one, but I did a quick search on reading OP's post and apparently it is not that uncommon.

I also have a child with epilepsy and this sounds like seizures to me. What kind of epilepsy does your child have, PP? How is s/he doing? My son is just 4 and has some delays. he has partial seizures at night only.

[Anonymous]

OP: does seizures mean epilepsy or are they just sometimes random?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: does seizures mean epilepsy or are they just sometimes random?

Epilepsy is an umbrella term and is more than one seizure that is not precipitated by an event, so, seizures from fever, say, or from a blow to the head. Those seizures are "random" in that any person, if exposed to those conditions, could seize although some people have lower seizure thresholds than others. Epilepsy is hugely complex. There are some tyoes that are benign, others that are part of a syndrome and more dangerous, etc. Treatment depends on the type of seizure.

[Anonymous]

OP: Uy. My son was just about to go away to visit a friend for a long weekend, now I'm nervous about sending him. Guess I will wait and see what the doctor says.

[Anonymous]

Is he on medication or was there a change in meds?

Also, is this one of the first time that he's going to be going away on his own? Maybe the anticipation/stress (even it it's a good thing), is affecting his sleep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he on medication or was there a change in meds?

Also, is this one of the first time that he's going to be going away on his own? Maybe the anticipation/stress (even it it's a good thing), is affecting his sleep?

No, he's not on meds. This is not the first time he's going away on his own...but he probably hasn't been sleeping enough for a bunch of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Lack of sleep is a a big stressor for epilepsy in those who are prone to them. There is a reason that one of the gold standards in epilepsy testing is a sleep-deprived EKG.

My DC has a bunch of chronic health problems, among them epilepsy. Right now we barely notice the epilepsy as it is well controlled by medication. It can be extremely stressful, however, getting to the most suitable medication and dosage.

[Anonymous]

OP: Going to the doctor today but my son is very resistant to raising the seizure issue with the doctor. He said he thinks it's nothing, was only him being scared of something and he absolutely does not want to talk about it. Uy. Obviously I need to in any case. We made the appointment for tics, not this so it's not what he agreed to. Still unsure about what to do about the weekend, whether it's ok to let him stay with his friends for the weekend before we sort this out. i can talk to his friend's mother, but I don't know them that well so not sure how comfortable she would be. Haven't even brought up the possibility of not going with my son. And it's tomorrow! We're flying out there too, he was going to visit his friend for the weekend at their lake house (while I visit other friends) and then we were staying a few more days for vacation together which I am not worried about. Uy, timing.

[Anonymous]

You absolutely have to bring it up. Tics and epilpesy often go hand in hand, it is a neurological issues. he might be nervous but he needs to be tested. Puberty can cause large changes in seizure activity.

[Anonymous]

And I would let him go. it is going to take a while to get this all sorted out and if it is seizures to get the right medication etc. So, there is no point in stopping your life.