seizures at night?

[momoftwo74]

I have a 21 month old son who has been having some "spells" when he is sleeping. The first time happened right after he woke up from an afternoon nap. I had placed him on the couch with his teddy bear and went into the kitchen to make a snack for him. When I came back he was staring off into space and he was making jerking movements. His whole body was jerking. each leg (individually_) then an arm, his face, his sides, His eyes. It was very strange. It wasnt a rapid violent jerking, but you could tell it was involuntary. I picked him up and tried to get his attention but he would not repspond to me. After a few seconds he stopped jerking and then looked at me and got down and began playing. I took him to a Neurologist who believed that he had a seizure. Rather than order tests, the doctor suggested we wait and see because it may have been a one time episode. It has been about 2 to 3 months since the first episode. Two days ago, about 1 hour after going to bed for the evening, my son woke up crying. When I went to get him, he was jerking again. I held him in my lap until it stopped (about 1 minute was duration._). He stopped the jerking but then was very tense. Almost as if he was bracing himself against another one. He would not relax, he had a "death grip" on his teddy bear when he usually is relaxed and sucks his thumb when he is sleepy. He drifted back to sleep in my lap only to begin jerking again after about 5 minutes. He woke up as soon as he started the jerking, which again lasted about 1 minute. The Neurologist has ordered an EEG and an MRI which will be done in a few days.
Unfortunately, this is the weekend so we will have to wait until next week. After the new "spell" 2 days ago, the same thing happened yesterday evening. 30 minutes after bedtime, he again woke up and was jerkinh when I came to get him. After a minute it stopped, but again he was very tense. As he drifted back to sleep he began to jerk again and this woke him up. Once he stopped and went back to sleep I put him back in bed (we have a sound monitor of course_). Although he didnt have any more episodes that I saw last night, he did wake up about every hour and a half and cry out to me. Im wondering if these are indeed seizures. From what I have read Ususally people arent aware that they arehaving seizures but my son seems to be aware of it in some way because he is tense in between. Also, I thought that people get very sleepy after a seizure but it seems to be the opposite for him or at least it was last night. (i suppose he could have been having more in his sleep last night to wake him up but I didnt see any._) Has anyone ever exeperienced or know of anyone that has experienced something like this? And are there sleep disorders that are combined with night time seizures in children? The neurologist doesnt seem to think that these spells are dangerous  to him but of course is very concerned about getting the tests right away to get a diagnosis. What do you guys think?

Thanks
MM

[Suri123]

Hi momoftwo74, thanks for your replies. How is your son? I wish he continue to do well with no further spells of jerks. It’s a good decision by the doctor and you not to put him medications at this stage as its not sure. Still not convinced as to why there is such a delay in getting MRI or EEG and a month is pretty long time to wait otherwise. Yes, you need to be calm and if required do discuss with the attending radiologist before the procedure is done to be sure of the procedure. Do not worry and update me of the progress. Take care, Regards.

[momoftwo74]

Hi Suri,
Actually, Its a little boy. Thanks for checking back with me. The doctor said there really wasnt much to teel me until we get the tests done. He did offer to treat him for the spells until the MRI is done but also agreed with me when I said that I really didnt want to give him seizure medicine when it may not be seizures. After that weekend when he had several spells during the night, he stopped having them again and hasnt had anymore since then. His MRI is scheduled for May 22nd. His EEG hasnt been scheduled yet. The doctor thinks that the MRI will probabably be normal but of course wants us to rule out anything serious. He also told me that young children sometimes have very mild benign seizures while sleeping and that most grow out of it. Its also possible that they arent actually seizures but may be some kind of Neurological related sleep disorder which he also would probably grow out of. Im a little nervous about the MRI because they have to sedate my son. I never have completely trusted medicines like that even for myself, much less a small child. Some of the folks in the forum have had their little ones sedated for MRI and assue me that I really shouldnt worry about it. Plus the MRI is being done at the radiology department of Egleston Childrens Hospital in Atlanta (not far from where I live_)and it is a very good hospital. Thanks for checking back in with me. I will keep you posted, let you know how the MRI results turn out.
MM

[Suri123]

Hi momofwo74, how are you and how is your daughter keeping now? I hope she is doing a lot better and having proper sleep? How about your visit to the neurologist and the investigations that needs to be done to assess the seizure activity. Has any medications been prescribed for the time being or is she under observation still? It might be really tough for you to manage your daily activities and take care of her, still have patience and take care of her. Update once you visit your doctor and share your views.

[Suri123]

Hi momofwo74, thanks for your reply. I wish and hope your son gets better soon. You are right in thinking of seeing the neurologist today itself as his jerks is increasing in frequency. I am sure, he can have all those investigation as early as possible and need not wait for a month considering his health status. The neurologist can get it done on urgent basis for evaluating the child. Also blood routine tests can be done at same time. It may be difficult for you to cope up presently, as you need to take care of other child also. Have some patience and take care of your son. Keep updating on his progress. Take care.

[momoftwo74]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah Ive heard that some people have muscle twitches, jerking while sleeping which are not seizures. He's getting upset when it wakes him up. So I guess its possible that this is a sleep disorder rather than an epileptic disorder. The first time though he had been awake for about 5 to 10 minutes before it started. The Neurologist is sending orders for the MRI and EEG at Egleston (we are in Atlanta_) but the radiology department is telling me that It may be a month before they schedule him in. Since after talking to the Neurologist on Friday morning, my son had more episodes Friday and Saturday night. These times he was asleep for an hour or so and then woke up already jerking. He usually sleeps through the night, but kept waking up jerking about every hour or so. Im taking him back to see the Neurologist today to talk with him about what was going on Friday and Saturday night. Surely he can get him into the testing centers more quickly. Everything seems to be normal during the day. No changes in eating or behavior. Im wondering though if something may be going on with his metabolism or something like that. During the day he tends to get very cranky if he hasnt had something to eat in a couple of hours. But what young child doesnt? Ive heard drops in blood sugar or viatmin deficiencies can cause twitching etc. Anyway Im wondering if the doc shouldnt order a routine blood workup just to be sure that all checks out ok. Thanks again. Talking with someone sure helps when your worried about a little one.

[Suri123]

Hi momofwo74, how is your son doing now? I do understand how much you are concerned about your son. Sometimes sleep jerks normally seen while going to sleep or while waking up from sleep and they go off by time. Your son need to be investigated and evaluated by the neurologist to be sure of seizures before he can be treated for it, hence neurologist might be wanting to get the tests done as early as possible. How is he otherwise keeping - sleep, eating or being active other time of day? Have patience and do not leave him unattended any time. Take care and update on his progress.

[huneybee41]

definately get him checked he could have frontal lobe epilepsy. However if it only happens while he sleep he may have a sleep problem get him checked.