does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?- UPDATED 2/1

DH and I had the scariest experience of our lives Sunday night. Around midnight we heard Luca making this very weird cry, DH went in a screamed for me that he thought DS was having a seizure. I ran in and sure enough, my poor little baby was convulsing. I started screaming for Dh to call 911 and I just sat on the floor holding my baby. The cops came within 2-3 minutes and took Ds to the living room and layed him on the floor on his side. The ambulance came a few minutes later. The seizure lasted for about 10 minutes, whcihfrom what we've read is on the long end.
They set DS up with an IV and took off his pjs and told me he had a very high fever. I was hysterical and we honestly thought he was dying. We went to the ER and the started cing him down and gave him valium and tylenol. He was still shaking and his eyes were rolled back in his head. It was absolutely horrifying. His fever finally started going down and evetually they trasfered us to a room. They kept him over night and then released us around 10am.
Apparently this is not all that unusual but it was terrifying. I'm just wondering if anyone else's child has had this and if they had more than one. Luca is only 15 months and we've read that he now has a 33% chance of having another one at some point. I couldreally use some encouragement. I never want to see my poor baby like that ever again.


**** UPDATE- We saw Ds's regular pediatrician today and he gave him a clean bill of health. But due to the length of his seizure he did think we should see a pediatric neurologist. We were going to insist upon it either way, but I think we were both hoping the Dr. would say it wasn't neccesary. Our appointment is for Thursday, so I will update agin then. Thank you all so much for your hugs and well wishes, they are appreciated more than you know. And it is so nice to hear you share stories and make us feel like we're not alone.


***** UPDATE 2/1- We went to the pediatric neurologist yetserday who as of now, sees no reason for Ds to have an EEG. He believes that it was a complex febrile seizure, which was not exactly what we were hoping to hear. We now have a perscription for Diastat to administer if Ds has another seizure. It seems simple enough, but we're praying we never have to use it.
Unfortunately, there's nothing really concrete they can really tell us. It's just a matter of keeping a watchful eye out and trying our best to stay on top of him if he starts to run a fever. We're feeling really lost as parents because there's nothing specific we can do to prevent this from happening again. We have always been laid back parents and it feels really off to be running on fear right now.

Message edited 2/1/2008 8:56:53 AM.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

Nicole I'm soooooo sorry you and Luca had to go through that It sounds horrifying. I'm glad he is ok.

I, thankfully, don't have any experience with febril seizures. I pray he doesn't have another but I have read they are pretty common and aren't indicative of anything being "wrong."

eta: did you know he had a fever? or did it start while he was sleeping? Did the hospital or ped give you any advice on how to look out for one or what to do if he should have another one?

Message edited 1/29/2008 10:24:41 AM.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

I don't have any experience or understanding of this but wanted to offer up some hugs.

I am crying reading your post. I seriously wish I could hug you...I can't imagine what you and your husband went through. I am so sorry that you had such an awful scare.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

OMG!!! You poor thing! Wow! That must have been so incredibly scary. Do the doctors know what caused it? How is Luca doing now?

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

My friend DD went though these she had two of them from a high temp.
Since she had two the put her on meds a low dose. But she is off the meds and she has not had any they think it was just from the high temp.

OMG i'm in tears here. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I could not imagine what u went though u and DH.

I'm so sorry u had this scare

I'm praying he does not get it again

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

The scariest part was Lyca was fine all day Sunday and went to bed with no fever that we were aware of. The whole idea here is not so much that his fever was high, but that it got very high, very quickly. The say that the seizure is often the first indication that there's a fever. He seems ok now, just very tired. The poor thing woke up at midnight with the seizure and didn't go back to bed until 4:30 am and was up at 6am. He didn't go back to bed until we were home and he was in his own crib. He slept great through the night, even though we didn't. He's napping right now, so hopefully he's starting to catch up on missed sleep.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

I am so sorry you had to go through this!



My nephew had a febrile seizure in September at 13 months. I think it lasted only a few minutes. He went to the ER by ambulence, but they didn't keep him. He hasn't had another one so far.

Let me know if you have any questions. I can try to find out more information from my SIL.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

OMG - how scary. Do those seizures come on when your child spikes a high fever very quickly? I have no experience with them. I just wanted to send you some hugs.
I am glad Luca is home and doing much better.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

OMG Nicole - I'm SO SORRY this happened!! Your poor baby!! And you!

Did they say what his temp was? I ask because this way you know when to do something a little more drastic to get the fever down fast (like a bath) if it ever comes close to getting that high again.

I don't have experience with this but I wanted to send you hugs - I hope you are (all 3 of you!) doing better!

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

I'm so sorry you went through this.

My 19 month old niece went through this. We're still not sure if it's febrile, since her fever was around the 101 mark.

She had been sick with a stomach virus in the days prior. My SIL and brother had an experience similar to yours, although her 1st seizure lasted less than 5 minutes. She had 4 more seizures b/w the hospital(s) and ambulance (she was transferred from one hospital to another that was more equipped to handle neurological issues).

She was in the hospital 4 days. Thankfully, she hasn't had any since then, but they're in the process of scheduling a 48-hour video EEG to determine if it's epilepsy (her maternal grandfather is epileptic).

They now have medication to give her if she has another seizure (similar to an epi-pen). Were you given any instructions on what to do if, God forbid, this happens again?

Feel free to FM me with any questions. I feel like it was *my* baby who went through this. I can't even imagine witnessing it.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

I don't have children yet But have experience treating febrile seizures. When I worked as a paramedic I treated a lot of kids with febrile seizures. While it is a VERY scary thing and can be dangerous it is actually very common in children. Most children grow out of this by the time they are 3 or so. This is why it is so important for parents to aggressively tret fevers in children above 104. Children can seize with temps under 104 but usually it is 104 and higher that causes the seizures. GOd forbid it ever happens again, call 911 as you did and make sure the baby is lying on a flat surface and you move anything out of the way that may hurt them. DO NOT try to hold them down or put anything in their mouth. After they are done seizing lay them on their sides and make sure their airway (mouths) are clear and they are breathing. Afterwards, they will be called post-stictal, which is a gorgy and lethargic state that can last hours. THye can't talk or move very well and are very sleepy.

The best advice I can give you is learn about seizures and be informed of what to expect, so that if it ever were to happen again you are prepapred and know what to expect and hopefully make the experience less terrifying!

Hoepfully you won't encounter this again and he will just outgrow this!

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

so sorry this happened to you. My friend had the same experience with her DD when she was about 22 months old or so

She woke up from her nap crying (VERY rare for her), My friend noticed that she felt hot...as she was bringing her DD down to give her some tylenol her dd arched her back. My friend laughed as her dd does this all the time

IT was then that she realized she was haivng a siezure, her eyes were rolled back and she was convulsing

they called 911 and she was taken to the hospital and got a clean bill of health...I know febrile seizures are relatively common, VERY scary but not life-threatening. Her dd has not had another one and it has been about 4 months

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

OMG...How scary!!!!!!
Never dealt with it and I am sorry you had to deal with it.
How is he doing now?

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

Posted by My2Boys

I'm so sorry you went through this.

My 19 month old niece went through this. We're still not sure if it's febrile, since her fever was around the 101 mark.

She had been sick with a stomach virus in the days prior. My SIL and brother had an experience similar to yours, although her 1st seizure lasted less than 5 minutes. She had 4 more seizures b/w the hospital(s) and ambulance (she was transferred from one hospital to another that was more equipped to handle neurological issues).

She was in the hospital 4 days. Thankfully, she hasn't had any since then, but they're in the process of scheduling a 48-hour video EEG to determine if it's epilepsy (her maternal grandfather is epileptic).

They now have medication to give her if she has another seizure (similar to an epi-pen). Were you given any instructions on what to do if, God forbid, this happens again?

Feel free to FM me with any questions. I feel like it was *my* baby who went through this. I can't even imagine witnessing it.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

It didnt happen to my son, but it happend to me when I was about 15 months old. Fever came out of nowhere, quickly shot up to 105 and made me have a seizure.

I never had another seizure, but the Dr's had my mother give me phenolbarbital once my fever got up to 101.



Hope he gets better soon

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

OMG - how scary for you and your DS.

I don't know much about it - I'm sorry I'm of no help.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

Omg! I am shaking for you while reading this!! I cant imagine what you must have went through, seeing your baby like that. Hugs to you!!!!!!

I know when I was little, I ran very high fevers. My mom told me I seized twice (another time when I fell and got a concussion but that had nothing to do with fever.) I never had one again and the doctors even back then said it was normal. Some children run higher fevers, faster and their bodies just respond like that. Not that it makes it any easier to go through at all!!!

Being a mom is so nerve racking!!! How do you know if your child develops a fever during the night???? I mean, I touch Megan all the time but shes so warm from sleeping, I would never know the diffference. Thank goodness you guys heard him. My heart is just breaking for you. Hopefully he will never have another again!!! Get some rest.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

Omg how scary

I had febrile seizures as a baby/toddler, i had at least a 1/2 dozen and was hospitalized twice for them. They occured most between 9-10 months old and 2 years old, by 3 years old i was seizure free. my fevers used to go up to 106-107 degrees out of nowhere. I would be playing one minute and the next i'd freeze and spike a fever.

My parents let all caregivers know the signs that one was coming and how to treat them
-staring into space and moving in slow motion was how mine started
-I'd freeze in whatever position i was in when it spiked
-lukewarm washcloths in a lukewarm tub to bring fever down

It's a scary thing and i'm constantly on the lookout for the signs with my girls, since there's a genetic component to it. My dad used to get them, i got them.


I can only imagine how scary it is as a parent to watch your child go through this

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

's - I know from experience what a scary situation that is.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

No experience but

Message edited 1/29/2008 11:10:59 AM.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

I am happy he is back home happy and healthy

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

OMG, you poor thing..I got so upset reading your post. I am glad all is alright now, and yes, febrile seizures are not that uncommon from what i've heard.

I don't have advice but wanted to send hugs...how scary that must have been for you guys

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

first of all, . i can't imagine how scary it must have been for you.

the good news is that febrile seizures are relatively common and pretty harmless. he should outgrow them without a problem. your ped will probably give you valium (diastat) to keep at home in case it ever happens again.

Re: does anyone have experience with febrile seizures?

I am so sorry you and your DS went through this . I hope that he is feeling better now. From what I have read about febrile seizures, most chilren do seem to grow out of them. Neverthless, I hope you never have to experience that again .