Today was Austin's initial consult with the pediatric neurologist. We were ready for some answers or at least a plan.
We already knew that this wasn't just going to be a fluke thing for him. After the first seizure, we had hoped that he'd be one of the many children that only experience the first and never have a second. Just a few short weeks later, that hope was gone. We were thankful, however, for a normal CT scan as it meant we were probably dealing with "just" seizures.
Today, we talked with the doctor and his associate about what we were dealing with. His EEG did, in fact, show several areas where he was highly sensitive to seizure activity. We weren't really given a specific name other than partial seizure disorder. Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (which we were already researching) was brought up, but to them, it didn't seem to fit all the way. Either way, the treatment plan is the same for both: anti-seizure medication.
The plan, for now, is to start him on medication twice a day. An MRI will be done to rule out anything small that the CT scan missed, but it's "standard of care" and is just cover all our bases. He isn't limited on anything anymore, as long as he's supervised while doing things that could seriously harm him if he were to have a seizure while doing them (ie. swimming, bathing, etc). He was one happy kid knowing that he could ride his bike when he got home.
His chances of growing out of this before adulthood are good. Children's brains are constantly changing and this seizure "thing" could just be something developmentally and could go away as his brain matures. The medication will be used for at least a year, more depending on his situation. We hate that there are side effects, but the benefits outweigh the risks and it's what seems right to us.
Thanks to everyone who has been praying and thinking of us. It meant the world to us! For now, we're just going to go back to our regularly scheduled life, just with a new medication to take everyday!
3 comments:
You know I love that little boy sooooo much. Wish this hadn't happened but we can face it as a family and deal with it. You know we love you all! YaYa
so sorry to hear that Austin has been diagnosed with seizures....i remember when I was diagnosed with them, I was about the same age as he was and it was hard on me and my family and it still is hard dealing with them today because I'm still on medication for them twice a day....so the best advice I can give you as a family is to take one day at a time and you may want to also look into a seizure alert dog for him as well that will alert you, him, and those you when a seizure is approaching to help keep him safe when you can't always be with him. Seizure alert dogs are like seeing eye dogs, but are less common and are still certified by the ADA so it will be able to go where Austin goes (school, resturants, the commissary, etc.). I have one and he comes very handy when my husband can't be with me and helps to bring me my cell phone when i'm coming out of a seizure so I can call for assistance.
Prayers. Prayers Prayers!!!!!
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