Febrile Seizure Freak-Out

All you blogger mamas and blog-lurkers with lil' ones, take note. I will start the story by saying first: we are all okay and at home. But, Elliot & I left for the hospital today in an ambulance with an entourage of fire truck, police car and neighbors to see us off (though I did not see any of them in my rush out the door).  

Elliot home from the hospital with the Teddy Bear they gave her in the ambulance. 

Maybe you are the same as me and have never before today heard of "Febrile Seizures" - and I hope you do not ever experience your baby having one, but if you do, maybe our story will help you through yours.  I guess it is kind of graphic because it was pretty traumatic for us, but again, we are all good now.  SO if you don't want graphic, maybe you should just know what we learned: 1 out of every 20 kids 6 mos to 7 years may have a seizure brought on by a high fever.  If yours does, remain calm (HA!), call 911 immediately, try holding her or lying on her side until it is over or until help arrives, and when its over try to think how long it lasted.  It is not known whether its the severity of the fever or how fast the high fever comes on that causes it, but it is relatively safe in, spite of being supremely scary.

Here's what happened to us.  

Elliot woke today with a minor cough & sniffles and a whole lotta whining. We took her underarm temp: 98.7, no biggie. Since Auntie Kassi is visiting and I am still on maternity leave, we decided to keep her home, just in case she was sick. Mid-morning, she is full of energy and playing playdoh with Kassi, fending off an occasional sniff. We decide on a quick trip to the zoo and to be home by lunch. Ellie had great fun at the zoo. We were home early for lunch, which Ellie ate with her usual gusto. Then I put her down for her nap after holding her through a couple of stories. She did not feel hot, but was definitely tired.

An hour later, she woke up coughing.  She coughed so hard she threw up all over her crib. Unfortunately, this is common for her. Kassi took Samantha while I took Ellie to the bath, noting she was very hot to the touch and damp - which I attributed to vomit and crying so hard. She was shivering as we took off her icky clothes and got her into some comfy lounge wear. I took her and a blanket to a chair to comfort her & hold her. Kassi & I were just recounting what on earth I would have done if home alone with Samantha and Elliot during this vomitorium and plotting our clean up of the ick.

And then out of nowhere Elliot started having a seizure in my arms. For a millisecond I thought she was just kicking off the blanket like she always does, but then I realized it was a seizure: she was convulsing and her eyes were rolling.  I was terrified and panicked.  I immediately told Kassi to call 911 or Ben - and thank goodness she did not know Ben's # cuz it was more important to call 911 and then Ben (duh!). She told them we had a baby who was seizing. They thought she said Teething - but were quick to hear seizure, etc. and dispatch the troops. Meanwhile I am holding Elliot while she is still convulsing and kind of gagging, not responding, and her lips are faintly turning blue. I am freaking out much more than I ever envisioned for my first 911 call. Not knowing if Elliot is choking on vomit (so I lean her forward) or can't breath, (so I lean her backward). When her lips were turning blue, I was screaming at Kassi on the phone with 911 and just screaming generally while carrying her around the living room toward the front door, but they told me to put her on her side (for drool, etc. to drip out) and that the ambulance was on its way. The ambulance (and all the others) was in fact there already. She stopped convulsing just as the EMTs reached our steps. She was breathing, but totally zoned out / vacant / zombie-like, but I was relieved the seizure was over. The EMT came in with about 8 people behind him, recognized the situation and said everyone else could go.  I was so relieved by then that no CPR or machines or I don't know what would have to be done to stop her convulsions or revive her. They carried her to the ambulance while I grabbed my shoes & purse leaving Kassi to fend for herself with Samantha. Thank God Kassi was there!! 

I think the ambulance was there in less than 6 minutes since I think we called 911 about 10 seconds into the seizure and it was over just as the ambulance arrived. We guessed Ellie's seizure was anywhere from 2-6 minutes (hard to say since even a half second would have still felt like TOOOO long).

Elliot remained "out of it" for the 3 minute ride to the hospital and for a few minutes more once settled in the room.  Everyone assured me this was normal after a seizure and she would snap back soon.  She did.  Quiet, whiny and confused - whew.  Ben was already at the hospital and had called our pediatrician who met us there (her office is in the same hospital across the hall).  All the medical staff were calm as if this always happens and said it was definitely a Febrile seizure.  She is fine, and they set out to determine the cause of the fever (102.7 at hospital), which was ultimately determined to be a common cold.  We took her home & are using Tylenol & Motrin for 24 hours to ward off fever.   

Elliot was happy to be home and went to bed early.  And woke up often in the night (and had another nice 'bout of throwing up - ick.  "Arfing all-done. All Done!" She says.  

Since Elliot is one of the unlucky 5% to have had one of these seizures, she now has a 30% chance of having another in the future and it could run in the family.  They tend to outgrow them by 7 years old.  

If you are still reading, you are probably my mom, who has already heard this. And if you are not my mom, you probably have a kid and I am scaring you - but since its 1 in 20 and you know a kid who has had one now, yours should be clear - I hope!!