BB had a seizure on Saturday night. It was without doubt the scariest, most terrifying thing we’ve experienced to date as parents. My baby, in my arms, stiff, turning blue, struggling to breathe, foaming and unconsious, eyes rolled back. I’ll be very happy if I never see that again.
The First Responder paramedic was there within minutes, followed by another ambulance and 2 more paramedics. Oxygen mask, heart tracer. Trip in an ambulance to A and E. Moved to Paediatric Assessment Unit.
Diagnosis? Febrile convulsion brought on by a high temperature (of 39.2 – that’s 102.56 if you’re playing along in Farenheit) due to tonsilitis(!) Such sweet relief.
Actually, the first paramedic to turn up knew straight away it was nothing more than that. The rest of the night (8pm-4am) was taken up with trying to pinpoint the source of infection. Or, more accurately, waiting for someone to pinpoint that definitively. Oh yeah, and trying to get a urine sample out of a sleepy 2 year old – that took a really long time too.
People, if you don’t know much about febrile convulsions/infantile convulsions, do yourself a favour and read up on it – save yourself a total panic. I knew of them vaguely, but didn’t realise they can cause a kid to turn blue and stop breathing. Really. Fucking. Scary.
And honestly, you’d never have even guessed he was feeling off colour, let along had tonsilitis and a raging temperature. We were at my parents’ house for the weekend and he’d been busy playing with his Nannie and Grandad and his cousins too. A little tired, but then, it was a busy day and he hadn’t really napped. A little off his food, but then, there were lots of more interesting things to do. A little warm, perhaps, but it was a warm day and he certainly wasn’t burning to the touch at all – the ambulance guy agreed. We’ve gone over every single thing, berating ourselves for not having picked up that anything was wrong. Looking back, little things do kind of add up, but hindsight is wonderful thing, and rarely makes us feel good.
vee xxx
PS: jay says she’ll sort out all of her lovely new Facebook Friends ASAP – thank you for your enthusiasm and sorry for her disorganisation!
vee and jay... and bonus ball 
Posted by wishinghopingpraying on April 18, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Oh no! How very scary. I am so sorry you all had to go through that. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must have been to see that. I am thrilled to hear he is on the mend and the infection was something easy to treat. Please don’t beat yourself up, kids go from fine to sick so quickly sometimes. You couldn’t have known. Huge hugs to all of you.
Posted by Olive on April 18, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Oh wow, that is incredibly scary but with the best possible outcome. I’m so relieved he’s ok and the seizure doesn’t seem to be related to a chronic problem. Phew, phew, phew.
Good job handling such a scary day.
(Please add me to the FB list as well!)
Posted by Crazy Lesbian Mom on April 18, 2011 at 8:54 pm
So glad to hear that everything is ok. Scary indeed…
Posted by reproducinggenius on April 18, 2011 at 9:31 pm
I *just* read about these recently and found it absolutely terrifying to imagine going through this. I am so sorry you had to endure this with BB, but I’m so very happy he is okay! Many hugs to your family.
Posted by figgymommy on April 18, 2011 at 9:50 pm
How very scary, I’m so glad he seems to be doing well now! ❤
Posted by Claire on April 19, 2011 at 1:15 am
Wow! So scary! Glad the boy is doing well now. Poor mummies. It is hard to know these things. I was diagnosed with a strep throat when I was 9 with no symptoms! I just happened to go to the doctor for something else.
Posted by j.k.-c. on April 19, 2011 at 2:36 am
OMG!!! I’m so very sorry this happened to all of you!! I certainly know how scary those traumatic moments can be. And I also know how grateful one can be to knowledgeable paramedics.
A friends’ son (16 months old) had a febral seizure a few weeks ago. So very scary. He is fine now though.
Love to all of you!!!
Posted by Bleu on April 19, 2011 at 2:43 am
My best friend’s son had them as a young child and I had never heard of them before that. They are terrifying sounding and I cannot imagine the terror you went through. He is now 12 and never has them anymore and hasn’t for years.
Much love to you all.
Posted by simonesmom on April 19, 2011 at 2:17 pm
That must have been terrifying! So glad he’s OK. If I saw Simone go blue, I’d probably have a seizure myself.
Posted by GaybyRabies on April 19, 2011 at 6:36 pm
So, so scary. Thank you for posting this, I had never heard of it before, so it’s good information to have.
Posted by the injector on April 20, 2011 at 3:50 pm
shit. i’m so glad all is well now and bb is fine. xoxo
Posted by strawberry on April 20, 2011 at 4:23 pm
You are the second person to have posted this week about their child having a seizure due to a fever. I can’t imagine how terrifying that must’ve been, but apparently it’s more common than we think. I’m so, so glad he’s ok.
Posted by Tyffany on April 20, 2011 at 9:20 pm
I’m so sorry you had to experience that but SO glad that he is okay!
Posted by svillage on April 22, 2011 at 1:02 am
I am SO relieved BB is ok!!! SO scary! Thanks for the heads up on febrile seizures. Seriously, I saw my baby turn blue once when we were in the NICU with all of the hubbub when A was first born. I can NEVER see that again, and it would be too soon. I’m relieved he is ok.
Hope to see you on FB – S
Posted by halfadozen on April 22, 2011 at 10:27 pm
That is so scary. I can’t imagine. I am so glad he is fine… xx
Posted by halfadozen on April 22, 2011 at 10:28 pm
ps– how do I find you guys on FB???
Posted by barefoot_med_student on July 2, 2011 at 5:08 pm
I was 8 years old and keeping an eye on my baby brother when he had a febrile convulsion. It is very scary; I’m glad BB is alright.