When should you go to the er?

[rissaf23]

The first seizure I had I went to the ER. They basicly didnt do anything and sent me on my way. I had another one a couple of days later in public and had to go to the er.

When should you go to the er? Friday night, I had 3 seizures, but I stayed home because they were very small. Should I have gone to the er? I just hate going, but should I go? What are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Larissa

[skillefer]

Hi Larissa! Here's what my doc told me....go to the ER if your seizure is more then 5 minutes long, or if they are back to back. Now...you said you had 3 seizures on Friday night, but that they were small...so for those, I'd definitely call your doc on Monday and let him know what happened. It may be that you need an adjustment on your meds, or it could be that you werent' getting enough sleep or something...

I understand about hating to go to ER. After all, all I need is to go in and for $400 have someone tell me I need to contact my neurologist....DUH! Worse yet is when you get sent to the ER by ambulance... LOL.... Anyway, definitely call your neurologist and let him know what happened.

[RobinN]

I don't accept the transport to the ER anymore when the ambulance is called to Rebecca's school, unless there is something that is very much out of the ordinary. Even then they don't do much.

The last time was when her glucose was down to 32 (it is suppose to be on the low side +70 ). We got to the ER and they said they wanted her to eat (like I couldn't go get her something healthy at home), and then it took them 2 hours to get it to her. When it finally arrived it had all sorts of foods that I had requested they not include. MSG and HFCS too. For a child that had just had a seizure.

Not sure how we can get this sort of care turned in our favor.

[flinnigan]

I've been having seizures for 9 years and never gone to the ER. I guess if I had a tonic clonic in public someone would call 911 but If I was able I'd refuse to go. I just don't see the need to go unless it lasts longer than 5 minutes or you do serious bodily harm.

[rissaf23]

Thank you guys so much! That is what I was thinking, I just hate spending a $100 to be told to go to my doctor!

[Heather]

I've never gone to er. I went to the hospital once when I went status. I've only gone status once, and that was due to a bad neurologist.

At my worst, I was having COUNTLESS simple partial seizures almost constant, all through the day and night. complex partial seizures and/or tonic clonic seizures were once every two weeks. That was due to a bad neurologist too. But when I started going to another neurologist, I kept a calendar. He knew how many seizures I was having. He never told me I needed to go to er. I ALWAYS call him, anytime I have a complex partial and/or tonic clonic (which has been approx 3 yrs).

I wouldn't call er, unless I had a complex partial and/or tonic clonic for more than 5 minutes. Or if I had more than one complex partial and/or tonic clonic in one day. I never went to er for simple partial seizures, even when I was having COUNTLESS simple partial seizures daily. When I had that many simple partial seizures daily, for me, that meant I was gonna have a complex partial and/or tonic clonic either that day or within the next few days. I knew it was coming, but didn't know when.

Anytime you have a complex partial or tonic clonic call your doctor. Or if you feel something just isn't right, don't ignore your gut feeling. Call your doctor. Anytime I've ignored my gut feeling, I've paid for it the hard way.

[RobinN]

My daughters are all tonic clonic, and I am able to sign a release so the EMTs do not take her each time. I don't even contact the doctor. If they were increasing maybe, but they are decreasing, and it is I who has created this turn of events, not the doctor.

[epileric]

I've had partial seizures all my life with a few T/C. I've never gone to the hospital since there's nothing they can do unless I"m in status. I once had a T/C in a Safeway & they got really nervous when I wouldn't wait around for the ambulance they called & there was no hope of them understanding that there was nothing they could do.

[Crystal11]

I have complex partial seizures and had to go to the ER by ambulance since I lived in a dorm at college a year ago. I had two real close together and could not really get back to myself. So my friend knew where I lived and called one for me and they showed up with 2 EMTs, 2 RI staff from the dorm as well as 2 police officers in my tiny dorm room. It scared me and so I tried to leave- but my RI (residential instructor) blocked my doorway and kept me there. I spent 4 hours there for observation and was sent home and had info faxed to me neurologist about it all. I think its a good idea to go to the ER if you think something is off- or if they last more than 5 mins or you've had more than one close together.
I've had the ambulance called on my while in class as well for a complex partial- no one knew what to do so they thought it was better to call 911- just didnt want me whole class to know what was up. My instructor dismissed class 30min early cause I seized.. HOW EMBARASSING!
I found myself in another building across the way with 10 people around. Not cool..

Anyways, take care and be safe..
Crystal and Umbro