Can confusion/not understanding be a seizure?/Post. Temp lobe seizures?

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chmmr

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As i've mentioned before, we are effectively on seizure watch for my 3 year old daughter due to a worsening eeg.
Her EEG abnormalities were in the posterior temporal lobe (almost continuous spikes) and the neuro and pediatrician decided to wait on meds until she "presented clinically or lost skills". I was told a temporal lobe seizure could be almost anything and to watch for "weird things".

Two days ago she was being looked after by her grandmother and was asked to get a stool that was on the floor in front of her so she could get a cookie from the cookie jar. She looked all around and couldn't find the stool even though her grandma kept telling her to look down at the floor where the stool was-she just kept looking at eye level. Then grandma walked over and showed her the stool and said ok go get your cookie from the cookie jar (we go over to her house at least 3 times a week and the kids always raid the cookie jar so this is pretty typical for her). She just stood there and stared at my mom like she had turned green and had no idea what she was being told to do (she wasn't unresponsive....just seemed confused about what a cookie jar even was much less where it was). grandma picked her up and carried her over to the cookie jar and showed it to her and it was like the light came back on and she took her cookie and happily ate it.

Thoughts? does this sound like something that could possibly be seizure related? and if so, what kind of seizure would it be?
 
Update-saw our pediatrician yesterday. Apparently what i described was a complex partial and we now have ativan at home to give to her if she has a prolonged one or clusters of them. If she has a few a week, we will have to move to putting her on daily medications :(
 
Hi Chmmr,

Sorry to hear you're little one is struggling with this. It definitely sounds like a seizure to me. The difference between simple partial seizures and complex partials is that to qualify as a CP, there needs to be reduced consciousness, awareness or memory of the event. It sounds like your little one wasn't quite aware of her surroundings. How was she afterwards? Did she complain of a headache? Was she tired or grumpy?

Best of luck with everything and keep us posted on your journey x
 
Hi Chmmr,

Sorry to hear you're little one is struggling with this. It definitely sounds like a seizure to me. The difference between simple partial seizures and complex partials is that to qualify as a CP, there needs to be reduced consciousness, awareness or memory of the event. It sounds like your little one wasn't quite aware of her surroundings. How was she afterwards? Did she complain of a headache? Was she tired or grumpy?

Best of luck with everything and keep us posted on your journey x

Thanks Wobblez. I'm not sure how she was to be honest since i wasn't there. Thanks for the explanation about the difference between the two-i was guessing it was a partial since she could still respond but just wasn't quite all there or understanding what she was supposed to do but the pediatrician seemed quite confident that it was a CP. Grandma has always been a firm believer that maybe she didn't have epilepsy and would be fine (not denial so much as wishful thinking), so i never reviewed anything other than the basics of seizure stuff with her, and then of course with her recent abnormal eeg i had told her to be on the lookout for "weird stuff" and she obviously did because she caught this. Unfortunately i hadn't told her that she needs to make a note of what she is like after and for how long it lasts. :paperbag:
 
Medication sucks, but on the other hand shes three years old, so that gives you ample time too get the meds right and complete control so she can have the best life ever, and do all the things everyone should! Dont medicate and well.... but as shes a child heard/seen the ketogenic diet also works well, apoligies if your already doing this :D :hugs:
 
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