Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group

As the mother of a 7 year old with epilepsy, I understand your worry. I really try not to make epilepsy a big part of my sons life so he can experience all the fun things and I worry in private. It is really difficult to see our children with any medical condition. Try to stay strong and I find this site great to get any support you are looking for. Best of luck

There is really no way to get a mother to stop worrying about their children...I should know, I am a mother of a 33 and 23 year old sons. Yes they are on their own for a long time now, but I still worry about them everyday. So on that, you are just like the rest of us! lol

I also know how hard it is sometimes to totally trust the docs. Gain whatever knowledge you can by doing your own research. Yes we need the docs but it is always a good idea to be armed with our own knowledge too.

It is unlikely for someone to die during a seizure. No it's not out of the question but it will be more of a benefit to your son, to focus on his living as normal and happy life day to day as a mother can provide for her child.

He is 9 and can easily sense your anxiety so keep that in mind while you get this sorted out. Maybe you would feel a bit more at ease if you took a first aid course or attended a meeting with the Epilepsy Society in your city. Your son has to know that he is a normal 9 year old boy just like his friends so be very careful with your own anxiety showing to him. You will do fine. Gather all the support you can get your hands on and relax a bit. Mabou has some great advice here so try to follow her lead on this and you'll do just fine. All the best to and your son.

I have seizures all the time. Usually about three weeks apart, sometimes less, sometimes more. Seizures themselves are not overtly dsngerous. The main thing to be concerned about is that he avoid situations where losing conciousness can be dangerous (cliffs, swimming, operating a chainsaw, playing with hand grenades, etc) and that he try to sleep on his side. I've vomited during a seizure, and if you're on your back this can be dangerous.

I don't want to add to your fear but I believe in having all the information. We care for our children a lot, I can't imagine watching one of my boys go through it. Something important to remember, though, is that they look much more terrifying than they actually are, physically, and people rarely die of seizures and even then it is usually sustained or back to back seizures of extended duration. My wife doesn't even call the doctor unless mine last more than five minutes (though the rule of thumb I believe is get emergency help if a seizure lasts more than a minute longer than is normal for an individual.)

Please take ease, your calmness and strength will help him through his condition. Panic and stress are not good companions for epilepsy. Remember, lots of us have happy, normal lives.