Is my 7 yr old having sleep seizures?

[caltripp]

My 7 yr old doesn't like to sleep alone and usally sleeps in our bed.  Last night my husband said he woke to her moaning and found her legs and arms stretch out stiff and cold.  He tried to wake her and she was very combative and he was unable to wake her, however she did relax somewhat so he left her alone.  30 min. later she was stiff again.  So he forced her out of bed and walked her around until she was fully awake.  

Is this a seizure?  She had a simular episode (during sleep) about 6 months or so ago.

I read on other posting that people who have night seizures often wake up with headaches.  She says she didn't have a headache but did feel a little dizzy when she got up.  We ask her if she had a bad dream last night and she said "no" and  has no memory of anything happening during the night at all.  Also, she is never wants to eat when she first wakes up for at least an hour, but this morning, claimed she wasn't hungry for several hours.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

While the single symptom of stiffening can be indicative of a simple partial seizure, it is not likely in the case of your daughter. The behavior on waking up is not really important (as would be the behavior during and after a partial seizure during the daytime), since it is complicated by the normal aspects of waking up. In addition, it would be surprising if your daughter ever recalls anything during the night, seiazures or not. Be sure to talk with her pediatrician about this and see if he/she thinks it invites any additional evaluation. Is there any family history of seizures or other neurological proble? Has your daughter ever experienced daytime seizures or any other neurological problem?

[Mohamed]

I have a friend who is said to have "post ictic combativeness" which seems to be combativeness when coming out of a seizure. He has unwittingly scraped somebody on the chest when he tried to steady him during his seizure, for example.

Some epileptics seem to fit in this category, and it may be worth checking out as such, as it seems to be common enough to have this special term given to it.

For what it is worth.

Mohamed.

[caltripp]

One of my husband's brothers has seizures, but he has done alot of drugs (pot, etc) and the family has thought it was because of the drug use.  Maybe the drugs just pronounced a underlying seizure disorder.  She hasn't had any daytime seizure like episodes.  We will probably just watch her and if these episodes become more frequent or happen during the day, we will consult a specialist.

[ruggles72]

2 of my sons have had several seizures.They are 9 and 2 and a half. It usually happens at night and there is a difference in their breathing pattern. I dont sleep with my childern but I can hear them at night so I do know when they are seizing or not. My advice to you is that if you think there is a problem consult your physician,have her checked out and get the proper tests done. But I think if she was having a seizure you would absoulty know about it expecially if she is sleeping with you and your husband. I Hope this helps some what, Goodluck to you and your daughter.